Invitation to the International Seminar “Gdańsk Waterfront Productive City” 7.02 (saturday) | The Faculty of Architecture at the Gdańsk University of Technology

The seminar marks the conclusion of a collaboration between the Faculty of Urban and Regional Planning – Cairo University, the Department of Advanced Urban Design, Faculty of Architecture, Gdańsk University of Technology, and the Gdańsk City Architect’s Office.

During the winter semester of the current academic year, students from the Faculty of Architecture at Gdańsk Tech had the opportunity to develop design concepts for the transformation of a section of the Gdańsk waterfront near Litewska Street. Parallel to the student architectural and urban design competition announced by the Gdańsk City Architect’s Office (BAM, Poland), a hybrid Joint Design Studio (JDS) was conducted.
This initiative brought together master’s students in spatial planning from both universities, under the supervision of Dr. Gabriela Rembarz and Dr. Noha Ahmed Abdelaziz Mohamed.
We previously reported on the cooperation between our faculties in 2025: Visit of Cairo University delegation to FA Gdańsk Tech | Faculty of Architecture, Gdańsk University of Technology.

Seminar Programme:

• Introductory Lecture:
  “Changing Paradigm of Urban Productivity – Designer’s Perspective”
  by Arch. Grzegorz Zimnicki, based in London.

• Presentation of the Joint Design Studio results, followed by
  an open public discussion moderated by the Gdańsk City Architect, Prof. Piotr Lorens,
  with participation from:

  • Prof. Khalid Z. El Adli (FRUP, Cairo University)

  • Prof. Agnieszka Zimnicka (Regeneration Manager, London Borough of Tower Hamlets)

  • Dr. Noha Ahmed Abdelaziz Mohamed (Head of Department of Urban Design, FRUP Cairo University)

  • Prof. Dorota Kamrowska-Załuska (Department of Advanced Urban Design, FA Gdańsk Tech)

The seminar will conclude with Prof. Dorota Kamrowska-Załuska’s presentation:
“Student Competition as a Tool for Strengthening the Applicational Character of Design Studios.”

An exhibition of student projects developed as part of the Joint Design Studio in Cairo and Gdańsk will accompany the seminar.
It will be on display in the Main Building Hall of Gdańsk University of Technology (in front of Room 300) until Tuesday, February 10, 2026.

Arch. Grzegorz Zimnicki

Grzegorz is a chartered architect and urban planner with 35 years of professional experience in design, spatial and strategic planning, and management. He has spent the majority of his career in the UK, working on diverse projects around the world.

He was lucky to be part of teams delivering spectacular projects,  which won prestigious awards, including RIBA Stirling Prize for the Elizabeth Line in 2024. His portfolio spans a wide range of sectors, including master planning, rail and underground stations, defense, residential, hotels, airports, regeneration and conservation, retail, logistics, industrial, healthcare, education, office spaces, banks, leisure, and infrastructure.

Grzegorz has gained a wealth of experience in preparing feasibility studies, architectural design, and leading multidisciplinary teams from the early concept stages all the way through to the successful completion of projects. His particular area of interest is the process of urban regeneration, especially with community involvement, which was the subject of his doctoral dissertation defended at Warsaw University of Technology.

He is fascinated by the potential of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and the digital transformation of design processes, with a recent focus on the application of Artificial Intelligence.