Winners announced for Museum of the Second World War in Poland, Gdańsk

A jury consisting of Daniel Libeskind, Wiesław Bielawski, Grzegorz Buczek, Wiesław Czabański, Wojciech Duda, George Ferguson, Wiesław Gruszkowski, Jack Lohman, Andrzej Pągowski, and Hans Stimmann has announced their decision for the competition for the

Museum of the Second World War in Poland, Gdańsk.

• Prize I EUR 80,000- entry no. 117- identification number 84171358- 92 pt – Studio Architektoniczne "Kwadrat", Gdynia; Poland. (See below for details)
• Prize II EUR 50,000- entry no. 125- identification number 11092109- 79 pt – Piotr Płaskowicki & partnerzy Architekci; Warszawa; Poland.
• Prize III EUR 30,000- entry no. 21- identification number 02122001- 75 pt – BETAPLAN S.A. ; Ateny; Greece.

View the winning entry "Kwadrat", with jury comments, below...

The Jury is of the opinion that the design selected in the Architectural Competition has every chance of becoming one of the most important features of the GdaÅ„sk City Centre from the very beginning.  In our belief it meets all conditions of  joining in the sophisticated symbols in the future alongside the Armoury, St Mary’s Church, or the Crane.

The huge building tactfully merges in the neighbourhood sharing the chance of becoming an icon of GdaÅ„sk with the major historic elements around.  The minimalist means of architectural expression proposed by the authors gracefully blend the modern idea of the building with the historic background.  In its Design, the innovative, huge-scale project makes use of the unique air of the city and transforms it in a modern manner.  The colour and texture proposed in the design smoothly blend with the colours of GdaÅ„sk giving the museum the power to pass the test of the 21.c century.

The huge building tactfully merges in the neighbourhood sharing the chance of becoming an icon of GdaÅ„sk with the major historic elements around.  The minimalist means of architectural expression proposed by the authors gracefully blend the modern idea of the building with the historic background.  In its Design, the innovative, huge-scale project makes use of the unique air of the city and transforms it in a modern manner.  The colour and texture proposed in the design smoothly blend with the colours of GdaÅ„sk giving the museum the power to pass the test of the 21.c century.

The design embraces an immense building, which serves varied purposes.  Dynamic, huge in scale, the building carries an air of a sculpture created by the visitors.  It rises symbolically from the ground, led by light, bold, Simple, and naked, symbolically placed in the geometry of the shipyard.  It links the ground – its gloom, chill, and imprint of the Past, with the skies – hope, freshness, and Future.  In this ingenious design, a rational vision of a public facility meets the wealth of history.    It rings full sound, telling a story hard to chew for any generation, the story we must never forget. The attractive body of the building cumulates emotions, portrays the terror of war  without depriving us of hope. It does not leave its interpreters buried in the gloom of the difficult topic.

The elegant pavilion, together with the obelisk nearby, squeezes into the ground and strikes the viewer with light, creating a symbol of catastrophe and the surviving hope. Phoenix-like, the building rises  from Mother  Earth, its ashes, towards the sky. The building will easily imprint itself on the visitors minds, conveying and being an unforgettable experience, both due to its interior and exterior. It will become a major feature on the plan of GdaÅ„sk, perfectly composed in space.

The well-organised and modern building combines an immense range of functions . It offers huge space for permanent exhibitions, while remaining open for any displays in the future.  The visitors to and the residents of the Tri-City will love it as an attraction. The designed tower will play a major role in gaining an image of the entire city, offering a fresh perspective view of GdaÅ„sk, which will enhance the Museum’s valuable function of a viewing point.

As a public space, the Museum Has the potential of a meeting  place for families, tourists, and acquaintances, of taking in dozens of cars. It incorporates an ingenious concept with functionality.

This exceptionally designed Museum of the Second World War will become a major attraction, telling the story of paramount importance for the humanity. It will grow to become a timeless symbol inscribed in the hearts of the people of Gdańsk, Poland, and Europe.