BXB studio Bogusław Barnaś prepared a project for the modernisation of the local Old Market, commissioned by the authorities of Gorzów Wielkopolski. The study aims to restore the place to its proper rank while respecting its multi-layered history. The architects propose subtle and economical measures to bring out the identity of the space, rather than transforming it. The starting point was a reflection on the post-war heritage and how to preserve its authenticity while giving it a contemporary dimension. The revitalisation of the Old Market Square in Gorzów Wielkopolski will give it a new quality.
From Landsberg to Gorzów
The Old Town in Gorzów Wielkopolski has a long and complex history. For centuries, it developed as the centre of the medieval Landsberg on the Warta River, which from the 13th century was centred around the market square and the Gothic cathedral. Before World War II, it was a densely built-up part of the city, full of tenement houses, workshops and shops, bustling with everyday life.
In 1945, during the Red Army offensive, the town suffered heavy losses. Fighting and fires left much of the built-up area in ruins, and more than 60 per cent of the city centre was destroyed when the operations ended. Shortly after the war, Landsberg came under Polish administration and was given a new name, Gorzow Wielkopolski, although it actually lies in the Lubuska Land. The adjective ‘Wielkopolski’ was added to distinguish the city from Gorzow Śląski and to emphasise its then administrative affiliation to the Poznań Province. In the 1940s, the removal of the rubble, securing the ruins and rebuilding the basic infrastructure began. Demolished tenements provided material for new buildings, and residential and commercial barracks appeared in place of the former houses.
Reconstruction of the Old Town in Gorzów Wielkopolski
In the 1950s, the reconstruction of the Old Town began. The urban plan developed in 1953 assumed that most of the historic street layout would be preserved, but the buildings were replaced by simple forms in the spirit of modernism. Among other things, the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was rebuilt at this time and regained its original shape. The following decades brought further changes. In the 1960s and 1970s, new blocks of flats and shopping pavilions were built, and in the period when Gorzów became the capital of the province, the city centre started to develop again. In the 1980s, restoration work was carried out on the preserved parts of the walls and towers. The political transformation again brought new energy. After 1989, the gradual renovation of the townhouses and the introduction of cultural and service functions into the historic part of the city began.
Revitalisation of the Old Market Square in Gorzów Wielkopolski
Today’s market square in Gorzów is a space where medieval history is intertwined with the aesthetics of post-war modernism. The Gothic cathedral remains the central point of the square, while its frontages are formed by buildings from the communist era. Among them, the Co-operative Department Store, commonly known as Kokos, occupies a special place. Although the post-war blocks were long considered aesthetically alien to the historic surroundings, the architects from BXB studio saw potential in them. In their view, it is this layer of history that makes the Gorzow marketplace unique.
Instead of masking the past, the project aims to expose and reinterpret it. The architects want to restore the original appearance of the Kokos building, remove later additions and propose its conservation protection. For the other buildings, a new concept of facades has been developed based on a composition of concrete tiles, which refer to the construction of the large slab. Their modular arrangement, inspired by the 3 x 3 metre rhythm, is intended to create a contemporary mosaic in neutral shades of grey and sand. Such a treatment not only emphasises the 20th century architecture, but also links it to the historical dominants – the cathedral and the Cocos building.
Light, green and a new identity for Gorzów
Light is an integral part of the project. A system of spotlights in the corners of the modules will create delicate light animations that change the character of the façade and the rhythm of the entire square. Also planned is the installation of an LED clock with a geometric form that fits in with the mosaic layout. This will give the square a new symbolic reference point.
Glazed pavilions are to appear on the ground floors of the buildings to enliven the space and extend its use. On the Sikorskiego Street side, wooden landings and small architectural objects have been introduced, and the whole will be complemented by new greenery blending with the silhouette of the cathedral. A spatial sculpture – a mock-up of the historic market square – has also been proposed, which will make it possible to view the former townhouses and become a reminder of what Gorzów has lost.
Revitalisation of the Old Market Square in Gorzów – important changes
BXB studio’s concept is an attempt to reconcile history with modernity. The architects want the Old Market to be an authentic place that does not hide its time layers, but affirms them. In this way, Gorzów can gain a new urban living room, combining the memory of the past with the aesthetics of the present. The project organises its space and emphasises the importance of the cathedral, as well as the significance of the market as the centre of social life. It is a proposal for revitalisation that restores the place’s identity rather than creating a semblance of it.
Design: BXB studio Bogusław Barnaś
Team: Bogusław Barnaś, Bartłomiej Mierczak, Magdalena Fuchs, Yousra Bouras, Kacper Szczypta, Justyna Duszyńska-Krawczyk, Urszula Furmanik
Visualisations: BXB studio Boguslaw Barnaś
Graphics: BXB studio Bogusław Barnaś
Location: Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland
Year: 2024-2025
Client: City of Gorzów Wielkopolski
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Monument | History | Block | whiteMAD on Instagram | Polish designers
The city centre in 1937 and today. Source: Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek and Google Earth
The south frontage of the Market Square today and on the project. Photo: BXB studio and Google Maps
North frontage of the Market Square currently and on the project. Photo: BXB studio and Google Maps
A fragment of the southern frontage today and in the future. Photo: BXB studio
