European Property Sustainability Matters European Property ...

King Sturge: European Property Sustainability Matters
Manufaktura, Lodz, Poland
Manufaktura is a retail project which has reinvented
the market place (Rynek) within an old textile mill in
the middle of Lodz, with a focus on creating social
sustainability.
Lodz is the second city of Poland and at central a
geographic and economic part of the country. With
a population of 900,000 and a student population
of over 100,000, it is well linked by its international
airport with the rest of Europe.
Now-a-day it includes such international companies
as ABB, Coco Cola, Merloni Indesit, Pepsico, Amcor
Polska, Bosch-Siemens, Gillette and Phillips. Based
on its historic past, it is also the fashion capital of
Poland.
Tourism, Culture and History
After Warsaw, Lodz is one of the most popular
tourist destinations in Poland along with Krakow
and Poznan. The Golden Age of Lodz was during
the industrial revolution. Then, as now, it embraces
four cultures; Jewish, German, Russian and Polish.
Its fame was expanded by Israel Poznanski who
was the founder of the textile factory in 1852. By
1877 it was a textile mill employing more 12,000
workers.
Following the death of the founder, it fell into
disrepair and eventually become nationalised in the
1930s but eventually bankruptcy closed Poltex (as
it was known) in 1997. It then remained derelict
seeking a new use.
The Project
Manufaktura consist of 27 hectares in the heart
of the city. The objective has been to bring the
district back to life by embracing the industrial and
art nouveau architect and renovating 90,000 m² of
19th Century historical building.
45,000 m² of red brick façade have been renovated
creating a link between the past and future but also
recreating a vibrant social place, the Rynek or market
square of the city. Social sustainability has been
one of the key objectives (as well as re-using
the embodied energy of the historic architecture).
The project has aimed to respect the local
community and involve it throughout the process of
redevelopment. In particular, it has aimed to create
a dialogue between the four cultures, but also bring
other social activities to the development.
The key building blocks of the development are as
follows:
Culture 8,000 m²
Business (Hotel/Office) 20,000 m²
Retail 101,000 m²
Leisure 21,000 m²
Gross Lettable Area 150,000 m²
The main project is immediately adjacent to the
historic city Palace built by Israel Poznanski.
Adjacent to the project site a major building will be
converted into a museum of modern art in 2008. A
four star hotel with a 105 bedrooms and conference
centre will use the adjacent structure.
The essential building block of the main project,
include:
Cinema City – a 12 screen cinema plus a 3D
IMAX
Kinderplaneta – a 1,000 m² children’s playground
Eksperymentarium – a unique concept mixed
education and entertainment building
Gymnasium with full fitness centre
Disco Elektrownia
Casino
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