Exploring Łódź’s city centre - from the origins to modern times

Monika Włodarczyk

doi:10.37190/arc240308

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of changes in the perception and functionality of Łódź’s centre within the context of urban and social transformations. It focuses on identifying key factors influencing the city’s spatial and social evolution, examining how historical and emerging centres affect its structure and residents’ lives. Utilizing a broad methodology based on spatial data, historical analysis, and results from field research and surveys, the author aims to understand the dynamics of changes in Łódź’s urban structure. The conclusions highlight the importance of adaptive urban strategies that consider changing social needs and expectations, indicating the development of multi-functional centres as a response to the complex challenges of the modern city. The study sheds light on spatial restructuring processes, emphasizing the role of social participation and innovative approaches in shaping the future of urban centres.

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2024

3(79)

Monika Włodarczyk*

Exploring Łódź’s city centre – from the origins to modern times

Introduction

In urban planning, the city centre is considered a cru-

cial component of the spatial structure, serving not only

commercial functions but also providing a space for the

integration of various aspects of urban life. According to

Kevin Lynch’s theory, the centre is a “node” – a key point

of reference that helps users with creating mental maps

of the city consisting of paths, edges, districts, nodes, and

landmarks (2011). In cities where the city core is not clear-

ly dened, forming coherent mental maps becomes chal-

lenging. This diculty impacts users’ ability to properly

orient themselves and interact with the space. A lack of

a clearly dened centre can lead to fragmentation of urban

experiences.

Cities without a clearly dened centre may suer from

spatial and social incoherence, which is crucial for res-

idents seeking a sense of belonging. Additionally, these

cities often face diculties in attracting tourists and in-

vestors, which may be linked to limited economic and cul-

tural dynamism. Łódź presents a unique case study with

DOI: 10.37190/arc240308

Published in open access. CC BY NC ND license

its specic history. Its urban structure is associated with

the dynamic growth of the industrial sector, which has

contributed to the weakening of its traditional historical

centre. Other cities, often with richer histories and clearly

dened centres, do not provide a similar context for ana-

lysing the impact of urban changes on residents’ percep-

tions of the city.

Aims and research methods

The research conducted in Łódź focused on assessing

whether the current perception of the city centre corre-

sponds to its geometric centre. It also considered whether

there is a need to dene and develop a new centre in the

absence of a clearly established one. The author analyses

historical sources, contemporary spatial data and survey

results to understand how the evolution of urban space af-

fects the identication of central areas. The study also ex-

amines the impact of new structures emerging within the

centre in relation to the city’s heritage and current needs.

Adopting Lynch’s perspective demonstrates that the city

centre, a crucial element in residents’ mental maps, is not

a static entity but undergoes continual evolution in re-

sponse to social and urban dynamics. Understanding this

process can lead to better spatial planning that addresses

* ORCID: 0000-0003-3700-7188. Faculty of Architecture, Cra-

cow University of Technology, Poland, e-mail: monika.wlodarczyk@

doktorant.pk.edu.pl

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of changes in the perception and functionality of Łódź’s centre within the context of urban and

social transformations. It focuses on identifying key factors inuencing the city’s spatial and social evolution, examining how historical and emerging

centres aect its structure and residents’ lives. Utilizing a broad methodology based on spatial data, historical analysis, and results from eld research

and surveys, the author aims to understand the dynamics of changes in Łódź’s urban structure. The conclusions highlight the importance of adaptive

urban strategies that consider changing social needs and expectations, indicating the development of multi-functional centres as a response to the

complex challenges of the modern city. The study sheds light on spatial restructuring processes, emphasizing the role of social participation and

innovative approaches in shaping the future of urban centres.

Key words: Łódź, industrial heritage, city centre, revitalization, urban development, urban strategies

76 Monika Włodarczyk

dynamic changes in perception, which is crucial for cre-

ating coherent and vibrant urban centres. Understanding

this process can improve spatial planning by integrating

evolving perceptions. This is essential for developing co-

herent and dynamic urban centres, as it enables adaptive

strategies that respond to ongoing changes in urban expe-

riences and social contexts.

