Over the years, the southern part of Gdańsk has developed faster than its infrastructure. Now the city wants to bring order to the chaos: a railway line and a master plan for the 164 hectares surrounding the stations are intended to unify this part of Gdańsk and provide residents with local hubs, green spaces, and services. The railway will not only connect the area but also create entirely new places to live.
Southern Gdańsk is developing at a rapid pace. Cheaper land—and thus more affordable housing prices—have made this the only realistic chance for many people to buy their own home and move out on their own. However, there is another side to the coin: for years, this part of the city has grown faster than its infrastructure. There is no distinct local center; residents complain about traffic jams, a lack of services, limited access to public transportation, and the poor quality of public spaces.
Gdańsk’s South in Need of Repair
The construction of the PKM Południe railway line from downtown Gdańsk to Kowale is intended to help “revitalize” this part of the city. Around six new stations—Gdańsk Oruńskie Przedmieście, Gdańsk Chełm, Gdańsk Orunia Górna, Gdańsk Maćkowy, Gdańsk Łostowice, and Gdańsk Kowale, local centers will emerge featuring new development, retail, educational and cultural facilities, and attractive public spaces. In these areas, intensive, mixed-use development is expected.
Although less than half a year has passed since the selection of the designers who will develop the master plan to organize this chaotically developing district, experts have already presented a preliminary concept. The project, entrusted to architects from the Dutch firm KCAP in Rotterdam and Gdańsk-based A2P2 architecture & planning, covers as much as 164 ha of land along the planned PKM Południe line.
Gdańsk Nowe Południe, project model
press materials/InvestGDA
new community hubs around six stops
Officials emphasize that the presented concept — which was developed based on the results of consultations conducted in March of this year — is neither a finalized design nor a definitive development plan. It is a 1:2500-scale study showing where green spaces, public spaces, and — above all — new buildings might be located.
Gdańsk Oruńskie Przedmieście stop, preliminary urban concept
press materials/InvestGDA
The concept illustrates, among other things, the proposed spatial structure, main public spaces, the layout of green areas, the location of future service centers, and the directions of residential and commercial development. The currently scattered parts of Gdańsk’s southern districts will be “stitched together.”
Gdańsk South: Not Just for Drivers
Moreover, the designers want to move away from a model in which everything is subordinated to cars. They propose a layout that is friendly to pedestrians, cyclists, and public transportation, along with a cohesive green space system—from stream valleys and retention basins to linear parks and new pedestrian and bicycle connections.
From a national perspective, this is a unique project, as a railway is being built in the heart of the city, in a highly urbanized area. But we don’t want the railway to simply cut this space in half. We want to listen to the voices of residents and develop these areas so that they serve not only transportation purposes but also help build a comfortable place with a high quality of life and a wide range of public and private services in the South Gdańsk area
— said Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, mayor of Gdańsk.
Michał Jamroż, project manager for Gdańsk New South, argues that residents expect not only efficient transportation but also well-designed spaces for everyday life: green spaces, services, public spaces, and local activity centers.
Preliminary urban design concept. Chełm
Press materials / InvestGDA
“In practice, we’re now addressing the question of how Gdańsk’s southern districts should develop following the launch of the PKM Południe project ,” adds Michał Jamroż. — We’re not designing specific buildings or neighborhoods yet. At this stage, we’re defining the principles for the development of the entire area —where new services, public spaces, green spaces, and buildings should be located to fully leverage the potential of the new rail line.
The designers have prepared a model that illustrates what the relationships between future buildings, green spaces, public spaces, and PKM stations might look like. However, detailed urban planning and architectural solutions will be developed during the next phase of work and will also be subject to public consultation. The master plan will be ready next summer.
