Bedeutungsebenen der rekonstruierten Altstadt von Wrocław
Levels of Meaning in the Reconstructed Old Quarter of Wroclaw

Summary/Abstract: This work defines the old quarter on three levels. The first is the architectural configuration, which is dominated by preindustrial structures. The second is the discourse concerning the cultural heritage. The third is the spatial perception of the everyday users of the town. The old quarter of Wroclaw was rebuilt after 1945 and for that reason the fundamental question arises how far the original old quarter is reflected in the reconstruction. The search for an answer first involves an examination of the architecture. I come to the conclusion that the reconstruction represents a continuation of the picturesque architecture of the pre-war era. The urban landscape which thus came about divides into zones depending on the extent to which the structures which had been destroyed have been rebuilt. In the past years it was determined that the image of the old quarter produced by the media, such as guides and picture-books, removes socialist buildings from view. Not least among the findings of this work is that the eye-catching “historical” facades contribute a positive message in today’s consumer society and an increasingly Europeanised world. The level of examination of day to day life is based on the collection of data among 63 students using the method of mental mapping. The students present a spatial concept with an overabundance of historical buildings, but in a context which also has regard to present-day orientations such as pedestrian precincts and shopping centres. The overall thesis is that today’s old quarter of Wroclaw would be significantly smaller than before the war. But partly for this very reason “historic”, i.e. reconstructed, buildings and structures play a disproportionate role in today’s city life.

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