Evolving historical city centres

The earliest historical mention of Łódź dates to 1332,

when Prince of Łęczyca Władysław granted perpetual usu

fruct of the village to the Bishops of Wrocław. Historical

sources from this period provide information about the

construction of the rst church and the establishment of

a public square with a compact block of buildings. In

1423, the settlement was granted city rights according to

Magdeburg law by King Władysław Jagiełło. Despite the

establishment of market days for merchants and crafts-

men, agriculture remained the primary means of live li-

hood for the residents. Agriculturaloriented Łódź deve

loped slowly, reaching a population of around 700 by

1618. The wars, res, and epidemics of the 17

and 18

centuries had a signicant impact on the population, af-

fecting the city’s development. By the early 19

century,

Łódź, located in the Prussian Partition, was a government

town covering approximately 20 hectares. Public build-

ings, including the town hall and the prison, were situated

around the market square, which was the centre of urban

life. The church served as the primary landmark, standing

out in the city’s skyline due to its height (Koter 1970).

From 1820, under the inuence of the royal decree to

establish factory settlements and the initiative of Rajmund

Rembieliński, prefect of Masovia, Łódź transformed into

an industrial textile city. Nowe Miasto (Eng. New City)

was developed in 1821, at a distance from agricultural

Łódź, creating a distinct spatial cluster designated for for-

eign textile specialists. The framework of the new ortho-

gonal urban plan was dened by Piotrkowska Street and

Średnia Street (now Legionów/Pomorska Street). The in 

ter section of these axes was Nowy Rynek (Eng. New Mar-

ket Square), now known as Plac Wolności (Eng. Liberty

Square). Around this market were situated important pub-

lic buildings, including the Evangelical church, town hall,

and county school. Three years later, near Nowe Mia sto,

the settlement of Łódka was founded, characterized by

its focus on handicrafts and industry. These two areas,

through their rough development, created a linear arrange-

ment along Piotrkowska Street. Łódka also had its own

markets, known as Fabryczny (now known as Plac Kat-

edralny, Eng. Cathedral Square) and Górny (now known

as Plac Reymonta, Eng. Reymont Square). Development

was further advanced by the establishment of weaving

colonies and the designation of Nowa Dzielnica (Eng.

New District) in 1840 in the eastern part of the city. The

spatial organization of these integrated settlement units

guided and facilitated the creation of a cohesive orthogo-

nal urban structure (Stefański 2001).

The opening of the Łódź Fabryczna railway station

in 1866 had a signicant impact on the city’s economic

development, catalysing further expansion of rail trans-

portation (Kulesza 2009). The development of numerous

service facilities around the station caused the relocation

of the city’s commercial core to this section of Piotrkows-

ka Street. However, the lack of an open public space pre-

vented this area from fully functioning as a city centre in

the conventional sense (Stefański 2019). Urban planning

in Łódź was primarily focused on advancing industrial

growth, frequently compromising the development of rep-

resentative public spaces. The primary arterial road of the

city was designed to provide easy access to factories, and

the use of the central area by residents was closely linked

to the work schedule. The lack of distinct district boundar-

ies led to unintended interactions between dierent social

classes (Śmiechowski 2019).The dynamic growth of Łódź

in the 19

century resulted in uncontrolled urbanization

Fig. 1. The city plan of Łódź

(Oleszczyński 1853) showing the

city’s development to the south

(source: Wojewódzka Biblioteka

Publiczna im. Hieronima

Łopacińskiego w Lublinie,

sign. 7/XVI)

Il. 1. Plan miasta Łodzi

(Oleszczyński 1853) obrazujący

rozwój miasta w kierunku

południowym

(źródło: Wojewódzka Biblioteka

Publiczna im. Hieronima

Łopacińskiego w Lublinie,

sygn. 7/XVI)

 ExploringŁódź’scitycentre–fromtheoriginstomoderntimes 77

of the peripheries, where the poorer population was con-

centrated. Over half a century of inactivity by the tsarist

authorities transformed Łódź into a city characterized by

urban chaos. It was only between 1906 and 1915 that the

suburban areas were incorporated into the city (Stawi

szyńska 2019). The pursuit of creating an integrated and

functional centre continued to challenge urban planners

and decision-makers in the following years. As a result,

Łódź developed into a city with a seemingly organized ur-

ban structure, reecting its dynamic historical evolution.

Pre-war/post-war visions of city centre

Compared to other Polish cities, Łódź experienced re

la tively minimal destruction during World War II. Conse-

quently, Łódź was designated as the temporary capital of

Poland during the reconstruction of Warsaw, which had

been devastated by the war. Despite the tragic circum-

stances, this period was pivotal in the city’s history, of-

fering an opportunity to transform the down-town area

into a modern centre after more than 500 years since its

founding. The Nazis sought to integrate new composition-

al axes into the existing urban layout of Litzmannstadt.

