A Hotel on the Motława River
In 2020, UBM Development invited me to photograph one of their newest projects in Gdańsk. I travelled there to document Holiday Inn City Centre Gdańsk, located in the very heart of the Old Town, directly on the banks of the Motława. From the outset, my goal was not only to show the architecture itself, but also to capture its exceptional setting and strong relationship with the surrounding city. An important part of the story was the presence of people and tourists, who naturally animate this part of Gdańsk.
The shoot took place while finishing works were still underway, both inside and outside the building. This required careful planning and patience, as many of the images had to be composed in a way that concealed ongoing construction activity. Working in such conditions demanded flexibility and constant attention to what was happening on site.
Day, Night, and Aerial Perspectives
During the first stage of the shoot, it quickly became clear that the building would look especially compelling after dark. I therefore decided to extend the session into the evening and create a series of night-time architectural photographs. This allowed me to emphasize the rhythm of the facade, reflections of light on the water, and the unique atmosphere of Gdańsk after sunset. It proved to be an important and rewarding addition to the final set. To fully convey the quality of the location, the photographic material was complemented with drone images. Aerial views made it possible to clearly show the hotel’s position in relation to the Old Town, the river, and the surrounding urban fabric, adding a broader spatial context to the story.
This was not my first collaboration with UBM Development. In previous years, I had photographed several of the company’s earlier projects in Poland, including Pilot Tower in Kraków and Poleczki Business Park in Warsaw. Although each project had its own character, the shared goal was always to present architecture as an integral part of its environment.