Implemented by the Rawa River, the prototype of the Green Science Zone is an innovative approach to the transformation of urban spaces that has been awarded with the European Commission’s MobilityAction Award. The initiative focuses on the restoration of the area along the Rawa River in Katowice, with the goal of creating a space that benefits residents, scientists and the nature. The project covered temporary installations, such as urban furniture and greenery that were to increase the quality of life in urban settings.
The MobilityAction Award highlights the project’s importance in sustainable development and ecology. Initiated by Aneta Moczkowska, the prototype was created by architects Paweł Jaworski, MSc Eng. and Aleksandra Hantkiewicz-Lejman, MSc Eng., along with urban architect Michał Zarzecki. The entire project is coordinated by Ewelina Budzińska-Góra from the University of Silesia.
The prototype was to demonstrate how the neglected areas along the Rawa may be transformed into an attractive public space, where science, ecology and daily lives of residents intersect. The works on the prototype began in September 2022, with the aim to creating installations featuring urban furniture and plant pots. The temporary configurations made it possible to test them and collect feedback from residents, helping to better understand their needs and the challenges of urban renewal.
The award was won for involving experimental urbanism and place-making approach to transform a car park within the local University of Silesia’s campus into a green, pedestrian-friendly space. The Metropolis GZM has gathered professionals from the public transport, sustainable mobility, urban design, and landscape architecture to co-create solutions for the car park transformation. Local communities are using the area more and more often, while the goal is to further convert all surface parking lots on the campus into pedestrian-friendly spaces.
The project has been created in collaboration between the University of Silesia, the City of Katowice and the Metropolis GZM. The MobilityAction Award proves that the Green Science Zone has the potential to become a key element in Katowice’s transformation into a more sustainable, innovative, and resident-friendly city.
