The Polish Post Museum- permanent exhibition design
The Polish Post Museum in Gdańsk, a branch of the Gdańsk Museum, will undergo a thorough modernization. One of the goals is to create an exhibition that combines history with a modern approach to museum narrative. The project draws inspiration from Gdańsk’s interwar modernism, highlighting its spirit and paying tribute to the heroism of the defenders of the Polish Post.
The conceptual design by Biuro Kreacja and Anita Wasik, drawing inspiration from interwar modernism, captures the spirit of the city and pays tribute to the heroism of those who faced many dilemmas during the events of August and September 1939. The new design will emphasize attention to detail, harnessing the potential of the historic site while creating a space for visitors to interpret the past.
The main part of the exhibition will depict the lives of Poles in the Free City of Danzig in the 1920s and 1930s – a period of dynamic change and growing national tensions. The Polonia Room will commemorate the activities of Polish social, educational, and sports organizations, emphasizing their role in building national identity.
A Narrative of the Growing Conflict
One of the key points of the exhibition will be the Conflict Room, where the atmosphere of tension and growing hostility towards Poles will be emphasized through dark tones and austere styling. Numerous graphics based on German press headlines, as well as exhibits, will reveal the mechanisms of propaganda leading to the tragic events of September 1, 1939.
The Basement – A Place of Tragic Memories
The museum’s basement will convey the horror of the attack on the Polish Post Office. The symbolic installation „Grave” and a documentary film shown in the Cinema Hall will recall the dramatic, several-hour-long defense of the facility, which began with a German attack timed to coincide with the opening salvos of the battleship Schleswig-Holstein shelling Westerplatte. The focal point will be an illuminated frosted glass window with the shadows of Erwinka Barzychowska, the youngest victim of the attack.
Polish Post Museum in Gdańsk, a branch of the Gdańsk Museum
Exhibition design: Biuro Kreacja – Dorota Terlecka, Natalia Fierka, Dominika Janowska, Marta Pruszyńska, Denys Durtsev
Graphic design: Anita Wasik
