Piaski Wielkie and Kurdwanów are former suburbs of Krakow. Over the past half century their space has been changed significantly. The first modifications took place in the 1970s and 1980s. The Piaski Nowe and Kurdwanów Nowy estates were built during this time. In the twenty-first century, the number of inhabitants of Krakow has been constantly increasing. As a result, the attention of real estate developers is once again focused on the regions.

At present, these areas are intensively built-up. In some regions, the speed of development of road and service infrastructure is slower than the construction of residential buildings. This tendency can be seen in Piaski Nowe. Last-century projects are the main basis for the functioning of this complex. It is important to determine the forms found in these housing estates, their functions and potential. The results of the research will contribute to effective spatial policy.

The article characterises architectural forms, spatial structures and basic functions of housing complexes built in the years 1999–2019 in Piaski Nowe and Kurdwanów Nowy. The research has showed that both estates have a predisposition to be attractive places to live. This fact is supported by existing public service facilities and developing private services. The location between the third and fourth Krakow ring road is also an important factor. An analysis of architectural forms has revealed changes in the way how the buildings are formed. There is a tendency to simplify building massings. The presented projects show that simplification is not synonymous with the end of potential for creating forms. It is just a path to new solutions.

Architectural form, function and potential of multi-family building complexes built in the twenty-first century in Krakow presented on the example of Kurdwanów Nowy and Piaski Nowe estates

Piaski Wielkie and Kurdwanów are former suburbs of Krakow. Over the past half century their space has been changed significantly. The first modifications took place in the 1970s and 1980s. The Piaski Nowe and Kurdwanów Nowy estates were built during this time. In the twenty-first century, the number of inhabitants of Krakow has been constantly increasing. As a result, the attention of real estate developers is once again focused on the regions.

At present, these areas are intensively built-up. In some regions, the speed of development of road and service infrastructure is slower than the construction of residential buildings. This tendency can be seen in Piaski Nowe. Last-century projects are the main basis for the functioning of this complex. It is important to determine the forms found in these housing estates, their functions and potential. The results of the research will contribute to effective spatial policy.

The article characterises architectural forms, spatial structures and basic functions of housing complexes built in the years 1999–2019 in Piaski Nowe and Kurdwanów Nowy. The research has showed that both estates have a predisposition to be attractive places to live. This fact is supported by existing public service facilities and developing private services. The location between the third and fourth Krakow ring road is also an important factor. An analysis of architectural forms has revealed changes in the way how the buildings are formed. There is a tendency to simplify building massings. The presented projects show that simplification is not synonymous with the end of potential for creating forms. It is just a path to new solutions.

Keywords: Kurdwanów, Piaski Wielkie, multi-family housing estates in Krakow

Streszczenie
Piaski Wielkie oraz Kurdwanów to dawne przedmieścia Krakowa, których przestrzeń uległa silnym zmianom w ostatnim półwieczu. Pierwsza fala przemian nastąpiła w latach 70. i 80. kiedy to wzniesiono osiedla Piaski Nowe i Kurdwanów Nowy. Dalszy wzrost liczby mieszkańców Krakowa w XXI wieku, przyczynił się do ponownego skierowania uwagi inwestorów na te obszary.

Obecnie tereny te są intensywnie zabudowywane. W niektórych rejonach tempo rozwoju infrastruktury drogowej i usługowej jest wolniejsze niż budowa obiektów mieszkaniowych. Tendencję tę widać w Piaskach Nowych, których funkcjonowanie opiera się głównie na ubiegłowiecznej infrastrukturze. Istotne stało się zbadanie form występujących w osiedlach, ich funkcji i potencjału, co pozwoli prowadzić skuteczną politykę przestrzenną w ich obrębie.

Artykuł charakteryzuje formy architektoniczne, układy oraz podstawowe funkcje zespołów mieszkaniowych powstałych w latach 1999–2019 w Piaskach Nowych i Kurdwanowie Nowym. Wykonane badania wykazały, że oba osiedla mają predyspozycję do bycia atrakcyjnymi miejscami zamieszkania. Przyczyniają się do tego istniejące zaplecze usług publicznych oraz rozwijające się usługi prywatne. Ważnym czynnikiem jest też położenie miedzy III i IV obwodnicą Krakowa. Analiza form architektonicznych uwidoczniła zmiany w sposobie kształtowania zabudowy – zauważalna jest tendencja do upraszczania brył. Przedstawione realizacje pokazują, że uproszczenie nie jest jednak równoznaczne z końcem możliwości w kreowaniu form. Jest jedynie drogą do nowych rozwiązań.