Adaptation of the architectural and infrastructural post-industrial heritage of underground mines for museum functions in southern Poland

Abstract

This article addresses the problem of developing disused underground mines for museum purposes in cities and towns in southern Poland. Following the reduction in mining activities and the collapse and liquidation of many industrial plants in the region – developments related to both the global situation and the political transformation of the late twentieth century – many localities lost their previous economic basis for development. One of the strategies often used in such situations is revitalisation through culture. Establishing museums in underground mines, which in southern Poland have a history dating back to the eighteenth century, has gained popularity in recent decades. The authenticity of the preserved architectural and infrastructural heritage helps to preserve the identity of the regions by displaying the mementos and achievements of past generations in an appropriate manner. Most of the sites discussed in the paper, three of which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List, use this method of display, enriching the facility’s programme with other elements. There is also a strategy to transform these post-industrial resources to a much greater extent and adapt them to modern functions using contemporary architectural solutions, while preserving the most valuable elements of their architectural and infrastructural heritage.