After the Coal: new-old Upper Silesia
Widespread unemployment, poverty and grim faces; these are the first associations one makes with the Polish region of Upper Silesia. On top of this there is the difficult history between Germany and Poland, for in the 20th Century, Upper Silesia was always a bone of contention between them. In the face of all this can be found projects taking place within the social upheaval; they remain loyal to their location and thus have an even greater effect. The old industrial region is a challenge for those implementing a new architecture for the future - it’s a playing field for the Medusa Group. And: the Ruhr Valley as a model? Dr Susanne Peters-Schildgen of the Upper Silesian Museum thinks “structural change” is a political term because the demands of a changing region must be expressed at all levels of structural policy if they are to be addressed geographically and economically.