Management of Postindustrial Heritage in Urban Revitalization Processes

Agnieszka Konior,Weronika Pokojska

doi:10.3390/su12125034

Abstract

The paper presents the results of original research on the use of heritage in revitalization processes. The study was conducted on selected postindustrial areas in Poland. The analysis is based on research conducted mainly with qualitative methods, including desk research, field query, participating observation, and in-depth interviews with selected stakeholders of postindustrial heritage. The purpose of the article is to indicate that cultural heritage is used in the regeneration processes of postindustrial areas. We prove that cultural heritage is not a separate category present in the revitalization process, but it is visible in spatial, social, and economic aspects of this process. To illustrate this, we provide numerous examples that we identified during research. In summary, we present the benefits of using cultural heritage in the revitalization process.

Highlights

Revitalization is a long-term process aimed at rescuing an urban area out of a crisis
The main goal of this paper is to examine the role of cultural heritage in the revitalization processes of postindustrial spaces in selected Polish cities
The article is based on original research conducted in 2015–2018, which addressed the research questions below: 1. How are heritage resources used in the revitalization process?

Summary

Introduction

Revitalization is a long-term process aimed at rescuing an urban area out of a crisis This change concerns both the material tissue—buildings, public spaces, green areas—and intangible elements in economic, social, or cultural spheres [1]. The latter includes the use of heritage. Factories, steel mills, and textile factories [3]. This resulted in the degradation of cities in the spatial sense (many empty postindustrial spaces), and in the social and the economic sense (unemployment, crime, problems with the adaptation to the new, capitalistic reality) [4]. Game-changing opportunities appeared after 2004, i.e., after Poland’s accession to the European Union, which was followed by a transfer of funds and know-how [5,6]

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