The new building was not conceived as an autonomous form detached from its context. It is a direct response to the place itself, its memory, its industrial landscape and its relationship with the Oder River. The repetition of rooflines, the rhythm of the built fabric and the raw character of the island are gathered and transformed into a new public structure that connects the heritage of Łasztownia with the role of a contemporary theatre.

The design positions the theatre along a new urban axis connecting the Old Town with Łasztownia. Thanks to the new crossing over the Oder, the building becomes a natural extension of pedestrian movement through the city and an important element in restoring Szczecin’s relationship with the river. The journey to the theatre begins well before reaching the entrance itself. It leads across the bridge, through the park and into the entrance square, creating a sequence of approaches, views and shared spaces. The theatre does not begin at a single threshold. It opens itself to the city on multiple levels and invites participation from the very first steps of arrival. From the promenade side, the building establishes a strong connection with the waterfront. The glazed foyer and open communal areas extend the public character of the urban space, allowing the building to remain active beyond performance hours.

A key element of the concept is the reinterpretation of Łasztownia’s skyline. The characteristic pitched roofs of the former granaries have not been recreated literally, but translated into a contemporary, layered roof system. It is precisely the rhythm of the historic built fabric that became the starting point for the new architecture. The double layered roof serves structural, climatic and lighting functions at the same time. It filters daylight, shapes the atmosphere of the interiors and creates a distinctive silhouette when viewed from the river. In the evening, it softly diffuses light outward, allowing the theatre to remain present in the city skyline after dark.

The design of the Contemporary Theatre is based on three principles: concentration, adaptability and participation. Here, contemporaneity is understood not as an aesthetic effect, but as a way of organising space, events and social relationships.

The Main Stage forms the most concentrated part of the building. The auditorium has been designed as a compact, vertically organised space that strengthens the sense of closeness between the stage and the audience and intensifies the experience of the performance. Rather than expanding horizontally, the design uses the section to achieve greater capacity while maintaining a compact building form. The hall is equipped with solutions that allow its configuration to change depending on the type of event. A variable orchestra pit makes it possible to adapt the space for opera, concerts and drama performances, while integrated structural and acoustic solutions support a high quality audience experience. The material expression of the interior has been subordinated to the idea of focused attention. Wood, controlled lighting and a restrained colour palette create an atmosphere of concentration in which the relationship between the audience and the stage becomes paramount.

The Studio Stage was conceived as a flexible space, open to a variety of use scenarios. Thanks to its folding façade and movable acoustic wall, it can function both as an intimate performance venue and as a space opening onto the park. It is a place that allows the theatre to respond to the changing needs of its artistic programme and social events. Here, adaptability is not an added feature, but an integral part of the architecture, embedded in the building’s section, acoustics and technical systems.

The Community Stage is the most open part of the scheme and directly connects the building with the landscape of the Oder River and the skyline of the Old Town. Full height glazing brings the river and the city into the theatre, allowing the architecture to become a backdrop for everyday life, meetings and events. In this part of the building, the boundary between interior and exterior remains fluid. Terraces, the promenade, the entrance square and opening façade elements create a shared space for participation. Here, the theatre is not simply a place for watching performances, but a platform for urban activity.

One of the key principles of the design is its strong relationship with the Oder River. The river has not been treated as a backdrop, but as an active element of the spatial and atmospheric composition. Light reflected from the water shapes the perception of the interiors, while the building’s evening presence creates a new quality within the waterfront skyline. The theatre opens itself to the changing light, sky and seasons. In this way, the building not only becomes part of Szczecin’s landscape, but also helps shape its everyday rhythm.

The Contemporary Theatre in Szczecin is not a building detached from its setting, but a structure that grows out of the memory of Łasztownia and the contemporary needs of the city. It brings together the heritage of the industrial island with a new form of public life, creating a space that is focused, flexible and open. This is an architecture that does not recreate history, but translates it into a contemporary language of culture.