Examples of the Transformation of Post-Industrial Facilities – a Case Study of Poland, Slovakia, and China

Abstract

The liquidation of many industries has made it necessary to reuse abandoned industrial landscapes. As a result of development, post-industrial facilities may be created that have been changed morphologically or functionally. Post-industrial facilities were used for various purposes. Today they perform the following functions: industrial, service (mainly commercial), often administrative, educational, as well as tourist and recreational. One of the popular methods of preserving post-industrial heritage is its transformation from a fully industrial facility into a tourist resource. Some can simply become recreational or entertainment places, they can also be transformed into tourist facilities such as hotels, restaurants, etc. All kinds of activities aimed at transforming post-industrial areas into tourism-related facilities not only give them a chance to gain a "second life", but they fit into the socio-economic revitalization strategies of a given country. They are part of the general shift towards territorial development and allow for the use of the growing demand for postmodern cultural consumption. The article presents examples of the use and development of post-industrial facilities remaining after the liquidation of many industries in Poland, Slovakia, and China. They show that cultural heritage sites have become popular tourist attractions. Special attention was paid to facilities used for tourism and cultural tourism. The diversity of post-industrial heritage and the purpose of local post-industrial facilities are shown. Some of them constitute the most valuable elements of post-industrial cultural heritage and are included on the UNESCO list.