Following the approval of the local zoning plan in September 2024, Nowy Wełnowiec is entering the implementation phase. The 30-hectare revitalized site formerly occupied by the Silesia Metallurgical Plant will become home to a modern mixed-use district with predominantly residential functions. Nearly a third of the area will be dedicated to open green spaces. The Capital Park Group, which has been active on the Polish property market for more than 20 years, is responsible for the implementation and management of the project. The architectural concept comes from the JEMS Architekci studio. The investor has received permission for the modernization of the former compressor house building from the beginning of the 20th century, which will become one of the symbols of the new district in the northern part of Katowice.
Nowy Wełnowiec will be a complete place: a mixed-use, ecological, green district between Wojciech Korfanty Avenue and Konduktorska Street. It will be an open space, planned with sustainability in mind, where car traffic will be absent from the public space and moved to level -1. Putting all traffic underground will maximise the area for recreation and leisure in the ample greenery ensuring free and safe movement of residents, employees and visitors enjoying the offer of the new district. The 30 hectares of land will include approx. 300,000 sq. m of above-ground usable floor area. The largest proportion of space will be occupied by flats. New Wełnowiec will also feature other functions: food, retail, entertainment, services, educational and cultural concepts. 10 hectares will be dedicated to greenery and recreational areas, including a 4-hectare central park, squares and small parks, flower meadows, lawns, forest areas and ponds. An underground car park and charging stations for electric vehicles will be available for drivers. The new district will be cycle-friendly.
The Katowice development is the latest collaboration between Capital Park Group and JEMS Architekci. Their previous projects included the mixed-use Royal Wilanów – the heart of the district in the southern part of the capital city.
Next phase of work is starting
The commencement of formal and administrative work required the approval of a local zoning plan for the project area, which was adopted by the Katowice City Council at the end of September 2024. On this basis, Capital Park Group is starting to develop the construction design for the first stage of the project: the central area which will cover 7 ha. It will include flats, service outlets, restaurants, retail and entertainment, squares and a section of the central park. The construction work is expected to start in early 2026. A public consultation is planned to identify the needs of the local community. As early as January 2025, work will begin on the restoration of the historic compressor house, which will be completed in early 2026.
“The first results of our efforts will materialise very soon. We have received permission for the redevelopment of the former compressor house and will soon begin work on revitalizing the only historic building that has been preserved in the area. It is located on Korfanty Street and will become a landmark of Nowy Wełnowiec. We believe that it will not only be a venue of presentation and information about the project under construction but also a place of educational meetings for the residents of Katowice and beyond,” said Sylwia Filewicz, Head of Capital Park Group Development and Construction Department who manages the Nowy Wełnowiec project.
The 1905 compressor house, formerly the back office of a zinc smelter, will regain its industrial character through revitalisation. The brick facades will be cleaned, the original window openings and architectural details restored. After the modernisation, the building will become a symbol of New Wełnowiec, housing a model of the investment, an information point and a meeting space for residents. It will be a symbolic place where the history of Wełnowiec meets its modern version.
At the same time, in accordance with the applicable procedures, the developer will begin the process of obtaining the required environmental decisions and, on that basis, dispose of mounds of earth located on the site. This part of the work is the responsibility of Investeko, a Silesian company specializing in land reclamation which has successfully completed many similar projects.
Ecology and innovation
New Wełnowiec is designed to respond to social needs and address climate change. Its solutions use technologies which reduce the environmental impact of buildings while ensuring a high quality of life for residents. The plans include Poland’s first central waste management and rainwater retention system, renewable sources of energy and heat, green roofs and terraces to reduce the heat island effect, green areas created in line with biodiversity principles and adapted to climate conditions.
“The Nowy Wełnowiec project aims to transform a part of the city which is currently inaccessible into a modern, mixed-use, multigenerational space where life revolves around greenery and community. It will be a place where nature co-creates the surroundings while the space between buildings becomes more important than the buildings themselves,” said Tomasz Napieralski, architect and partner at JEMS Architekci. “Nowy Wełnowiec is not only a new area of the city for residents to live in, but also for the whole community to live together. We combine tradition with modernity, greenery with architecture, creating a city that invites people to be together,” said Napieralski.
