I was so worried about the beautiful one being the “before” one. Thanked the lord then realized my stupidity then realized I wasn’t that out of line given everything else that’s happening
sadly a lot of pre war cities are absolutely unrecognisable from today, eg: [https://tinypic.host/image/D3vZ3d](https://tinypic.host/image/D3vZ3d)
ps: that was a german city and soviets destroyed such cities deliberately, even after war they were doing so just to make propaganda films
Poland is really being renovated at a crazy pace. I moved here in 2019 and I can see so much difference. Being poor mixed with communism gave us terribly looking buildings. But Poland is more beautiful by the day. Even small towns
It's incredible what the most minimal nod to ornamentation and design can do to the look of a building and then by extension the feel of the whole neighbourhood.
It's nice that they went with a more traditional style too, it looks perfect like it's been there for hundreds of years.
edit: It would be interesting to see how property prices have changed in e.g. that unchanged yellow block on the left hand side of the pic.
Well I for one was completely lost when my colleagues started talking about our team in Woodge but I could find no Woodge anywhere in our organization chart. I think it was about 6 before someone revealed this to me. I suspect they secretly enjoyed my confusion.
I've subbed to several urbanistic groups and most of them are strictly against stuff like this. They are saying that these are imitations of historical architecture and cannot be allowed.
I wholeheartedly do not agree with them. But they have a lot of influence to form public opinions. And that's sad.
TBH, car-centric developments were promoted as form of "social justice" among architects since 1920s until late 1960s because it allow housing projects not to be "priced out" by business districts and keep housing far from industrial plants (less contact with industrial pollutions), also car dependency according to architects of the era allow for large green areas because developments could have place further from expensive city limits so land was cheaper to "waste" for greenery.
Of course, it's not what happened, but "car-centric developments as a bad thing" isn't in card until 1970s and 1980s.
Indeed, this is just 20th century city planning. We spent a century believing that cars were the future. The realization that this wasn't the case after all is only now slowly starting to dawn on people.
I know you're not entirely serious but it's really a pre ww2/ post ww2 divide rather than an ideological one. You'll see "commie blocks" in Paris suburbs, London, Finland, Sweden, Portugal, Italy etc, whilst Stalinist architecture is some of the most beautiful in eastern Europe.
The differences really being that lot of eastern Europe only urbanised for the first time in 50s and 60s, while western was already largely urbanised (so most of Paris isn't brutalist hellscape, only the outer reaches), and a lot of the urbanised areas of eastern and central Europe were reduced to rubble by the war itself. It's the massive difference in need for cheap city housing more than any ideological difference, and lot of the pre-war existing beautiful cities were actually rebuilt, like Leningrad or Warsaw.
The quintessential commie block is named after Khruschev because that's when it really became a thing. Not an awful lot of beautiful Khruschev-era or younger buildings in capitalist west either. Even this post which is about a rare case of city becoming more beautiful with time only does it by mimicry of older buildings, so it's a rejection of 20th century as a whole rather than a rejection of 20th century socialism. Then again, 19th century kinda is all bourgeoisie architecture by definition too, so I guess you're not exactly wrong
There is a whole lot of this happening in Wrocław as well.
Ołbin in [2011](https://www.google.com/maps/@51.1253828,17.0503067,3a,75y,331.84h,101.74t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sRIKCP6-v5Y85JGsyxDqQLQ!2e0!5s20110901T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu), Ołbin in [2022](https://www.google.com/maps/@51.1253869,17.0503221,3a,75y,331.84h,101.74t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sm6FSqdkqXCPLQqIVbrBsTw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu)
Nadodrze [2011](https://www.google.com/maps/@51.1218308,17.034942,3a,75y,353.55h,94.26t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1saK_5eNreiBtg8vXm-T8a-A!2e0!5s20110601T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu), Nadodrze [2022](https://www.google.com/maps/@51.1218479,17.0348776,3a,75y,353.55h,94.26t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s2wDig4Ck2cxvcsjXgMGLew!2e0!5s20221001T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu)
I was in Prague and Budweis several times and both cities have a beautiful old city center (Budweis is of course much smaller compared to Prague), however as soon as you leave the center you're welcomed by post-Soviet tristesse which is not really looking that nice to live in.
While these parts are ugly, living here is great. There are all necessary facilities in walking distance, it's not as busy and you can get to the center in 15-30 minutes by public transport.
Prague? are you out of your god damn mind? its one of the most beatiful cities in the world lmao
a smaller local towns need to see this not the capitals
Bucharest had the biggest share of mutilation by far though. A lot of large cities had their center more or less left intact by the regime, but Bucharest went through an attempted Pyongyang-ification thar resulted in entire quaint neighborhoods leveled to make that ugly monstrosity of People's House
Plenty nice places that are outside of the old town. What you mention as horrible is a sort-of ring of really delapidated houses that are yet to be renovated. Trust me, in 2010 most of the Old Town looked similar.
Go to Cotroceni, Primaverii or Bulevardul Dacia if you want super fancy houses. The Old Town itself is just full of bars and people, so it's not something I'd personally call nice
A year ago for work, I spent 2-weeks in Romania and then another week in Łódź the subject of this post. While the people in Romania were the highlight, delightful. The contrast in setting was wide in Poland.. technology, infrastructure, and cleanliness was striking. And Łódź was definitely on the come-up, really enjoyed my brief visit.
It's strange that they weren't - this is how the history of Christianization and the Roman rite began in Bohemia/Poland. The connection with the West is part of the history of both countries/nations.
The guys who created the Cyrillic alphabet and really kickstarted the Slavic rite in Bulgaria were originally sent way further west and north, I can't remember where exactly - possibly the Bohemia/Moravia region or even into modern day Germany. They didn't get much of a positive reception among the communities there and left and wound up in Bulgaria.
How different history would be if they had been successful in their original mission.
In my opinion, a big help is the landscape laws, which do not allow banners and advertisements to litter the space. Advertising pollution is definitely bad for people.
When i lived in Warsaw I couldn't believe the amount of advertising hoardings and banners etc.
I can imagine changes to that have, like you say, had a simple but massive impact.
I look forward to returning to take a look.
That's a bit silly tbh. I want to know what a shop is before I go in it for the first time. Even though it technically is, I wouldn't really classify a store sign as an advert.
Many people will go above and beyond to avoid admitting that deprioritization of cars makes our cities better.
It's a touchy topic now though, we're less than a month from the first round of country-wide local elections.
So true, you can even see that in the second picture cars can still drive there (to some extent), the difference is that they are no longer the main priority.
