An integrated approach to the protection of cultural heritage on the example of Kolumna – a former summer resort near Łódź

Krystyna Strumiłło

doi:10.37190/arc230205

Abstract

In recent years, the growing importance of protecting cultural heritage can be noticed. An integrated approach to the protection of cultural heritage reflects both the society’s attitude to the world of values and the very process of reinterpretation of values. The aim of the article is to present the results of the research conducted by the author on the cultural heritage in Kolumna (Łask district) near Łódź. These results shed new light on a holistic view of the issue of heritage protection in terms of European Union provisions. Empirical research was carried out consisting in direct observation, analysis and self-assessment, as well as archival queries and studies of the latest literature on the subject. Field observations concerned human interference and transformation of the green landscape. As a result of the conducted research, it should be stated that cultural heritage, whose values are not only material cultural goods, but also natural heritage and our memory and identity, is subject to constant evolution. Proper welfare management and the intensification of activities aimed at protecting these values are becoming crucial.

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2023

2(74)

Krystyna Strumiłło*

An integrated approach to the protection of cultural heritage

on the example of Kolumna – a former summer resort near Łódź

Introduction

Today, the relationship between the past and the future

is not limited to the protection of monuments. Cultural

heritage serves contemporary purposes, which are not

only material cultural goods, but also natural heritage and

our memory and identity.

In the literature on the subject of monument protection

law [2], as well as in the theory and practice of monument

conservation, the terms “monument”, “cultural asset” or

“cultural resources” are used interchangeably. When try-

ing to organize the semantic ranges of these concepts, it

should be noted that the objects or phenomena covered by

them are distinguished by the fact that they carry certain

values that can generally be called cultural. The works of

man, as well as products of nature, which represent spir-

itual (intangible) values, can be called cultural goods. It

is worth adding that for the theory and practice of monu-

ment studies and conservation, it was extremely import-

ant to re cognize in the last quarter of the 20

century that

cultural phenomena are resources analogous to natural

resources [3]. A common protection policy, and an inte-

grated approach to these issues is therefore obvious.

The area of Kolumna, which is the subject of the study,

about 25 km from Łódź, was and is a special place. Rich

in characteristic wooden summer buildings surrounded by

picturesque nature, Kolumna was an attraction and a base

for spending free time (often short weekends) for the

inhabitants of a large industrial city. Since 1973, the area of

Kolumna has been a district of Łask

. Formerly, Kolumna

existed as a separate resort. To this day, it is famous for its

specic climate, being an attraction for visitors. Protecting

and preserving its value seems to be a very important task.

The aim of the article is to present the results of research on

the cultural heritage of Kolumna as well as to emphasize

the importance of an integrated approach to its protection.

Empirical research was carried out based on direct obser-

vation, analysis and self-assessment based on the existing

archival materials and publications. Field observations on

human intervention and landscape transformations were

carried out. The obtained results shed new light on the

issue of heritage protection in terms of European Union

(EU) arrangements. According to the opinion issued by

the European Committee of the Regions in 2015, cultural

heritage is an integral element of the cultural and creative

sectors, includes resources, goods and tangible, intangi-

ble and natural knowledge passed down for generations,

and can help shape the image of municipalities, cities and

regions [4]. It makes a signicant contribution to strength-

ening social cohesion. It is a common value and a com-

mon resource that will be duly appreciated in the future.

Heritage belongs to all of us, and access to it is one of the

This decision was not accepted by the inhabitants and the Kolum-

na is still considered a separate entity among them.

DOI: 10.37190/arc230205

Published in open access. CC BY NC ND license

ORCID: 0000-0003-4885-725X. Institute of Architecture and Ur-

ban Planning, Lodz University of Technology, Poland, e-mail: krystyna.

strumillo@p.lodz.pl

Heritage is currently exploited for many purposes […]. It is, therefore, hardly surprising

that heritage is perhaps the most important, and certainly the most widely used tool in creating places.

Gregory Ashworth [1, Introduction]

50 Krystyna Strumiłło

fundamental human rights [5]. As emphasized by Jacek

Purchla: Cultural and natural heritage faces unprecedent-

ed threats almost every day. Their basis is often growing

intolerance, which only divides communities and nations.

Also in recent years, in various parts of the world, we are

dealing with the deliberate destruction of heritage

[6].

Hence, it should be concluded that the role of cultural her-

itage is still underestimated, and yet it is the foundation

of local, regional, national, European and global identity.

