Almost twelve years had to wait for improvements to the Friends of Sopot Square. New trees, low greenery and small architecture complement well the space sometimes referred to so far as a stone pan. The work will end any day now. Such interventions are called for in many urban spaces across Poland.
Most important, but imperfect: too stony and not green enough. Such was for more than a decade the square of the Friends of Sopot, which is the most grandiose part of the walking tract in the Tri-City resort. The string connects the area near the train station and church with the Sopot pier, and the square itself is directly adjacent to the promenade in Bohaterów Monte Cassino Street (the popular Monciak) and the Spa Square.
tunnel under the frying pan
The square's current shape is the result of a major reconstruction of the city center completed in 2011. As part of it, two years earlier, the buildings of the Haffner Center and the Spa House (designed by the MAT studio from Gdansk) were constructed, which restored to the square the northern and eastern frontages that had not existed since 1945. Their architecture—maintained in a postmodern spirit with references to resort forms—can hardly be considered successful. On the other hand, the construction of a tunnel for cars under the square in the course of Bohaterów Warszawy and Grunwaldzka Streets, which cut through the pedestrian thoroughfare before reconstruction, was a correct decision. Priority was given to collision-free pedestrian traffic and the square became more friendly. However, not entirely.
Friends of Sopot Square, as of 2021
photo: Ewa Karendys
From the very beginning, users complained about too little greenery (there was more of it before the reconstruction) and diverse small architecture. True, trees were planted in the granite-lined space , but—apart from two small plots—low greenery and friendly integration space were missing. The misshapen stylized benches between the plane trees protruding from the barred plots did not encourage people to spend time on them. Despite its sizable size, it was a passable space. Empty and heating up in the summer, the "stone pan" had no chance of winning the favor of users.
Friends of Sopot Square, the square slab before and after changes
© Gzowski Architekci, Restudio Jacaszek Architekci
significant highlighting
That's why the residents of Sopot sought to change this situation. In 2017, they submitted a project to the Civic Budget to green the square. The proposal won the vote, but the city delayed implementing it for a very long time ( Ewa Karendys wrote more extensively on this subject in A&B). True, soon after the BO vote, a design workshop was held with the participation of residents, but work did not begin until last summer. The design of the changes was prepared by a consortium of two studios: Gzowski Architekci and Restudio Jacaszek Architekci.
Square of the Friends of Sopot, design of the new arrangement, view from the north
© Gzowski Architekci, Restudio Jacaszek Architekci
The designers did not make a revolution, but rather aptly highlighted the barely legible concept from 2011 of contrasting the rectangular trellis of the floor with a section of a circle along which trees were planted. This circle has now been clearly highlighted with low and medium-high greenery, which is already growing in the rather widely "drained" space along the string of trees (more than 500 sq. m. of uncovered granite surface has arrived). There are, among others, shrubs, perennials, compositions of grasses and bulbous plants, hedges of common hornbeams. Running in an arc, the rows also gained a setting on the outside in the form of pergolas ("organizing elements"), and on the inside—a composition of friendly seats different from the „historical” benches.
Friends of Sopot Square, new greenery arrangement, final works, May 8, 2023, view from the north
photo: Jakub Głaz
The square will also be diversified with climbing plants stretched on steel tendons. Small architecture will be complemented not only by benches, but bicycle racks, trash garbage cans and racks for outdoor exhibitions. Also new and more interesting is the lighting of the square, which will give it a more intimate character in the evening. Gone are the clumsily stylized lanterns replaced by discreet contemporary forms. New trees (although, unfortunately, already without the accompanying low greenery) have also been planted in the section between Monciak and the central space enriched with new greenery.
Friends of Sopot Square, new greenery arrangement, final works, May 8, 2023, new trees between the central area and "Monciak"
Photo: Jakub Głaz
baba in baba
In this way, a clear and interestingly divided into smaller enclaves "interior within interior" of the square was created, and it seems that the reception of this space will be much more positive. A full assessment will, of course, be possible after the first season, but already now—despite the many advantages mentioned earlier—the rather unfortunate green closure separating the tracts under the pergolas from the main slab of the square is striking. In fact, one can take bets that users will make wild forecourts for themselves in these places.
Friends of Sopot Square, new greenery arrangement, final works, May 8, 2023, view of the south side, „Alga” in the background. At the junction of the pergola and the main slab, a place that can be trampled is visible
Photo: Jakub Głaz
So much for conjecture, the real test is coming soon. The end of the long-lasting and somewhat delayed work (it was scheduled for May 8, the day we checked the status of the advanced work) will probably take place in late May/early June. If the seven-million zloty worth revaluation of the square in a leading Polish resort proves a success, then—perhaps—other Polish local governments will be quicker than the Sopot magistrate to repair in a similar way squares and streets imperfectly transformed in recent years.
