Novelties in coal mines

Coal mines, which were closed even a few dozen years ago, are open for new authorities’ and architect’s ideas. Museums, trade centers, heritage parks and galleries are being created.
In inactive coal mine "Katowice", a trade center – Silesia City Center – was built, new Museum of Silesia, which is right now an Austrian project, is also arising. According to the opinion of Polish architects it is the most important investment in the last few years, which is going to develop the infrastructure of the closed coal mine.
This investment will cost more than 200 million zlotys. First tourists will go underground and see the effect in 2011.
Not all coal mines were converted into museum, the main example is the coal mine "Katowice", where a huge trade centre Silesia is situated right now. Other examples of conversions of disused industry infrastructure into shopping centers are the Workshop (Manufaktura) in Lodz and Old Brewery (Stary Browar) in Poznan.
After the closure of Jan Kanta coal mine in Jaworzno, in 1996 on the grounds of the former miner’s canteen discotheque came into being– one of the biggest in Poland. Unfortunately after a few years it fell through and again the coal mine is empty.