The project for a Neighbourhood Centre and a branch of the Gdynia Public Library was conceived as a contemporary civic space that brings together opportunities for meeting, learning, relaxation, and social interaction for residents of all ages and backgrounds.A key objective was to create an intimate public square at the heart of the development. Carefully positioned on the site, the new building forms a sheltered outdoor space that enables a wide range of community activities despite the challenging location at one of the district’s busiest intersections. The building was designed to act as an acoustic buffer, presenting a more enclosed façade towards the surrounding streets while opening up towards the internal square.The building’s form is shaped by both the topography of the site and its urban context. Positioned along the street frontage, the volume is articulated through a series of setbacks that help diffuse traffic noise while giving the architecture a dynamic and human-scaled character. This approach creates a quieter and more welcoming environment for the public spaces within the development.

The façades facing the internal square are finished in off-white render, in accordance with the city architect’s design guidelines. Their calm and understated character provides a neutral backdrop for the public space and helps reinforce the welcoming atmosphere of the development.The buildings, public square, and landscape elements are conceived as a unified composition in both material and spatial terms. Light terrazzo paving extends from the square into the building interiors and continues seamlessly onto the stepped seating terraces surrounding the plaza. This continuity creates a strong visual and physical connection between architecture and public space, blurring the boundary between inside and outside.

The amphitheatre-style seating provides a flexible setting for workshops, community events, and open-air film screenings, encouraging social interaction and bringing residents together. At the centre of the square, a ground-level fountain introduces the sound of moving water, helping to soften and mask traffic noise from the surrounding streets.Special attention was given to creating spaces for different user groups. Sunny seating areas and chess tables nestled within greenery offer comfortable places for older residents to relax and meet. Both buildings feature publicly accessible roof terraces that can be reached from the interiors as well as directly from the square, extending the range of outdoor spaces available throughout the development.The entire complex is supported by a coherent wayfinding system and has been designed to meet the highest standards of accessibility.The square is complemented by a diverse planting scheme composed of ornamental grasses and fruit trees, adding seasonal variety and a more domestic character to the public space. Along the street edge, rows of trees and climbing vegetation provide an additional green buffer, helping to define the site while enhancing its environmental quality.