PRZEMIANY WIZJI MIASTA SZCZECIN
TRANSFORMATION OF THE VISION OF THE CITY OF SZCZECIN

Summary/Abstract: In the article, the author demonstrates two the mostly promoted in the post war period visions for development of Szczecin: the one created in the seventies of the 20th century and Floating Garden Project, which has been presented since 2008. In both, water played considerable role, yet for Gierek’s planners it was just a raw material for industry (the so called: “big industrial water”) or an area for investments. In contemporary concept, it is sailing which is to become the key developing factor of the city, which is to play the same role for Szczecin as skiing for ski resorts. Sailing is also to be an element attracting investors from other fields. According to the past vision, the city was to be a kind of background for industry, and industry was to provide the city with everything needed for living. The decision makers hoped, or as future showed – they were rather deluding against themselves, that thanks to industrialization the city would gain a new infrastructure – pleasure grounds, sports facilities, skyscrapers. Instead, gray blocks were being built, what’s even more their number didn’t cover the demand. Today, those blocs are covered with polystyrene foam and colored. But in the meantime the big Szczecin’s industrial plants collapsed and this is why it is necessary to look for other platforms of development (if it continues to grow, the growth of industry in the nearby communes can be taken as an optimistic sign). In this context, the vision of the new green Venice of the North is of postindustrial origin. But is Szczecin, with its 400 thousand inhabitants, able to live on yachting? Mayor Piotr Krzystek mentioned about many thousands yachts registered in Berlin, yet how many of them would be willing to come to Szczecin, to moor here, and how many jobs this could create? Sailors are more self-sufficient than skiers. It doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be supported and the marinas shouldn’t be built.

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