Opening of the exhibition as part of the Silesian Climate Centre project
On September 18th, at the Faculty of Architecture of the Silesian University of Technology, an exhibition summarizing the series of workshops “Active Design in the City”, implemented as part of the Silesian Climate Centre project, was opened. One of the most important effects is the concept of urban furniture. Its prototype will be located in Chrobry Park in Gliwice.
The main goal of the project is to create the Silesian Climate Centre (ŚCK) – a regional centre for the development of competences and knowledge in the field of adaptation to climate change. The ŚCK will be a permanent tool supporting local government units and inhabitants of the Silesian Voivodeship in taking actions to build climate resilience, in accordance with the priorities set out in the Development Strategy of the Silesia 2030 – Green Silesia Voivodeship and in the Regional Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change (RPA) – this is the first document of this type in the country, developed by the Silesian Voivodeship.
- We want to engage and increase the awareness of residents and officials of various organizations through various types of educational and promotional activities, including our urban furniture - says Dr Arch. Alina Pancewicz, Prof. SUT, project manager at the Silesian University of Technology. - Silesian University of Technology is one of the partners of this project, the leader of which is the Silesian Voivodeship. Other partners include the University of Silesia, the University of Economics, and the Institute of Ecology of Industrial Areas.
The opening of the exhibition was summed up by the series of workshops “Active Design in the City.” Their aim was to study the recreational potential of riverside areas in Chrobry Park in Gliwice. They were organized by a team of employees of the Faculty of Architecture of the Silesian University of Technology under the direction of Dr Hab. Eng. Arch. Anna Szewczenko, Prof. SUT, Dr Eng. Arch. Sylwia Widzisz-Pronobis, Dr Eng. Arch. Katarzyna Mazgaj and MSc Eng. Arch. Grzegorz Pronobis, in cooperation with experts: Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Ewa Felis from the Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering of the SUT, Dr Natalia Bursiewicz from the Institute of History and Archival Studies at the University of the National Education Commission in Krakow and the Active Recovery Wrocław Foundation, MSc Eng. Arch. Anna Kurianowicz from the Faculty of Architecture of the Silesian University of Technology and MSc. Arch. Dominika Janicka from Fairbuilding.
The main idea was to link physical activity and solutions for adapting urban recreational areas to climate change. One of the most important effects of the work is the concept of urban furniture, the prototype of which will be located in the Chrobry Park in Gliwice.
- The activities we carry out as partners are mainly workshops. In the first stage of this project – because there will be more – they are addressed to officials, to local government units, in order to show how to plan certain activities, how to design them, what types of solutions are already used and how to encourage residents to do so. to use them and to accept them, says Prof. Alina Pancewicz. - The Silesian University of Technology has six such projects. These include workshops related to urban design, social participation, health, and longevity. We also organize study walks. In addition, there is the demonstration infrastructure, an example of which is the urban furniture developed as part of the Active Design workshop in the city.
The opening of the exhibition was led by Prof. Anna Szewczenko and Dr in Social Sciences Eng. Arch. Sylwia Widzisz-Pronobis, who told the gathered about the details of the project. The participants were interested in the presented concept.
- My role in the project of creating a city furniture is to introduce to it greenery, which is characteristic of our latitude - explains Prof. Ewa Felis. - First of all, we will use the phenomenon of photocatalysis. Such a piece of furniture, when located in space, has a mainly aesthetic function. In this process, which will be initiated by ordinary sunlight, it begins to act as a small air purification plant.
- At the stage of pre-design works, I dealt with the combination of physical activity, spatial form, and artistic component. I work in an interdisciplinary area, which means that I look at the city and public space broadly, and because I am also a medical trainer, I could talk with students about the possibility of using city furniture in a different way. We all have a problem with the fact that we move less and less, and an interestingly designed piece of furniture can encourage us to do this – even by the way, for fun – adds Dr Natalia Bursiewicz.
The opening of the exhibition was accompanied by a debate which highlighted the links between the health of urban residents and solutions for physical activity. The participants could hear the opinions of experts and the local community on the prototype of urban furniture and development of its directions.
- Urban furniture gives an amazing opportunity to shape different behaviours, it can invite people to interact socially. Its potential is great, and it is very interesting and desirable from the point of view of the city – says Dr Eng. Arch. Agata Twardoch, Prof. SUT, urban urbanist, and head of the City Urban Planning Office in the City Office in Gliwice. - The Kłodnica itself is now the subject of our very wide urban interest. We joined the long-term project “Bulwary Kłodnica.” We are starting an architectural, urban and landscape study competition, whose aim is to determine the direction of changes, thanks to which Kłodnica will become more accessible to residents.
- The concept of our urban furniture fits within the assumptions of Active Design, which as a strategy is a practical, evidence-based approach to the transformation of the built environment to support health and physical activity, - says Dr Arch. Anna Szewczenko, Prof. SUT. We want the design of our furniture to be an impulse for spontaneous movement. We also hope that it will be a meeting place for young people, for example students, because the park is in the immediate vicinity of the campus. We also use nature as a design tool: The structure of the furniture allows integration with vegetation and ensuring biodiversity.
Earlier, the Silesian Climate Centre project also included workshop “The impact of climate change on life and health – bioclimatology, aspect of longevity.”
The workshop concerned the impact of climate change on health and life, the aspect of longevity and the use of the health-promoting potential of recreational areas in the context of active aging. The workshop was led by Prof. Dr Hab Ewa Łupikasza from the University of Silesia in Katowice and scientists from the Silesian University of Technology: Dr Hab. Eng. Arch. Anna Szewczenko, Prof. SUT and Dr Eng. Arch. Agnieszka Labus.
- Faced with climate change, modern cities face a dual challenge: Protecting their residents from extreme events and adapting to the needs of an aging population. As part of the workshop, together with the participants, we looked at the design of public space, in which climate resistance directly translates into the longevity of residents. We also tested part of the academic district for solutions for longevity and physical activity – the organizers concluded.
The exhibition, debate and workshops are carried out as part of the Silesian Climate Centre project" - Stage I, co-financed by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund under the European Funds for Silesia 2021-2027.
