Outdoor Grass Rooms Transform Historic Gdansk Public Square Into Interactive Urban Park
October 16, 2013 by Robin Plaskoff Horton
When the city of Gdansk, Poland removed parking from its historic Targ Weglowy Square, the absence of cars presented a new urban planning and design opportunity that could simultaneously test public interaction within the square.
From August 26 to September 4, the city’s main square was recreated into a temporary space formed of “urban grass rooms.”
By observing how city residents adapted to and arranged the space according to their needs, the impromptu park functioned as a sort of lab for the city to gather important usage information and for residents to offer opinions about future similar development of the public square.
Based on a principle of public participation, the main concept involved encouraging citizens into a kind of game in which they would participate from the moment they entered the square.
Visitors were encouraged to assemble their own comfortable little spaces using lightweight modular wooden cubes.
Children could themselves create their ideal playgrounds by arranging the boxes into various configurations, while adults used the same cubes as tables and seats as a means of dividing the space.
Natural grass areas split up the rather large square, creating turf rooms on which individuals relaxed and around which others gathered in groups.
Designed by GDYBY Group in collaboration with the City Culture Institute, the creative solution emerged from criteria such as the temporary usage of the space as well as a relatively small budget but also required that the space assimilate itself neutrally within its historical surroundings.
The resulting co-creative interactive space offered the citizens of Gdansk an opportunity to have breakfast together, spend the day reading, relaxing, and playing games, and in the evening watch films or attend special events.
via +Mood / photos courtesy of courtesy Gdyby Group
Category: Experiencing, Green & Sustainable, Public Gardens
Tags: Gadansk, grass rooms, greening public spaces, outdoor rooms, public park, public spaces, temporary public park, urban planning and design
Enjoyed this post? Subscribe to Urban Gardens!
share | 
e-mail a friend | comments (14)
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
— March 13, 2025 @ 04:25
633709 422964There is noticeably a bundle to learn about this. I assume you produced positive excellent points in capabilities also. 929438
— April 12, 2025 @ 02:23
Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?
— July 19, 2025 @ 05:59
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
— July 19, 2025 @ 17:17
Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?
— February 24, 2026 @ 18:38
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
— May 3, 2026 @ 08:30
okmark your blog and check again here regularly. I am quite sure I?ll learn lots of new stuff right here! Good luck for the next!
— May 15, 2026 @ 04:44
Wow! This could be one particular of the most useful blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Basically Great. I am also an expert in this topic therefore I can understand your hard work.
— May 16, 2026 @ 10:25
I?d need to check with you here. Which isn’t something I usually do! I take pleasure in studying a put up that may make individuals think. Additionally, thanks for allowing me to comment!
— May 16, 2026 @ 21:44
One thing is the fact one of the most common incentives for making use of your credit cards is a cash-back and also rebate supply. Generally, you get 1-5 back with various acquisitions. Depending on the credit card, you may get 1 back on most purchases, and 5 in return on expenditures made at convenience stores, filling stations, grocery stores in addition to ‘member merchants’.
— May 17, 2026 @ 05:21
I have observed that good real estate agents everywhere you go are Advertising and marketing. They are recognizing that it’s in addition to placing a sign post in the front place. It’s really pertaining to building connections with these vendors who sooner or later will become buyers. So, once you give your time and efforts to supporting these suppliers go it alone – the “Law of Reciprocity” kicks in. Thanks for your blog post.
— May 18, 2026 @ 17:55
Thanks for your advice on this blog. A single thing I would like to say is that often purchasing electronic products items in the Internet is not new. The fact is, in the past few years alone, the marketplace for online gadgets has grown substantially. Today, you can find practically any kind of electronic gizmo and other gadgets on the Internet, ranging from cameras and camcorders to computer spare parts and video games consoles.
— May 19, 2026 @ 06:39
I have come across that now, more and more people are now being attracted to surveillance cameras and the issue of pictures. However, to be a photographer, you need to first devote so much of your time deciding the model of photographic camera to buy as well as moving store to store just so you may buy the cheapest camera of the brand you have decided to pick. But it would not end right now there. You also have to take into consideration whether you should buy a digital camera extended warranty. Many thanks for the good suggestions I received from your website.
— May 22, 2026 @ 00:53
I?ll right away grasp your rss as I can not in finding your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly let me recognize so that I could subscribe. Thanks.
— May 23, 2026 @ 04:11