Revitalization of the Queen Louise Adit mining complex (Poland)
Revitalization of the Queen Louise Adit mining complex (Poland) by the Coal Mining Museum in Zabrze, Municipality of Zabrze, the Province of Silesia, the National Environmental Protection Fund and additional funding from the Coal Mining Museum in Zabrze (Europa Nostra Award 2019)
As the jury rightly pointed out during the 2019 Europa Nostra Awards, coal mining sites such as the Queen Louise Adit mining complex are in decline. It is widely felt that maintaining the heritage of historic coal mines, of major historical importance for Poland as well as Europe, is vital for future generations. As a result, part of a museum experience is to showcase and interpret large-scale mining machinery. In order to ensure that the site could be visitable, coal miners were called upon to provide expertise that could be used in the restoration work needed. The Queen Louise mine, the first Prussian state coal mine in Upper Silesia, opened in 1791. The activity of the mine helped transform the town of Zabrze from a small settlement into a large city. The vast post-mining infrastructure, of great significance in the history of industrial development in Silesia and Europe, was restored and adapted to new functions. The project, which took almost 15 years to complete, involved the revitalization of both the ground infrastructure - with approximately 30 19th-century buildings - and the conservation of over 5 kilometres of connecting underground corridors. Following the restoration process, the mines no longer produce the harmful emissions generated by historic mining practices and the infrastructure is safe for tourists and cultural activities. In addition, existing and new buildings have been adapted to house three visitor centres, used for interpretive exhibits and artefacts illustrating the site’s history.
Brief analysis of the case:
The intervention carried out in this large complex has focused on guaranteeing the accessibility of the complex for visitors. The restoration and rehabilitation of the buildings and the consolidation and adaptation of the tunnels has been carried out using traditional techniques that are compatible with the existing ones, with the aim of guaranteeing the safety of the complex, accessibility for the public, the enhancement of the complex and the mining activities that took place there, while maintaining the authenticity of the complex at all times. To this end, some spaces have been museumised and both the tangible and intangible elements have been interpreted.