Their vision included the development of wide boule-

vards and squares along what is now the Łódź W–Z route

(Eng. Łódź east–west route). This planned axis was to be

adorned with monumental buildings designed to symbolize

the power and inuence of the Third Reich. The new town

hall, the monument to General Litzmann on Manifestation

Avenue, Art Avenue, and the Welcome Square near Łódź

Kaliska Railway Station were intended to signify a shift in

the prevailing urban aesthetics. The plan also included the

creation of Manifestation Square, designed to host mass

gatherings and propaganda events. However, most of these

ambitious projects were never realized due to the defeat of

the Third Reich in the war (Bolanowski 2013).

After the Nazi occupation, the Communist authorities

took over Łódź and aimed to implement their own urban

planning vision. A key component of their strategy for

the city centre was to establish a clear central axis along

Stalin Avenue (now Piłsudski Street). This approach par-

tially continued the Nazis’ scheme to extend the urban

development from Łódź Kaliska Train Station) to Ry-

nek Wodny (Eng. Water Market). Surrounding the axis,

it was envisioned that monumental party buildings, cul-

tural institutions, and other structures would emerge to

symbolize the power of the working class. In the central

part of the parade square, a building comparable to Pałac

Kultury i Nauki (Eng. the Palace of Culture and Science)

in Warsaw was planned, whose dominance in the space

was intended to be prominent in the city’s skyline. The

functions of the urban space were aligned with the prin-

ciples promoting more or less enforced social integration.

This concept can be described as coherent but also as im-

posing a direction for the further development of urban

structures. Among other things, it included a redenition

of the city’s image, which undermined the signicance of

the historical core (Sumorok 2010).

Despite this, Łódź’s most pressing issue during this

period was the inadequate housing conditions, the short-

age of public utility buildings, and the lack of technical

infrastructure. In the 1940s, the city’s administrators pro-

posed a development plan for the Bałuty district, located

near the city centre. The Bałuty concept was reminiscent

of the Kraków district of Nowa Huta, known as a garden

city, based on the idea of Ebenezer Howard (Motak 2016).

Each of the ve neighbourhoods, designed as green ur-

ban blocks, was intended to include its own local com-

munity centre to address the needs of the residents. How-

ever, during this period, most residential developments

occurred outside the city centre. This was evidenced by

the newly developed neighbourhoods in New Rokicie and

Doły. Moreover, the redevelopment of the railway con-

necting the peripheral districts with the city centre, along

with the integration of the ring railway and the planned

radial tunnel, was intended to enhance both intra- and in-

tercity connections (GralińskaToborek 2016). Despite

signicant needs, only a few of these plans were realized,

as Łódź was not considered a priority area by the central

authorities at that time. A turning point came in the 1970s

when Edward Gierek’s initiative for national moderniza-

tion allowed for a spatial redenition of the downtown.

During this period, several key structures were built, in-

cluding the oceservice complex along Piłsudski Street,

Dom Handlowy Central (Eng. Central Department Store),

or Szpital Ministerstwa Spraw Zagranicznych i Adminis-

tracji (Eng. the Ministry of Internal Aairs and Adminis-

tration Hospital). The development of the city was also

signicantly inuenced by the conceptualization and par

tial realization of university campus plans, which contri-

buted to shaping Łódź’s prole as an academic centre.

Du ring that time, the housing sector experienced signi

cant growth. Zespół Śródmiejskiej Zabudowy Mieszka

niowej (Eng. the Down-town Residential Complex) was

constructed there. This development features high-rise

apartment buildings whose architectural style and urban

character distinctly contrast with the city’s traditional

architecture. This was intended to project a modern and

dynamic image for Łódź. Over time, it was recognized

that high-rise residential buildings were not the optimal

solution, inuencing subsequent urban development di-

rections. Nevertheless, the complex remains a signicant

part of Łódź’s urban landscape, reecting the city’s ambi-

tions for high-rise construction (Ciarkowski 2016).

The communist period of Poland’s history is often crit-

icized for disregarding the value of existing urban struc-

tures, but the ideological heritage of that era is currently

undergoing processes of modernization and adaptation to

contemporary needs. The area once designated as Stalin

Avenue now functions as a primary transportation artery of

the city. A high-rise complex designed for residential and

oce purposes have been developed along this avenue.

