Industrial heritage as both an opportunity and a problem. A new study by geographers at the University of Jan Evangelista Purkyně shows why the Ústí nad Labem Region has so far been unable to agree on its future.
The Ústí nad Labem Region is one of the most prominent industrial regions in Central Europe – and at the same time one of those that are currently searching for a new identity. Few places have an industrial past as visible as this one: abandoned factories, monumental production halls, active and reclaimed quarries, a specific social structure, and a strong industrial culture. But how do local actors perceive this past? Can old factories and industrial landscapes be the engine of future development, or are they rather a burden that slows down the region?
These questions are answered by a new study by researchers from the Department of Geography of the Faculty of Science at the University of Jan Evangelista Purkyně in Ústí nad Labem, published in the prestigious journal European Planning Studies. The team led by Vladan Hruška analyzed 29 interviews with representatives of companies, local governments, museums, state agencies, and non-profit organizations from the Ústí nad Labem Region. The results show that the term “industrial heritage” is interpreted very differently by various actors here—and it is precisely this fragmentation that complicates its use in regional development.
Three different stories about the value of industrial history
The study identified three different narratives that describe how individual groups understand industrial heritage and what role they attribute to it in the future development of the region. The first of these – the pragmatic narrative – is typical of companies. They see heritage primarily in the professional skills of workers, traditional brands, or technological know-how that can still be used. Companies perceive the industrial past as a competitive advantage, not a burden. The second, problematic narrative is typical mainly for representatives of cities and public administration. For them, industrialization is more associated with brownfields, social or urban problems, and a disrupted landscape. Old factories and complexes are thus perceived more as complications, and their demolition is often seen as the key solution. The third, revitalization narrative emphasizes the cultural and historical values of industrial buildings. Representatives of museums, non-profit organizations, and some officials see industrial heritage as having potential for new uses—as a basis for creative centers, tourist routes, cultural projects, or strengthening regional identity.
The main problem? There is no common language to promote it.
It is clear from the interviews that the Ústí nad Labem Region has a strong industrial identity – but at the same time a very weak common vision of how to work with it. The authors of the study point out that the region needs a coordinated approach that would be able to connect these different perspectives. “There are three very different ideas in the region about what industrial heritage is and what it could be used for. Each of them is legitimate, but so far they have not come together. Without a shared vision and without actors who will promote it together, the potential of industrial heritage is simply lost,” says the study’s lead author, Vladan Hruška.
The study shows that the problems are not only financial. There is a need to find new channels of communication between municipal and city authorities and companies, new industrial enterprises do not have strong ties to the region, and the public sometimes perceives industrial artifacts negatively. There is also a lack of systematic education about the industrial history of the region. According to Hruška, this is a broader structural problem: “When we say ‘industrial heritage’ today, many people in the region do not imagine value, but a burden. If we want to move the region forward, we must also change this way of thinking – explain, show, and realize together that the industrial past does not have to be a stigma, but can be a source of strength and self-confidence.” In this regard, we also see an important role for UJEP, which has long been involved with industrial heritage, both in the earlier SMART project, which resulted in a published study, and in the current OP ST RUR– Region to University, University to Region project.
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