Szczecin 2016

Szczecin – the visionary city at the Baltic Sea

THE MANIFESTO OF SZCZECIN’S VISIONARIES

1. We are a visionary city which realised that it has to change completely the scale of planning and acting as well as create and built itself anew in order to use its incredible potential.

2. None of the numerous and wonderful attractions of the city is special in the world scale. We decided to do something spectacular – something modern which uses the natural conditions given to us (much grater than we used to think). Szczecin was and still is the city of pioneers. The precursory and pioneer actions result from the city’s character and temper. This fact is the biggest advantage of the city. Only pioneers can build America…

3. Looking at Szczecin from the bird’s eye view we have noticed its potential and opportunities. Szczecin is located north-east of the Odra (Oder) River. It expands in the area of old city plans and is only a germ of what could be called the new green Venice of the North if we started running the numerous islands of Śródodrze (Middle Oder area), canals and large broads in the south and east.

4. At the time of uniting Europe looking for new impressions and attractions, being its informal ambassador, we decided to invest in two things: yachting and environment. Szczecin is a transborder port located in a delta mostly untouched by industry.

5. We would like to be the biggest and the most modern marina on the Baltic. Just as Alpine resorts live off skiing, the future Szczecin will live off yachting. However, being a marina is too little to get famous and create an image attractive to masses. In order to do it we need a true spectacular vision that would be the foundation of the city’s development, kindle the citizens’ hearts and be the key to Szczecin’s potential. This vision should be the first product and the most important landmark of the new Szczecin.

6. What is our vision like? It is bold. Its target is the traditional and stereotypical understanding of the city. We would like to create a city that would amaze the world: a green environmentally friendly city, a conglomeration of islands, canals, beaches and bays – a Floating Garden. It will be Baltic Neopolis – a city which will change the way of thinking about how and what for people live. It will be a precursory city in Europe. Most cities burst at the seams, suffocate and overwhelm the people. They are packed and fast. Szczecin will be completely different – calm and green as today, but also developed and modern… We will prove that the water metropolis does not have to be a horrible giant. We will create a dynamic and environmentally friendly city that impresses everyone with its scale and creativity of town planning solutions.

7. To make this vision come true and gain the uniqueness of this place, not only do we have to build over the islands of Łasztownia and Grodzka, but also make a visionary town planning revolution. We must revitalise the areas around the dead canals in the south and concentrate on the flood waters of the Odra (Oder) and Dąbie Lake.

8. The vision may come true if Szczecin becomes a strong academic centre – concentrated on the problems of Baltic and Pomerania as an Euroregion.

9. Szczecin has to have 2-3 icons of architecture that will focus the attention of whole Europe. They should be designed by world-famous architects and secure their place in history of architecture as an “excellent and the most innovative solution.”

10. From this perspective Szczecin looks like a “macro-developed mega-project” that will find its “Giga-investor” who will direct the city to a new way.

materials of Promotion and Information Office of the City Hall of Szczecin