In Search of Identity: The Post-War Reconstruction of Gdańsk and Szczecin and its Contemporary Echoes - Instytut Pileckiego

After World War II, Gdańsk and Szczecin underwent extensive reconstruction to forge new identities. Today, their contemporary architecture reflects both the legacy of those postwar efforts and the evolving perceptions of urban identity.

A new Exercising Modernity Event!
Pilecki-Institut Berlin, Pariser Platz 4a

Organizers: Pilecki-Institut Berlin, DOM Publishers

Registration: https://forms.gle/8tc7tWCbtEfU76nd6

Panel discussion featuring:

• Dr. Jakub Gołębiewski, West Pomeranian University of Technology
• Dr. Justyna Borucka, Gdańsk University of Technology
• Prof. Uta Pottgiesser, Delft University of Technology

Gdańsk and Szczecin are two port cities whose urban planning and architecture reflect the complex and turbulent history of twentieth-century Europe. After the end of World War II, both cities underwent a change in national affiliation, accompanied by a complete exchange of populations. The new inhabitants faced the task of rebuilding and redefining a space that was unfamiliar to them. This initiated a process of becoming acquainted with a foreign land, putting down roots, and constructing a new narrative—one that also found expression in architecture.

In determining the form and scale of reconstruction, efforts were made to highlight significant elements of the existing cultural landscape, underlining the historical connection of both cities to the Polish state. The change in the political system—especially the nationalisation of property—enabled a comprehensive, top-down approach to spatial development, which in turn had a considerable impact on the reconstruction process.

Yet despite these commonalities, the reconstruction of Gdańsk and Szczecin followed notably different paths. Gdańsk focused on recreating the historical character of buildings in its old town, whereas Szczecin chose to incorporate contemporary architecture into the same context. These decisions left a lasting imprint on the spatial development of both cities, the consequences of which remain visible today.

At our event, we aim to reflect on how today’s generations relate to the legacy of post-war reconstruction and modernisation, and how the processes described above are now assessed in both cities. Has the attempt to create a new post-war identity stood the test of time in the face of a renewed longing for the past and for the pre-war image of these cities? How are the principles established back then being redefined in the context of ongoing urban development and densification? And finally: What does contemporary architecture in Gdańsk and Szczecin reveal about current perceptions of the cities’ identities?