How did Gdansk and Szczecin become Polish? A discussion at the Pilecki Institute in Berlin
Gdańsk (Danzig) and Szczecin (Stettin) are two port cities whose urban planning and architecture reflect the complex and turbulent history of 20th-century Europe. After the end of World War II, both cities experienced a change in national identity, and a complete population exchange occurred. Both cities officially belonged to Poland after 1945. The new residents were faced with the task of rebuilding and redefining an unfamiliar space. This began a process of getting to know a foreign country, establishing roots, and building a new history, which also found expression in the architecture.
In determining the form and scope of reconstruction, efforts were made to highlight significant elements of the existing cultural landscape and underscore the historical connection between both cities and the Polish state. The change in the political system—particularly the nationalization of property—enabled a comprehensive, top-down approach to spatial development, which in turn had a significant impact on the reconstruction process.
Yet despite these similarities, the reconstruction of Gdańsk and Szczecin followed remarkably different paths. Gdańsk focused on restoring the historic character of the buildings in the Old Town, while Szczecin chose to integrate contemporary architecture into the same context. These decisions had a lasting impact on the spatial development of both cities, and the consequences are still visible today.
A panel discussion at the Pilecki Institute in Berlin (Thursday, 6:30 p.m.) will focus on the reconstruction of the two cities, each with its own unique history. Dr. Jakub Golebiewski, Dr. Justyna Borucka, and Prof. Uta Pottgiesser will be among the panelists. The event will reflect on how current generations are dealing with the legacy of post-war reconstruction and modernization, and how the processes described above are assessed in both cities today.
Has the attempt to create a new post-war identity proven successful in the face of a renewed longing for the past and the pre-war image of these cities? How are the principles established then being redefined in the context of ongoing urban development and densification? And finally: What does contemporary architecture in Gdańsk and Szczecin reveal about the current perception of the cities' identities?
In Search of Identity: The Post-War Reconstruction of Gdańsk and Szczecin and Its Contemporary Echoes. Discussion at the Pilecki Institute, Thursday, May 22, 6:30 p.m., Pariser Platz 4a. https://berlin.instytutpileckiego.pl/de
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Berliner-zeitung
