Funkcjonalny kompleks obsługi emigrantów. Architektura Etapu Emigracyjnego w Gdyni

Abstrakt

The Emigration Camp in Gdynia is a unique group of buildings designed for Poles willing to emigrate across the ocean. It is an impressive complex, whose primary task was to prepare the masses of emigrants, coming to Gdynia from all over Poland for their overseas journey and the strict health controls in the harbour of their destination.

The original plans assumed the construction of a huge, self-sufficient complex that ultimately would accommodate hundreds of emigrants every day. The main idea was to divide the whole complex and create the so-called „clean” and „unclean” sides, with all the necessary facilities and infrastructure. Due to the restriction of the emigration to the USA and the upcoming Second World War finally only three buildings were raised, including the key structure of the camp: the disinfection building. In this edifice future emigrants and their luggage had to go through several stages of the necessary hygiene and disinfection procedures.

The Emigration Camp in Gdynia is designed in a very modern, functional, and direct style. Grey cement brick is the main building material used. The shapes of the buildings are very simple: cubic with few architectural ornaments.

Two architects, who were very active in Gdynia in the interwar times: Adam Kuncewicz and Adam Paprocki, were commissioned to design the complex. It builds on systems developed in other emigration complexes situated in Europe (like Bremen or Antwerp) while using the most modern and progressive ideas on medicine and hygiene of the time.

The Emigration Camp in Gdynia is an important part of the architectural heritage of this city, even though it does not affect its overall picture. The main value of this unique design is its very modern and professional approach to such an unusual topic.