Gentrification versus structure relocation – how can we preserve a city’s cultural heritage?

Kracow University of Technology, Faculty of Architecture, Department of Spatial Planning, Institute of Urban and Rural Design A-5, Kraków, Poland

Abstract

A number of cities are currently experiencing gentrification at various stages and intensities. Gentrification is a powerful force for economic change, but it is often accompanied by unnecessary demolition of historic buildings that are not included in the monuments registers. This article describes how to identify an area that could potentially undergo or has already undergone gentrification, using the example of the Piasek district in Krakow. It explains how gentrification has intensified in this district since the 1990s. The article also discusses the possibilities of reducing the destructive impact of gentrification on urban space by relocation of a historical building that was initially slated for demolition due to the ongoing gentrification of the area.