In recent years in Poland, an increase in the importance

of protecting cultural heritage can be observed, which is

the so-called territorial capital. These are all elements of

territorial space that create a system of relations, norms

and regulations as well as the uniqueness of the place in

the cultural, spatial, social and economic dimension [7].

Dierent actions are being taken to protect all existing

forms of cultural heritage. The National Heritage Board

of Poland, which is an expert and consultative support for

the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and con-

ducts activities supporting local governments in managing

cultural heritage in their area. However, it can also be seen

that sadly, these actions do not cover all areas.

The state of research

There are several studies dealing with the issue of an

integrated approach to the protection of cultural heritage.

It is worth mentioning here the article by Zbigniew Mycz-

kowski Krajobraz kulturowy – fenomen integra cji ochrony

dziedzictwa kulturowego i przyrodniczego [Cultural land-

scape – the phenomenon of integrating the protection of

cultural and natural heritage], in which the author attempt-

ed to present the form of heritage protection in chrono-

logical terms [8]. The problem of the protection of nature

and objects of cultural heritage and landscape developed

in Poland at the turn of the 19

and 20

centuries. The

quoted author explained how important the rst initiatives

were and which of them were reected in the legislation.

In the collective work entitled Zintegrowane podejście do

dziedzictwa kulturowego w gospodarowaniu przestrzenią

na przykładzie gminy Konstancin-Jeziorna [An integrat-

ed approach to cultural heritage in spatial management

on the example of the Konstancin-Jeziorna commune]

a contemporary approach to the subject of cultural her-

itage is presented. The monograph attempts to analyze

the process of integrating heritage with planning systems

and assessing its advancement in Poland, with particular

emphasis on Konstancin-Jeziorna [9]. Gregory Ashworth

in the book Heritage planning described how to manage

heritage in order to achieve the assumed goals [1]. In the

article Dziedzictwo kulturowe jako czynnik rozwojowy

w kontekście zarządzania zintegrowanego [Cultural her-

itage as a development factor in the context of integrated

management], Filip Moterski indicated the possibilities of

using this issue in the process of creating local documents.

As an example, he presented cultural heritage (in tangible

Statement by Prof. J. Purchla during the opening ceremony of the

Session of the World Heritage Committee in Krakow.

as well as intangible aspects), which is considered an

important development factor, but often remains unrec-

ognized or is not used in a way that positively aects the

development of both local governments and heritage sites.

The cited author considers integrated management to be

a management process that is aimed at a holistic approach

to decision-making and organizational processes combin-

ing three dominant spheres: environmental and spatial,

economic and social [10].

Jacek Purchla, in the publication Dziedzictwo a transfor-

macja [Heritage and transformation], particularly strong-

ly emphasized that cultural heritage in many countries is

a very strong impulse for the development of the tourism

industry [11]. This, in turn, is an impulse for the develop-

ment of cities and regions, as long as tourism and the process

of managing individual elements become part of a wider inte-

grated management process. In the collective work entitled

Kolumna-Las, miasto-ogród [Kolumna-Forest, city-garden],

we can nd articles devoted to Kolumna, its history and

wooden architecture, as well as drawings of inventories

of wooden buildings (works by students of architecture at

the Lodz University of Technology) [12].

Programs, strategies and recommendations

regarding protection

of cultural heritage

There are many studies that dene the directions and

basis for activities in the eld of integrated protection

of cultural heritage. The issue of protecting the world’s

cultural and natural heritage was dened in the UNESCO

Convention of 1972 [13]. In turn, an integrated view on

heritage protection was developed within the Heritage as

Opportunity thematic network of the URBACT II program

[14]. This program focused on the historic urban landscape

and inuenced the further development and management

of heritage. Nowadays, we can observe the use of various

concepts that allow for an integrated approach to space. As

a result of the debates of the Council of Europe, in February

2017, Recommendation CM/Rec(2017)1 [15] was adopt-

ed for the Member States on the European Strategy for

Cultural Heritage for the 21

Century (known as Strategy

21 or TS21 for short). It contains recommendations on

integrated heritage management, divided into the follow-

ing components: social, economic and territorial develop-

ment, as well as knowledge and education.

