Glass Structures in Post-Industrial Buildings and the Role of the Industrial Heritage in Shaping Creative Urban Spaces

摘要

This paper presents the topic of postindustrial structures as crucial elements shaping the image of contemporary cities and it demonstrates their value against the background of the evolution of the concept of the industrial culture heritage. Irrespective of their scale and initial intended use, postindustrial structures constitute an important trace of the tradition and culture of a given place. They are often crucial elements of the cultural landscape and landmarks for subsequent generations of local communities. More and more frequently, cities notice their potential, based on which they can build their own attractive image. Contemporary technology and technique offer numerous possibilities of making use of this heritage in order to create urban space of a new quality and exhibit surprising aesthetic values. One of such possibilities is a creative application of glass – a material which offers nearly limitless possibilities of creating an architectural form. Based on in situ studies and literature research, the paper presents examples illustrating how thanks to the application of advanced glass structures buildings which have already lost their original functions get re-discovered for the cultural landscape of the city and co-create its new quality.