Re-claim Silesia

Re-claim Silesia is a strategic proposal for an urban remodelling of post-mining economies and landscapes. Research led to a spatial intervention of a reclaimed material community center as a key building of the new long-term, allotment gardens inspired masterplan for living-working community on a model site in Bytom, Upper Silesia, Poland.

The study investigates the idea of reinterpretation by reclaiming the labour identity, building typology, construction material, energy, land and as a result - community. Silesian romanticism together with rediscovered allotment garden planning let nostalgia create new urban value.\nThe research lead to a strategic proposal for an urban remodelling of post-mining economies and landscapes, based on the case study of Bytom - one of the most problematic cities of Upper Silesia in terms of social and economical issues that result in spatial chaos. \nBuilding of a community center would determine a starting point for the phasic masterplan. It is located in the center of the model megasite next to the buildings of a former mine, being a spatial manual on how to build with reclaimed construction material in 1:1. A key of the program is to provide a flexible, multifunctional space for users to access an experimental building laboratory - with areas for the demolition material marketplace, workshops, small studios, canteen, municipality information market, roof allotment gardens... Reinterpreted local typologies as industrial hall, greenhouse, shed or row of garages - are used as a diverse and adaptable framework for the different purposes. Moreover, being connected by a valuable in-between space and making use of the internal paths and border situations between the particular functions, they represent the idea of ‘alloting’ - spatial organization inspired by the allotment gardens. \nThe next phase of the project is a gradual implementation of the reinterpeted allotment planning for the new living-working community. The general rules and frameworks would be imposed - roads, paths, infrastructure, maximal sizes of the plots and buildings. At the same time, users would have a lot of freedom defining shape of their settlements. However, there would be one general requirement - to be able to rent a cheap municipal plot, one should register a business activity. In this way, a new community where work and living is not divided, would grow. At the same time, this planning approach would trigger the local economy.