It is worth adding that Strategy 21, in accordance with

the mission of the Council of Europe, presents an integrated,

interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach to cultural he -

ritage, the conscious and skillful use of which can be come

an asset in achieving various socio-economic goals, espe-

cially at the level of small territorial units. The integrated

approach to the use of cultural heritage resources pro-

posed by Strategy 21 means setting and specifying many

conditions necessary to achieve the intended goals:

– taking into account all aspects of cultural heritage,

including its intangible dimension and links with the nat-

ural and cultural environment,

– making decisions based on agreement and participa-

tion, enabling the satisfaction of society’s needs,

An integrated approach to the protection of cultural heritage on the example of Kolumna – a former summer resort near Łódź 51

were parceled out, a market square, squares for a school,

a church, a post oce and a railway station were marked

out. In the 1930s, a house of prayer for the Jewish popula-

tion was also built, as many of the inhabitants of Kolumna

were of Jewish origin. 427 summer plots were marked out,

which began to be sold in 1929. In 1931, 80.6 ha of the

Szweycer forest were further parceled out [23]. As a result,

298 new plots and land for the park were marked out [24].

– enabling citizens to take responsibility for giving val-

ue to cultural heritage, as well as for its protection and

preservation,

– taking into account the existing tools and course of

action, in accordance with the legal framework in force

in the country.

In our country, the National Heritage Institute pub-

lished a guide for municipalities entitled Zintegrowane

za rzą dza nie dziedzictwem kulturowym w rozwoju lokal-

nym [Integrated management of cultural heritage in lo cal

development], which presents recommendations of the

Council of Europe for member states, helpful at the local

level [16]. On the basis of such recommendations, the

document Lokalny Program Rewitalizacji dla Gminy Łask

na lata 2016–2023 [Local Revitalization Program for the

Municipality of Łask for the years 2016–2023] was adopt-

ed by Resolution No. XXVIII/298/20 in Łask. It provides

for the protection and preservation of cultural heritage and

the strengthening of local identity [17]. At the request of

the Łask Commune, a study on the development strategy

of the Łask Commune for 2021–2027 [18] was published,

which is a continuation of the previously adopted assump-

tions. As part of the activities aimed at preserving and

saving the buildings in Kolumna, students of architecture

at the Lodz University of Technology have been taking

inventory documentation of local wooden buildings for

several years.

Moreover, the Environmental Protection Program for

the Łask commune [19] was adopted, which forecasts the

analysis of the environmental state and provides sched-

uling of planned tasks. It also deals with preventing soil

contamination, protecting air quality, promoting a low-car-

bon economy, protecting natural resources such as the

“Kolumna-Las” nature and landscape complex, “Dolina

Grabi” nature and landscape complex, Natura 2000 area,

nature monuments.

An example of Kolumna

– historical background

The rst mention of Kolumna in written sources dates

back to the 17

century and referred to the existing mill.

The town of Kolumna appeared on maps in the 18

centu-

ry. It consisted of two parts: a mill settlement and a village

[20]. In 1826, the settlement had 5 houses with 29 inhab-

itants [21]. On the quartermaster’s map from 1839, it was

described as a separate settlement (today known as Old Ko -

lumna). In the past, the area was part of the Wierzchy estate.

At the end of the 19

century, Kolumna had 12 homesteads

with 76 inhabitants and, together with the Łask estates,

belonged to the Szweycers, who lived in the nearby village

of Ostrów. In 1928, Janusz Szweycer, the last heir to Łask’s

estates, separated 120 ha from his land estates, which he

designated for the construction of a summer resort. It was

supposed to be an adaptation of a large forest area for the

needs of potential holidaymakers, referring to the concept

of garden cities (Figs. 1, 2) by Ebenezer Howard [22].

The establishment of the village was undoubtedly also

due to its favorable geographical location on the rivers

Grabia and Pałusznica. In the years 1928–1929, forest areas

Fig. 1. Kolumna-Forest, development plan

(1927, by A. Jawornicki, [28])

Il. 1. Kolumna-Las, plan zagospodarowania

(1927, oprac. A. Jawornicki, [28])

Fig. 2. Plan of Kolumna with marked locations of

wooden villa buildings and boarding houses (red points)

and a railway station (orange point)

(elaborated by K. Strumiłło, based on the OpenStreetMap map)

Il. 2. Plan Kolumny z zaznaczonymi punktami lokalizacji

drewnianej zabudowy willowej i pensjonatów (czerwone punkty)

oraz stacji kolejowej (pomarańczowy punkt)

(oprac. K. Strumiłło, na podstawie mapy OpenStreetMap)

52 Krystyna Strumiłło

Fig. 4. Kolumna. A wooden villa

with a corner turret at

14 Komuny Paryskiej Street

(photo by K. Strumiłło, 2022)

Il. 4. Kolumna. Drewniana willa

z narożną wieżyczką

przy ul. Komuny Paryskiej 14

(fot. K. Strumiłło, 2022)

Fig. 3. Kolumna. A wooden villa

with a corner turret

at Szarych Szeregów Square 4.

