Museum and square: where history emerges from the ground and shapes the future

The Solidarity Square in Szczecin, historically a scene of protests and labor movements, has become a symbol of struggle and change. In recent years, thanks to an ambitious urban plan, the square has been completely redeveloped. Among the new interventions stands out the National Museum "Przełomy," which perfectly integrates contemporary architecture and historical memory, giving new life to this emblematic space of the city

From compromised identity to symbol of freedom

Until 1945, the city of Szczecin belonged to Germany before being incorporated into Poland following the redefinition of post-war borders: a change that deeply marked the identity of the city and its inhabitants. Before the war, the current Solidarity Square was considered one of the most representative and lively points of the city, a sort of showcase of the urban center. However, during the wartime bombings, the entire neighborhood was almost completely razed to the ground, leaving a physical and symbolic void in the urban fabric.

In the following years, the square became a place of great historical significance: it was here that in 1970 the workers' protest, brutally suppressed, took place, an event that consecrated the square as a symbol of the struggle for freedom and civil rights. Today, this emblematic space houses the Dialogue Centre Przełomy museum, one of the architecture projects signed by KWK Promes Konieczny, which with its unique design celebrates memory and offers a space dedicated to reflection and dialogue on the city's troubled history.

From unfinished space to contemporary symbol

For years, Solidarity Square remained only formally a square, with blurred boundaries, open facades, and lacking a specific function that truly made it a city landmark. This space, relegated to an uncertain identity, lacked a defined form and a role in the urban fabric. However, with the arrival of the 21st century, the area has been at the center of significant architectural interventions that have profoundly changed its appearance and meaning.

One of these crucial interventions took place in 2014, when the former Konzerthaus was replaced by a new and extraordinary home for the Philharmonic, designed by the Spanish studio Estudio Barozzi Veiga. This iconic architectural work has revitalized the square, giving it a new centrality and identity and has received international recognition, including the prestigious Mies van der Rohe Award in 2015, confirming the importance of the project as a symbol of cultural and architectural rebirth.

A museum sculpted from the ground

Subsequently, the Dialogue Centre Przełomy was created, an architectural intervention that represents a perfect hybrid between museum architecture and innovative urban design. The project stands out for its ability to enclose space, transforming it into a sort of autonomous neighborhood, while still maintaining the values of an open and accessible public area. The square, in fact, is not simply a delimited area but, through its "flattened" surfaces, becomes an integral part of the museum's architecture, serving as the building's ground floor.

On one side is the museum, offering an exhibition space that invites dialogue and historical reflection, while on the other side emerges an artificial hill, a true natural barrier that closes off the square, defining its boundaries. This hill, in addition to protecting the area from the noise and chaos of the surrounding traffic, creates a visually striking effect, transforming the entire space into an open-air work of art. In this way, the Dialogue Centre Przełomy not only enriches the square with a new cultural function, but also redefines the entire urban landscape, harmonizing aesthetics, utility, and social connection.

A journey into the heart of history

The shape of the "Przełomy" Museum develops as a natural continuation of the concrete floor of the square, covered with rectangular tiles that extend without interruptions. In one of the elevated corners, the covering rises, taking on an additional dimension, transforming into cubes and cuboid blocks that define the outlines of the museum's architecture. This gradual transition from the horizontal plane to three-dimensional structures gives a visual effect that seems to sculpt the museum directly from the urban ground.

The main exhibition space is hidden underground, giving the museum an aura of mystery and depth. Descending the stairs, visitors immerse themselves in a dimly lit environment, a deliberately dark introduction that prepares the viewer to face the historical narrative that has marked the city. This symbolic descent, like a journey through time and memory, intensifies the exploration experience, creating an emotional connection between the architectural space and the historical events recounted in the museum's rooms.

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