The team at RMJM Prague recently placed fourth in Polish competition for a mixed-use development in the city of Gdynia. The competition was close and they were thrilled to have been considered alongside a number of prestigious firms. RMJM Prague’s design drew on the city’s historic identity as a small fishing village and later as a prominent Polish seaport. The team’s concept was a tribute to the fishermen founders of the city while also paying homage to the marine architecture of the region.
The 2 residential towers were inspired by the sails of a boat, curving in all three dimensions. The cladding of these towers was composed of a frosted glass that created a light, translucent envelope that again evoked the imagery of a ship’s sails. Taking lessons from the events of 2020 and the prevailing global pandemic, the team emphasised the importance of access to private outdoor spaces. For that reason, they ensured that all the apartments in the tower included private balconies.
Image © RMJM Prague
Along with private outdoor space, the rooftops of the towers held a common garden space for the residents, populated with lush greenery to tie in with the ground-level landscaping the team envisioned. “One of the significant features of this project was the inclusion of as much private outdoor space as possible. One of the lesson that we, as architects, have taken away from the last year is how important it is for people to have access to their own outdoor environments, for both their physical and mental wellbeing” said Luca Aldrighi, Design Director.
Continuing with the sailing theme, the office building within the development, placed strategically at the forefront of the site, was shaped to embody the keel of a ship. Again, the roof is linked to the surroundings through curated gardens, this time across a series of stepped green terraces. Completing the oceanic imagery, the central piazza, shaped by the curved surfaces of the surrounding buildings emulates the organic shape of a conch shell. Source and images Courtesy of RMJM Prague.
Image © RMJM Prague 
Image © RMJM Prague 
Image © RMJM Prague
