Fortunately, a dozen years ago there were signs that the Lodz metropolis was waking up. A generation of young ambitious Łódź citizens came to the fore and decided to fight for their city. The idea of Lodz's candidacy to organize the EXPO world exhibition was born. It's a pity that it didn't succeed - the city needed a boost, and after all, it had also missed EURO 2012 earlier. Nevertheless, Lodz finally got into the current that was moving it in the right direction. A new, competent and modern-thinking authority has emerged. Mayor Hanna Zdanowska breathed new energy into City Hall. The city has become a gigantic construction site, investing with vigor in both infrastructure and revitalization. Hundreds of Lodz tenements look great after renovations.
Piotrkowska Street, the longest walkable and representative street in the world, has begun to be noticed by the world. More venues and initiatives sprouted up next to the iconic Lodz Kaliska, led by the magnificent OFF Piotrkowska. Łódź, the entire metropolis, together with the province, began to consciously design and transform itself. The former workers' city is becoming creative, betting on culture and art, leisure industries. Strategically - the province of Lodz "has an idea" and the city of Lodz "creates". This is a good direction and one of the few examples in Poland of consistency in the communication of "the capital and the neighborhood."
Majer Baruch's factory - one evidence of the powerful foundation of Pabianice's high self-esteem
© Pabianice City Hall
At that time, new investments began to flow into the sites left by the textile industry. They were favored by the development of Lodz's transportation hub, Lodz's location finally began to be favorable. Quietly, Lodz grew to become one of the world's largest manufacturers of household appliances. The former fabrics were replaced by specialization in the production of washing machines, refrigerators, dishwashers and stoves. Poland has become the second largest producer of household appliances in the world after China - besides Lodz, Wrocław and Radomsko also play a key role in building this basin (which will not go unnoticed in subsequent texts of the "Greater Poland" series).
The restored buildings of the former Pabianice Woolen Factory, today a hotel and spa complex
© Pabianice City Hall
To avoid making old mistakes, Lodz business is diversifying. The metropolis has retained some of its old competencies - the clothing specialty is doing well in the spaces organized by textile magnate Antoni Ptak in the Rzgów municipality. But the Lodz metropolis is also attracting the logistics industry on a grand scale, with more large warehouses and distribution centers being built, such as Amazon's center adjacent to Pabianice. Consulting and BPO companies are developing.
All of this combined takes us from the crazy times of the "Promised Land," through the adventures of the communist era and the sad stories of the 1990s collapse, to a completely different, new tale of the city. This new tale of Lodz is the story of the exquisite Festival of Light. About the fantastic Orientarium at the Lodz Zoo (proj.: ArC2 Design Factory). It's a narrative created by the efficient and energetic Lodz Events Center, which makes good use of a great performance hall - namely Atlas Arena (design: ATJ Architects).
There are plenty of public green and recreational areas throughout the metropolis
photo: Radoslaw Jóźwiak | Fotocrew