In the foreground a revitalized

square with elements of small

architecture

(photo by K. Strumiłło, 2022)

Il. 3. Kolumna. Drewniana willa

z narożną wieżyczką

przy pl. Szarych Szeregów 4.

Na pierwszym planie

zrewitalizowany plac

z elementami małej architektury

(fot. K. Strumiłło, 2022)

In addition to small private houses, luxury wooden board-

ing houses and villas (wood was the cheapest material at

that time) were built for rent as summer resort housing.

This town was given the name Forest-Kolumna. All hous-

ing estates were built mainly in pine forests with dry, sandy

ground [22].

Kolumna was shaped on an axial-radial plan. It was

intended to develop a project to use the natural landscape

and create a kind of garden city, where the architecture

blends in with the surrounding forest. Architect Antoni

Ja wornicki, the creator of the garden city of Podkowa

Leś na, took care of detailed land development plans. The

approved design of Kolumna resembled Howard’s orig-

inal (1898) concept [25]

. As a result of parceling, two

Robert Stern [26] pointed out that the garden city concept is a mod-

el for the development of present and future cities [25], [27]. This is sup-

ported by the renewed interest in garden cities and the many new suburban

projects in the UK that show a resurgence of this planning model in both

theory and practice. In 2017, the UK government unveiled plans to create

An integrated approach to the protection of cultural heritage on the example of Kolumna – a former summer resort near Łódź 53

areas were created on both sides of the axis, which is the

street (provincial road) called Leśników Polskich Street

[28]. In the northern part, there are streets radiating from

the railway station, also called avenues – Lu belska, Pio tr-

kowska, Wileńska. In the southern part, the streets (alleys)

– Katowicka, Świerkowa, Spacerowa, Ślą ska, Sadowa

branch o from the centrally located Plac Gwiaź dzisty.

In the above-mentioned areas, a signicant part of the

old buildings are wooden buildings, often two- and three-

story, located as detached on large forest plots. The archi-

tecture of these buildings has historical and cultural val-

ue. Szarych Szeregów Square is a link between the two

parts of Kolumna (Fig. 2). The complex of plots located to

the north of the railway tracks is also intended for single-

family housing.

It is worth noting that in 1931 there were about 20 board-

ing houses in Kolumna, which were very popular, and six

of them were open all year round [29]. At that time, there

were already several permanent shops with groceries, and

in the summer season their number increased signicant-

ly. A gas station opened. A public bath was established on

the Grabia River, on the road to Ostrów, connected with

the accumulation of water and a small beach. In 1934,

there were over 150 larger and smaller villas in Kolumna.

The beach on Grabia was expanded, there was a facility

equipped with showers and other conveniences. Currently,

these buildings do not exist.

After the war, some of the boarding houses were tak-

en over by the Workers’ Holiday Fund. Lokalny Program

Rewitalizacji dla Gminy Łask na lata 2016–2023 [The

Local Revitalization Program for the Łask commune for

the years 2016–2023] [17] species that before World

War II, there were 11 large boarding houses in Kolumna,

as well as a whole base of infrastructure, including ten-

nis courts and restaurants. There were 30 boarding hous-

es in Kolumna at that time. In addition, there were about

160 summer houses [21]. As time passed, these buildings

began to be inhabited not only in the summer, but also

throughout the year, which changed the character of the

buildings into multi-family buildings. Post-war politics

led to the division of entire buildings into random ats

inhabited by dierent families. The most numerous form

of a summer house was a symmetrical house with a cen-

trally placed staircase. These were buildings in the mod-

ernist style, but there were also houses in the manor style.

Kolumna summer houses – current state

Dozens of wooden summer houses have survived to

this day in Kolumna (Fig. 2). Most of these buildings have

retained their original spatial layouts (although there are

added vestibules or liquidated glazing replaced with wood-

en panels). They usually have a simple form with mod-

ernist connotations (as they have roofs with a small angle

of inclination, which are not visible from the street level).

14 new garden cities and garden villages across England. In the south

England, in the counties of Buckinghamshire, Somerset and Essex

Hertfordshire, garden cities with over 10,000 inhabitants are to be built.

