dr magdalena załęczna katarzyna malecka, phd - student

18th Annual ERES Conference Eindhoven, 15th-18th June 2011

Public space in postsocialist and postindustrial city – the new role of private and public actors

dr Magdalena ZałęcznaKatarzyna Malecka, PhD - student

The aim of the research:• to define the factors responsible for taking over the public

space by private operators in Poland,• to find if there is a possibility of creating a new public space

during the revitalization of brownfields,• To present a case study about Manufactura in Lodz

Załęczna M., Malecka K., Public space... 2

The public space – the problem of definition

• Before the democratic state was established the open space served as an illustration of the authority’s power and wealth.

• The modern and democratic state created conditions for the public space for the society, the place of social expression.

• There are many definitions and continous discussion about the meaning of this term. The emergence of new sub-categories, and the new definitions are the effect of this dispute.


The past significance of public space in Poland

• In the utopia of socialist system the public space was of great importance. The collective objectives and joint action, the widespread availability were underlined as the basis for, among others the creation of cities.

• In the socialist city public space played not only socio-economic but also political role. The authorities controlled and monitored this kind of area and used it for own purposes. Załęczna M., Malecka K., Public space... 4


• In Poland the most important decisions for the functioning of the State, among others the creation and transformation of urban and rural areas stem from a policy of the government, controlled to a large extent from the outside.

• The urban planners and architects had the opportunity to play a significant role, however, in practice, they needed to follow the political direction. They could use their imagination not taking into account the price of land, construction costs and the functionality of space.



• There was no self-government, no the planning at the local level, all decisions were centralised.

• In the socialist period the public space, as well as in the feudal period, there was the place of emanations of political power, and not the wishes of the citizens.

• There was a specific policy for its creation and control. Often this space had a dimension of the monumental public buildings, monuments with political meaning, parks with restricted use. The public space, which was designed "for the people" in practice could be used in limited and controlled way. Załęczna M., Malecka K., Public space... 6

Transformation changes• The political changes initiated at the end of the 1980s in

Poland, resulting in the ongoing process of transformation of the system, influenced also on actors taking part in the "game of space" and the rules of this "game".

• The restoration of the role of regional and local authorities had place and caused the displacement of the decision relating to the use of urban space from the central to local level.


Transformation changes• There was the significant increase in the number of players

competing for space in the city – due to the change of the criteria for the allocation of the spatial locations of residence from quasi-political economic, transformation of the structure of employment from industry to services sector.

• There was a significant transformation of urban planning and architecture; change in the sphere of symbols by replacing the many political manifestations by other functions and symbols.


Who is responsible for public space?• At the beginning of the transformation the public space

started to be taken over by private actors on different objectives, practically without restriction. There were established small shops, service points, parking lots in the public space.

• The huge spatial chaos together with graffiti (often in the form of a vulgar inscriptions) created the feeling that public space is the space without affiliation and protection.


Who is responsible for public space?• The local authority started only learning its role, and did not

feel responsible, people – local citizens were busy with their own activity.

• At the same time, in connection with the structural changes in the economy, emerged the problem of directions of further development of the cities concentrated around specific – not profitable any more - industries.



urban space (public space without the

owner)

transformation conditions: economic, social and legal (real

property has the value again, people are able

to decide about the functions of space)

structural change of production together

with social and cultural changes (enormous

unemployment, abandon buildings and

contamineted land)

Chart 1 Powers influencing the urban space in Poland

Who is responsible for public space? • Path dependence for the development of Polish society and

the economy stems from the history, the lack of the state by the 123 years, a brief period of freedom and the socialist reality generated very negative consequences for the relationship citizen-authority. These relationships are extremely important for the functioning of the democratic State, for the sense of responsibility of citizens and desire for cooperation and trust. These values build social capital.


Who is responsible for public space? • The result of very low level of social capital in Poland is the

lack of trust to self-government. • In the field of planning and land-use policy it has resulted in a

lack of acceptance of the local citizens for many decisions taken by the local council.

