DEBATE

#revitalization

The vision of social and spatial revitalisation is unclear and problematic. On one hand, it offers us a selection of “natural” and “good” changes in the city. On the other hand, it never specifies who is supposed to benefit from those changes and who might lose because of them. It often does not consider potentially negative social and economical changes that it brings and which may lead to gentrification.
We would like to move beyond the conversation about revitalisation- change the point of view and look at development of the city as a process that is socially, politically and economically complicated. How to change the city without having to revitalise? Where can we (not) look for advice? How to shape the future of Polish cities? We will mostly refer to the revitalisation processes in Wroclaw (Nadodrze, Przedmiescie Olawskie, Psie Pole).

Temat: Beyond revitalisation

The vision of social and spatial revitalisation is unclear and problematic. On one hand, it offers us a selection of “natural” and “good” changes in the city. On the other hand, it never specifies who is supposed to benefit from those changes and who might lose because of them. It often does not consider potentially negative social and economical changes that it brings and which may lead to gentrification.

We would like to move beyond the conversation about revitalisation- change the point of view and look at development of the city as a process that is socially, politically and economically complicated. How to change the city without having to revitalise? Where can we (not) look for advice? How to shape the future of Polish cities? We will mostly refer to the revitalisation processes in Wroclaw (Nadodrze, Przedmiescie Olawskie, Psie Pole).

moderator:

Marta Żakowska– editor-in-chief of “Miasta” (Cities) magazine, Public Space Institute

panellists:

Katarzyna Kajdanek– sociologist, author of Suburbanizacja po polsku (Suburbanisation in Polish)

Wojciech Kębłowski– graduate from international urban studies „4cities”, phD from Université Libré de Bruxelles and Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Lech Mergler– co founder of My Poznaniacy society and Prawo do Miasta (City Right) society, co organiser of City Activist Congress

Sebastian Wolszczak – head of the City Hall revitalisation project in Wroclaw

debate: 30.03.2014 | 17:30, Nowe Horyzonty Cinema| after screening of „Zurbanizowani”