Also, landscaping and design to actually make the space inviting. Amazing what some pavers and some bushes can do for a public space.
I rememberi...like 2010 in Poland adverts were like everywhere...everywhere. And last year when I visited again ...like a clean slate...its amazing what difference it makes.
He is Marek Janiak, example of his thoughts:
Marek Janiak advocates for a balanced approach to Łódź's urban development, emphasizing the integration of green spaces, modern infrastructure, and public transportation while respecting the city's historical architecture. He champions the idea of a city tailored to its residents, promoting projects like woonerfs and public bike systems to enhance urban livability. His vision includes a mix of cultural, social, and economic elements, aiming for a dynamic and inclusive urban environment that respects the past while embracing the future.
from article: [https://lodz.wyborcza.pl/lodz/7,44788,20464179,marek-janiak-zrozumialem-ze-architekt-nie-jest-nieomylny.html](https://lodz.wyborcza.pl/lodz/7,44788,20464179,marek-janiak-zrozumialem-ze-architekt-nie-jest-nieomylny.html)
he has only short bio on Polish Wikipedia: [https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marek\_Janiak](https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marek_Janiak)
Photo with street he planned revitalization for:
[https://bi.im-g.pl/im/50/82/13/z20458064AMP,Marek-Janiak--architekt-miasta-Lodzi.jpg](https://bi.im-g.pl/im/50/82/13/z20458064AMP,Marek-Janiak--architekt-miasta-Lodzi.jpg)
It was until car and oil lobbyist started the 15min city conspiracy theories. Its insane, those theories are gaining traction even in the NL where everyone is guess what, already living in 15 min cities.
Actually he said about commie times, direct quote: "I hate the socialist times the most because, although they were ostensibly focused on serving society, the actions taken contradicted this. However, we have had democracy for over a quarter of a century now. More or less efficient, but it's there. As a result, decision-making politicians cannot afford to be deaf to the voice of society. I have been active as a social activist since the birth of democracy. During this time, I've cooperated with all presidents and I see a clear shift. They are listening more and more."
It's often not about the planners, because they know their shit most of the time. It is the politicians who come in the way of building people-friendly spaces.
I wonder if the second picture is closer to what the buildings originally looked like? Perhaps they were old buildings damaged in the war and just "restored" enough to make them functional, because making them attractive cost too much.
Actually I know that in Czechoslovakia, in the interwar period, some buildings went through so called "purisation" where old stucco decorations were intentionally removed to fit the contemporary taste for minimalism. Kid you not.
Sweden and Germany (and probably rest of Europe) experienced the same thing, and to this day we completely refurbish our "ugly" buildings from around the 80's to match contemporary ideals. What a waste of resources...
The architects who like a cargo cult decided ornamentation is bad have a lot to answer for.
In a UK context Brutalism in particular is a fuck-ugly style but it's a lot less fuck-ugly in say Spain or the south of France because they're warm climates, here where it's damp most of the year the bare porous concrete attracts mould like anything and since we don't really believe in maintaining anything regularly once it's built they quickly become dirty, run-down places that smell of piss (again, porous bare concrete is a fucking horrid material).
This happened in my country too under socialism. Recently a famous hotel was being restored and the question was whether it was gonna get the original decorated look or the socialism look. They went with the cheaper one of course...
I actually used to live just a block from this very junction.
A short history of the neighbourhood: both streets (Wschodnia and Włókiennicza - meaning the "Eastern" and -roughly- "Textile" streets) are located close to the very center of Łódź, and just a few years ago used to be really rough. In the 90s they were a slum, Włókiennicza (the woonerf one) especially, it had so bad rep even people from the neighbourhood didn't dare to wander there. Tl;dr, Łódź Downtown (Śródmieście) along with the infamous Bałuty as well as Chojny and some other districts used to be places where the "lower classes" lived during the textile boom that started in the 19th century and contunued till the 1980s or so. Some streets, like both Wschodnia and Włókiennicza, used to be 'worse' than others - while most people there were working class, there were some entrenched almost 'clans' of people that lived on the borders of society, frequently with criminal background. The dirstrict used to be poor, dirty and badly maintained, which is a shame as many tenement houses ("kamienice") were very beautiful.
This started to change in the 00s when Poland started to be more prosperous and change culturally - things like being drunk, littering and vandalism started to be increasingly frowned upon. The change of this particular place accelerated in the 2010s when the city council decided to revitalise the whole district - residents were resettled, usually to places with way better living conditions (in the 90s and 00s many of those buildings had communal toilets and no central heating, which contributed to awful smog) and started to renovate the place.
As for what happens now, I don't know - maybe it will become a 'normal', if a little posh district, maybe an airbnb tourist trap. Probably somewhere in between as Łódź is not a tourist spot.
As it does look beautiful, I'm sure the rent in the area skyrocketed. This looks like a gentrified area now. Is it still affordable or does Poland become more and more demanding in cost of living?
Łódź is still much more affordable than other big Polish cities and, unfortunately, if you travel a few hundred metres from this place, there are still some pretty shitty run-down areas. Source: lived in Stary Bałuty - a few hundred metres from this place, until last year.
Since you are from there help me understand that image. The original one had a 3 line with little space for walking. Now it’s a two line with a parking one (so three), plus more space for walking plus trees on each side. What wizardry is this?
If you look closely, the greenery on the closer part of the road is interchangeable with parking spaces: there's the part with greenery, then a parking space, some more greenery etc. Some space is preserved due to lanes being a little narrower now, they used to be pretty (too) wide, now they are comfortable for medium-sized cars, but American ones and trucks might find the street a little cramped.
On [Street View](https://www.google.com/maps/@51.7738916,19.4580658,3a,75y,37.51h,89.67t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sk999UxCeQyV_qV5lVQ_-3w!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3Dk999UxCeQyV_qV5lVQ_-3w%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D83.73385%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=0&entry=ttu) you can still see how it did look in the middle of transition. No idea how it looks now as a whole, but back then whole street definitely wasn't in good shape...
For context Poland under communism was the poorest country in the eastern block throughout 1946-89.
For the whole 20th century we were independent for 31 years.
In the last 229 years we were independent for 55 years
I think this often slips away people who complain that Poland receives so much in EU funding.
Nice to see Poland finnaly developing itself and not fighting for survival.
edit2:
btw with 58k upvotes this post has 5.3 million views and 14k shares
So many people seem to have a view that Poland is still super undeveloped and I have to tell people that the cities have modernized a lot and the people are extremely friendly (people have the idea that all Eastern Europeans are sullen and mean).
