The Architectural Guide to Wrzeszcz is a publication that showcases the diverse architecture of one of the oldest parts of Gdańsk.
Wrzeszcz is one of the few districts that fortunately escaped the massive destruction suffered by Gdańsk during World War II. As a result, the architectural fabric of this part of the city has been largely preserved. This guide highlights the most interesting buildings in Wrzeszcz, ranging from late 19th-century villas and pre-war tenement houses to modernist public buildings from the interwar period and examples of Socialist Realist architecture. The architectural guide to Wrzeszcz describes:
- 19th-century Art Nouveau villas,
- a garrison built in the early 20th century for Wilhelm II's army,
- pre-war modernism created by German architects,
- the only synagogue in Gdańsk to have survived the war,
- workers' housing reminiscent of the architecture in Manchester,
- Socialist Realist architecture built in the 1950s,
- the first public park in Europe.
You’ll find them all in Wrzeszcz, within walking distance, and in our guide!
An Architectural Guide to Wrzeszcz in Numbers:
- 46 architectural entries,
- a comprehensive introduction describing the history of Wrzeszcz,
- trilingual version: Polish, English, and German
- Over 160 pages, hardcover.
More about the guide and the architecture of Wrzeszcz
Wrzeszcz is one of the few districts of Gdańsk that escaped wartime destruction. For over 100 years, Gdańsk was under Prussian rule, a fact reflected in the architecture designed for both the elite and the working class. During the interwar period, it became the Free City of Gdańsk, an area independent of both Germany and Poland. After the war, it came under the influence of communist architectural ideology.
Wrzeszcz was largely spared from the destructive upheavals of the 20th century, and its architecture presents a fairly cohesive architectural picture. This architectural heritage fosters a sense of belonging and also shapes the identity of the city of Gdańsk. Some of the buildings are in excellent condition, while many require renovation or have lost their original functions, but we believe their beauty must be showcased. That is why, with tremendous support from the local community and architecture enthusiasts, we have published the Architectural Guide to Wrzeszcz.
And all of this in the neighborhood where Holger Czukay and Günter Grass grew up before the war! So it’s best to visit Wrzeszcz with the music of Can playing in your headphones, following in the footsteps of the characters from the Nobel laureate’s *The Tin Drum*, and with the *Architectural Guide to Wrzeszcz* in hand!
The guide contains several dozen entries describing the purpose of the buildings and the functions they served or continue to serve—each accompanied by an illustration by Michał Peck. The colorful illustrations are reminiscent of architectural drawings that translate the architect’s ideas onto paper. There is also an introduction explaining why this is one of the most interesting neighborhoods not only in Gdańsk but also in Europe.
The guide was launched during the Wrzeszcz Architecture Weekend.
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