WORK IN PROGRESS // Fleischer / Gleichmann / Puciłowska / Texereau

WORK IN PROGRESS //

MINIMUM INJECTION – MAXIMUM IMPACT

The two main poles of the project are development and participation. Development is important, especially in this area, which is supposed to be able to change and adapt to new conditions, mostly lead by public needs. Placed in the heart of Gdynia harbour area, influenced by these circumstances it becomes quite obvious to design functions that fit well into this environment, but at the same time are able to develop on their own to fulfill the needs of the users of those functions.

That is the point where we reach the second pole of the concept. For visitors the harbour area normally is a foreign place with its own rules and behaviour. To get them there and make them wanting to come back it needs more than one function. For this is one thing more important than anything else: participation.

By letting people participate in the processes, which are needed to make such a project possible and successful, they gain more than products or services. They gain a high level of identification, not only with the building itself but with the whole harbour and the characterristics of that area.

With this in mind we decided to first refurbish or repair a part of the building and place there a public workshop, where people can come and build anything they want or participate in the construction of the place while being instructed by professionals. This first and only injection marks the starting point of the development. Money will be earned by selling or exhibite the projects, more people want to come there – the workshop extends – exhibitions and markets will be made, first outside until there is room for exhibitions inside – a bar is needed – the production pipelines are becoming finer, so rentable offices will be needed, as well as ateliers – people maybe want to be able to stay over night to get the job done, so a common flat would be necassary and so on. By placing a public workshop as first injection we give the place the possibility to develop on its own, driven by the needs and ambitions of the people who come there to express themselves in a completely foreign area.