Fig. 6. Kolumna. A wooden building (former boarding house)

with a corner turret with a roof with a slight inclination

at 1 Wileńska Street (photo by K. Strumiłło, 2021)

Il. 6. Kolumna. Budynek drewniany (dawny pensjonat)

z narożną wieżyczką z dachem o niewielkim kącie nachylenia

przy ul. Wileńskiej 1 (fot. K. Strumiłło, 2021)

Fig. 5. Kolumna. Elevation of the villa at Szarych Szeregów Square 4

from the south-east. Inconsistent fragments of the walls and windows

after partial replacement of the original ones

(photo by K. Strumiłło, 2022)

Il. 5. Kolumna. Elewacja willi przy placu Szarych Szeregów 4

od strony południowo-wschodniej. Niespójne fragmenty uzupełnienia

ścian oraz okna po częściowej wymianie oryginalnych

(fot. K. Strumiłło, 2022)

These buildings are wooden, one- or two-story, without

a basement. They are surrounded by old pine forests.

Among the surviving buildings, a few are distinguished

by corner turrets. Such facilities include the building at

Sz arych Szeregów Square 4 (Fig. 3) and at 14 Ko mu ny

Paryskiej Street (Fig. 4). Both buildings have gable roofs

covered with roong felt. The façades, on the other hand,

have decorative plank boarding on fragments of the walls,

which is partly original and partly supplemented (Fig. 5).

The window joinery is partly historical, and partly mod-

ern. The polygonal turret also distinguishes the building at

1 Wileńska Street (former Dora boarding house) (Fig. 6).

It is located on the south side, and its roof is multi-pitched

54 Krystyna Strumiłło

Currently, among several dozen monuments in Kolum-

na, almost all require modernization. They are included

in the local revitalization plan and constitute the cultural

heritage of the district. In the resolution on the designation

of a degraded area and a revitalization area in the com-

mune, the Łask City Council draws attention, among oth-

er things, to two buildings (at 14 Wojska Polskiego Street

and in Sejmowa Street) in poor technical condition. Their

wooden structure requires repair [30]. It was decided that

the upper oors will be intended for apartments, while

the ground oor of the buildings will have social func-

tions. Unfortunately, the modernization has not started yet.

Raising funds becomes the overriding goal. In accordance

with the project of revitalization of the Łask commune for

the years 2017–2023 (the basic diagnosis was carried out

at the level of village councils and rural areas, divided into

Łask and the Kolumna district) and the adopted Lokalny

Program Rewitalizacji dla Gminy Łask na lata 2016–2023

[Local Revitalization Program for Łask for the years 2016–

2023], one of the directions of action is the promotion of

the Kolumna district and promoting it as a garden city [17].

It should be noted that despite the high degree of deg-

radation, the buildings in Kolumna constitute housing

facilities, which fact is of additional importance when

revitalizing activities are undertaken. Therefore, on the

one hand, it is important to act towards improving the

quality of life of the residents, and on the other hand, to

save the buildings that are the indisputable showcase for

the district. Their architectural values dene the identity

and character of this area. Noteworthy is the guesthouse

(circa 1930) located at 18 Wojska Polskiego Street, which

has a multi-colored façade (Fig. 9). The inhabitants of

Kolumna call this building a colorful guest house – until

recently, you could still rent rooms here. The existing

wooden boarding houses and summer villas with a large

number of windows (Fig. 9), characteristic decorative

verandas (Fig. 10) and large roof eaves can still be admired

today. However, there are concerns about their technical

condition and questions about how long these buildings

will last. Some buildings have been abandoned, e.g. the

above-mentioned guesthouse (18 Wojska Polskiego Street

and 18 Wileńska Street) and are gradually degrading. In

November 2021, a re broke out in a villa at 26 Wojska

Polskiego Street, which was entered into the Municipal

caused extensive damage to the building. Without specif-

ic modernization measures, it will not be possible to pre-

serve these buildings

. Dealing with existing cultural val-

ues should be comprehensive and multifaceted. Although

many studies have been prepared to take into account

the most important tasks, it remains a problem to obtain

funds, as well as to make reasonable decisions to save cul-

tural and natural resources.

