Gdynia Celebrates 100 Years with Modernist Architecture Tours

The news in Polish

1. portowy
   Związany z portem, dotyczący portu lub mający port. ↩︎
2. modernistyczny
   Związany z modernizmem, stylem architektonicznym i artystycznym z początku XX wieku. ↩︎
3. skierować
   Zwrócić coś lub kogoś w określonym kierunku. ↩︎
4. przyjeżdżać
   Przybywać do jakiegoś miejsca za pomocą pojazdu lub środka transportu. ↩︎
5. architektura  (f.)
   Sztuka i nauka projektowania i budowania budynków oraz innych konstrukcji. ↩︎
6. wyjątkowy
   Taki, który wyróżnia się spośród innych, niepowtarzalny, szczególny. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: How old is Gdynia?

Question 2: Why do people travel to Gdynia from across Poland?

Vocabulary

Polish	English
portowy	port
modernistyczny	modernist
skierować	to direct
przyjeżdżać	to arrive
architektura  (f.)	architecture
wyjątkowy	unique

Read the full story

Gdynia, a port city on Poland’s Baltic coast, is marking the 100th anniversary of receiving its city rights, drawing attention to its remarkable modernist architecture and distinctive urban layout.

The city is best appreciated from Kamień Hill, where the unique relationship between the sea and the architecture becomes clear. The sea is not a distant backdrop but an active presence, visible along street axes and between pale building façades. According to those who know the city well, Gdynia’s city centre features a so-called sea axis — a monumental opening of the city towards the open water — a level of urban planning that is rare anywhere in the world.

Gdynia was built within a single generation in a unified yet varied architectural style. Despite an apparent simplicity, its buildings are characterised by rich detail and a standard of craftsmanship described as practically unseen today. The city is considered unique among European modernist cities for how thoroughly the sea shapes its composition.

Architecture walks are drawing growing numbers of visitors, not only local residents but people travelling from across Poland, including from Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, and Cieszyn. Participants say they come specifically to study Gdynia’s architecture and compare it with buildings in their home cities. The walks attract people of all ages, and organisers note that one regular participant is a child of just a few years old who attends with their parents.

During the walks, participants are introduced to Gdynia’s architectural heritage in districts not typically associated with modernism. Organisers note that visitors sometimes bring their own knowledge about the buildings, and that relatives of Gdynia’s original architects have also joined the tours, adding personal details to the accounts.

One photographer involved in documenting the city says the true phenomenon of Gdynia’s modernism lies not only in the buildings themselves but in the relationship between the architecture and everyday life, with people giving the city its rhythm and keeping modernism alive.