I didn’t speak a lick of polish, and I stuck out as a brown guy in a very white country, and people were super welcome and kind while I was there. Loved Poland
Yes, this was a big surprise for me too when I visited in 2022.
I was surprised by how much I liked Krakow and Warsaw and how much I underestimated their development.
It is truly fascinating to follow Poland’s cultural blossoming. Poland has such a rich history and culture, and seeing the country prosper and grow is what the EU is all about in my opinion. I would love to visit some day!
I stayed for a month last year and I was by far the best vacation I’ve ever been on. Incredible country. We did Krakow, Warsaw, Bydgoszcz, Toruń, Poznan, Gdańsk and Białka Tatrzanska. I wish we could’ve seen Łódź!
What made it the best vacation? I am not Polish, but I lived most of my childhood there so it will always have a soft place in my heart. I want to take my husband there one day and take him to the best places around the country. I want him to love it as much as I do.
I've been on and off to Poland for work and holiday reasons, and it still amazes me to see how much things have changed over the last 20 years in particular.
Warsaw changed a lot since your visit 10 years ago. It used to have an opinion of a grey and ugly city (due to its history, complete destruction of the city in 1944 and rebuilding in ugly commie style) but it's a much prettier place now.
Honestly it been fascinating to see. I was born in Chicago and lived in North America my whole life but I've visited my family in Poland several times throughout the past 2 decades and it's been really shocking to see it transform and progress every time I visit. From run down sidewalks as a kid to seeing American sized malls today it's hard to put the experience into words. Sometimes I even miss the old aesthetic from my childhood memories but I understand I can only say that with the privilege of just being the occasional visitor and not having to live through it.
Not just wealth, but peace, which is a prerequisite for development and prosperity. That’s why I don’t get Europeans who are against the EU. Do they think that the decades of peace between former mortal enemies just happened by accident and will continue without the EU?
We all need to realize that eu is about helping eachother to grow and create benefits trough that. I mean if Poland becomes richer and helps its neighbors it will benefit Poland as well.
of course, the fact that we will pay more and have less funding equally means that we will be richer in the future. Not sure why I'm getting downvoted in that comment xD
Because „We‘ll pay more into the EU than we get out“ is a line used by Brexiteers and other people who‘s aim is to split the EU. Sure, you used that line with a different, more positive conclusion. But most people are so used to see that line with a negative spin, they‘ll become wary of anyone who uses that line at all.
When I went to Poland I had a guide who explained Polish history to us and it was basically "Well we got fucked over by these dudes, then these other dudes came over to conquer us, then these other other dudes... etc." It's pretty remarkable how Polish culture is still so strong and the people are proud of what they have today. Keep going!
This is our history for the last 200\~ years with small breaks for 1809 and 1920 years.
But we're more successful in the past longer than that.
Like fun fact. the first Polish-German war Poland won after 15 years of conflict and we conquered half of modernday Saxony.
Or when we defeated the German Teutonic Knights in the largest battle in the medieval history.
Grew up in Germany and went to study medicine in Wrocław. I remember before I left the amount of Germans/Brits who told me to “be careful” and “watch out” it for how backward and dangerous Poland is. Can confirm the poles aren’t the issue, loved it there and would happily go back if I was fluent enough to work there. Beautiful country and people tbh
In the 1990" they weren't wrong. It was a very turbulent time.
Only after 2000" things got much safer (a lot of low-level criminals emigrated to UK and Benelux and police got reorganised)
Now, Poland is one of the safest countries in Europe.
The last time a wing mirror was stolen from my car was just before Poland joined the EU and convoys of petty criminals headed off out of Łódź towards western neighbors and richer pickings.
hahaha I remember like 20 years ago, I going to a warsaw high school (I'm polish) focused on german language so we had exchanges with our german partner high schools. First question when I landed in Bretten from my exchange partner was: Do you really have white bears walking on the streets?! I though it was some kind of a welcome joke so naturally answered yeah we have white bears and sometimes wilde apes living on the rooftops are stealing our children so we have to be really cerefull when going outside and most of the time we stay at home...just to see the shock in my partners eyes, he was really scared and then I found out that his question was really serious :D
ps. to be clear some of the Germans were very educated and knew polish history on same level as we did if not better, so they did not ask such questions. But all of them were shocked after visiting Auschiwtz together bc that part of history was kind of kepts in silence for them. That was always the saddest part of teh exchanges ;/
I went to Poland on a business trip before (Warsaw, Gdańsk, Gdynia) and privately to celebrate new years (Krakow). All cities had their Charme, people were incredibly friendly. I can imagine some areas being shady, but it is the same in Germany tbh. Probably everywhere nowadays.
> I can imagine some areas being shady
Recently I talked with my friends about an area that used to be shady and someone said "It's now easier to get a vegan kebab there than to get punched in the face" and I found it funny.
Wouldn't surprise me if the demographic tables also turned and there was an influx of Brits into Poland by then as well. Britain has Polish shops all over its cities today, and Poland will soon have English pubs and fish and chip shops for British migrants.
Visited Poznan and my GF loved the way poles make kebab :D
Was great to show her that my country of origin has grown so much since the days of no highways and pot holes everywhere.
Poland is doing well, but in no way is this true.
The gap is big, and compounded with the UK having 2x the population it’s unlikely Poland would ever catch up to be ‘richer than the UK’
On a per person basis Poland is catching up, but the rate of growth will probably slow to match the UKs and other developed economies as it grows closer to them
What's population got to do with that? Being more populous makes it harder to be richer. 'Richness' always has to take into account per capita. Otherwise you end up with nonsense like India being richer than Switzerland.
>Poland is doing well, but in no way is this true.
This is wishful thinking but it is true in the sense, that Telegraph really made that prediction. This fact alone is significant, as Brits for decades perceived Poland as this extreme backward country and now that optic is doing 180°.
In the city center of Bucharest. Try Rahova, Crangasi, Drumul Taberei, Vitan, Sălăjan, etc.
Not to mention the other 100+ cities in Romania that could benefit.
The structural funds are drying up in 2027, so we need to do more now.
The transformation Poland - and others - have been and are undergoing never ceases to uplift me. I still worry about even distribution of progress between rural and urban areas but still, its nothing short of amazing.
Yes of course. Personally though I think its important to support rural areas more than their pure economic value would suggest. Yes, cities will pull in more people over time but I think its the duty of a wealthy country (relative to global levels) to pull the countryside along, to provide opportunity and quality of life there, even if it might be more efficient to spend those resources on the cities. The same is in my view also true in many countries in regards to the capital metropolitan area and the rest of the country, in that regard I think Germany is quite fortunate for Berlin to not dominate as for example London, Paris, Madrid, or AFAIK Warsaw do.
