A month after the opening of the rebuilt Freedom Square in Kutno, comments on this controversial investment are not silent. Specialists and columnists see the place primarily as an extreme manifestation of "concrete panning." City authorities insist that the concrete pan is a dream come true for residents sanctioned by a jury decision. A communiqué on the square was recently issued by the Governor of Lodz.
concrete roses
photo: Kutno Streets and Bicycle Paths
At the end of March this year, after nearly two years of construction, the mayor, Zbigniew Burzynski, officially opened the parking lot on Wolności Square in Kutno. The investment cost 34 million zlotys and is part of the reconstruction, called by the city authorities "revitalization" of Freedom Square, Zduński Square and adjacent streets. The effect in the form of a stone desert on the roof of the parking lot was met with harsh criticism from the architectural community. Dotted with rose motifs cast in concrete (referring to the city's brand), the square is an illustration of many of the worst practices associated with the treatment of public spaces of Polish cities. From excessive attachment to parking functions, to complete disregard for climate issues, to the creation of unfriendly concrete deserts.
under fire
The foundation project is the work of Robert Charkiewicz, an architect from Warsaw. Its effect has become the object of unrelenting criticism. On the architektuzaibiznes.pl portal we were among the first to describe the realization. Warsaw activist Jan Spiewak also spoke on the matter. Among the many accusations are those related to the lack of comfort in using the paved space in the summer and the political responsibility of the city authorities, who have been performing these functions for several decades.
Photo: Kutno Streets and Bicycle Paths
Just in time for the hot summer - concrete and the stench from car exhaust pipes straight into the windows of residents. There should be prosecution charges and resignations for such realizations. The author of this "revitalization" worth millions is the mayor Zbigniew Burzynski, welded to the stool for twenty years. We congratulate the people of Kutno on their governing body.
Jan Spiewak, city activist
It didn't have to be this way
Jan Mencwel, author of the book "Betonosis" and activist of the City Is Ours association, is of a similar opinion. In his book he describes the mechanisms that lead to the realization of similar examples to the Kutno square throughout Poland, turning the green squares of cities and towns into concrete pans. Mencwel stresses that the square did not have to look this way. Space for greenery could have been created by reducing the number of parking spaces or by moving the parking lot to a multi-level building located in the immediate vicinity.
The fact that Freedom Square has changed for the worse is obvious to me, as it lacks a certain essential element that was there before, namely greenery. It is true that some new plantings have appeared there, but such shade, coolness and moisture as mature trees will only give at best in a dozen years. In addition, it will not be possible to plant anything new on the part of the square that is above the parking lot, because the trees will have nowhere to develop their root system.
Jan Mencwel for the noizz.pl portal
officially negative opinion
Photo: Kutno Streets and Bicycle Paths
Tobiasz Bocheński, the Governor of Lodz, also recently issued an opinion on the completed project. In an unambiguously negative assessment of the investment, he stresses that it does not meet modern standards for friendly organization of space. The post also cites the reforms that the Provincial Office for Historic Preservation in Lodz underwent in 2017, already after the project for Kutno's Liberty Square was selected. As part of the reorganization, the Skierniewice delegation, which was responsible for positive opinions and decisions on the project, was abolished. Assurances are also being given that the current preservation service would not give permission for a similar reconstruction and such a mistake will not happen again.
The Governor of Lodz negatively assesses the "revitalization" of the historic space of Liberty Square in Kutno in the context of aesthetic value, conservation protection, as well as the utility perspective of the newly created public space.
Communiqué of the Governor of Lodz on the "revitalization" of Liberty Square in Kutno
residents' dream
Visualization of Freedom Square
photo: UM Kutno
The mayor of Kutno disagrees with the opinions of experts and services. Zbigniew Burzynski stresses that the current shape of the square is the fulfillment of the dreams and demands of residents. The design chosen in the competition, for which 19 works were submitted, was supposed to raise no objections at earlier stages. City authorities also stress that the greenery has not disappeared completely, and they are planning a series of events on the slab above the parking lot to activate the space.
Freedom Square has so far been just a parking lot, we wanted to change that. The 40 million zlotys spent on the investment were not "lost". As I mentioned before, Freedom Square will have a social function. It will be a place for residents to meet, organize city events and present the activities of associations.
Zbigniew Burzynski, president of Kutno, for regions.rp.pl
