The Problem:
Over 300 million people in the CEE live in areas impacted by the socialist era one way or another. Close to 2/3 of them live in cities and towns with districts constructed and developed in the socialist period. The urban areas with socialist burden face many social and physical problems deriving from low housing standards, unattractive appearance, excessive space usage and the lack of
local cultural and social events. The problems of city districts with socialist burden are affecting not only inhabitants of socialist depraved buildings, but also the overall city image and its economy performance. The Vision:
The urban areas with socialist burden can become attractive places to live and work in. Our vision is a new face of the post-socialist city: competitive and attractive. The Solution:
RenewTown aims to find the best ways to improve the quality of life
in urban areas with socialist burden. It will provide practical
knowledge on how to overcome the problems of these areas and
take advantage of their specificity. It will show which revitalization
programs are most effective and how the local community can
participate in them. Project specific objectives:
- Creation of a model for development of cultural and social offer in districts with socialist burden (Nowa Huta in Kraków).
- Identification of ideas (models) to improve conditions and quality of public spaces between blocks of flats (Velenje).
- Creation of a model of entrepreneurship development in districts with socialist burden (Prague). Identification of model solutions for improving appearance of socialist architecture (making its visual aspects more attractive).
- Identification of ways to reinforce the feeling of identity the local population has with their place of living (Nowa Huta in Kraków, Velenje, Hnusta).
- Identification of ideas for new/modern functions of public buildings created in the socialist era (Nowa Huta in Kraków, Prague, Hnusta).