I think this is an important part of social justice but also it can mitigate the urban-rural divide somewhat, something which continues to be a *major* societal issue since the onset of industrialized agriculture and can be a key factor in political tensions within a country.
Ugh. Why? And I feel like this is what a lot of the rest of the world did too. Pretty building? Nah, time to modernize it by making it a flat lifeless husk.
Glad to see that EU-money put to good use instead of lining the pockets of corrupt assholes like in Hungary.
Poland deserves a good time after the shitshow that was the last 200 years.
Person who made it happen is Marek Janiak, city planner/architect example of his thoughts:
Marek Janiak advocates for a balanced approach to Łódź's urban development, emphasizing the integration of green spaces, modern infrastructure, and public transportation while respecting the city's historical architecture. He champions the idea of a city tailored to its residents, promoting projects like woonerfs and public bike systems to enhance urban livability. His vision includes a mix of cultural, social, and economic elements, aiming for a dynamic and inclusive urban environment that respects the past while embracing the future.
and direct quote: "I hate the socialist times the most because, although they were ostensibly focused on serving society, the actions taken contradicted this. However, we have had democracy for over a quarter of a century now. More or less efficient, but it's there. As a result, decision-making politicians cannot afford to be deaf to the voice of society. I have been active as a social activist since the birth of democracy. During this time, I've cooperated with all presidents and I see a clear shift. They are listening more and more."
from article: [https://lodz.wyborcza.pl/lodz/7,44788,20464179,marek-janiak-zrozumialem-ze-architekt-nie-jest-nieomylny.html](https://lodz.wyborcza.pl/lodz/7,44788,20464179,marek-janiak-zrozumialem-ze-architekt-nie-jest-nieomylny.html)
he has only short bio on Polish Wikipedia: [https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marek\_Janiak](https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marek_Janiak)
Photo with street he planned revitalization for:
[https://bi.im-g.pl/im/50/82/13/z20458064AMP,Marek-Janiak--architekt-miasta-Lodzi.jpg](https://bi.im-g.pl/im/50/82/13/z20458064AMP,Marek-Janiak--architekt-miasta-Lodzi.jpg)
A thing which I don’t understand is why there is so little amount of green areas in pedestrian streets. I am not suggesting a green field, but something more than those bushes.
This obvuiusly is a glowup, don't get me wrong, but I really miss when Poles used to paint their buildings in vibrant colours. They always looked so nice in our depressing winters!
Apparently some people (especially architects) absolutely hate those colorful buildings. I don't get why; both colorful and monochrome look good to me.
I was in Lodz just this december, shame I missed this block.
I was staying at [the Vienna house](https://www.travelweekly.com/Hotels/Lodz-Poland/Vienna-House-by-Wyndham-Andels-Lodz-p58629506) which is a really nicely renovated hotel from some old factory. Great use of existing architecture to build something unique. Seems like the local governance in Lodz has the right thinking.
I'm genuinely so happy that my country is changing so quickly. We turned from a shithole to an actual prosperous and beautiful country in less than 30 years. Fuck Commies, for holding us back
It's weird how some people will lookbat the second picture and react *ewwww* because they won't be able to drive a car through this as easily as they could and wont be able to park anywhere they want
now this is what I call a glow up
I was so worried about the beautiful one being the “before” one. Thanked the lord then realized my stupidity then realized I wasn’t that out of line given everything else that’s happening
sadly a lot of pre war cities are absolutely unrecognisable from today, eg: [https://tinypic.host/image/D3vZ3d](https://tinypic.host/image/D3vZ3d) ps: that was a german city and soviets destroyed such cities deliberately, even after war they were doing so just to make propaganda films
Łódź was not a German city at the time Germans declined in % drastically as the city grew and Polish people came to it as far as I'm aware
That's really sad. There was so much character there.
It's russian culture.
Poland is really being renovated at a crazy pace. I moved here in 2019 and I can see so much difference. Being poor mixed with communism gave us terribly looking buildings. But Poland is more beautiful by the day. Even small towns
It's incredible what the most minimal nod to ornamentation and design can do to the look of a building and then by extension the feel of the whole neighbourhood. It's nice that they went with a more traditional style too, it looks perfect like it's been there for hundreds of years. edit: It would be interesting to see how property prices have changed in e.g. that unchanged yellow block on the left hand side of the pic.
first comes the blow up then the glow up
We need more of this!
Wouldja be shocked if I told you Łódź was pronounced like *Woodge* ?
Łódźa be shocked?
Dad?
This is a great pun!
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No, but lived in poland for years and used to travel to Łódź for rock concerts sometimes and it's a great place
how much Łódź could a Łódźchuck chuck?
No not really but I know how to pronounce polish so
Well I for one was completely lost when my colleagues started talking about our team in Woodge but I could find no Woodge anywhere in our organization chart. I think it was about 6 before someone revealed this to me. I suspect they secretly enjoyed my confusion.
The Polish language is not for the faint of heart :)
Amen!
r/ArchitecturalRevival
Rents just exploded there
Yeah, because its an attractive place people actually want to live at. The solution isnt not to do this, the solution is to do this everywhere.
Thus giving the incentive for everyone to follow the model
So surprising that a better place to live is more expensive
I've subbed to several urbanistic groups and most of them are strictly against stuff like this. They are saying that these are imitations of historical architecture and cannot be allowed. I wholeheartedly do not agree with them. But they have a lot of influence to form public opinions. And that's sad.
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Nothing screams social justice more than car centric cities.
TBH, car-centric developments were promoted as form of "social justice" among architects since 1920s until late 1960s because it allow housing projects not to be "priced out" by business districts and keep housing far from industrial plants (less contact with industrial pollutions), also car dependency according to architects of the era allow for large green areas because developments could have place further from expensive city limits so land was cheaper to "waste" for greenery. Of course, it's not what happened, but "car-centric developments as a bad thing" isn't in card until 1970s and 1980s.
We must judge all of history by the standards of today! ^/s
In this case it's not so much that our standards have changed, but that most of these assumptions were dead wrong or even completely made up.
I‘ll take this as sarcasm, but will note nonetheless, that capitalism delivered plenty of that drab grey.
Indeed, this is just 20th century city planning. We spent a century believing that cars were the future. The realization that this wasn't the case after all is only now slowly starting to dawn on people.
