Traces of former mill races in Krnov: Possibilities of revitalization and interpretation

Mill races were an integral part of many towns in the past. But when they lost their economic importance, they were mostly filled and buried underground. Although we can now find them in their original form in a few cases only, their spatial corridors have often been preserved in the urban structure...

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Main Authors: Ing. arch. Juraj Illéš, Assoc. Prof. Ing. arch. Viera Joklová, PhD., dr hab. Inż. Agnieszka Jaszczak, prof. UWM
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Slovak University of Technology, Faculty of Architecture and Design 2023-03-01
Series:Architecture Papers of the Faculty of Architecture and Design STU
Subjects:
Online Access:https://alfa.stuba.sk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/01_2023_Illes_Joklova_Jaszczak.pdf
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author Ing. arch. Juraj Illéš
Assoc. Prof. Ing. arch. Viera Joklová, PhD.
dr hab. Inż. Agnieszka Jaszczak, prof. UWM
author_facet Ing. arch. Juraj Illéš
Assoc. Prof. Ing. arch. Viera Joklová, PhD.
dr hab. Inż. Agnieszka Jaszczak, prof. UWM
author_sort Ing. arch. Juraj Illéš
collection DOAJ
description Mill races were an integral part of many towns in the past. But when they lost their economic importance, they were mostly filled and buried underground. Although we can now find them in their original form in a few cases only, their spatial corridors have often been preserved in the urban structure. The research aims to detect the historical trace of the former mill races in Krnov, a small town in the district of Bruntál in the Moravian-Silesian region of the Czech Republic, and investigate the possibilities of their interpretation and revitalization. The research focuses on the identification of the remnants and traces of the former mill races using historical maps, literary and visual sources, and subsequently on the investigation of the state of their current existence in the urban structure, according to current orthophoto maps, real estate cadastre records, and field research. During the 19th century, the mill race system in Krnov and its surrounds consisted of four mill race channels. Two of them have been preserved with water flow to the present day. The other two mill races were filled. Research shows, however, that the footprint of their corridors is legible in the urban structure even today, and its presentation in new forms could significantly contribute to regenerate the urban fabric and revitalize public spaces. The mill races represent historical and cultural heritage, and the presentation and interpretation of their values, even those that have disappeared, can significantly help increase the quality and attractiveness of urban public spaces for residents and tourists.
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spelling doaj.art-5716045289164c95a81eac1c4acaaf192023-03-15T10:28:58ZengSlovak University of Technology, Faculty of Architecture and DesignArchitecture Papers of the Faculty of Architecture and Design STU2729-76402023-03-01281364610.2478/alfa-2023-0004Traces of former mill races in Krnov: Possibilities of revitalization and interpretationIng. arch. Juraj Illéš0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5549-9561Assoc. Prof. Ing. arch. Viera Joklová, PhD.1dr hab. Inż. Agnieszka Jaszczak, prof. UWM2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4695-0488Faculty of Architecture and Design, Institute of Urban Design and Planning, Slovak University of Technology, Bratislava, SlovakiaFaculty of Architecture and Design, Institute of Urban Design and Planning, Slovak University of Technology, Bratislava, SlovakiaFaculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland, and Department of Business and Rural Development Management, Faculty of Bioeconomy Development, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, LithuaniaMill races were an integral part of many towns in the past. But when they lost their economic importance, they were mostly filled and buried underground. Although we can now find them in their original form in a few cases only, their spatial corridors have often been preserved in the urban structure. The research aims to detect the historical trace of the former mill races in Krnov, a small town in the district of Bruntál in the Moravian-Silesian region of the Czech Republic, and investigate the possibilities of their interpretation and revitalization. The research focuses on the identification of the remnants and traces of the former mill races using historical maps, literary and visual sources, and subsequently on the investigation of the state of their current existence in the urban structure, according to current orthophoto maps, real estate cadastre records, and field research. During the 19th century, the mill race system in Krnov and its surrounds consisted of four mill race channels. Two of them have been preserved with water flow to the present day. The other two mill races were filled. Research shows, however, that the footprint of their corridors is legible in the urban structure even today, and its presentation in new forms could significantly contribute to regenerate the urban fabric and revitalize public spaces. The mill races represent historical and cultural heritage, and the presentation and interpretation of their values, even those that have disappeared, can significantly help increase the quality and attractiveness of urban public spaces for residents and tourists.https://alfa.stuba.sk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/01_2023_Illes_Joklova_Jaszczak.pdfmill raceindustrial heritageextinct heritageurban revitalizationplacemaking
spellingShingle Ing. arch. Juraj Illéš
Assoc. Prof. Ing. arch. Viera Joklová, PhD.
dr hab. Inż. Agnieszka Jaszczak, prof. UWM
Traces of former mill races in Krnov: Possibilities of revitalization and interpretation
Architecture Papers of the Faculty of Architecture and Design STU
mill race
industrial heritage
extinct heritage
urban revitalization
placemaking
title Traces of former mill races in Krnov: Possibilities of revitalization and interpretation
title_full Traces of former mill races in Krnov: Possibilities of revitalization and interpretation
title_fullStr Traces of former mill races in Krnov: Possibilities of revitalization and interpretation
title_full_unstemmed Traces of former mill races in Krnov: Possibilities of revitalization and interpretation
title_short Traces of former mill races in Krnov: Possibilities of revitalization and interpretation
title_sort traces of former mill races in krnov possibilities of revitalization and interpretation
topic mill race
industrial heritage
extinct heritage
urban revitalization
placemaking
url https://alfa.stuba.sk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/01_2023_Illes_Joklova_Jaszczak.pdf
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