An example of a signicant investment in Kolumna,

in addition to tidying up the area next to the railway

A threat to the original character of the buildings is also the dis-

turbing attempts to renovate the wooden façades of the buildings by re-

placing them with other materials, as for example in the building located

in Piotrkowska Street (the walls were plastered).

with a small angle of inclination, imperceptible from the

street. There are symmetrical layouts in the buildings:

buildings at 8 Jagiello Street, corner of Sejmowa/Toruńska

Street, at 8 Wileńska Street, 25 Wi leń ska Street (Fig. 7)

and simple asymmetric layouts, such as the aforemen-

tioned building at 1 Wileńska Street and at 7 Letnia Street,

however, often with numerous pro tru sions of wall planes

creating faults (7 Piotrkowska Street, 9 Piotrkowska Street,

10 Jagiełły Street). The building lo cated at 14 Wojska Pol-

skiego Street (former War szaw ska) (Fig. 8), which con-

sists of two wings connected by a circular staircase with

semi-circular porches with entrances on the ground oor,

has retained its original formal and spatial layout.

Fig. 8. Kolumna. The Rozenblats’ wooden villa from the mid-1930s

at 14 Wojska Polskiego Street. Window joinery after partial

replacement

does not refer to historical divisions

(photo by K. Strumiłło, 2021)

Il. 8. Kolumna. Drewniana willa Rozenblatów z połowy lat 30. XX w.

przy ul. Wojska Polskiego 14. Stolarka okienna po częściowej wymianie,

nie nawiązuje do historycznych podziałów

(fot. K. Strumiłło, 2021)

Fig. 7. Kolumna. Wooden villa at 25 Wileńska Street

with a rhythmic façade

(photo by K. Strumiłło, 2022)

Il. 7. Kolumna. Drewniana willa przy ul. Wileńskiej 25

o rytmicznej elewacji

(fot. K. Strumiłło, 2022)

An integrated approach to the protection of cultural heritage on the example of Kolumna – a former summer resort near Łódź 55

a fountain, benches, etc. From the north, on the extension

of the square, a monument in honor of the Szare Szeregi

(Gray Ranks) was located (Fig. 11).

Natural heritage resource of Kolumna

– threats and methods of protection

Kolumna, which is a recreational and leisure place, is

located in a particularly picturesque area in terms of land-

scape and nature, among pine forests, near the Pałusznica

and Grabia rivers. In 1993, it was included in the decision

of the Town Council in Łask and established as the Nature

station and building new platforms, is the revitalization

of Szarych Szeregów Square

. The modernization was

completed in 2021, and the square was re-opened on

August 1, the anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw

Uprising. Previously, the square was occupied largely by

a parking lot. The renovated space was lled with new-

ly planted small trees and elements of small architecture:

Gray Ranks was the underground codename of the Scouts Orga-

nization of the Polish Scout Association, colloquially also of the entire

Polish Scouting and Scouting Association, during the German occupa-

tion during World War II in the years 1939–1945.

Fig. 9. Kolumna. Pension at

18 Wojska Polskiego Street.

Poor technical condition of

the building and façade

(photo by K. Strumiłło, 2021)

Il. 9. Kolumna. Pensjonat przy

ul. Wojska Polskiego 18.

Zły stan techniczny

budynku i elewacji

(fot. K. Strumiłło, 2021)

Fig. 10. Kolumna. A wooden

villa with a characteristic

glazed veranda from

Szarych Szeregów Square side

(photo by K. Strumiłło, 2022)

Il. 10. Kolumna. Drewniana

willa z charakterystyczną

przeszkloną werandą

od strony pl. Szarych Szeregów

(fot. K. Strumiłło, 2022)

56 Krystyna Strumiłło

designation of protected landscape areas and recognition

as natural and landscape complexes], the area of this valley

has the following rank [31]:

– the Nature and Landscape Complex “Dolina Grabi”

in the communes of Dobroń, Łask, Sędziejowice, Widawa

and the town of Łask,

– Nature and Landscape Complex “Kolumna-Forest”

in the Kolumna district,

– the “Środkowa Grabia” Protected Landscape Area in

the communes of Buczek, Łask and Dobroń.

The purpose of creating this form of protection for the

Grabia valley is to preserve the natural bed of a lowland

river with meanders, meanders, rapids and sandbanks.

The protection of the natural values of Grabia as part of

ecological use has been included in the local spatial devel-

opment plan [32].

Kolumna has landscape, cultural and tourist values.

There are natural monuments and tourist trails of supra-

local importance, and the area has the possibility of devel-

oping a tourist function. These include: Łódź Surroundings

Trail – leading through Kolumna from Grabia to the en -

trance to the Poleszyński forest in Wronowice. Another

one is the Mills Trail on the Grabia River – a walking

trail connecting preserved technical monuments in the

form of six former water mills built on the eponymous

river. The trail starts at the railway station in Kolumna,

runs through the Grabia valley and the center of Łask. The

next one is the Trail of Mill Settlements and Ecofarms on

the Grabia River (a cycling route of about 50 km) on the

route Kolumna–Barycz–Ldzań–Drzewociny–Trzy Brzo zy

–Róża–Dobroń–Markówka–Poleszyn–Kolumna. This route

has been awarded a European certicate [33].