• In addition, there is the low level of knowledge and awareness (often among local politicians) about the rules and meaning of the planning and land use policy, in particular the lack of understanding for the need to create conditions for sustainable development.


Who is responsible for public space?

• The owners want to obtain the maximum profit from real estate in a short period of time, regardless of the long-term effects for the local community. In addition, the recovery of the full importance of property rights after a period of years of restrictions produced the effect that the citizens identified these rights with the absolute rights, unlimited and having priority over the public interest.

Załęczna M., Maleckas K., Public space... 14

Who is responsible for public space? • Nowadays Polish citizens free from the external pressure of

socialist culture neither respect nor protect public space. In the Polish mentality there is the belief that public space due to the fact that it does not belong to a specific person or group of people, is a waif.

• The strong position of local developers and investors with their desire to obtain as soon as possible a return on investment produce the new projects with minimal public space.


Who is responsible for public space?

• The great number of GC is delivered on the market. The access to some streets, playgrounds, green areas is limited.

• The role of local self-government as the host of a public space is taken by an informal group of citizens who seek to maintain the function of public space.


The regeneration of brownfields• Postsocialist and postindustrial cities are often unattractive

due to the lack of aesthetic amenities, dirt, negligence and a small range of attractions.

• As a result of the industry collapse, optimizing public transport and elimination of many military units there is enormous number of abandon buildings and unused land, unsecure areas in the cities.

• These sites impact negatively on neighbouring areas.


Is it the possibility to create the new public space?


Manufactura case study


Manufactura case study• By the end of the 19th century in the area of almost

30 ha was built a complex of textile industry buildings with volunteer fire department, warehouses, the Palace of the owner and residential buildings for workers.

• In times of real socialism, with 12 000 working people the place was the "city in the city".


Manufactura case study• In the 1990s the collapse of the Eastern export

contributed to the collapse of the company. Production stopped, the assets of the company were gradually sold out. Buildings were abandoned and gradually deteriorating. Due to its climate, the place from the mid-1990s it has become an object of interest of foreign investors.


Manufactura case study• Finally the French company APSYS bought it and began

development and the modernisation. As a result the transition of 27 ha of historic factory area was produced. In the complex, in addition to more than 300 shops, you can find Museum of art, the Museum of the Factory, Theatre, interactive Science Museum, cinema, and leisure activities (fitness, bowling, climbing wall, ice skating etc.). In addition, there are offices for rent and a 4-star hotel with 278 rooms.


Manufactura case study• The results of research show Manufaktura as a place,

which integrates, show that it took the role of an important venues in Lodz. In social perception provides a singular substitute for city centre. Creation of so many features in one place, constitutes a "magnet" for people. The complex creates the illusion of the better world, however, in the "shadow" of commercial gallery.


Manufactura case study• Social demand for diverse forms of consumption and the

corresponding place of the implementation of such requirements constitute a new dimension in the area of the city. Manufactura creates the feeling that people experience a "better world", which you can "touch" and "discover".

• Manufactura got the prize for the best public space.• It is the ludic space creating the impression that it is the

public space.Załęczna M., Malecka K., Public space... 27

Conclusions:• The change of the public space in the city is the fact, this

phenomenon is commonly observed. There is no clear direction of the transition, because in addition to the reduction of public space there is the creation of new space by revitalization of brownfields. This space, in the assumption to some extent - the public one - has the function of entertainment space (ludic space). This space is not available for all, it is not a good area for the manifestations of political views, protests, etc.


Conclusions:• Is it is possible that the ludic space will assume the role

of public space and private investors – the role of local authorities?

• The actor responsible for the management of space in the city is a municipality. This actor should prepare the ground for rational, sustainable development and protect the public space.


Conclusions:• Citizens choose the area they feel good, safe. The

ordinary man does not think about the necessity of public space, the municipality should prepare this space and be responsible for .

• Calling Manufactura the public space is misleading and shifts the burden on private investor.


Thank you for your attention

dr Magdalena Załę[email protected]
