This article presents the issue of housing construction in the Polish countryside in a synthetically treated historical aspect (until 1939) and seven phases after 1945 distinguished by the author. The author’s observations and assertions are based on knowledge of the subject (and many years of research) in relation to construction in Lesser Poland. The seven parts (sections) cover the critical description of the phenomena connected with rural housing, in particular processes of dispersion (entropy) in the management of rural space and far-reaching aesthetic disorders, both landscape and conceptual functional (in terms of technical infrastructure and social costs). The article justifies the thesis of a significant and sometimes decisive (often negative) impact of land reform (Decree PCNL 1944), and two great political transformations (1944–1948, i.e. the introduction of real socialism, and return to a market economy and democratic system after 1989) on the construction. The considerations are accompanied by reflections of a general nature by researcher of rural planning and architecture and designer of many architectural objects.
The conference, whose main theme for fourteen years has been “Defining the architectural space”, will this year attract participants’ attention with a provocative extension – “games and play of architecture”. From a wide spectrum of thematic approaches related to “games and play” with architecture, the author chose the aspect of the possible threats which may arise if irresponsible or immoral and ideologically determined people dabble in architecture.
While designing new structures in urban conservation areas, one should: respect the context of a place, the character of a building resulting from the urban analysis and a variety of existing urban and historical themes and details. One example of these issues is the newly established facility in Krakow at 4 Smolensk Street. It is the next stage of the expansion of the Holy Padre Pio’s Work Foundation and it will be open for public use. The building is located in a conservation area of the city. Processes: the design and realization of the investment were subordinated to the aforementioned criteria, but in a manner congruent with contemporary design and technological solutions.
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