"The Gdynia Monuments Day 2011" ("Dzień Gdyńskich Zabytków 2011”) will be held in Gdynia on Sunday, 25th September - an outdoor event organized by the City Council of Gdynia aimed at promotion of the historical heritage of Gdynia, especially the monuments of the interwar period. Port of Gdynia Authority SA joined the action by opening two objects to the public (also inside for groups led by guides): air raid shelter at ul. Polska 5 and Marine Station at ul. Polska 1.
Port of Gdynia Authority SA carries out its statutory tasks with care for the historical legacy in the form of historic buildings located in the area administered by the company. We would like to outline these objects to the potential visitors.
"H" Storage Building located in Gdynia at ul. Polska 17 – with built up area of 4,216m2 and 18,164m2 of usable floor space, was built in two stages: the first two floors were built in the years 1931-1932, another three were built in 1934 by the Engineering Office of K. Jaskólski and K. Brygiewicz.
From the very beginning the storage building was intended for long-term storage of goods. During World War II, it served as the ammunition depot. The building is timber-framed monolithic, reinforced concrete, filled with brick. The storage building is an example of the harmonious combination of the idea of functionalism and constructivism characteristic for the European industrial architecture of interwar period.
This is reflected in its simple and unconventional architectural form which shows on the facade of the building its construction outline and functional layout of the object (this magnificent building’s facades exhibit vivid contrast between the framed reinforced concrete structure and red brick filling of the wall).
Currently the building is used for storage of light unitized goods. In 1998, the "H" storage building was registered in the register of monuments of the Pomeranian province - as an example of pre-war industrial architecture and also because of the unique load-bearing structure of the object made of reinforced concrete.
In the years 2010 - 2011, on the basis of the decision allowing the implementation of the work on the historic site issued by the Pomeranian Provincial Conservator of Monuments and the building permit issued by the Governor of the Pomeranian Province, the Port of Gdynia Authority SA commissioned the refurbishment and renovation of the facade of the building, external ramps, canopies over the ramps and adaptation of windows and external emergency exits in the gable walls of the building to the existing fire safety regulations for buildings.
All work was carried out by ELEVAWACJE SA, a company from Gdańsk which has extensive experience in the implementation of the facade works under the constant supervision of the Provincial and Municipal Conservator of Monuments. After the refurbishment the facade has regained its original beauty and color scheme existing before the 80's.
This is not, however, the only historic building in the area administered by the Port of Gdynia Authority SA. The Grain Elevator Building situated on the Indian Quay, i.e. in the port’s restricted area, was registered in the register of monuments of the province of Gdańsk in 1990.
At the time of erection it was one of the most advanced elevators of handling type in Europe. It is an academic example of functional industrial architecture, where the very high spatial qualities of object were achieved with the use of modest means of artistic expression.
Despite the passage of time, the elevator continues to function - and some pre-war machines are still in use there. The shape of the elevator, so characteristic for the port of Gdynia, also remained immutable. In recent years a number of renovations were carried out at the facility, including roof and façade which were renovated in accordance with the engineering solutions agreed with the Pomeranian Provincial Conservator of Monuments.
The Marine Station Building at ul. Polska 1, also registered in the register of monuments of province of Gdańsk, was built between 1932-1934. It served passengers on the line Gdynia- America. The facility combines the three storey part of the station which is open to the public with a two-storey customs clearance hall in the adjacent Storage Building No. 1 (the Storage Building No. 1 is also registered in the register of monuments of the province). The Marine Station is a valuable example of modernist public building.
It represents a harmonious combination of two functionally different elements of the object, that is the representative and storage parts. The building is still in use and it is currently used as an office. On 24th June 2010 there was a presentation of an idea to create the Museum of Emigration in the building. The Port Authority and the authorities of Gdynia signed a letter of intent on a joint action to establish a museum in this historic place.
In both objects (the Station and the Storage Building No. 1) the Port Authority has carried out a number of works in recent years, including insulation of external walls, roof repair, partial replacement of windows, repair of central heating, water and sewage systems, electrical installation, repair and modernization of the outdoor ramp and the modernization of lift in the storage area of the building.
The registered office of the Port Authority itself - an office building from 1932 located at ul. Rotterdamska 9 in Gdynia – is also rated among objects of historical values.
In 2009, the Municipal Conservator of Monuments in Gdynia entered it into the municipal register of monuments of Gdynia. The building is one of the most representative buildings in the port of Gdynia, because of its exceptional architectural values, i.e. the outer design and interior decor.
The Port Authority seeks to preserve and expose exceptional spatial qualities of the building. The representative main lobby and main staircase has been revitalized and additional fire protection has been installed recently. The building still serves the function for which it was erected - i.e. the office. The PGA - SA works on the design related to revitalization of the building's facade and implements preparatory work related to the reconstruction of some rooms in the building in order to adapt them to current requirements and utility functions.
In total, there are four buildings included in the register of monuments of Pomerania Province and about thirty buildings registered in the Gdynia municipal register of monuments that are administered by the Port of Gdynia Authority SA. Therefore, in accordance with the applicable building law, the PGA - SA shall always obtain a decision from the Pomeranian Provincial Conservator of Monuments to carry out any works on these buildings, adjusting the scope of works, technology and colour scheme of the revitalized elements of buildings to the conservator’s requirements.
There are also other monuments within the area of the Commercial Port in Gdynia that were erected before the war. These include such famous buildings as the Maritime Authority, Tobacco Warehouse, Cold Store, Oil Mill and Rice Mill. The technical condition of these objects varies significantly and the PGA - SA has no influence on their current condition and future fate, as they are owned by other business entities and institutions.