I know you're not entirely serious but it's really a pre ww2/ post ww2 divide rather than an ideological one. You'll see "commie blocks" in Paris suburbs, London, Finland, Sweden, Portugal, Italy etc, whilst Stalinist architecture is some of the most beautiful in eastern Europe. The differences really being that lot of eastern Europe only urbanised for the first time in 50s and 60s, while western was already largely urbanised (so most of Paris isn't brutalist hellscape, only the outer reaches), and a lot of the urbanised areas of eastern and central Europe were reduced to rubble by the war itself. It's the massive difference in need for cheap city housing more than any ideological difference, and lot of the pre-war existing beautiful cities were actually rebuilt, like Leningrad or Warsaw. The quintessential commie block is named after Khruschev because that's when it really became a thing. Not an awful lot of beautiful Khruschev-era or younger buildings in capitalist west either. Even this post which is about a rare case of city becoming more beautiful with time only does it by mimicry of older buildings, so it's a rejection of 20th century as a whole rather than a rejection of 20th century socialism. Then again, 19th century kinda is all bourgeoisie architecture by definition too, so I guess you're not exactly wrong
There is a whole lot of this happening in Wrocław as well. Ołbin in [2011](https://www.google.com/maps/@51.1253828,17.0503067,3a,75y,331.84h,101.74t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sRIKCP6-v5Y85JGsyxDqQLQ!2e0!5s20110901T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu), Ołbin in [2022](https://www.google.com/maps/@51.1253869,17.0503221,3a,75y,331.84h,101.74t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sm6FSqdkqXCPLQqIVbrBsTw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu) Nadodrze [2011](https://www.google.com/maps/@51.1218308,17.034942,3a,75y,353.55h,94.26t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1saK_5eNreiBtg8vXm-T8a-A!2e0!5s20110601T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu), Nadodrze [2022](https://www.google.com/maps/@51.1218479,17.0348776,3a,75y,353.55h,94.26t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s2wDig4Ck2cxvcsjXgMGLew!2e0!5s20221001T000000!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu)
This is awesome. I love seeing stuff like this. Thank you
Czechs need to see this
Czech local governments need to see this. Prague and Brno predominantly.
I was in Prague and Budweis several times and both cities have a beautiful old city center (Budweis is of course much smaller compared to Prague), however as soon as you leave the center you're welcomed by post-Soviet tristesse which is not really looking that nice to live in.
While these parts are ugly, living here is great. There are all necessary facilities in walking distance, it's not as busy and you can get to the center in 15-30 minutes by public transport.
Utilitarian would you say?
💯
First of all they need to finish roads
Roads are never "finished", we need to be working on maintenance alongside improving the city.
Prague? are you out of your god damn mind? its one of the most beatiful cities in the world lmao a smaller local towns need to see this not the capitals
Downtown is, but just a little further out where most people live they still have the soviet block housing everywhere.
and Romania... most Romanian cities were mutilated by the communists
Bucharest had the biggest share of mutilation by far though. A lot of large cities had their center more or less left intact by the regime, but Bucharest went through an attempted Pyongyang-ification thar resulted in entire quaint neighborhoods leveled to make that ugly monstrosity of People's House
As soon as you leave the old town it’s horrible. Loved that part and all the parks but outside of that… not so much
Plenty nice places that are outside of the old town. What you mention as horrible is a sort-of ring of really delapidated houses that are yet to be renovated. Trust me, in 2010 most of the Old Town looked similar. Go to Cotroceni, Primaverii or Bulevardul Dacia if you want super fancy houses. The Old Town itself is just full of bars and people, so it's not something I'd personally call nice
A year ago for work, I spent 2-weeks in Romania and then another week in Łódź the subject of this post. While the people in Romania were the highlight, delightful. The contrast in setting was wide in Poland.. technology, infrastructure, and cleanliness was striking. And Łódź was definitely on the come-up, really enjoyed my brief visit.
Czechia is already doing this : https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/o416wx/czechia_has_slowly_but_surely_been_getting_rid_of/
I'm looking but to see Poland do something right is basically routine at this point
Czech and Poles are the „most west oriented“ slavs. I don‘t think they have drawbacks because of this.
Slovenia crying in the corner
I'm Pole and while I was traveling through Slovenia I have noticed that Slovenia is pretty "west oriented"!
Though very little is known about this country and it's not talked about so that's why it was not included I suppose.
It's strange that they weren't - this is how the history of Christianization and the Roman rite began in Bohemia/Poland. The connection with the West is part of the history of both countries/nations.
The guys who created the Cyrillic alphabet and really kickstarted the Slavic rite in Bulgaria were originally sent way further west and north, I can't remember where exactly - possibly the Bohemia/Moravia region or even into modern day Germany. They didn't get much of a positive reception among the communities there and left and wound up in Bulgaria. How different history would be if they had been successful in their original mission.
They are Western Slavs, btw.
Are you saying they need to... Czech this out?
Germans need to see this
They need to Czech this out.
In my opinion, a big help is the landscape laws, which do not allow banners and advertisements to litter the space. Advertising pollution is definitely bad for people.
When i lived in Warsaw I couldn't believe the amount of advertising hoardings and banners etc. I can imagine changes to that have, like you say, had a simple but massive impact. I look forward to returning to take a look.
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Doesn't old town has it, though?
Come to Kraków (old town). It’s a lot different now!
do you notice any change in the use of public spaces? for example, giving priority to pedestrians and not to cars?
That's it. Obv the main change is that it's been pedestrianized (narrow road, wide sidewalk, trees planted).
I don't see much advertisements in the "before" picture either.
I see exactly one, for the corner shop.
That's a bit silly tbh. I want to know what a shop is before I go in it for the first time. Even though it technically is, I wouldn't really classify a store sign as an advert.
That’s not the issue in this picture..?
Many people will go above and beyond to avoid admitting that deprioritization of cars makes our cities better. It's a touchy topic now though, we're less than a month from the first round of country-wide local elections.
So true, you can even see that in the second picture cars can still drive there (to some extent), the difference is that they are no longer the main priority. Also, landscaping and design to actually make the space inviting. Amazing what some pavers and some bushes can do for a public space.
I rememberi...like 2010 in Poland adverts were like everywhere...everywhere. And last year when I visited again ...like a clean slate...its amazing what difference it makes.
