Opportunities and challenges of rehabilitation of abandoned industrial heritage sites in the context of former modernizations

Abstract

Rehabilitation of abandoned industrial heritage sites can be a special opportunity, challenge and a driver of new possibilities for city development. Numerous examples of conservation, restoration and repurposing of such locations that have been implemented so far, demonstrate significant development potentials, that have influenced the culture, education, environmental, social and economic aspects of the development of the respective area. In the case of industrial complexes declared as cultural monuments, it is important to preserve their monumental value during the renovation i.e. to preserve their original characteristics by repurposing, repairs and interventions on existing buildings that bring them closer to modern requirements of use. Sometimes, these actions were aggravated precisely by the procedures that took place in the name of modernization and progress in the past of that industrial complex. The negative effects of changes that have taken place in the past in the name of progress and modernization of the factory complex, regarding the possibility of its rehabilitation, are identified and analyzed on the example of the factory complex declared as a cultural monument called "Sugar factory".