This master’s thesis was aimed at researching the possibilities of a project
for building a metropolis out of a former industrial region in southern Poland.
The idea was to study the development strategies and plan, and the spatial
status of the agglomeration region in Upper Silesia, to measure it against a
framework of polycentric development model. What I could argue is the
innovative element in the study was the incorporation in the framework of both
polycentric principles and ‘livability’ principles. Livability is understood as
the spatial and social characteristics that generate quality of life in the
inhabitants.
The purpose of adding livability to the planning stages of a project of this
kind was to make quality of life a priority and a goal of the development, and
not only a by-product, as it usually is. We are aware that commonly, economic
development is pursued first in most given projects, specially in the countries
of Eastern Europe, and lately environmental sustainability is the objective of
the projects in Western Europe. The proposal of my thesis is to take an
integral approach to planning and to put the balanced development of the person
at the center of the urban and metropolitan planning. To achieve this, a
combination of livability principles taken from the experience of some of the
best cities to live in the world, and of polycentricity models as understood by
the European Union institutions and documents was created. Measuring existing
development plans like those of Upper Silesia, (and any other cases for that
matter), with a certain degree of attention to the context (historical, social,
political, economical, natural), the areas that are lacking importance in the
spatial planning can be identified, and recommendations can be done to improve
the livability of any metropolitan or combined region. Above all, a balanced
development should be pursued to enhance quality of life and the attractiveness
of the region, which in the long run translates into growth and welfare for the
people.
This particular study yielded interesting results to the case of Upper Silesia
and their projected building of their metropolis, finding areas that were not
considered before, and that could improve the livability of the city. Based on
these results, two urban design proposals were put forward, addressing similar
but individual issues: the building of Meeting Places Networks within city
centres, and the establishing of Green Path Networks across the region. Both
proposals complement each other to generate a better space and alternative uses
for the inhabitants of the metropolis. The Meeting Place Network is based on a
regeneration of the public realm to make the city navigable once more for the
person on foot, rather than by motor vehicles. It doesn’t contemplate the
erradication of vehicle traffic in the cities, but a better relationship
between it and the public space. The network is designed between certain areas
that are important for people gathering and exchanging experiences and
information without recurring to the isolation of the automobile. By fostering
these meeting places and linking them, it is believed that the city can reach a
renewed level of livability for the inhabitants and also a new attractiveness
for tourism and leisure activities. The city stops being fragmented spaces
partitioned by street borders, or isolated building interiors, and becomes a
whole navigable space for people walking or cycling, for popular culture,
entertainment and personal exchange. The Green Paths further enhance this
network by serving as walking, cycling and green area links between city cores
and parks, serving as truly viable alternatives to private and public transport
and an attractive mode of transport of the livable city.
It if ...
