Great Armory, Gdansk

The Great armory, part of the defensive walls of the Main Town, was built in 1605. The design is Dutch Mannerist.

The building was used as an arsenal until the end of the World War I. During the Free City era between World War I and II, the ground floor was converted to a shopping arcade. The upper floors were for goods storage. In 1945 the interior of the building was consumed by fire. The roofs, interiors, gables and domes were restored by 1954.

The Armory is a perfect example of Dutch renaissance architecture. It has two octagonal towers on the eastern facade. There are two facades and four gabled roofs parallel to each other. The corner turrets have domes and spires. The basement has a barrel vault with lunettes and pillars. The ground floor has four naves with six bays.

The west face is designed with four tenement house facades. The portals have arches with quoins. The Mannerist decorations are lush in the upper facades.

In May, 1954 the Armory became the home of the Academy of Fine Arts. Work continued on the facades and interiors up to 2005. Today the building is dedicated to "exhibition, education, promotion and archiving." It is considered an "Armory of Art."