The first edition of the hybrid international Congress on Regeneration of Industrial Cities is over! The joint initiative of the City of Lodz and Open Eyes Economy lasted for two intensive days in the Lodz EC1 complex, and on a virtual platform. Invited guests from all over the world - local government officials, business representatives and experts from the world of science, architects and students discussed opportunities for development and problems faced by modern industrial cities. Architecture & Business was one of the three main media partners of the entire event.
The International Congress on Regeneration of Industrial Cities, held on June 22 and 23 this year, was the first event in Lodz to comprehensively address the topic of space revitalization and the challenges of contemporary industrial agglomerations on the international stage. The topic related to industrial cities was discussed by 150 speakers from all over the world and many participants, both on-site at the EC1 building and remotely through a special virtual platform.
Anindustrial city is a city in which there is manufacturing activity, not just trade, services and tourism. Losing the manufacturing function means wiping out creativity and development potential - regeneration is building it anew based on industrial heritage. When talking about cities with a rich industrial heritage, it is important to remember that these are areas of developmental opportunity, not problematic and stagnant ones. After a period of unreflective policy of deindustrialization of European cities, after the global financial crisis of 2007-2009, the slogan of reindustrialization of Europe is emerging, and the importance of manufacturing is gaining a new meaning in development [...]. The Congress is a chance for Lodz and other cities to find an individual path based on their own potential," said Prof. Jerzy Hausner, chairman of the Program Council of the Congress Regeneration of Industrial Cities and Open Eyes Economy Summit, in his introduction.
Prof. Jerzy Hausner
Photo: Filip Szkopinski © OEES
regeneration of industrial cities
The intense two days focused on the topic of regeneration and the future of industrial cities (especially Lodz), were divided into 12 thematic blocks, 6 for each day of the congress. Discussions and speeches took place in four spaces of EC1 (the former power plant): Machinery Hall, Crane, Turbine and Regenerator.
navigation map
photo: Dobrawa Bies
The program featured formulas familiar from past OEES congresses - forty hours of discussions, skirmishes, talks and lectures on, among other topics, new industrial policy, the new life of brownfield sites and facilities, urban meeting places, retroversy and inner-city mobility. The question was often asked: how to maintain a sustainable capacity for urban development based on modern manufacturing?
Thefirst day included thematic tracks:
- New industries - new challenges,
- Transformation and peculiarities of industrial cities in duopolar systems. Industrial cities in the shadow of the capital city - opportunity or curse?
- Industrial cities in the global and regional space of flows,
- Small and medium-sized industrial cities - challenges of functional change,
- Financing the regeneration of industrial cities,
- Blue-green infrastructure in the regeneration of the city's development potential.
Lodz Mayor Hanna Zdanowska opened the congress
Photo: Filip Szkopinski © OEES
opening ceremony
The openingsession was opened by Hanna Zdanowska, the mayor of Lodz, talking about the rapidly changing Lodz and how it is turning from an industrial city into a city to live in.
The next speaker was Jaroslaw Gowin, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Development, Labor and Technology. He introduced the audience to the Productivity Strategy 2030 program
There is huge potential in Polish industrial cities, and smart reindustrialization is the future of Poland. The rebuilt industry must be competitive and modern, innovative, productive and contributing to sustainable development and the green deal [ ...]. We are finalizing the Development Strategy 2030. This is the first document that poses such fundamental questions of productivity strategy. Our goal is to increase productivity on a low-carbon basis and promote healthy market mechanisms. Advanced digitalization and a closed-loop economy are the future.
Jaroslaw Gowin spoke about the development strategy
Photo: Filip Szkopinski © OEES
Margrethe Vestager - Vice President of the European Commission and Executive Vice President for Europe for the Digital Age - spoke about Łódź waking up to life and standing at the threshold of change and extraordinary development opportunities. She noted that the city has the opportunity to become a modern hub in the heart of Poland that connects all transportation corridors.
