Scientists from Gdańsk Tech contributed to the inscription of the modernist city center of Gdynia on the UNESCO list
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee made its decision on Monday, July 27, during the 48th session in Busan, South Korea. This international recognition crowned many years of efforts to acknowledge the exceptional value of downtown Gdynia. Among the authors of the application were representatives of the Faculty of Architecture at Gdańsk Tech.
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee made its decision on Monday, July 27, during the 48th session in Busan, South Korea. This international recognition crowned many years of efforts to acknowledge the exceptional value of downtown Gdynia. Among the authors of the application were representatives of the Faculty of Architecture at Gdańsk Tech.
The entry confirms the unique and timeless character of the Modernist Center of Gdynia. The committee appreciated the urban coherence of the city, its strong connection to the sea, the functionality of the urban fabric preserved to this day, and the avant-garde interwar architecture, simultaneously rooted in local tradition.
– Many of the solutions implemented in the 1930s during the creation of the modernist city centre of Gdynia could still be realized today without surprising anyone. This demonstrates how modern and timeless the concept of this part of the city was, which has just been recognized by its inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List. I am pleased that researchers from our faculty, through years of study and commitment to preserving Gdynia's modernism, have played a significant role in this historic achievement – says Prof. Jakub Szczepański, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at Gdańsk Tech.
Gdańsk Tech Experts Co-created the Application
The authors of the application included Prof. Maria Jolanta Sołtysik, PhD hab. Eng. Arch. Robert Hirsch, and PhD Eng. Arch. Marek Stępa, all affiliated with the Faculty of Architecture at Gdańsk Tech. For years, they have been conducting research and activities aimed at protecting and popularizing the modernist heritage of Gdynia.
Prof. Maria Jolanta Sołtysik is a pioneer in research on Gdynia’s modernism and the author of fundamental publications dedicated to the city's architecture. PhD hab. Eng. Arch. Robert Hirsch is a monument conservator and researcher of the protection of Gdynia’s modernist heritage. PhD Eng. Arch. Marek Stępa has for years been involved in efforts to promote and protect the city’s architectural identity.
– The inscription of the Modernist Centre of Gdynia on the UNESCO World Heritage List marks the culmination of over 20 years of research on the city’s architecture as well as efforts related to its protection and conservation. As the authors of the dossier, i.e. the nomination documentation, we worked for years to ensure that the exceptional value of Gdynia’s modernism was recognized and acknowledged on the international stage. This is a tremendous success for Gdynia, but also for Gdańsk Tech – says Dr. habil. Eng. arch. Robert Hirsch from the Faculty of Architecture at Gdańsk Tech, who participated in the sessions of the World Heritage Committee in Busan.
The Modernist Center of Gdynia is the 18th site from Poland inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The path to this recognition lasted many years. In 2025, the World Heritage Committee requested the nomination for completion, neither rejecting it nor questioning the exceptional value of the site. After refining the documentation, the application was reconsidered during the 48th session of the Committee in Busan.
What the Inscription Means for Gdynia
Being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List does not mean introducing entirely new restrictions regarding renovations and investments. Gdynia’s city center was registered as a monument in 2007, and the applicable local spatial development plans already define detailed principles for its protection.
Additional procedures will mainly be necessary when assessing the impact of new investments on the inscribed area. However, this does not mean halting the development of the city center, as the possible building forms are already determined by the existing local plans.
The inscription is an international confirmation of the exceptional value of Gdynia’s modernist center and the effectiveness of long-term efforts to protect it. It also represents recognition for the research and expert work conducted by representatives of the Faculty of Architecture at Gdańsk Tech.
