Become an A&B portal user and receive giveaways!
Become an A&B portal user and receive giveaways!
maximize

Familok crown jewel

29 of January '25
w skrócie
  1. Zgorzelec Colony is located on the border of Bytom, Ruda Śląska and Świętochłowice.
  2. A comprehensive revitalization of the Zgorzelec Colony neighborhood has been underway since 2022.
  3. The revitalization was supervised by the Silesian Conservator of Monuments.
  4. With the efforts of ZBM-TBS and housing communities, one of the best revitalization of housing estates in Poland has been achieved.

  5. More interesting information can be found on the homepage of the A&B portal

Zgorzelec is a border place. Seemingly somewhere on the trail, but as if beyond it and all, common awareness. But this story is not about beautiful Zgorzelec, which is turning into Görlitz, but about an extremely charming colony of workers' houses of the same name, on the border of Bytom and Ruda Śląska.

The genesis of Zgorzelec Colony

It seems that Kazimierz Kutz, when coming up with the title for his film, was well aware of how universal the term is for places in Upper Silesia. In the case of the Zgorzelec colony, the term is simply perfect.

The colony was built between 1897 and 1901 on the initiative of Hubert von Thiele-Winckler, who wanted to provide a roof over the heads of the employees of his steel mill, with the original name Hubertushütte. Thirty-four free-standing buildings (called familoks in Silesia) were built, bringing a higher standard of housing to the working class.

It's hard to speak of any sophisticated urban layout, since only some of the houses stand in two axes parallel to each other, while the others are arranged around. The estate itself, however, does not give a sense of disorder and is surrounded by a green area that isolates it from its industrial surroundings. The buildings differ from each other, as some of them are single-story, while others have a single floor. All the buildings have a basement and an attic. One of them was a service building, which housed a bakery and a laundry.

What these buildings had in common was red brick - a building material so characteristic of the Silesian landscape. However, it is difficult to look for decorations. The only flavors are the isolated cornices and window frames on the facade.

Układ budynków

Building layout

Photo: Robert Przeliorz

The changing winds of history an opportunity for Kolonia Zgorzelec

The industrial character of the neighborhood continues, even though the form has changed over the years. The winds of history have blown particularly hard here, and in the meantime the official language has changed, borders and systems have changed, and so have the people. Hubertushütte became the Hubertus Ironworks and then the Sigismund Ironworks. Then it disappeared as an institution, leaving many local residents without jobs.

It would seem that the death of the smelter was also the death of the colony, and yet the colony continued despite a greater exodus of residents. Only buildings that were habitable were cared for, however. Other buildings had to be put out of service. Over the years, attempts were made to save the colony, the German side was drawn into the partnership, but these were only half-measures. However, saving the settlement itself required a larger plan.

The city of Bytom began revitalizing the nearby post-mining areas, especially the heap, which became a walking area. Modern sports fields have been built, and a number of new businesses have sprung up on the site of the smelter, providing job opportunities for local residents. The change in the environment has opened up an opportunity to revitalize the neighborhood itself.

Drzewo pośród domów

Nature among the houses

photo: Robert Przeliorz

The renewal of Kolonia Zgorzelec -
advancement to the rank of Bytom's business card

A comprehensive renovation of Zgorzelec Colony has been underway since 2022. 13 buildings belonging to the municipality and 10 buildings of housing communities underwent a huge metamorphosis. The faces of the buildings, made of red brick, were cleaned, new roof sheathing was made, new installations were put in, the interiors were renovated, beautiful red entrance doors were put in, window recesses were painted red, and the buildings themselves were rectified and zanked.

Mining damage took its toll, but nevertheless all the difficulties associated with it were removed. In addition, a modern common space with a multipurpose sports field was created. This ambitious project was supervised by the Silesian Conservator of Monuments. With the efforts of ZBM-TBS and the housing communities, it was possible to start one of the most interesting and successful revitalizations of workers' estates in Poland. For further activities restoring the colony's splendor, the Metropolis has allocated PLN 2.5 million under the Resilience Fund.

However, there is still a long way to go before the revitalization is complete. There are 11 buildings left to restore and fully adapt the estate. The area has changed magnificently and is becoming a showcase of Bytom, which can freely become a place used by filmmakers. The place is extremely mysterious and carries something magical. The question at the moment, however, is - what next?

Ściany boczne

Side walls of the buildings: one and two-story buildings

Photo: Robert Przeliorz

Life after life, or the future of the colony

Living on the outskirts of the city, away from the main thoroughfares and without free access to places of service may pull the colony down. There is no sidewalk towards the Orzegów district of Ruda, and there is no sidewalk towards Bytom's Lagiewniki either. There is also some distance to Swietochlowice's Chropaczow, and the space is not particularly pleasant to traverse. Daily functioning because of this may not be a pleasure for residents, and may even be a nuisance.

Now it's all up to the City to whom it will make these premises available as part of the Kolonia Zgorzelec odNowa program, and whether it will create free spatial access to the nearest Bytom district of Szombierki, so that the estate can function as part of the urban organism of the city of Bytom. The steps taken so far give hope that the authorities are taking a fully conscious approach to the revitalization of this landmark, and that the next stages will bring many new and valuable values to the lives of Zgorzelec Colony residents.


Robert Przeliorz

The vote has already been cast

INSPIRATIONS