European Solidarity Center in Gdansk, Poland

The land plot where the building of the European Solidarity Center will be erected is strategically located in the northern end of the Solidarity Square, where the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers stands, near Gate N2 and the BHP Hall.

The structural concept of the building is intimately related with the architectural concept, since most walls will be of white apparent concrete, and mostly due to its unique and peculiar shape. The building is set over a large square (level 0). It has a maximum plan dimension of 120m and stands 40m above the square level. The site which is excavated to a level of 12m below grade has a four level car park beneath the square.

The building is composed by a set of fifteen pentagon shaped zones which are well evidenced by the different slopes of the roof.

Each pentagon zone is in fact composed by 2 different pentagons: one inner and one outer. The outer walls of the peripheral pentagons form the façade. The external walls of each zone are straight above level 1, but converge, together with the inner walls, to a smaller and single pentagon at level 0.

The geometry of the building below ground level is much simpler in order to allow for a regular distribution of parking places and well fitted circulation lanes.