The author of the project is Julia Margas, a graduate in spatial design from the Dutch Willem de Kooning Academy of Fine Arts in Rotterdam. Her Bachelor’s project entitled ‘Stacja Kokoszki’ is a voice for the former railway station, which could be revived to remind us of the history of the Kokoszki district in Gdańsk.
Julia Margas’s BA project is an attempt to restore the splendour of an abandoned railway station in the Kokoszki district of Gdańsk. The author set herself the goal of recreating the historical spirit of the place, transforming the almost forgotten station into a lively cultural and social centre. Located at 15 Maszynowa Street, on a plot of approximately five hundred square metres, the building would be given new life through the principles of adaptive re-use. In the minds of the people of Gdansk, its walls are to become not only a reminder of the past, but also a stimulus for creative activities in the future.
The history of the station and the district
The origins of Kokoszki go back to before the Napoleonic wars, when the area was called Kokoschken or Burggraben on maps. The first tracks were laid in the area in 1914, and seven years later the line to Gdynia was opened, with the then Prime Minister and Minister of Railways attending the inauguration. This piece of Polish railway history symbolises the period of intensive modernisation after the First World War. The station itself witnessed a brief but tragic episode during the Second World War, when one of more than fifty Stutthof sub-camps operated alongside it. The prisoners, forced to work hard in the Gdansk shipyards, received only 350 grams of bread, 20 grams of margarine and half a litre of soup every day.
The legacy of the Kokoszków brickworks
An integral part of the landscape of the area is the so-called Kokoszkowska brick, once fired in the local brickworks. Thanks to it, many buildings were erected which still adorn the facades today, including the Primary School No. 83 and the villa of the former factory owners. These architectural testimonies are a reminder of Kokoszki’s industrial past and provide a valuable reference for new users of the space. Julia Margas wants the ceramics workshops to be held in the renovated station to become a natural extension of this tradition, combining heritage with modern art education.
A key research element was to organise surveys among the local community. The author found out that there was a lack of meeting places and a sense of belonging, and that rail transport did not meet users’ expectations. These opinions became the foundation of the functional programme, which includes the creation of spaces for cafés, workshops and an exhibition area, but also improved rail accessibility through more attractive connections and a better timetable.
Re-use and new interiors
The Adaptive Reuse method used in the project makes it possible to preserve the historic structure of the station while introducing modern solutions. The main station building will regain its timber beams and half-timbered panelling, while a modern extension will be built next to it to serve as the main museum hall. The project envisages the restoration of the former toilet building as a retail and bar area, which functions as a gift shop during the day and is transformed into an atmospheric bar in the evening.
The tour will begin in the café, where historic interior elements are juxtaposed with comfortable work and conversation spaces. Further on, at the reception, visitors will be able to purchase tickets for exhibitions and ceramics workshops. The museum space itself is a multifunctional hall with suspended installations that tell the story of Kokoszki’s heritage during the day and give way to a cinema room after dark. In this way, the station becomes a place for historical education, artistic experimentation and social integration.
Partnership with a regional museum network
Julia Margas’s project also envisages the creation of a tourist trail linking the new museum in Kokoszki with institutions dedicated to the Second World War and Stutthof, as well as the new Visitor Service Centre at Westerplatte. This will enable the exchange of exhibits and visitor traffic, supporting the development of local rail transport. Alternatively, a walk in the footsteps of the Kokoszkowski brick combined with clay workshops will broaden the cultural offer of Gdansk and strengthen the identity of the district.
project: Julia Margas
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