In 2009, construction of the Sea Towers complex was completed in the centre of Gdynia, which had already attracted considerable interest since the first shovel was driven in. The project, prepared by the Viennese office of architect Andrzej Kapuscik, was one of the most ambitious residential investments in Gdynia’s history. The investor was Invest Komfort SA, a company known for its high-standard apartment buildings. The towers, 141.6 and 91 metres high, were placed on a common base, creating a very distinctive point on the Polish coast. At the time of completion, it was the tallest residential building in Poland and the first such tall building in the Tri-City.
Construction and design of the Sea Towers project in Gdynia
The ceremonial laying of the foundation stone took place on 10 May 2006. The initial design assumed a light-coloured façade, which was to refer to the modernist tradition of Gdynia and its extraordinary history. During construction, however, it was decided to use dark granite, which significantly changed the character of the building. The construction of Sea Towers required soil reinforcement and special safeguards due to its proximity to the sea, so it consumed more than 42,000 cubic metres of concrete and 4,000 tonnes of steel. The work was completed on 28 February 2009, and the official opening of the very modern complex took place a few months later.
Architecture and functions of Sea Towers
Sea Towers has a residential, commercial and office function. The lower floors are occupied by commercial and technical spaces, while the upper floors are dedicated to flats of varying sizes. The complex has seven high-speed lifts, and residents benefit from 24-hour security and a monitoring system. The terrace on the top floor of the upper tower provides a panoramic view of Gdynia, the Gulf of Gdańsk and the Hel Spit. The towers stand just a dozen or so metres from the shoreline, in the direct vicinity of the yacht marina and Kościuszko square. The location in such an exposed position has made the building visible from almost every point of the city centre.
The form and scale of the Sea Towers in Gdynia
Since their construction, the Sea Towers have been one of the most discussed buildings in Gdynia. Many see them as a symbol of progress and the aspirations of a city that wants to be seen as modern and dynamic. As Piotr Weltrowski points out in his article for the portal trojmiasto.pl from 2023, for some residents the building has even become a landmark of the seaside centre and a new symbol of Gdynia – a city that has measured very high from the beginning of its existence and has grown almost from scratch in the middle of nowhere, in less than 20 years.
Critical voices, however, are just as frequent. Opinions can be found in the Internet space that Sea Towers is an example of a development that contrasts too strongly with the character of Gdynia. The massiveness of the heavy, overwhelming mass conflicts with the light, modernist spirit of the city. The two massive towers, especially when juxtaposed with the low-rise buildings of the city centre, seem to dominate the waterfront space too much. In addition, the dark finish of the façade, which replaced the originally planned light colour scheme, heightened the impression of overwhelm and made the building appear even more austere.
“A monstrosity indeed. It fits like a fist to the nose. The sadness of Polish developers.”, “It looks like a prison.”, “I’ve been to Gdynia and this building scares me. Very tall and that matte blackness. It’s like I’ve travelled back in time to the future only machines and robots are missing around.”, “Gdynia has modernist buildings and this Sea Towers fits like a pig’s saddle.” – these are just a few of the mass of critical opinions that can be read under a recent post regarding Sea Towers on the “Buduje się w Polsce” website.
The project is described as pretentious, lacking subtlety and standing out excessively in the setting of the historic city. The towers give the impression of an alien element in the landscape of Gdynia, whose identity is based on simple, clear, clear forms and harmony between architecture and the sea. There are also opinions that the scale of the development has been subordinated to a marketing vision of luxury rather than to the principles of urban balance.
A contemporary symbol of Gdynia
Despite much criticism, Sea Towers has undoubtedly become a permanent feature of the city’s urban landscape. For many residents, they are a contemporary symbol of Gdynia, a testament to the courage to take on architectural challenges and an attempt to open the city to a new form of development. The towers remain one of the most recognisable buildings in the entire Tricity and an important element in the discussion on how to develop coastal cities in order to preserve their identity while striving for modernity. As for Gdynia, it has always built its image on its relationship with the sea, modernism and openness to new ideas.
Loading ...Source: trojmiasto.pl, seatowers.24.pl
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