Vision of the strategy for the city of Bielsko-Biała
The text below is the first part of a synthetic study describing the identity of the city of Bielsko-Biała. It was established in 2021. In a further part, unpublished here, it also contains conclusions and suggestions regarding the future and further development of the Metropolis in the Mountains. These are not secret materials - the author is happy to share the rest of the results of his work and invites you to interact.
Kraków / Bielsko-Biała, November 30, 2021
Introduction Bielsko-Biała is a unique city - like no other. The city is certainly not without flaws, with many places to repair and many untapped opportunities. Nobody is perfect, perfect cities do not exist. But Bielsko-Biała is a place so different from all others that it should motivate us to take actions to equalize the position of the city from the times of the industrial revolution. Bielsko-Biała is such an amazing city, so captivating and attractive, that the question comes to mind: why doesn't anyone know about it? Why does the city, which 200 years ago was one of the richest and most dynamic in the world, being one of the few cradles of innovation and entrepreneurship with such a modern character, is in such a condition today? Why is knowledge about its great, and quite recent, bright past obvious only to a relatively small group of historians and city enthusiasts?
It's easy to be a fan of City in the Mountains. So let's start with a critical look: there will be time for praise later.
Contemporary Bielsko-Biała is an anti-pedestrian and anti-bicycle city, taken over by citizens maniacally abusing cars. Bielsko-Biała is a city of run-down, once beautiful tenement houses. The main promenade of the city is a deserted place, in whose gloomy corners the wind blows. Bielsko-Biała is a city seemingly connected - but in fact still permanently and effectively divided - by a multi-lane road brutally isolating former Bielsko from former Biała, through which it is impossible for pedestrians to get smoothly and pleasantly "to the other side". Bielsko-Biała is a city with a false identity, a historically deceived community - due to its reluctance to tell its true, multi-ethnic history. Bielsko-Biała is a run-down former industrial and workers' city, shaped to a large extent by communism, with prefabricated housing estates built by the now defunct textile industry. Bielsko-Biała is a city of unnecessary contrasts, wasted opportunities and unused opportunities. BB is also a former provincial city, the consequences of which are still felt today.
Is it wrong? NO. This is very good, because there are still many opportunities to be exploited, the possibilities are enormous, the contrasts should embarrass and motivate us to act. Bielsko-Biała is probably the most interesting city in this part of the world. You need to be able to utilize such potential and have a truly AMBITIOUS PLAN for such a city. The ambitious plan is to catch up with Bielsko and Biała from the times of the industrial revolution, to overtake them, turning the modern city into a modern, cosmopolitan, mountain metropolis - the best place to live, work and spend free time. Bielsko-Biała is a city that needs to be reinvented today.
I think that after many months of joint work of many local patriots, authorities, activists, experts, politicians, artists, enthusiasts and finally simply residents-citizens - we can finally say: WE HAVE IT! Thank you all for your help and cooperation, and for the opportunity to write this extraordinary story.
Mateusz Zmyślony
Co-creator - together with prof. Jerzy Hausner - the "Open Eyes Economy" concept, including the "Firma-Idea" / "City-Idea" / "Brand-Culture" models, and, among others, concept of "Islands and Archipelagos". Co-organizer of the annual Open Eyes Economy Summit at ICE in Krakow and its Creative Director. Editor-in-Chief of Open Eyes Magazine. An expert in the field of social communication and marketing. A pioneer of place marketing in Poland, author of several dozen brand, city and region strategies, as well as projects in the field of marketing of large events (including UEFA EURO 2012, EXPO 2022, as well as over 30 cities and regions, including Krakow, Warsaw, Sopot, Kołobrzeg, Bielsko-Biała, Lower Silesia, Lesser Poland and Silesia). Winner of over 20 professional awards in national and international competitions (including 3 global Globe Awards). Lecturer at many universities and publicist. Author of over 200 industry publications in many magazines devoted to management and marketing issues. Traveler: together with the Dookoła Association team, nominated in 2012 for the National Geographic Traveler award in the "Travel of the Year" category for the GloBall 2012 Trans-African expedition. Together with his daughter Maria - author of the book "Backyard Wars" (2019). Regular columnist of the monthly Architektura & Biznes: "Multi-City" series. Since 2017, a film and game scriptwriter, creating, among others, "Baltica" universe
