Territorial identity, public space and the industrial heritage of the city: The example of plac Zwycięstwa (Victory Square) in Łódź (Poland)

Abstract

The subject of the article is the issue of spatial (territorial) identity illustrated on the example of Plac Zwycięstwa (Victory Square) in Łódź as a public space related to the industrial heritage of this city. Territorial identity considered on the basis of humanistic geography takes into account the relationship between man and the space in which he lives and is a complex process based on the subjective identification of man with the surrounding space, its other users and its tangible and intangible heritage. A kind of public space in relation to which the issues of spatial identity are clearly visible can be a city square, especially related to the history of a city. An appropriate example is Plac Zwycięstwa in Łódź, strongly associated with the cotton industry, thanks to which the entire city developed dynamically in the 19th century. Using this example, the article identifies determinants of the identity of this space, determines the importance of industrial heritage in building territorial identity, and indicates the role of post-industrial objects in shaping the territorial identity of the inhabitants. The aim of the article was to answer the question whether Plac Zwycięstwa in Łódź, in the eyes of its users, is a source of territorial identity, an important point with which the inhabitants identify themselves and which evokes positive feelings in them. The following research methods and tools were used: literature query, questionnaire interview, inventory and direct observation in the field with photographic documentation. Empirical research was aimed at determining and assessing the current state of development of the examined public space, identifying and evaluating its current functions and significance, also in the context of comparing the current state with information about the history of the area obtained from the literature. Today's Plac Zwycięstwa in Łódź is characterized mainly by utilitarian significance, to a lesser extent interactive, and its former civic significance has disappeared. The axiological, symbolic and identity meaning of this space are currently less visible in the awareness of the local community, although Plac Zwycięstwa undoubtedly has such meanings due to its history and location related to the textile industry. The research results indicate that the long and rich history of Plac Zwycięstwa unfortunately does not have a significant impact on the creation of territorial identity, which results from the ignorance of the history of this place declared by the majority of respondents. According to the authors, entities shaping urban space, responsible for its development and building identity, should create a more friendly space, ensure its greater aesthetics and safety, and undertake information and promotion activities disseminating historical knowledge about this place. This would contribute to regaining its symbolic meaning and building an increasingly positive image and identity of Plac Zwycięstwa in the minds of Łódź residents and tourists.