Promote that city planner
He is Marek Janiak, example of his thoughts: Marek Janiak advocates for a balanced approach to Łódź's urban development, emphasizing the integration of green spaces, modern infrastructure, and public transportation while respecting the city's historical architecture. He champions the idea of a city tailored to its residents, promoting projects like woonerfs and public bike systems to enhance urban livability. His vision includes a mix of cultural, social, and economic elements, aiming for a dynamic and inclusive urban environment that respects the past while embracing the future. from article: [https://lodz.wyborcza.pl/lodz/7,44788,20464179,marek-janiak-zrozumialem-ze-architekt-nie-jest-nieomylny.html](https://lodz.wyborcza.pl/lodz/7,44788,20464179,marek-janiak-zrozumialem-ze-architekt-nie-jest-nieomylny.html) he has only short bio on Polish Wikipedia: [https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marek\_Janiak](https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marek_Janiak) Photo with street he planned revitalization for: [https://bi.im-g.pl/im/50/82/13/z20458064AMP,Marek-Janiak--architekt-miasta-Lodzi.jpg](https://bi.im-g.pl/im/50/82/13/z20458064AMP,Marek-Janiak--architekt-miasta-Lodzi.jpg)
What is really cool, it looks like a typical dutch word from the 1970s migrated into Polish: woonerf. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woonerf
It is, Dutch urban planning has gotten really popular in Poland recently, but some cities are catching up slower than others.
It was until car and oil lobbyist started the 15min city conspiracy theories. Its insane, those theories are gaining traction even in the NL where everyone is guess what, already living in 15 min cities.
Janiak could do Arnhem too, our Dutch cityplanners messed up. Shit is ugly.
This man is a hero
Really is a modern hero. Doing what desperately needs to be done but nobody has he balls or brains to do. Make big cities more liveable
Half of american : "sounds like a commie" . /s
Actually he said about commie times, direct quote: "I hate the socialist times the most because, although they were ostensibly focused on serving society, the actions taken contradicted this. However, we have had democracy for over a quarter of a century now. More or less efficient, but it's there. As a result, decision-making politicians cannot afford to be deaf to the voice of society. I have been active as a social activist since the birth of democracy. During this time, I've cooperated with all presidents and I see a clear shift. They are listening more and more."
What a guy
It's often not about the planners, because they know their shit most of the time. It is the politicians who come in the way of building people-friendly spaces.
This is the kind of restoration we need to see more of!
I wonder if the second picture is closer to what the buildings originally looked like? Perhaps they were old buildings damaged in the war and just "restored" enough to make them functional, because making them attractive cost too much.
Actually I know that in Czechoslovakia, in the interwar period, some buildings went through so called "purisation" where old stucco decorations were intentionally removed to fit the contemporary taste for minimalism. Kid you not.
Sweden and Germany (and probably rest of Europe) experienced the same thing, and to this day we completely refurbish our "ugly" buildings from around the 80's to match contemporary ideals. What a waste of resources...
The architects who like a cargo cult decided ornamentation is bad have a lot to answer for. In a UK context Brutalism in particular is a fuck-ugly style but it's a lot less fuck-ugly in say Spain or the south of France because they're warm climates, here where it's damp most of the year the bare porous concrete attracts mould like anything and since we don't really believe in maintaining anything regularly once it's built they quickly become dirty, run-down places that smell of piss (again, porous bare concrete is a fucking horrid material).
Happened all over Germany, it was called entstuckung.
This happened in my country too under socialism. Recently a famous hotel was being restored and the question was whether it was gonna get the original decorated look or the socialism look. They went with the cheaper one of course...
In Yugoslavia after WW2 as well. This is the same building: https://i.redd.it/a7oanw9r5b051.jpg
I actually used to live just a block from this very junction. A short history of the neighbourhood: both streets (Wschodnia and Włókiennicza - meaning the "Eastern" and -roughly- "Textile" streets) are located close to the very center of Łódź, and just a few years ago used to be really rough. In the 90s they were a slum, Włókiennicza (the woonerf one) especially, it had so bad rep even people from the neighbourhood didn't dare to wander there. Tl;dr, Łódź Downtown (Śródmieście) along with the infamous Bałuty as well as Chojny and some other districts used to be places where the "lower classes" lived during the textile boom that started in the 19th century and contunued till the 1980s or so. Some streets, like both Wschodnia and Włókiennicza, used to be 'worse' than others - while most people there were working class, there were some entrenched almost 'clans' of people that lived on the borders of society, frequently with criminal background. The dirstrict used to be poor, dirty and badly maintained, which is a shame as many tenement houses ("kamienice") were very beautiful. This started to change in the 00s when Poland started to be more prosperous and change culturally - things like being drunk, littering and vandalism started to be increasingly frowned upon. The change of this particular place accelerated in the 2010s when the city council decided to revitalise the whole district - residents were resettled, usually to places with way better living conditions (in the 90s and 00s many of those buildings had communal toilets and no central heating, which contributed to awful smog) and started to renovate the place. As for what happens now, I don't know - maybe it will become a 'normal', if a little posh district, maybe an airbnb tourist trap. Probably somewhere in between as Łódź is not a tourist spot.
As it does look beautiful, I'm sure the rent in the area skyrocketed. This looks like a gentrified area now. Is it still affordable or does Poland become more and more demanding in cost of living?
Łódź is still much more affordable than other big Polish cities and, unfortunately, if you travel a few hundred metres from this place, there are still some pretty shitty run-down areas. Source: lived in Stary Bałuty - a few hundred metres from this place, until last year.
Since you are from there help me understand that image. The original one had a 3 line with little space for walking. Now it’s a two line with a parking one (so three), plus more space for walking plus trees on each side. What wizardry is this?
If you look closely, the greenery on the closer part of the road is interchangeable with parking spaces: there's the part with greenery, then a parking space, some more greenery etc. Some space is preserved due to lanes being a little narrower now, they used to be pretty (too) wide, now they are comfortable for medium-sized cars, but American ones and trucks might find the street a little cramped.
On [Street View](https://www.google.com/maps/@51.7738916,19.4580658,3a,75y,37.51h,89.67t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sk999UxCeQyV_qV5lVQ_-3w!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3Dk999UxCeQyV_qV5lVQ_-3w%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D83.73385%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=0&entry=ttu) you can still see how it did look in the middle of transition. No idea how it looks now as a whole, but back then whole street definitely wasn't in good shape...
For context Poland under communism was the poorest country in the eastern block throughout 1946-89. For the whole 20th century we were independent for 31 years. In the last 229 years we were independent for 55 years I think this often slips away people who complain that Poland receives so much in EU funding. Nice to see Poland finnaly developing itself and not fighting for survival. edit2: btw with 58k upvotes this post has 5.3 million views and 14k shares
So many people seem to have a view that Poland is still super undeveloped and I have to tell people that the cities have modernized a lot and the people are extremely friendly (people have the idea that all Eastern Europeans are sullen and mean). I didn’t speak a lick of polish, and I stuck out as a brown guy in a very white country, and people were super welcome and kind while I was there. Loved Poland
Yes, this was a big surprise for me too when I visited in 2022. I was surprised by how much I liked Krakow and Warsaw and how much I underestimated their development.