The site of the Sovietproposed skyscraper is now oc-

cupied by a public transit hub, similar in its shape to Lis-

bon’s train station – Gare de Oriente (Majewski 2016).

The area around the “Piotrkowska Centrum” train stop

(see Fig. 2) is characterized by signicant service, retail,

and entertainment establishments, primarily developed in

the 2

half of the 20

century and in the 21

century. The

concept of a vibrant space has been preserved, but it now

78 Monika Włodarczyk

a few of these projects included revitalization eorts that

preserved historical heritage. Nevertheless, at the dawn

of the new millennium, several developments emerged

that played a crucial role in restoring the city’s image and

economic vitality. The transformation of the former Izrael

Poznański factory into the Manufaktura department store

brought new signicance to the area. The distinctive ar-

chitecture of the complex, which combines entertainment,

cultural, and retail functions, is a prominent feature in the

urban landscape. The extensive public space within the

complex has for years been the site of many signicant

city events (Wycichowska 2012).

The opening of Manufaktura, as well as other buildings

converted from post-industrial development, had a sig-

nicant impact on the economic revitalization of Łódź.

In contrast, the revitalization processes around Piotrkow-

ska Street proceeded more slowly and less intensively,

which contributed to a decline in the attractiveness and

signicance of the historic part of the city. In response to

these challenges, a revitalization program was developed

for the degraded area of the Metropolitan Zone of Łódź.

Launched in 2013, the program takes a comprehensive ap-

proach to revitalizing the area. It focuses on introducing

new spatial and functional solutions, improving the trans-

portation infrastructure, and enhancing the attractiveness

and safety of public spaces (Portal Rewitalizacji Urzędu

Miasta Łodzi). The listed projects should focus on specic

issues within the urban structure, which are shaped by the

users themselves. Public participation in this matter ap-

pears to be essential, as it directly inuences the willing-

ness to use the space. It also proposes linking the planned

initiatives with participatory budgeting projects, which

often focus on local urban centres (Cysek-Pawlak 2017).

The most signicant beneciaries of the area revitaliza-

tion appear to be the former power plant complex, which

now functions as the EC1 Science and Technology Center,

the Cultural Center, and the Planetarium, along with the

new Łódź Fabryczna railway station (see Fig. 3). The mod-

ernization of this area was part of the project Nowe Cen-

trum Łodzi (Eng. New Center of Łódź) initiated in 2011

based on a master plan by Rob Krier and its subsequent

transformations. The project for this nearly 100-hectare

area was seen as a response to Łódź›s aspirations to adapt

mainly acts as a central hub for the aggregation and dis-

tribution of trac in various directions. Despite its many

benets, this area does not full the criteria for a sustain-

able public space. One of the drawbacks of this area is its

dense development, and the risks posed by heavy vehic-

ular trac result in a space that is not pedestrianfriend-

ly. This fact contrasts with contemporary urban plann-

ingtrends, which emphasize the importance of pedestrian

spaces in the context of urban development (Poklew

ski-

Koziełł 2019).

New Faces of Old Centres

Following the economic transformation of 1989, Łódź

experienced a profound crisis due to the disruption of the

economic ties from the previous regime. The deindustri-

alization process, while eectively removing disruptive

industries from the city centre, also led to the increase

of unemployment and the decline of areas crucial to the

city’s historical signicance. The unfavourable econom-

ic conditions exposed a developmental imbalance, high-

lighting the deterioration of central areas. The demolition

of many abandoned factory buildings created opportu-

nities for new real estate developments. However, only

Fig. 2. The “Piotrkowska Centrum” train stop

and its surrounding development

(photo by M. Włodarczyk, January 2024)

Il. 2. Przystanek „Piotrkowska Centrum” i okoliczna zabudowa

(fot. M. Włodarczyk, styczeń 2024)

Fig. 3. Panorama of the New Center of Łódź. From the left: Family Poznański Alley, Łódź Fabryczna railway station,

EC1 Science and Technology Center, City Gate (photo by M. Włodarczyk, January 2024)

Il. 3. Panorama na „Nowe Miasto”. Od lewej: al. Rodziny Poznańskich, Dworzec Łódź Fabryczna, Kompleks EC1, Brama Miejska

(fot. M. Włodarczyk, styczeń 2024)

 ExploringŁódź’scitycentre–fromtheoriginstomoderntimes 79

this strategically and historically signicant location to

con temporary needs. The successful developments in this

area suggest that Łódź, formerly one of Europe’s major

textile industry centres, seeks to transform into a district

for modern business services and new technologies (Opa-

nia 2017; Pawłowska 2019).