The priority task of the commune and society is to pre-

serve not only cultural resources, but also to protect envi-

ronmental values for future generations. The search for

fa vorable environmental conditions, especially in the era

of specic conditions such as the COVID-19 pandemic,

has taken on a new meaning. The basis for cultural her-

itage management is the analysis of strategic documents,

the task of which is to identify resources and also to dene

the expectations of the community. Communes carrying

out their own tasks, which include e.g. maintaining spatial

order, as well as protecting and caring for monuments and

cultural goods [34], must themselves raise funds for this

and use the available funds as eectively as possible.

For several years, the Łask Commune Council has been

discussing a new form of protection of the monuments of

Kolumna – the creation of a cultural park. The cultural

park is an integrated protection of exceptional cultural and

landscape values along with monuments characteristic of

the local settlement tradition. The creation of a cultural

park would involve the continuation and extension of the

area covered by the local plan for Kolumna (currently, the

local plan covers mainly the southern part of the village).

Summary

Kolumna is a charming place. It is an area where you

can admire the wooden villa architecture of the bygone

era, the historical urban layout of the garden city and the

Fig. 11. Kolumna. The place of honoring the Gray Ranks

located on the extension of the axis of Szarych Szeregów Square

(photo by K. Strumiłło, 2022)

Il. 11. Kolumna.

Miejsce uczczenia Szarych Szeregów

zlokalizowane na przedłużeniu osi pl. Szarych Szeregów

(fot. K. Strumiłło, 2022)

and Landscape Complex “Kolumna-Forest”. This region

covers an area of 365 ha and is the oldest existing form

of nature protection in the Łódź Voivodeship. An old-

growth pine forest with a historic wooden summer house

located here is under protection. Tree felling is restricted.

Unfortunately, legal changes from the late 1980s led to

a signicant arbitrary felling of many pines, which threat-

ened the forest character of Kolumna. In the last few years,

we can observe a further loss of signicant forest areas

caused by logging and strong storms in the summer.

Another problem causing the loss of these areas is the

sale and permission for single-family housing in the area

located in the southern part of Kolumna – in the area of

the pine forest. Some residents of the city and the Kolum -

na Forestry Inspectorate rotest against the parceling, de -

manding that the forest be left as a public recreational

area, especially since it is located close to the Pałusznica

River and the Grabia River and the Natura 2000 area. In

addition, a large area of forest with a large pond located

in the northern part of the district, in Brzeźna Street, is

now privately owned. It used to be an open area serving

as a recreational place available not only to the inhabitants

of Kolumna, but also Łódź. The change of ownership of

the areas closes the way to their use as recreational areas.

As already mentioned, Kolumna is located in the val-

ley of the Grabia and Pałusznica rivers, in the vicinity of

the protected Natura 2000 area. The rivers ow through

the southern part of Kolumna. The Grabia Valley, within

the Łask commune, is a natural ecological corridor. It is

included in the plans of the National Ecological System as

an area of regional importance. It is a pity that the riverside

areas are neglected, and the beach is polluted and devoid of

social facilities for tourists (Fig. 12). Currently, under the

Rozporządzenie Wojewody Sieradzkiego z 31 lip ca 1998 r.

w sprawie wyznaczenia obszarów chronionego krajobra zu

oraz uznania za zespoły przyrodniczo-kraj obrazowe [Re -

gulation of the Sieradzkie Voivode of 31 July 1998 on the

An integrated approach to the protection of cultural heritage on the example of Kolumna – a former summer resort near Łódź 57

picturesque nature of the Grabia valley. However, various

problems related to the maintenance of monuments and

the development of the area can also be diagnosed here.

The main ones include:

– technical degradation of wooden historic buildings,

– improper renovation of wooden façades of buildings

consisting in changing the original elements,

– low level of development of the riverside areas of

Grabia,

– deciencies in infrastructure and the presence of

neglected, undeveloped land,

– improper land management, sale of the most attrac-

tive plots for private purposes,

– threats related to random events, such as storms,

res, etc.

The most important tasks facing the authorities include

preserving the unique values of the cultural environment

and counteracting the transformation of the structure and

methods of development, which may pose a threat to its

unique values, which make up the identity of the city, dis-

trict or place.

