Big Mill

Brief Information

The Great Mill stands out not for its age in itself, but for the scale of the work hidden inside a single brick building. In the 14th century, the Teutonic Order built it in the northern part of Gdańsk’s Old Town, and in the Middle Ages it was considered one of the largest industrial buildings in Europe. It was not only a mill: under one roof there were also a warehouse and a bakery.

Its later history changes the way the building is seen even more. After wartime damage it was restored, then used for a long time as a shopping center, and in 2016 it was handed over to the Gdańsk Amber Museum and closed for renovation. The Great Mill can therefore be read as an industrial shell that the city adapted several times for new purposes.

What to Notice First

It makes sense to look at the Great Mill as a mechanism, not only as a large old building. The brick shell matters because it preserves the image of a medieval industrial structure built for heavy work rather than for a ceremonial appearance. The scale of the building is explained by its arrangement: inside there was room for a mill, a warehouse, and a bakery, meaning several stages of working with grain were gathered in one place.

The second focus is water. The mill was driven by the waters of the Radunia Canal, fed by the Radunia River; at first 12 water wheels operated, later 18. This number helps convey the size of the invisible mechanism behind the facade. Even without a description of the interior, the building can be read through the connection of three things: the brick body, the canal as a source of power, and the former combination of production, storage, and baking.