The New Center of Łódź is not universally regarded as

an ideal urban creation. Jacek Wesołowski, in his study of

the Fabryczna railway station, suggested that it is a product

of megalomania, coupled with high hopes for the eective

implementation of the Sustainable Transport Development

Strategy. He expresses disapproval of the architectural form

of the building and its surroundings, criticizing, among oth-

er things, the lack of context-sensitive design, poor func-

tional layout, and spatial chaos resulting from selective

implementation (Wesołowski 2023). Currently, the area

around the station is perceived as unsafe and ne glect ed, re-

ecting a lack of consistency and care from the autho rities,

especially given the nearby development of new resi

den-

tial and oce buildings. Beyond subjective opinions on

the aesthetics of the station building, it is dicult to make

an objective assessment of its value due to the incomplete

execution of the multi-phase project. The realization of the

vision will depend on the opening of the underground tun-

nel and changes in property laws to enable development

above the station. A key factor for this investment will be

the development of urban structures of the bipolar system

with Warsaw, which will enhance transportation capacity

and increase passenger ows. It would also be important

for Łódź to realise the concept of Centralny Port Komuni

kacyjny (Eng. Solidarity Transport Hub). The implemen-

tation of this idea would enhance the prominence of new

railway hub (SzpakowskaLoranc, Matusik 2020).

Changes are also planned for historical central areas, as

outlined in the Piotrkowska Street Development Strategy

(2009) and in projects undertaken as part of the Area Re-

vitalization of Łódź’s Center (Opis przedmiotu zamówie-

nia, 2015). The transformation of public spaces includes

Plac Wolności, which is set to evolve into a green oasis

and a dynamic meeting point through the delineation of

functional zones within the framework of multifunctional

public spaces. This redevelopment has the potential to re-

store the area’s former prominence by enhancing its com-

positional layout and sightlines, where trac restrictions

and organizational changes are to be implemented. These

changes will lead to trac restrictions and a reorgani

zation of trac ow, resulting in increased safety for pe-

destrians. Concurrently, the oftenoverlooked Stary Rynek

(Eng. Old Market Square) will undergo a comprehensive

re no vation aimed at reviving its historical signicance

and transforming it into a distinctive venue for commerce

and exhibitions. Revitalization projects that involve infra-

structure modernization, heritage restoration, and urban

space development often face challenges related to man-

agement and a cohesive development strategy. Achieving

coherence often requires changing building functions and

redening public spaces. However, in Łódź, eorts are

more frequently focused on aesthetic improvements to de-

graded areas, which can lead to mixed feelings in relation

to expectations.

Speaking of the geometrical city centre

In the popular consciousness, as well as in various map-

ping documents or internet portals and applications, we

can nd the annotation “the centre” in the neighbourhood

of the PiotrkowskaStruga/Tuwima Streets junction. Al-

though this labelling might seem arbitrary at rst glance,

it is conrmed by the Spatial Information System, which

denes this area as the geometric centre of the city’s zone

no. 1 (Łódzki Internetowy System Informacji o Terenie).

This designation also has historical roots, as evidenced

by maps from Rychliński and Wagner from 1904 and the

10copeck city plan by Alfred Sieber from 1913 (Fig. 4).

In an urban layout based on an extensive grid system

with a 4-kilometre main axis, pinpointing a single dom-

inant central point is challenging. This contrasts with the

welldened central hubs usually seen in concentric or

radial urban designs. Nevertheless, the consistent desig-

nation of this central point in various sources led the au-

thor to conduct historical and eld research. The research

investigates whether it is possible to identify a new central

node that could contribute to the creation of a potential

local city centre.

In the context of the study area, a signicant reference

point is the building at 104/104a Piotrkowska Street,

which is the location of the Łódź City Hall. This could

Fig. 4. 10copeck Plan of Łódź (Sieber 1913).

