URBAN SHIFT

ALTERNATIVE REVITALISATION PROGRAM OF POST-INDUSTRIAL NEIGHBOURHOOD LIPINY

This work does not agree with the common view that former workers’ settlements are a collection of homogeneous environments of bad behavior in the social margin. These areas have been isolated from urban renewal policy, due to the investment failure and the difficult conditions for multitasking cooperations. But in fact, they are the patient observers of cultural and economic changes over the last two centuries. Their plans for the future are postponed in time, moreover, they were allowed to slow their degradation, marginalization, and thus oblivion. Stereotypes and lack of interests may cause the transformation into open-air museums, which would shatter the bitterness of the bitterness of industrial heritage enthusiasts.

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Through deep historical and sociological analyzes, space inventories and photographic documentation, the work slowly introduces one of the most forgotten districts of Upper Silesia. It points out the favorable conditions of Lipiny for the revitalization processes. Devastated urban areas as a stimulus for renewal and improvement of district functionality, polluted natural environment, unfavorable media opinion, lack of interest from local authorities, frustration of residents, lack of prospects, poor housing conditions and many other social, ecological and economic phenomena that we face. All of them motivate choice of Lipiny to take on the design challenge. The elaborated strategy is an alternative revitalization program for the already established LPR, but it does not completely break with its objectives but complements it.

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The essay aims to show the problem of revitalization of degraded areas of post-industrial cities, which not only include the historic buildings of mines or production halls. Housing estates also deserve a second life. Revitalization is a topic emerging on the lips of all those involved in urban planning. Discussions on this subject are moving to ever higher levels. Urban movements, gardening, the activities of the involved artists, and the social interest of the subject are also proving. You can hear voices and you can see acts that demand specific, transition from talking to consistent action. This work polemizes with the practice of revitalization so far. We cease with such confidence to approach planning and discussion, and we demand organization and results. This also applies to the possibility of introducing all stakeholders into the process, primaly the inhabitants of the revitalized area. Observation of this has already become a motivating incentive for designers to work and is the beginning of a long-term designing process. It is also a change of an idea of revitalisation itself.

RESEARCH - BULLETPOINTS OF SILESIAN AGGLOMERATION - MIND MAP