Grzegorz Węcławowicz Osiedla mieszkaniowe w poprzemysłowych miastach Europy Środkowej. W programie badawczym: : Odnowione miasta post-socjalistyczne: konkurencyjne i atrakcyjne Housing estates in the post-industrial cities of Central Europe, in the light of the project:, New post-socialist cities: competitive and attractive
The industrial city as a model of the socialist city N.A. Miliutin Sotsgorod The Problem of Building Socialist Cities
Edited by: R.A. French, F.E.Ian Hamilton, 1979. Edited by: G. Enyedi, 1998 Edited by: F.E.Ian Hamilton, K.Dimitrovska Andrews, N. Pichler Milanovic, 2005
The socialist cities as a product of ideology Different concepts of the urban origin City as a product of economic and political system City as a product of technique City as a way of life City as a vision (architectural, social, political) Different types of the socialist city in Central and Eastern Europe Cities in the Soviet Union Cities in the Peoples Republics of Central Europe Cities in the Third World Socialist cities in capitalist countries The post-socialist cities as a product of transformation
Search for distinctiveness of post-socialist evolution in the urban space Different concepts and models of the post-socialist cities Common challenges, problems and the search for solutions
Current roots of diversification of post-socialist cities in Central and Eastern Europe The different path of transformation connected with historical legacy, The maintenance of different forms of socialism in Belorussia, Albania, Ukraine and Russia, The unification impact of European Union integration policy, Competition between metropolitan areas for better position in urban hierarchy.
The main urban problems in Poland Unemployment, Housing shortage, Technical, and the social communal infrastructures, Increase of social disparities and segregation, The appropriation of public space, The fragmentation of governance and tenure, The formation of the gated housing estates,
Development problems of the Central European cities 1. Low comparative position in EU 2. Insufficient functional relationships between cities 3. Insufficient use of the potential to stimulate the country development. 4. Loss of previously fulfilled socio-economic function 5. The threat of settlement system disintegration 6. The persistence of underdevelopments
Development problems of the Central European cities, cont. 7. Uncontrolled suburbanization and urban sprawl 8. Housing shortage and problems 9. Aging and declining of urban population 10. Improvements in the quality of life 11. Preservation of natural environment 12. Lack of strategic plans and vision
The project partners:
The concept of the project comes from the everyday practice of urban areas in Central Europe. Commonly shared problems of the former socialist countries was the questions: What to do with the post-socialist cities, particularly with the post-industrial districts inherited from the socialist era? How to form them more competitive and attractive for people and investment? It is assumed that investigation of the shared problems leading to innovative and efficient solutions.
The aims of the project remains an improvements in life quality of urban dwellers and changing the negative stereotype of post industrial districts by: -reduction of social disparities, -reinforcement the feeling of identity with the place of living, -renovation of buildings, formation of the new cultural offer, -creation of meeting places for all, -and creation of attractive public space.
Main objective of the project create more balanced territorial development by reducing the disparities between districts within towns and cities in Central Europe We focus on reducing these disparities by enhancing the quality in urban area in districts with socialist heritage. The project will create useful instruments to correct the detected weaknesses across Central Europe region and will contribute to improvement the quality of life, work and leisure.
Issues and investment strategies The shortage of space for local cultural and social events the case of ArtZona in Nowa Huta, Kraków, Poland. The poor quality of buildings and public spaces between blocks of flats - the case of Velenje, Slovenia. Low identification with the place of living by local citizens - way of implementing the proposed investments voluntary work in Velenje, Slovenia.
Issues and investment strategies, cont. Unemployment and low number of enterprises in the districts the case of Centre for Small and Medium Enterprises, Jizni Mesto, Prague, Czech Rep. Depressing appearance of socialist architecture - mainly grey and reckless buildings - the case of Velenje, Nowa Huta Lack of ideas for new/modern functions for public buildings created in socialist era (1945-1989) organization of the Museum of Curiosity in Hnusta, Slovakia.
Why investment in the large housing estates in the post-industrial cities? 1. It remain as an important element of the urban housing stock for several decades 2. The majority of the housing estates has been modernized and gentrified. 3. The expected revitalisation policy will bring substantial improvement 4. The physical structure and architecture will be modernised and diversified 5. The population density will be reduced
Products of the project : - General reports, - market research reports, - good practices reports, - pilot actions reports, - handbook of models, - transnational manual - transnational development strategy - publications (articles, papers, chapters and books)
Thank you for your attention Contact address: Prof. dr hab. Grzegorz Węcławowicz More information Polish Academy of Sciences Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization, ul. Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warszawa, Poland Home page: www.igipz.pan.pl/ http://www.renewtown.eu/ http://www.central2013.eu/