The central point of the map encompasses the intersection

of the then Piotrkowska Street and Andrzeja/Przejazd Street

(now Struga/Tuwima Street)

(source: Archiwum Państwowe w Łodzi, sygn. 39/609/0//551)

Il. 4. Dziesięciokopiejkowy plan m. Łodzi (Sieber 1913).

Centralny punkt mapy obejmuje skrzyżowanie ówczesnej

ul. Piotrkowskiej i ul. Andrzeja/Przejazd (obecnie ul. Struga/Tuwima)

(źródło: Archiwum Państwowe w Łodzi, sygn. 39/609/0//551)

80 Monika Włodarczyk

zation have also contributed to this condition. However,

in the context of sustainable development, prominent lo-

cations on the map are expected to do more than just exist.

Michał Stangel argues that the coexistence of various ur-

ban fabrics in city centres increasingly requires dening,

complementing, and integrating these structures to avoid

spatial issues that aect social dynamics (Stangel 2013).

It is essential to evaluate whether this location on the Łódź

map remains relevant today.

The area around the analysed intersection does not si-

gni cantly dier from other locations in the neighbour

hood. It is characterized by row housing with no promi nent

features. The quality of green spaces around Plac Ko muny

Paryskiej (Eng. French Commune Square) (Fig. 5) and the

surrounding architectural landscape reveals varied per-

ceptions. Historical sources from the 1860s indicate am-

bitions to transform this area into a vibrant urban square,

but these plans were never realized (Stefański 2019).

Currently, the functions of the square, which include ele 

ments of a plaza and parking areas, suggest the potential

for creating a connection between the New Center and the

historical part of Łódź. Although the city’s urban policy

aims to preserve the traditional layout of the city centre

and avoid introducing new focal points, transforming the

place could enhance spatial identication of the area. Ad-

ditionally, the proposed familiar form of a public square

could serve as a prominent landmark, easily identiable

on the map (Mordwa 2009).

In terms of transportation and functionality, the junc-

tion currently does not play a leading role. The remnants

indicate that the current designation of the city centre by

cartographers is inuenced by the placement of this key

administrative institution. However, the presence of the

prominent building at this address carries historical sig-

nicance. In the 2

half of the 19

century, the façade

of the current City Hall obscured the view of one of the

largest woolen goods factories owned by Juliusz Heinzel.

The strategic location of this factory was instrumental in

its development. Due to the transportation connections

and the commercial vibrancy, the central section of Piotr-

kowska Street naturally evolved into the epicentre of ur-

ban activity (Kusiński et al. 2009). Despite the growing

needs of users, the development of the city centre was still

constrained by the long-standing division of land owner-

ship. The narrow plots of land along Piotrkowska Street,

largely held by private owners, posed signicant chal-

lenges for consolidating these areas into a cohesive public

space. Historian Krzysztof Stefański highlights that the

city’s development was signicantly impeded by the lack

of a cohesive urban planning strategy. The inactivity of

the tsarist authorities compounded this issue. Additional-

ly, the inuence of private business interests played a cru-

cial role in obstructing progress. These combined factors

resulted in enduring challenges for eective urban land

management (Stefański 2019).

Currently, in the area around the studied “geometric

centre”, particularly along Tuwima Street, there is no-

ticeable fragmentation in the urban-structure. This gap is

largely due to the demolition of former industrial buildings

and changes in trac patterns. Changes in trac organi-

Fig. 5. Current development of Plac Komuny Paryskiej:

a) view of the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, b) view of the rear of the City Hall (photo by M. Włodarczyk, January 2024)

Il. 5. Obecne zagospodarowanie placu Komuny Paryskiej:

a) widok na kościół pw. Podwyższenia Świętego Krzyża, b) widok na tył budynku Urzędu Miasta (fot. M. Włodarczyk, styczeń 2024)

a b

 ExploringŁódź’scitycentre–fromtheoriginstomoderntimes 81

of the tram tracks on Struga Street suggest that this area

was once an important transit crossroad. The proximity of

several signicant landmarks and a high number of ser-

vice points contribute to the concentration of trac in the

area. However, changes in commercial activities have sig-

nicantly impacted the use of Piotrkowska Street. (Dzie-

ciuchowicz 2013). Dom Buta (Eng. Shoe House) (Fig. 6)

and Dom Handlowy Saspol (Eng. Saspol Shopping Mall)

(Fig. 7), situated opposite each other, provide fascinating

examples of how retail spaces have adapted to evolving

social and economic trends. Dom Buta, an eclectic build-

ing from 1911, has served various roles over the years,

reecting the commercial nature of Piotrkowska Street.