A city is defined by its people, so the most important thing is to invest in skills and talent. I am convinced that Lodz will make excellent use of the digital transformation," she concluded.
Another guest Professor Jacek Purchla from the Cracow University of Economics spoke about the universal heritage of industrial cities. The professor explained that the relationship between the future and the past is not limited to the issue of monuments and their future. He stressed that while the monument belongs to the past, heritage belongs to the temporal, and culture is the ability to inherit. He spoke about industrial heritage and UNESCO listings, and wondered how to reconcile modernity with historical identity.
Dr. Viktor Szydarowski, director of ESPON EGTC, stressed the need to locate industries producing local goods in the center of cities, and spoke about technological transformation and the implementation of new programs.
The ineugural session ended with a speech by Prof. Tadeusz Markowski
Photo: Filip Szkopinski © OEES
The session was closed by Prof. Tadeusz Markowski of the University of Lodz, Vice Chairman of the Program Council of the Congress Regeneration of Industrial Cities, predicting that in the future cities will be generators of green energy and exporters of virtual products.
Panel Urban Meeting Places. For sanitary reasons, the number of listeners was limited
Photo: Filip Szkopinski © OEES
urban meeting places
Małgorzata Tomczak, editor-in-chief of Architecture & Business, moderated a panel discussion at Generator entitled Urban Meeting Places. Together with invited guests - Aureliusz Górski (co-founder of Cambridge Innovation Centre Poland and Founding Executive Director at Venture Cafe Warsaw), Łukasz Kamecki (Tytano Foundation), Basia Ritz (Head Chef & owner, Restuaracja Ritz) and Michal Stys (CEO, OPG Property Professionals) discussed Lodz, Krakow, Warsaw and Gdansk, considering what values meeting places bring to the urban ecosystem and whether we need them.
panel moderator Malgorzata Tomczak
Photo: Filip Szkopinski © OEES
Social ties are born thanks to meeting places. Are they needed? What are the key elements for such a place to be created? - began the panel Malgorzata Tomczak. Michal Styś spoke first, describing the initiative Off. Piotrkowska. He recounted that it is a place that is being created slowly - a sort of miracle that was featured in National Geografic Traveler and received an award for the best revitalized space. Off. Piotrkowska is a place built on participation, prudent selection of partners, consultation and testing of various scenarios. We act as a manager comunity, the element of conversation with clients is not just a question of rate, but a conversation about the program. He cited Jan Gehl as an idol, who often says that in projects you have to look at those who use the space.
You have managed to create a synergy of culture, art, business and community relations ," the presenter concluded.
presentation by Michal Stys
Photo: Dobrawa Bies
The next interviewee was Lukasz Kamecki, the originator and implementer of the Lower Mills in Krakow, a place that was created on the site of a former cigarette factory and lasted for five years (it closed in September 2020).
We took a different approach to this project, we focused on grassroots activities. We gave a "sandbox" and watched what would happen. It was a completely self-funded project. We asked - what do you want to do? We had 15,000 square meters to use and people took the risk. Knowing that we only had five years we gave the space to the people. They felt like authors, they came with initiatives themselves, they were consumers. At one point we already had 4,000 locals in the area and we were the best off-site [...]. We managed to organize 530 cultural and social events in 4.5 years.
Lukasz Kamecki spoke about the Lower Mills initiative
Photo: Filip Szkopinski © OEES
What is the exponent of success? - another question was asked.
The measurable conversion factor is money. Why should an artist be a poor man? The exponent is that one can make money from it. There should be decent pay for decent work. A place that was a ruin and will come back to life should be profitable," continued Lukasz Kamecki.
Aurelisz Górski of Venture Cafe Warsawa spoke about the idea of high social trust and cooperation, resulting in innovation. He stressed that relationships and diversification of the urban fabric are very important.
Public space will remain public through collaboration. The city government should make it possible to function, not hinder and support. The city, in fact, is us," the interviewees concluded.
For coverage of the second day, see the following page.