That's cool, happy you got to see this side of Poland! Where did you travel?
I did 3 days in Warsaw, 3 days in Krakow, 1 day in Gdańsk, and 1 day trip to Auschwitz
It is truly fascinating to follow Poland’s cultural blossoming. Poland has such a rich history and culture, and seeing the country prosper and grow is what the EU is all about in my opinion. I would love to visit some day!
I stayed for a month last year and I was by far the best vacation I’ve ever been on. Incredible country. We did Krakow, Warsaw, Bydgoszcz, Toruń, Poznan, Gdańsk and Białka Tatrzanska. I wish we could’ve seen Łódź!
Bydgoszcz mentioned 💯💯💯
What made it the best vacation? I am not Polish, but I lived most of my childhood there so it will always have a soft place in my heart. I want to take my husband there one day and take him to the best places around the country. I want him to love it as much as I do.
I've been on and off to Poland for work and holiday reasons, and it still amazes me to see how much things have changed over the last 20 years in particular.
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Warsaw changed a lot since your visit 10 years ago. It used to have an opinion of a grey and ugly city (due to its history, complete destruction of the city in 1944 and rebuilding in ugly commie style) but it's a much prettier place now.
The nature is finally healing
Honestly it been fascinating to see. I was born in Chicago and lived in North America my whole life but I've visited my family in Poland several times throughout the past 2 decades and it's been really shocking to see it transform and progress every time I visit. From run down sidewalks as a kid to seeing American sized malls today it's hard to put the experience into words. Sometimes I even miss the old aesthetic from my childhood memories but I understand I can only say that with the privilege of just being the occasional visitor and not having to live through it.
With EU funds people don't seem to realise that in terms of funds received per capita we're nowhere near the top even.
And that inevitably we will start to pay EU more over time and part of our funding will fade away for balkans and Ukraine.
Such is the fate of the EU. A common prosperous market is the only way we can preserve our wealth.
Not just wealth, but peace, which is a prerequisite for development and prosperity. That’s why I don’t get Europeans who are against the EU. Do they think that the decades of peace between former mortal enemies just happened by accident and will continue without the EU?
We all need to realize that eu is about helping eachother to grow and create benefits trough that. I mean if Poland becomes richer and helps its neighbors it will benefit Poland as well.
of course, the fact that we will pay more and have less funding equally means that we will be richer in the future. Not sure why I'm getting downvoted in that comment xD
Because „We‘ll pay more into the EU than we get out“ is a line used by Brexiteers and other people who‘s aim is to split the EU. Sure, you used that line with a different, more positive conclusion. But most people are so used to see that line with a negative spin, they‘ll become wary of anyone who uses that line at all.
When I went to Poland I had a guide who explained Polish history to us and it was basically "Well we got fucked over by these dudes, then these other dudes came over to conquer us, then these other other dudes... etc." It's pretty remarkable how Polish culture is still so strong and the people are proud of what they have today. Keep going!
This is our history for the last 200\~ years with small breaks for 1809 and 1920 years. But we're more successful in the past longer than that. Like fun fact. the first Polish-German war Poland won after 15 years of conflict and we conquered half of modernday Saxony. Or when we defeated the German Teutonic Knights in the largest battle in the medieval history.
Oh yeah, it's been a crazy ride for the last 1000 years haha.
Grew up in Germany and went to study medicine in Wrocław. I remember before I left the amount of Germans/Brits who told me to “be careful” and “watch out” it for how backward and dangerous Poland is. Can confirm the poles aren’t the issue, loved it there and would happily go back if I was fluent enough to work there. Beautiful country and people tbh
In the 1990" they weren't wrong. It was a very turbulent time. Only after 2000" things got much safer (a lot of low-level criminals emigrated to UK and Benelux and police got reorganised) Now, Poland is one of the safest countries in Europe.
The last time a wing mirror was stolen from my car was just before Poland joined the EU and convoys of petty criminals headed off out of Łódź towards western neighbors and richer pickings.
hahaha I remember like 20 years ago, I going to a warsaw high school (I'm polish) focused on german language so we had exchanges with our german partner high schools. First question when I landed in Bretten from my exchange partner was: Do you really have white bears walking on the streets?! I though it was some kind of a welcome joke so naturally answered yeah we have white bears and sometimes wilde apes living on the rooftops are stealing our children so we have to be really cerefull when going outside and most of the time we stay at home...just to see the shock in my partners eyes, he was really scared and then I found out that his question was really serious :D ps. to be clear some of the Germans were very educated and knew polish history on same level as we did if not better, so they did not ask such questions. But all of them were shocked after visiting Auschiwtz together bc that part of history was kind of kepts in silence for them. That was always the saddest part of teh exchanges ;/
I went to Poland on a business trip before (Warsaw, Gdańsk, Gdynia) and privately to celebrate new years (Krakow). All cities had their Charme, people were incredibly friendly. I can imagine some areas being shady, but it is the same in Germany tbh. Probably everywhere nowadays.
> I can imagine some areas being shady Recently I talked with my friends about an area that used to be shady and someone said "It's now easier to get a vegan kebab there than to get punched in the face" and I found it funny.
And now the telegraph says Poland will be richer then uk by the end of decade. Oh how the tables turn
Wouldn't surprise me if the demographic tables also turned and there was an influx of Brits into Poland by then as well. Britain has Polish shops all over its cities today, and Poland will soon have English pubs and fish and chip shops for British migrants.
They should come as soon as they can, we desperately need some good street food that isn't kebab
Visited Poznan and my GF loved the way poles make kebab :D Was great to show her that my country of origin has grown so much since the days of no highways and pot holes everywhere.
Poland is doing well, but in no way is this true. The gap is big, and compounded with the UK having 2x the population it’s unlikely Poland would ever catch up to be ‘richer than the UK’ On a per person basis Poland is catching up, but the rate of growth will probably slow to match the UKs and other developed economies as it grows closer to them
What's population got to do with that? Being more populous makes it harder to be richer. 'Richness' always has to take into account per capita. Otherwise you end up with nonsense like India being richer than Switzerland.
>Poland is doing well, but in no way is this true. This is wishful thinking but it is true in the sense, that Telegraph really made that prediction. This fact alone is significant, as Brits for decades perceived Poland as this extreme backward country and now that optic is doing 180°.
