The iconic ‘Sailor’s House’ in Gdynia has recently been in the spotlight. This is all thanks to a letter of intent signed on 9 July this year, which paves the way for restoring the former status and function of this somewhat forgotten historic building. At this important juncture, it is worth asking about the future of the building itself. Originally built in the spirit of Gdynia modernism, the building has, in fact, been quite extensively altered over its nearly century-long history and now bears no resemblance whatsoever to Adam Knauff’s elegant pre-war design. Will it be possible to restore it?
A joint initiative for the historic hotel
On 9 July 2026, the city of Gdynia, Polski Holding Hotelowy, the Industrial Development Agency and the company ‘Dom Marynarza’ signed a letter of intent marking the start of cooperation regarding the future of the building situated at al. Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego 1. The document marks the start of a phase of economic, legal and technical analyses preceding the entire investment. The ceremony was attended by Tomasz Augustyniak, Deputy Mayor of Gdynia, Marek Zaleśny, Vice-President of the Industrial Development Agency; Piotr Pawłowski, President of “Dom Marynarza”; and Rafał Szmytke, President of the Polish Hotel Holding. The partners have pledged to develop a project that will enable the hotel to regain its leading position in the market and once again become an important venue for the people of Gdynia and visitors to the city.
‘Dom Marynarza’ in Gdynia – the beginning
The building’s history dates back to the period of the great construction boom that took place in Gdynia during the interwar period. In 1928, construction began on an elegant “Spa House” on a plot on what was then Aleja Kasyna, designed by the Warsaw architect Adam Knauff. The location was not chosen at random. Gdynia’s expanding summer resort was shifting towards Orłowo, and the plot, situated in a valley sheltered by hills and opening out to the sea to the east, was perfectly suited to a prestigious holiday complex. The grand opening took place at the start of the 1929 summer season, attended by the chairman of the Warsaw Sea Bathing Society. This magnificent modernist building was, at the time, one of the most exclusive seaside hotels on the Polish coast. It was distinguished by its simple geometric forms and functionalist aesthetics, perfectly reflecting the maritime ambitions of the developing city. Guests were offered comfortable rooms, a restaurant, a dance hall, a billiards room and a modern complex with 26 baths designed for cold and warm seawater baths. Ten years later, the Second World War broke out; Gdynia was spared much more than Gdańsk, and as a result, the building survived.
The war and the building’s change of use
During the German occupation, the building operated under the name Marine Gemeinschaftsheim Strandhotel. After the war, it was taken over by the Navy, and in 1947 it was handed over to the Polish Merchant Navy to serve as a ‘Seamen’s Home’. Four years later, it came under the management of Polskie Linie Oceaniczne. At that time, a 12-tonne anchor from the old cruiser ‘Bałtyk’ – which had been scrapped by the Germans in 1942 – was placed in front of the building. Over the following decades, the hotel primarily served people connected with the maritime industry. Sailors and their families stayed here whilst awaiting the return of their loved ones from voyages lasting many months.
The redevelopment that changed everything
The most significant changes – which, from today’s perspective, were highly detrimental – took place in the early 1950s. At that time, the hotel was extended with additional storeys, completely obliterating the elegant character of its structure in the process. This destroyed the proportions of the original composition, transforming the building into a dull, Socialist Realist cuboid. Today, among architectural historians, the redevelopment of the ‘Sailor’s House’ is often regarded as one of the greatest losses to Gdynia’s modernist heritage. Despite these changes, the building continues to function as a hotel and is situated within an urban complex listed as a historic monument.
Will the ‘Sailor’s House’ in Gdynia return to its former glory?
The signed letter of intent offers an opportunity to begin a new chapter in the building’s history, though a full restoration of its pre-war design seems rather unachievable. This is because, during the ill-fated alterations, the building’s spatial layout was changed, further storeys were added, and the entire structure was permanently transformed. Reconstruction to the form proposed almost 100 years ago by the architect Adam Knauff would require the demolition of later additions, detailed research into the archives and costly construction work. Admittedly, we do not yet know any specifics regarding the project, but a comprehensive renovation and showcasing of the building’s current state seems a far more realistic course of action. If the entire project goes ahead and is carried out with respect for the architectural heritage, the “Sailor’s House” stands a chance of shining once more on Gdynia’s map. Perhaps not in its most perfect form, but with all the heritage and great history of the first major seaport built by the Second Polish Republic.
Source:gdynia.pl
See also:Gdynia|Modernism|History|Interesting facts|Façade|whiteMAD on Instagram
