Transformation of unused areas

The Association for Urbanism and Spatial Planning of the Czech Republic organizes two seminars each year on selected topics concerning current issues in spatial planning. I had the opportunity to participate in this year's spring conference "Transformation of Underutilized Areas" in Litoměřice, which further enriched the theoretical framework of my thesis.
The individual contributions showed that there are many urban areas of regeneration interest, including abandoned sites from Soviet troops, heavy industrial sites unable to function reasonably in a post-industrial atmosphere, and the current hit of Czech urbanism – urban underground. All of the mentioned areas have lost functional use and are currently languishing or abandoned. It is, of course, illogical and uneconomical for a city to contain these problematic areas within its structure. The conference in Litoměřice dealt with how to manage them.
Aside from the interesting but very specific initial contributions, I must mention the presentations by foreign architects and managers from Germany and Great Britain. As it turned out, the methodology for dealing with derelict areas in our cities is still in its infancy. The British model is a very sophisticated tool involving both the public and private sectors. The coordinator of all activities in the area is a team consisting of several experts representing the interests of the corporation (an association for the purpose of transforming a specific area). The main problem in Britain is the large industrial sites (England = the cradle of the industrial revolution) with significant pollution and social hazard. An example was presented of Trafford Park near Manchester, where a completely desolate contaminated site was transformed into a modern industrial technological park over the course of 10 years. It is important to note that in Great Britain, there are effective tools for land expropriation and its subsequent beneficial use in the public interest. This issue is particularly fatal in the Czech Republic, where, for instance, in Ostrava, the land is decontaminated (with state funds) without knowing to whom the cleaned land actually belongs, and we could find numerous similar complications.
The presented German project IBA Emscher Park demonstrated the economic strength of our western neighbor. The regeneration project of the extensive area around the Emscher River in the Ruhr region is indeed unique. The International Building Exhibition aimed to initiate the transformation of the Ruhr, and it succeeded. The German approach was genuinely responsible and systematic. Essentially, 5 possible approaches to brownfields were presented:

• Accessing the brownfield - a preserved monument to the history of the area
• Preservation and reconstruction - change of functional use
• Brownfield remediation and development on rehabilitated areas
• Allowing time - gradual change from brownfield to greenfield
• Land art - in spatially dominant brownfields, transformation into an attraction, compositional accent

The enormous resources invested in Emscher Park are not applicable in our environment. The presence of the private investment sector is necessary and must be directed towards the future sustainable development of the regenerated area. In any case, Emscher Park is a very compelling example of dealing with brownfields.
A similar state intervention can be admired in Paris, where presidential projects in the past also affected degraded areas.
And how is it with us? A large number of contributions from various cities including Prague, Ostrava, Olomouc, Kladno, Vysoké Mýto, Terezín, etc. (Brno was missing!!!) provided a sufficient picture of the state of the Czech transformation of underutilized areas. Generally, it can be said that the most vibrant city regarding examples of regeneration is Prague: blanket remediation transformation of Smíchov, sensitive transformation of Holešovice with the major developmental area of the Bubny freight station (the railroad areas also include brownfields) or the starting point of Vysočany. Well, Prague.
In other cities, regeneration is realized rather sporadically. An exception is Vysoké Mýto, which very precisely and thoughtfully addresses the Soviet legacy. The continuous process of integrating underutilized areas into the city's organism is not easy. The building structure often does not meet contemporary needs or is of a demolition nature.
Derelict military sites, however, do not necessarily have to be associated with Soviet troops. For example, in Olomouc, there is an interesting phenomenon of the ring of fortifications from the Theresian fortification of the 19th century, which have already been partially absorbed by urban development and are directly inviting transformation. Unfortunately, the unique building substance demands unique use. This problem takes on gigantic dimensions in Terezín.
But back to industry. The contributions from Kladno and Ostrava provided testimony that the transformation of underutilized areas is a long-distance run. It can be said that the larger the area needed for revitalization, the slower the process. Individual derelict objects or their clusters are successfully integrated into the urban environment quickly, as evidenced by examples from Český Krumlov.
The conference pointed out the presence of a considerable problem that affects or will soon affect most of our cities. Post-industrial society places entirely new demands on urban structures. The transformation of a city's area has been occurring continuously since their inception, but currently, in many places, it is taking on broader dimensions and relationships. It is a challenge for the state and urban development representatives to address the issue of regenerating urban fabric. Sustainable development in the European community aims to strengthen the centripetal nature of the city, its higher functional variability, and short logical ties. However, extensive underutilized areas, whose recycling potential in this regard is significant, often hinder these efforts.

C O N F E R E N C E P R O G R A M

Thursday, April 18, 2002

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Presentation of Litoměřice, underutilized buildings in the heritage reserve
J. Mužík, V. Brunclíková

Terezín - transformation of the fortified town
P. Vávra

Manchester - Trafford Park
D. Williams

Development of abandoned lands in the Ruhr - IBA Emscher Park
D. Luchterhandt

Ostrava - historical contexts of the current urban structure
V. Kuta

Ostrava - present and future of the city center
J. Sedlecký

Olomouc
J. Zimová

Paris - Bercy, Paris Rive Gauche
L. Doležalová


Friday, April 19, 2002

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Prague - transformation zones - e.g. Vysočany, Smíchov, Holešovice, etc.
P. Durdík, V. Klokočková, A. Hořejší

Kladno - transformation of the Koněv industrial zone
D. Pokojová

Vysoké Mýto - areas after the army
M. Košař

Český Krumlov - transformation of former production sites by the river
P. Koubek, F. Novotný, J. Suchan

Mladá - utilization of the former military training area
M. Körner