Gdynia is in the final stages of the procedure related to the inscription of the modernist City Centre on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The final decision is scheduled for July 2026. The city is completing the application as indicated by the experts, with additional consultations with representatives of the ICOMOS organisation. The deadline for amendments is February next year, so the following months are crucial for the success of the whole initiative. Earlier, Gdynia received a document referred to as a referral, which confirms the high merit of the application. At the same time, it identifies elements that need to be clarified so that the final version of the application can be better prepared. Gdynia’s Modern City Centre is one of the best preserved in the world.
Gdynia’s Downtown – the symbolism and uniqueness of urban planning
Gdynia’s Downtown is a unique example of coherent modernist development created in a very short period of time. The area of almost 88 hectares was created through consistent planning. The project made use of the classic street grid layout and solutions characteristic of new urban concepts from between the wars. The focus was on functionality, good interior lighting, proper air circulation and proximity to services. An important role is played by the axis marked out by 10 Lutego Street leading from the railway station towards the harbour and the Southern Pier. Already at the stage of the city’s creation, this was a spatial composition intended to emphasise its maritime character and links with the port.
The preserved spatial layout of Gdynia
The centre of Gdynia has retained its original structure despite the war and post-war modifications. The streets, the proportions of the buildings and a significant part of the buildings have survived in a form similar to that of the period of their creation. As a result, the current appearance of the Downtown gives a clear picture of how Polish cities were shaped in the first half of the 20th century. Gdynia’s modernism differs from many similar developments from Europe. Many of the residential developments here were built thanks to private owners. This way of building resulted in a varied but coherent architecture. Maritime inspirations became a characteristic motif, evident in the façade details and forms reminiscent of elements of ship construction.
The beginnings of planning the modernist Gdynia
The history of modernist Gdynia began in the 1920s, when a small fishing settlement was identified as the future location of a new Polish port. The urban plan prepared by Roman Feliński and Adam Kuncewicz marked out zones for housing, administration, industry and leisure. The period between 1921 and 1939 brought intensive development, with the population increasing from 1,268 people to as many as 120,000! Most of the modernist townhouses, public edifices and harbour infrastructure were built during this period. The Second World War did not cause serious damage. After 1945, the city retained its original layout. Post-war plans continued earlier developments, so that the city centre maintained its characteristic modernist image.
Downtown Gdynia on the UNESCO list
In 2015, the centre of Gdynia was granted the status of a Monument of History. Four years later, it was included on the Polish UNESCO information list. The city centre is regarded as one of the best-preserved modernist ensembles in Europe, which is a key argument for its inclusion on the World Heritage List. Interest in this part of the city is also growing in international circles, which have been observing its preserved layout and character for years. The inclusion of Gdynia among the candidates has attracted the attention of specialists from all over the world studying the development of urban planning in the first half of the 20th century.
Consultation with experts
In November this year, representatives of the city held talks in Paris with experts from ICOMOS and UNESCO. At that time, the detailed expectations of the proposal and the direction of work on its completion were discussed. The delegation included representatives of the city authorities and conservation services, with the support of the National Heritage Institute and the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Poland to UNESCO.
“On behalf of the local government of Gdynia, I declared that after analysing the ICOMOS recommendations and final comments, the city, in cooperation with specialists, is able to prepare, as a matter of urgency, substantive responses to the council’s comments, should a decision be made to vote on Gdynia’s candidature later this year. It is already known that this will not happen. However, we still have a chance of entry in 2026. It would be very symbolic, because let’s remember that next year Gdynia will celebrate its centenary” – emphasises Oktawia Gorzeńska, Deputy Mayor of Gdynia.
Work on additions to the application for UNESCO inscription
Since receiving the referral, intensive preparations have been underway for the submission of the full, revised documentation. In June, the city received a report confirming the high value of the modernist Downtown with expectations for additions. At the same time, the Ministry of Culture expressed support for Gdynia’s participation in the World Heritage Committee in 2026, while setting a deadline for the submission of clarifications. Since then, the team of the Office of the City Conservator of Monuments has been developing the materials necessary to update the application. An important element of this process has been the already mentioned consultations in Paris, during which detailed issues requiring refinement were discussed and the direction of further activities was confirmed.
Importance of the UNESCO World Heritage List
The UNESCO World Heritage List was created on the basis of the 1972 Convention. It includes sites of particular cultural and natural value. There are 17 entries among the Polish sites. Decisions are made during a session of the World Heritage Committee with the participation of representatives of member states. Gdynia is now waiting for the final assessment of its candidature. Its modernist city centre has a chance to join the ranks of the most valuable urban areas protected at an international level.
Source: gdynia.pl
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