Abstract

Sopot is the best-known seaside resort in Poland. The city is unique with regard not only to its location and natural values, but also its interesting architecture, which dates back to the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. The relic of that era is the largest in the country number of buildings characteristic for the Northern European seaside resorts. The architecture of historic Sopot is dominated by eclectic influences, including mainly the features of Neo-gothic and Art-Nouveau. Sopot architecture is distinguishable by its richness of form, including wooden verandas, turrets, bay windows and architectonic details. The unique image of the city, which is a mosaic of landscape values and architecture from the turn of the 20th century constitutes valuable cultural heritage and its preservation is extremely important. After the Second World War the majority of private tenement houses, residences and even single-family houses became municipal property. The communist authorities, due to the permanent economic crisis, were not able to maintain in appropriate condition the buildings which had been taken over by the state. The circumstances were equally unfavourable for public utility buildings – long-lasting disregard for architecture from the turn of the 20th century did not promote solicitous attitude towards historic buildings and, in extreme cases, led to their demolition in the course of misconceived “city clean-up”. This was the situation until the beginning of the 1990’s, when Poland regained its sovereignty and became a fully democratic country. Revitalisation activities aimed at revival of the former splendour and cultural value of historic architecture in Sopot were launched. Since 1997 investment plans of Sopot residents have been supported by local programmes, whose aim is to give financial aid to condominiums. Municipal authorities have been intensifying their activities aimed at obtaining investors, and participate in realisation of investment goals. Do the undertakings of municipal authorities, investors and architects translate into the quality of architecture and town-planning? This article analyses the changes which have taken place over the past 25 years and attempts to provide an answer to the question posed in the title.

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