After a re in the 1990s, the building was converted into

a shopping centre, but it has been vacant for the past two

decades. In 2024, the building is scheduled to be repur-

posed into a hybrid public space (Jabłoński 2022). On the

other hand, the postmodern building Saspol, with its con-

troversial design, was built around the same time when

the neighbouring Dom Buta was destroyed by re. Ini-

tially, it addressed a functional gap in the area. Howev-

er, over the years, such buildings have lost favour among

customers, who actually prefer large-scale retail centres.

The future of Saspol appears uncertain, and it is quite pos-

sible that this building might face a fate similar to that of

its Wrocław counterpart, Solpol (Kałach 2022).

Summarizing the ndings, the geometric centre under

investigation does not currently function as a prominent

node within the context of Piotrkowska Street. However,

it holds potential to become a signicant node through the

revitalization and activation of the area of Plac Komuny

Paryskiej. The integration of the old and new centres of

Łódź through a dened public square appears to be a nat-

ural development at this location. However, a tangible

denition of this square would positively impact spa tial

identication and eectively contribute to community

ac tivation. Additionally, the proposed aesthetic enhance-

ments to the architecture along the façades of Tuwima

Street could signicantly elevate the status of this area.

The latent potential for revitalizing activity in this loca-

tion is linked to the “revival” of the Dom Buta building,

where eective management of the rental space will be

crucial for establishing the character of the local centre.

Constraints on mobility aect the frequency of use of this

area. However, the ow of pedestrians positively impacts

the perception of this part of the down-town, which aims

to maintain its representative character.

“Could you tell me

where the centre is?”

Recognizing the opportunities for revitalizing the city

after years of recession and the eorts by authorities to

im prove the quality of life in Łódź, residents are facing

a contentious issue. One key question is determining the

current location of the city’s centre after all these changes.

Given its current expanded and modernized urban

structure, can the city clearly dene a central space?

As part of the social research, a quantitative survey was

conducted on a selected group of Łódź residents. This ano

nymous, closedended survey was conducted in Janu ary

2024 and gathered responses from 83 women and 65 men

aged 18 to 80. All participants in the survey are residents

of Łódź or the Łódź metropolitan area. The results are pre-

sented in the form of charts that compare the responses to

the survey questions (Fig. 8).

The survey results indicate that among the respondents,

the term “city centre” is most commonly associated with

Fig. 6. Dom Buta – view from Piotrkowska Street

(photo by M. Włodarczyk, January 2024)

Il. 6. Dom Buta – widok od strony ul. Piotrkowskiej

(fot. M. Włodarczyk, styczeń 2024)

Fig. 7. Saspol – view from Piotrkowska Street

(photo by M. Włodarczyk, January 2024)

Il. 7. Saspol – widok od strony ul. Piotrkowskiej

(fot. M. Włodarczyk, styczeń 2024)

82 Monika Włodarczyk

Fig. 8. Results of the online survey:

1) bar chart illustrates responses to the multiplechoice question: “What do you associate with the term “the city centre”?,

2) pie chart displays responses to the question: “In your opinion, where is the current centre of Łódź?”,

3) pie chart displays responses to the question: “In your opinion, where was the centre of Łódź 10 years ago?”,

4) pie chart displays responses to the question: “Does the part of Łódź city centre that you have indicated deserve to be called the city landmark?”,

5) bar chart displays the rating of respondents’ satisfaction with the efforts of the revitalisation works In the centre of Łódź.

Question using a scale 1 : 10

(elaborated by M. Włodarczyk)

Il. 8. Wykresy przedstawiające wyniki sondażu internetowego:

1) odpowiedź na pytanie wielokrotnego wyboru: „Z czym Pani/Pan utożsamia pojęcie „centrum miasta?”,

2) odpowiedź na pytanie: „Gdzie Pani/Pana zdaniem znajduje się aktualne centrum Łodzi?”,

3) odpowiedź na pytanie: „Gdzie Pani/Pana zdaniem znajdowało się 10 lat temu centrum Łodzi?”,

4) odpowiedź na pytanie: „Czy wskazane przez Panią/Pana aktualne centrum Łodzi jest miejscem, które zasługuje na miano wizytówki miasta?”,

5) ogólna ocena zadowolenia efektów dokonanych prac w ramach rewitalizacji Śródmieścia Łodzi (pytanie z zastosowaniem skali 1 : 10)

(oprac. M. Włodarczyk)

1. What do you associate with the term “the city center”?

(multiple choice question)

2. In your opinion,

where is the current center of Łódź?