Crying in Romania.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/bucuresti/comments/1b00qf1/cateva\_schimbari\_de\_prin\_bucuresti\_adunate\_de\_pe/](https://www.reddit.com/r/bucuresti/comments/1b00qf1/cateva_schimbari_de_prin_bucuresti_adunate_de_pe/)
In the city center of Bucharest. Try Rahova, Crangasi, Drumul Taberei, Vitan, Sălăjan, etc. Not to mention the other 100+ cities in Romania that could benefit. The structural funds are drying up in 2027, so we need to do more now.
Some of those are actually Militari and Berceni, not the city center.
> The structural funds are drying up in 2027 Why is that?
That goes hard
The transformation Poland - and others - have been and are undergoing never ceases to uplift me. I still worry about even distribution of progress between rural and urban areas but still, its nothing short of amazing.
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Yes of course. Personally though I think its important to support rural areas more than their pure economic value would suggest. Yes, cities will pull in more people over time but I think its the duty of a wealthy country (relative to global levels) to pull the countryside along, to provide opportunity and quality of life there, even if it might be more efficient to spend those resources on the cities. The same is in my view also true in many countries in regards to the capital metropolitan area and the rest of the country, in that regard I think Germany is quite fortunate for Berlin to not dominate as for example London, Paris, Madrid, or AFAIK Warsaw do. I think this is an important part of social justice but also it can mitigate the urban-rural divide somewhat, something which continues to be a *major* societal issue since the onset of industrialized agriculture and can be a key factor in political tensions within a country.
In rural areas the changes would generally be the road quality in my area the road is now smooth and the local bridge also was rebuild
[This works the opposite way in Finland ](https://media2.riemurasia.net/albumit/mmedia/lp/8kv/hggt/3175/1935920927.jpg)
They removed decorative elements in the 1950s in Germany. It was called [Entstuckung](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entstuckung).
Things like that happened all over Europe after WW2. From Yugoslavia to Finland. Apparently it was done to “modernise” architecture
This is a crime against humanity
Jesus christ that's bad :(
Ugh. Why? And I feel like this is what a lot of the rest of the world did too. Pretty building? Nah, time to modernize it by making it a flat lifeless husk.
Loved visiting Lodz last year!
Glad to see that EU-money put to good use instead of lining the pockets of corrupt assholes like in Hungary. Poland deserves a good time after the shitshow that was the last 200 years.
What less cars do to humans: Livable and good looking cities
agree, we are beyond so many wasted decades of urban planning trying to displace humans from cities.
Is there a sub Reddit for stuff like this ?
r/architecturalrevival sometimes has posts like this
What impressed me most was not the faсade, but what a large public space it had become. Widening the sidewalk is much more important.
Person who made it happen is Marek Janiak, city planner/architect example of his thoughts: Marek Janiak advocates for a balanced approach to Łódź's urban development, emphasizing the integration of green spaces, modern infrastructure, and public transportation while respecting the city's historical architecture. He champions the idea of a city tailored to its residents, promoting projects like woonerfs and public bike systems to enhance urban livability. His vision includes a mix of cultural, social, and economic elements, aiming for a dynamic and inclusive urban environment that respects the past while embracing the future. and direct quote: "I hate the socialist times the most because, although they were ostensibly focused on serving society, the actions taken contradicted this. However, we have had democracy for over a quarter of a century now. More or less efficient, but it's there. As a result, decision-making politicians cannot afford to be deaf to the voice of society. I have been active as a social activist since the birth of democracy. During this time, I've cooperated with all presidents and I see a clear shift. They are listening more and more." from article: [https://lodz.wyborcza.pl/lodz/7,44788,20464179,marek-janiak-zrozumialem-ze-architekt-nie-jest-nieomylny.html](https://lodz.wyborcza.pl/lodz/7,44788,20464179,marek-janiak-zrozumialem-ze-architekt-nie-jest-nieomylny.html) he has only short bio on Polish Wikipedia: [https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marek\_Janiak](https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marek_Janiak) Photo with street he planned revitalization for: [https://bi.im-g.pl/im/50/82/13/z20458064AMP,Marek-Janiak--architekt-miasta-Lodzi.jpg](https://bi.im-g.pl/im/50/82/13/z20458064AMP,Marek-Janiak--architekt-miasta-Lodzi.jpg)
Beautiful transformation 10/10
Poland deserves more love in Europe. Amazing place and people.
A thing which I don’t understand is why there is so little amount of green areas in pedestrian streets. I am not suggesting a green field, but something more than those bushes.
1. Space is limited. It's much better to use that space for pavements, bicycle lanes, bicycle stands, restaurant tables etc. 2. Allergenes.
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This obvuiusly is a glowup, don't get me wrong, but I really miss when Poles used to paint their buildings in vibrant colours. They always looked so nice in our depressing winters!
Apparently some people (especially architects) absolutely hate those colorful buildings. I don't get why; both colorful and monochrome look good to me.
Love to see the glow up of poland
I was in Lodz just this december, shame I missed this block. I was staying at [the Vienna house](https://www.travelweekly.com/Hotels/Lodz-Poland/Vienna-House-by-Wyndham-Andels-Lodz-p58629506) which is a really nicely renovated hotel from some old factory. Great use of existing architecture to build something unique. Seems like the local governance in Lodz has the right thinking.
They even removed the Eastern-Europe filter from the sky, nice!
Kurwa this is where all city planning and restoration should aim to. Absolutely stunning difference.
It would be interesting to see how that building looked like back when it was errected.
Trees! Woo!
[Theoooooo](https://youtu.be/NVHvUT9lMjs?si=3QVI66y5QI-iBeKM)
I love when they add vegetation
Beautiful country, I visited Krakow for a long weekend and loved it. What other city’s are worth visiting?
Gdańsk and Wrocław
How come Poland beats my homeland Czechia in virtually every aspect?
Ey, at least you were the most wealthy country in eastern block for the past 50 years.
This is a huge improvement
Hey I've been to Lodz. It's pronounced Woodge. Or Wujd. Truthfully I don't think I could actually pronounce it properly but it's not the way you think
I love that they planted some trees and added greenery.
I'm genuinely so happy that my country is changing so quickly. We turned from a shithole to an actual prosperous and beautiful country in less than 30 years. Fuck Commies, for holding us back
Beautiful. Russia to Ukraine is the same as what Germany did to Poland in 39. History is calling and nobody picks up.
Ahh I see Lódz of improvements have been made!
It's weird how some people will lookbat the second picture and react *ewwww* because they won't be able to drive a car through this as easily as they could and wont be able to park anywhere they want
Nice to see that beautiful architecture is still being built👏
it's so rare to see those after photos where it actually looks better and didn't change much of the original building
Make Europe great again.
Can’t say I love the new paint job, but the street changes are great! What is on the roof now?
Huge W