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Visiting Wesoła with the Apteka Designu was an absolute highlight of the #EASST2026 conference in Kraków - incredible and inspiring to learn about their process for reimagining this hospital district with local citizens.
The invitation read as follows:
"The revitalisation process of the Wesoła District in Kraków aims to preserve its historical and architectural heritage while adapting the area to the evolving needs of the city. Originally a settlement at the gates of Kraków, Wesoła gradually became part of the expanding city. Today, it is located in the very heart of Kraków, adjacent to the Old Town and Kazimierz. In the minds of Cracovians, Wesoła has long been perceived as a hospital district—unsurprisingly so, as the first medical institution, the Hospital of St. Lazarus, was established there in the 18th century. Over the years, numerous medical facilities operated in the area, the largest being the University Hospital. In the autumn of 2019, the city of Kraków purchased a plot of over nine hectares, including 14 buildings that had been used by the University Hospital's clinics and other medical facilities, as the hospital was relocating. Since then, the city has been transforming Wesoła into a dynamic new urban space.
Wesoła is a process, not only a series of projects. It is a strategic infrastructural and social revitalisation effort aimed at integrating multiple stakeholders—including residents, employees of cultural institutions, municipal offices, hospitals, schools, universities, and NGOs—to foster a sense of community and shared responsibility for the district’s development. The goal is to implement solutions that are coherent, thoughtful, and necessary. This process is managed by Krakow Festival Office (KBF), a municipal cultural institution that supports creative industries, cultural tourism, the meetings industry, and the leisure sector. We invite participants to explore Wesoła during a study visit, during which you will be able to explore the site, meet its residents and see if and how you can explore its resilient future."