14 years have passed... and what came of it
In the former factories of I.K. Poznanski, the main functions are commerce and entertainment. Culture, which was supposed to play an important role in the functioning of Manufaktura, seems somewhat marginalized today (leaving aside the multiplex). This is, of course, a subjective feeling, but it is worth considering how often visitors to the complex on Ogrodowa Street limit their visit to a shopping mall or supermarket.
Will Monopolis follow a different path? Many indications suggest that it will. The functional program does not include large-format retail, and if the venture passes the test of time, then it may turn out that a supermarket is not a necessary element to guarantee the profitability of the investment. In addition, office spaces are to play a very important role in shaping the character of the entire complex. "An office building is not enough today"- stated the investor's representative and... he is probably right. In addition to modern open spaces and conference rooms, a place has been created where it will be possible to meet with clients, have lunch, find child care.
There are several new office buildings in the immediate vicinity of the former spirit bottling plant. More will soon be built - designed by G5A as part of the Monopolis complex. So, won't it become an almost "semi-private" space for the corporation's employees, whose impact on the further surroundings will remain negligible? Or, in a much more optimistic vision of the future, will it be a catalyst for change in the somewhat forgotten Old Widzew area?
The juxtaposition of the two developments - Manufaktura and Monopolis- highlights the distance we have covered in a decade and a half. The realization of the shopping, service and entertainment center at Ogrodowa Street was a difficult task, given the scale of the investment, the specifics of the existing context and the complex functional program. If it were built today, it would probably look different. However, it is a document - not only of the history of the industrial city, but also of the development of Lodz in the 21st century and the evolution of preservationist thought.
Sukcesja shopping center
photo: Błażej Ciarkowski
If we assume that Monopolis marks the next stage in the development of a strategy to revitalize the heritage of industrial architecture in Lodz, it is worth noting that almost at the same time we witnessed another important event. The spectacular demise of the Sukcesja shopping center has an almost symbolic dimension. For here, a 19th-century factory was demolished and a reinforced concrete dummy was built in its place, which was faced with red clinker tiles. And all this under the slogan of "revitalization of post-factory facilities"! The failure of the whole project may be a sign that pretended "factory-ness" is no substitute for authenticity.
Błażej Ciarkowski
¹ J. Tajchman, On the necessity of establishing standards for the execution of projects for planned works in architectural monuments, "Historic Preservation" 2008, No. 56.
