Following the adoption of the local zoning plan in September 2024, Nowy Wełnowiec is entering the implementation phase. A modern, mixed-use district with a predominantly residential function will be developed on a 30-hectare revitalized site of the former Silesia Metallurgical Works. Nearly one-third of the area will be dedicated to open green spaces. The project is being delivered and managed by Capital Park Group, which has been operating on the Polish real estate market for over 20 years. The architectural concept was designed by JEMS Architects. The investor has already obtained a permit to redevelop the former compressor house from the early 20th century, which will become one of the symbols of the new district in northern Katowice.
Nowy Wełnowiec is envisioned as a complete place—a multifunctional, ecological and green district to be developed between Wojciech Korfanty Avenue and Konduktorska Street. It will be an open, sustainably planned area in which vehicular traffic will be removed from public space and relocated to level –1. Fully moving traffic underground will allow maximum use of the surface for recreation and leisure amid extensive greenery, as well as safe and convenient movement for residents, employees and visitors using the district’s amenities.
Across the 30-hectare site, approximately 300,000 sqm of above-ground gross floor area is planned, with residential uses accounting for the largest share. Nowy Wełnowiec will also include complementary functions such as dining, retail, entertainment, services, as well as educational and cultural concepts. 10 hectares will be allocated to green and recreational areas, including a 4-hectare centrally located park, squares, plazas, flower meadows, lawns, wooded zones and water features. Motorized users will have access to underground parking and electric vehicle charging stations, while the new district will also be friendly to cyclists.
The Katowice development marks another collaboration between Capital Park Group and JEMS Architects. Previously, the two firms jointly delivered projects including the mixed-use Royal Wilanów, the heart of a district in the southern part of Warsaw.
Next Phase of Works Begins
The commencement of formal and administrative works required the adoption of a local zoning plan (MPZP) for the investment area, which was approved by the Katowice City Council at the end of September this year. Based on this plan, Capital Park Group is proceeding with the preparation of construction documentation for the first phase of the project—the central area, covering 7 hectares. This phase will include residential buildings with services, dining, retail and entertainment units, public squares, and a section of the central park. Construction works are planned to begin in early 2026.
Social consultations are also planned to identify the needs of the local community. Already in the first months of 2025, renovation works will commence on the historic compressor house, which is scheduled to be opened to the public in early 2026.
“We won’t have to wait long for the first tangible results of our work. We have already obtained the permit to redevelop the former compressor house and will soon begin the revitalization of the only historic building preserved on this site. Located directly on Korfanty Avenue, it will become the landmark of Nowy Wełnowiec. We believe it will serve not only as a presentation and information center for the emerging project, but also as a place for educational meetings for the residents of Katowice and beyond,” – says Sylwia Filewicz, Director of Investment Delivery, Project Lead for Nowy Wełnowiec at Capital Park Group.
The 1905 compressor house, formerly part of the zinc smelter’s infrastructure, will regain its industrial character through revitalization. Brick façades will be cleaned, original window openings and architectural details restored. After modernization, the building will become a symbol of Nowy Wełnowiec, housing a scale model of the development, an information point and a meeting space for residents. In this way, it will serve as a symbolic place where the history of Wełnowiec meets its modern future.
In parallel, and in accordance with applicable procedures, the developer will initiate the process of obtaining the necessary environmental decisions. Based on these, works will be carried out to manage the soil masses present on the site in the form of embankments. This scope of work will be handled by Investeko, a Silesia-based company specializing in land reclamation projects, with a strong track record of successfully completed developments.
Ecology and Innovation
Nowy Wełnowiec is designed as a response to social needs and the challenges of climate change. The solutions implemented will utilize technologies that reduce the environmental impact of buildings while ensuring a high quality of life for residents. Planned features include Poland’s first centralized system for waste management and rainwater retention, renewable sources of energy and heat, green roofs and terraces reducing the urban heat island effect, and green areas designed in accordance with biodiversity principles and adapted to local climate conditions.
“The Nowy Wełnowiec project envisions transforming a currently inaccessible part of the city into a modern, multifunctional and multi-generational space, where life revolves around greenery and community. It will be a place where we invite nature to co-create the environment, and where the space between buildings becomes more important than the buildings themselves,” – emphasizes Tomasz Napieralski, architect and partner at JEMS Architects.
“Nowy Wełnowiec is not only a new place to live, but a space for shared community life. We combine tradition with modernity, greenery with architecture, creating a city that invites people to come together,” he concludes.