News
The competition for the development of the Silesian Industrial Park in Ruda Śląska is settled
The Silesian Industrial Park operates on the terrain of the former Walenty mine in Ruda Śląska. Its designs were developed by students of architecture schools. The degraded terrains have chance to be changed into a green industrial district.
Industrial parks are being created across the whole country. However, in Silesia they shoot up like mushrooms after rain. This results from the fact that the region has huge potential in the form of vast post-industrial areas. Today, they may attract new investments.
"Ruda Śląska wants to use its strengths"-says Andrzej Stania, president of the city. - The Silesian Industrial Park may change not only the city, but also the region. This is the biggest industrial park in the country. It occupies 1000 hectares, of which 800 hectares are in Ruda Śląska, and 200 in Świętochłowice. We plan to invite subsequent cities to join the project.
The officials believe that the venture will turn out to be a success. - The area is well communicated, and soon the Drogowa Trasa Średnicowa (a Polish name for an urban road crossing the heart of Silesian agglomeration) will be constructed just next to it - explains Tadeusz Kostoń, city architect. - The industrial park is supposed to break the stereotypical thinking about Silesia, and prove that we are both a dynamic and a green region - That it is good to live here. The student competition proves that the young generation has already abandoned this wide-spread way of thinking. Very brave designs were created.
Students of the Faculty of Architecture of the Silesian University of Technology and Wrocław University of Technology, and students of the Technical Collage in Katowice, participated in the competition.
The winning work, by Magdalena Szczypka and Justyna Siwińska, students of the Faculty of Architecture in Gliwice, is a successful attempt to combine both industrial and recreational functions - The terrain is to large to fill only with built-up area, hence, we designated part of the terrain for recreation. On the one hand, we provide ready-built production halls for lease. On the other hand, we prepare a developed area where an investor comes, builds a suitable hall and starts activity - Szczypka describes the design.
Siwińska: - In a former guildhall we propose an art centre, where young people can develop their artistic potentials and present their works. In the nearby building there will be science and research establishments. Footpaths will be routed along the existing heating pipes, which are scary today, but it is enough to paint them for them to be attractive. The whole park may attract both investors and citizens.
Students presented many ideas, including unrealistic visions such as the construction of a gigantic zoo or a Formula 1 track. Another interesting idea was to plant the whole terrain with an energetic willow which would, on one hand, recultivate degraded areas, and on the other hand, would be a great energetic material - a green layer of coal. All designs accentuate the greenery and the relationship between the industrial district and the city.
"I am glad that students may do something positive for the region" said professor Krzysztof Gasidło, dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice. - the Industry of the future will be friendly. The park is supposed not only to generate profit, but also to improve the quality of life in the city. The students' ideas have a chance to come true.
As if to confirm these words, the Silesian Industrial Park signed an agreement with the Faculty of Architecture of the Silesian University of Technology. An Incubator of Technological and Service Innovations "Architecture and Construction" will be created. It will be the first venture of this type in Poland. There are prospects for a permanent co-operation between architects and industrialists.
(source: Tomasz Malkowski, Gazeta Wyborcza Katowice, 7th June 2006)