2. In your opinion,

where was the current center of Łódź 10 years ago?

4. Does the part of Łódź city center that you

indicated deserve to be called the city’s landmark?

5. Please rate you own satisfaction with the eects

of the revitalisation works in the center of Łódź

with location of representative spaces

with location of attractive tourist spots

with location of important public transport nodes

with location of skyscrapers

with location of historical buildings

with location of retail and commercial buildings

with location of officers and other work areas

with location of public utility buildings

with location of public administration buildings

 ExploringŁódź’scitycentre–fromtheoriginstomoderntimes 83

a representative space that is attractive for tourism, but

also with locations for services and retail, as well as key

transportation hubs. According to the majority of respon-

dents’ opinion, the current centre of Łódź is located near

the “Piotrkowska Centrum” tram stop. It can be conclud-

ed that, despite the imperfections in this public space, an

emblematic building with high aesthetic value has deter-

mined the designation of this point as the city’s centre.

This conclusion is further supported by the detailed re-

sults from the question regarding the desire to award the

title of the city’s landmark to the centre chosen by the re-

spondents (Question 4), where 95% of those who identi-

ed this place as a city landmark. Piotrkowska Street and

its central section have consistently been perceived as the

city centre by respondents, despite the ongoing changes

in the city. This assertion is further supported by the re-

sults of Question 3, which asked respondents to identify

the city’s centre from ten years ago. The results indicate

that the city’s main promenade was considered the centre

prior to the revitalization eorts. An interesting nding is

that the third most popular response to Question 2, regard-

ing the location of the current city centre, is the newly

developed area around Łódź Fabryczna railway station.

This suggests a shift in the perception of the city’s im-

age, inuenced by the revitalization program. Addition-

ally, the arithmetic mean of the ratings from Question 5,

which assessed satisfaction with the revitalization eorts,

was 6.02. This suggests a generally positive opinion of the

completed work, despite the various challenges faced by

the city in recent times.

Conclusions and summary

Łódź, with its distinctive structure and rich urban histo-

ry, does not pursue the establishment of a singular, clear-

ly dened centre. The contemporary urban development

of the city focuses on establishing several central nodes

within the down-town area, each distinct in function and

aesthetic. These nodes are designed to serve unique pur-

poses while remaining complementary to one another.

Such a strategy aligns with the diverse expectations of re

si dents, whose perception of the city centre evolves based

on social, cultural, and historical factors. The historical

transformations, particularly those linked to industrializa-

tion and subsequent urban planning initiatives, have pro-

foundly shaped the current silhouette of Łódź.

Revitalization projects, such as the adaptation of

post-industrial areas, demonstrate how degraded lands

can be transformed into key hubs and new urban centres.

In addition to the areas currently being modernized, there

is also potential to create new centres that could comple-

ment the existing structure of the city centre.

In the context of conducting a social survey during on-

going revitalization eorts, these results provide prelimi-

nary insights. It is thus observed that the image of various

parts of Łódź’s city centre is becoming increasingly un-

derstandable to users of urban space. Residents express

expectations not only regarding the creation of new areas

for social activation but also emphasize the importance of

respecting existing architecture, avoiding its transforma-

tion into a type of openair museum. Survey respondents

also point to the existence of various central points in the

city outside of the city centre that require development or

modernization, which could address most needs without

the need to travel to the down-town. This suggests a po-

tential decrease in interest in expanding the city centre in

favour of developing local centres with which residents

may feel a stronger connection. Therefore, further devel-

opment in Łódź should focus on enhancing or comple-

menting the functionality of existing local centres. It will

also be important to create local service buildings in new-

ly developed city districts, which are often characterized

by a predominance of residential buildings and a poorly

developed service sector. The conceptualization proposed

by researchers provides a starting point for nding eec-

tive solutions. The aim is to create synergy between the

form and function of space to improve the local quality

of life. To achieve this goal, an interdisciplinary approach

is necessary. This approach should integrate evolving ur-

ban development trends, communication preferences, and

user behaviour observations (Damurski et al. 2018).

Translatedby

MonikaWłodarczyk

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