Multicultural city in the United Europe – a case of Łódź

Abstract

Nowadays, multinational structure of cities’ population leads in many cases to the emergence of conflicts and feuds of ethnic, religious and cultural background. In case of Łódź, thanks to its unusual history and unique factors that had influenced the development of the city, multiculturalism became a stimulus for its dynamic economic growth and survived until today in the form of numerous sites of cultural heritage. It survived also in the memories of Łódź’s citizens and became the inspiration for activities aiming at using the heritage of the past in contemporary promotion of the city. Apart from the organization of cultural events based on multiculturalism of old Łódź, the use of material heritage inherited from different national groups for the purpose of various investments, is nowadays becoming a common phenomenon. It is worth to mention two foreign investment projects, which use revitalization of the former factory buildings and their adaptation for new purposes, e.g. residential, commercial, and recreational. These crucial investments are: Manufaktura (French investor Apsys – shopping and recreational centre in the former I.K. Poznański factory complex) and Scheibler lofts (Australian investor Opal Property Development – residential lofts in the former K. Scheibler factory complex). These investments are not only a tribute to the past, but most of all, they are examples of ideas on how to revitalize a multicultural heritage in a contemporary townscape. Through many activities that take place in Łódź, its example proves that it is possible to combine both, the tradition and the present day. It is possible not to forget about local values, but at the same time to think about the European integration in a global way. These are the ideas that contemporary Europe needs. These are the values that many of the European cities can and should promote.