Living with Karol Wojtyła's memory

Australian Opal Property Developments, which is working on a project to turn the 19th-century Scheibler textile factory in Łódź into a fashionable new residential development, has decided to create a museum dedicated to the memory of John Paul II as the next part of its investment.

The developer has announced an architectural contest for the museum's design. The deadline for submitting proposed projects is October 30.

The project, in Łódź's Księżny Młyn district, is on a 50,000-sqm plot and will comprise 410 loft apartments of between 40 and 200 sqm. Residents will be given a choice of one-, two- or three-level units.

Old production halls and warehouses form the basis of the new apartments, which will feature exposed brick walls - part of the original industrial installations.

The project has received a great deal of interest, and 208 apartments were sold within three days of when they were made available. Another 200 lofts were sold in August.

Loft apartments are very popular among artists. "For the creative person who needs space, a loft is more like a workshop then an apartment," said Borys Szyc, an actor who will be living in the new development. "It is mostly about the space, the air and huge windows."

Gary Wolff, the main designer and chief architect of the Łódź development, who has previously worked in Australia, New Zealand and Asia, said that similar projects are being conducted around the world. "We won't demolish the factory and build new apartments," said Wolff. "We just want to adapt its fantastic construction to residential purposes, and in addition transform its lower levels into banks, restaurants and cafeterias."

The Scheibler factory development will be completed in 2008.