Danzigerhof

location:

Gdańsk

date:

2018

client:

Elfeko Sp. z o.o.

area:

30 764.46 m²

status:

competition entry

The competition brief required integrating a contemporary mixed-use structure into a highly sensitive historical context, while simultaneously meeting the Investor’s extensive functional program requirements and adhering to the Local Development Plan guidelines. Our entry was selected for the second stage of the competition.

The mixed-use building is situated on the former site of the Danzigerhof Hotel, which was destroyed during WWII. It occupies the southern termination of a key city block defined by Wały Jagiellońskie Street (West), Targ Drzewny (North), Targ Węglowy (East), and Brama Wyżynna (Highland Gate) to the South. In conjunction with the adjacent bank structure, the new Danzigerhof creates a compositional closure—a defined frame for the Renaissance Brama Wyżynna, marking the start of the historic Royal Route and the traditional western entrance to the Main City.

In line with the competition regulations, the planned development was divided into two phases. Phase I comprises a mixed-use structure dedicated to commercial, hotel, and office functions. Phase II further expands the building program with additional services, hotel accommodations, and office space. A significant feature of the second phase is an open commercial passage—conceived in our design as a complement to the public space—linking Targ Węglowy and Wały Jagiellońskie Street.

The building’s massing and form draw inspiration from historical archetypes, yet the final design remains distinctly modern and timeless. The facade’s rhythmic organization, vertical divisions, colonnades, and the roof’s geometry collectively establish an elegant, restrained character for the facility. Materials were carefully selected to ensure harmony with the surrounding urban fabric. These include features such as satin-finished copper cladding and stone accents that subtly reference the detailing of adjacent historical monuments.