It can be known that the attractiveness of a city, especially for its inhabitants, is not necessarily determined by iconic buildings, but primarily by the order and coherence of the space in which subsequent phases of historical and urban development are revealed. This entails a special responsibility on the part of contemporary architects working within the historical urban structure - it becomes important to enter into a dialogue not only with the existing buildings, but above all to reflect on how the new building will enhance or degrade the value of the existing space. This applies especially to facilities built in accordance with the assumptions of modernist urban planning. From this angle, two areas in the center of Poznań will be presented, which are currently dominated by two characteristic buildings: Bałtyk Tower and Okrąglak. Both stand out from their surroundings in terms of style, but each has a dif-ferent impact on it.