The local government of Lodz is successively renovating and revitalizing post-factory buildings and refreshing the urban space. The turn has come for the nearly 100-year-old "Wigencja" tenement at 75/77 Sienkiewicza Street, whose reconstruction has long been awaited. The building, which originally served as a spinning mill, is to become an art center for children and young people, as well as the new home of the Pinocchio Theater. This, by the way, is one of the most expensive revitalization projects in downtown Lodz.
The Lodz local government is reporting further results of the city center revitalization program, estimated at about PLN 1 billion. President Hanna Zdanowska conveyed that demolition work on the nearly 100-year-old "Vigencja" tenement at 75/77 Sienkiewicza Street, which originally served as a spinning mill, is nearing completion. According to the project of the Board of City Investments in Lodz, the building will be renovated and arranged into new spaces. The following will have their headquarters there: Center of Contemporary Art for Children and Youth and Pinocchio Theater. MOSTOSTAL is responsible for the execution work.
As far as I know, 80 percent of the necessary demolition is already behind us. A crane is already being set up, which is always a symbol that something new and constructive is beginning. So far, the contractor is ahead of schedule. This is very good news for the 100-year-old "Vigencia". - says Hanna Zdanowska.
The demolition of the "Wigencja" has been going on for a month now
photo: UM Lodz
Artistic and educational space for children and young people
The refreshed 100-year-old tenement is to house a place that has never existed in Lodz before - the Center for Contemporary Art for Children and Young People. It will be a space conducive to artistic education. Creative studios will be arranged in part of the building, where talented young people are to be educated under the guidance of specialists.
We are in intensive discussions on the program of the new Center for Contemporary Art. It will be a place full of positive creative energy, meetings with outstanding artists, it is here that there will be a recording studio and professional workshop rooms. I'm convinced that not only kids from the city center will benefit from the new offer ," announces Hanna Zdanowska.
An art center for the young is not all. The revitalized tenement also has space planned for two stages of the Pinocchio Theater.
The interior of the century-old tenement
photo: UM Lodz
new space, new greenery
The "Wigencja"revitalization project also involves planting new greenery. The local government of Lodz announces that ten "Carnival" field maples, five "Crimson Sentry" common maples, seven "Pissardii" cherry plum trees will appear around the building. In turn, some of the eight trees growing here will be replanted in accordance with the project for greening the area. The area will also gain new shrubs.
"Wigencji" in the process of demolition
photo: UM Lodz
As part of the investment, the so-called "breakthrough" to OFF Piotrkowska will also be created in the form of a pedestrian and roadway, at the same time serving as a fire road. The revitalization of "Wigencja" is one of the most expensive projects of its kind in Lodz. The amount of the works amounts to 42 million zlotys. According to the announcement of Agnieszka Kowalewska-Wójcik, director of ZIM Lodz, the investment will be completed at the turn of 2022-2023.
The construction of another modern cultural institution is ahead of us. The redevelopment of the "Vigencia" is not an easy investment, on the one hand taking care of the preservation of the historical fabric, on the other hand the difficult logistics of construction in the city center. But I am confident that this investment will be completed on time, that is, in late 2022 and early 2023 ," says Agnieszka Kowalewska-Wójcik.