In the case of Kolumna, in order to distinguish it from

Łask’s downtown, this zone is also described as a zone of

protection of the historical spatial arrangement and his-

torical functions [35]. However, current activities regard-

ing both the modernization of facilities, maintenance and

displaying of natural values seem to be very modest. The

intensication of activities depends to a large extent on

the possibility of obtaining funds, but also on the proper

management of cultural heritage resources. It is advisable

to revitalize and activate the area around Grabia, create

a swimming pool with the accompanying infrastructure,

establish a trail of wooden villas, revitalize the area in

terms of recreation and tourism, strengthen the protection

of forest resources. Kolumna should be equipped and rich

in infrastructure focused on leisure and tourism. A revital-

ized area, such as Szarych Szeregów Square, is an exam-

ple of a place that has been socially activated to some

extent. In addition, the protection of the cultural heritage

of Kolumna as a garden city with high urban and natural

values should consider the following directions of activ-

ities: revitalization combined with modernization of his-

toric buildings, revalorization of recreational areas, appro-

priate development of public spaces, supporting energy

eciency in public infrastructure and housing.

In order to preserve and use areas of outstanding histor-

ical and cultural values and at the same time characterized

by high natural and landscape values, it is necessary to

integrate activities for the protection of cultural and nat-

ural heritage. An integrated approach to the protection of

cultural heritage reects the society’s attitude to the world

of values. It is also a response to EU provisions and rec-

ommendations regarding the heritage management and

strengthening local identity.

Translated by

Krystyna Strumiłło

Fig. 12. Kolumna. Beach on the river Grabia.

Currently neglected, overgrown with grass, no social facilities

(photo by K. Strumiłło, 2022)

Il. 12. Kolumna. Plaża nad rzeką Grabią.

Obecnie zaniedbana, porośnięta trawą, brak zaplecza socjalnego

(fot. K. Strumiłło, 2022)

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Abstract

An integrated approach to the protection of cultural heritage on the example of Kolumna – a former summer resort near Łódź

In recent years, the growing importance of protecting cultural heritage can be noticed. An integrated approach to the protection of cultural heritage

reects both the society’s attitude to the world of values and the very process of reinterpretation of values. The aim of the article is to present the

results of the research conducted by the author on the cultural heritage in Kolumna (Łask district) near Łódź. These results shed new light on a holistic

view of the issue of heritage protection in terms of European Union provisions. Empirical research was carried out consisting in direct observation,

analysis and self-assessment, as well as archival queries and studies of the latest literature on the subject. Field observations concerned human inter-

ference and transformation of the green landscape. As a result of the conducted research, it should be stated that cultural heritage, whose values are

not only material cultural goods, but also natural heritage and our memory and identity, is subject to constant evolution. Proper welfare management

and the intensication of activities aimed at protecting these values are becoming crucial.

Key words: cultural heritage, heritage protection, Kolumna

Streszczenie

Zintegrowane podejście do ochrony dziedzictwa kulturowego na przykładzie Kolumny – dawnego podłódzkiego letniska

W ostatnich latach można zauważyć rosnące znaczenie ochrony dziedzictwa kulturowego. Zintegrowane podejście do ochrony dziedzictwa

kulturowego odzwierciedla zarówno stosunek społeczeństwa do świata wartości, jak i sam proces reinterpretacji wartości. Celem artykułu jest przed-

stawienie wyników przeprowadzonych przez autorkę badań dotyczących dziedzictwa kulturowego na terenie Kolumny (dzielnicy Łasku) niedaleko

Łodzi. Rzucają one nowe światło na całościowe spojrzenie na zagadnienie ochrony dziedzictwa w aspekcie zapisów unijnych. Przeprowadzono

badania empiryczne polegające na bezpośredniej obserwacji, analizie i ocenie własnej oraz kwerendy archiwalne i studia najnowszej literatury

przedmiotu. Obserwacje terenowe dotyczyły ingerencji człowieka i przekształceń zielonego krajobrazu. W wyniku przeprowadzonych badań należy

stwierdzić, że dziedzictwo kulturowe służy współczesnym celom, którymi są nie tylko materialne dobra kultury, ale także naturalne dziedzictwo

przyrodnicze oraz nasza pamięć i tożsamość. Właściwe zarządzanie dobrostanem oraz intensykacja działań skierowanych na ochronę tych wartości

stają się kluczowe.

Słowa kluczowe: dziedzictwo kulturowe, ochrona dziedzictwa, Kolumna