Marcin Petelenz

It is common knowledge that architecture and urban planning are largely shaped by political ideologies and doctrines. This paper is an attempt at answering a question how contemporary space recipients perceive architectural and urban composition of cities whose foundation was based on ideologies. The research focused on Nowa Huta in Cracow and Neustadt in Strasbourg, and the study group consisted of adult users of these spaces, staying there only temporarily.

The work of an architect is the shaping of space. An architect introduces, alters or removes its elements, which influences composition and thus the formal evaluation of an image. It is impossible to optimally compose all the views of a three-dimensional space, however, there are usually distinct observation points, views from which are treated as signature ones, becoming icons associated with certain locations throughout the world. Within such spectacular views, we can single out characteristic elements of an ideal composition2: focal points and accents, a harmonious background and colours, a balanced interplay of unifying and differentiating factors. This composition, which is theoretically possible to design, is, in the real world, also shaped by light. Daylight sharpens it or tones it, at times adding spectacular effects, for instance through backlight. Meanwhile, artificial light can alter a composition of space in a fundamental manner, either hiding or exposing its fragments, painting entirely new images with other dominants and backgrounds. Thanks to night-time illumination, areas which are ascribed little value during the day take on a new value, while those which are already acknowledged have their excellence underlined.

At present, there are contrasting tendencies in land development in rural areas. A pressure for investment as well as re-migration of people beyond the city can be observed in the city outskirts. In these areas, the agricultural function is disappearing and residential development is becoming dominant. Both spontaneous and planned development exhibit multiple negative features. There is a need for a new model or housing development in these areas that is different from urban and rural forms and constitutes their synthesis. It is necessary to break great monocultural areas of the suburbs into individualized, both in the functional and spatial aspects, units enabling extraterritorial leisure. The colour-material integration of particularly roofs and exposition of figure dominants may reduce the chaos and enrich the landscape.

The appeal of beautiful views is confirmed by the presence of tourists. A panorama often becomes an icon defining the identity of a city. In architectural practice, especially in Krakow, the protection of the silhouette yields to the investors’ particularist interests. The perception of a panorama depends on its esthetical values as well as the place of observation. Access to such places is also important for the attractiveness of a given locality. Examples of the beautiful panoramas of historical towns and their model protection can be found in Tuscany and the neighbouring regions. An analysis makes it possible to formulate their characteristic features:
– the lack of contemporary elements in the silhouette,
– the free arrangement of altitudinal dominants in the shape of towers which emphasizes land
configuration,
– the homogeneity of the materials, colours and “granulation” of a building structure,
– the subordinate outskirts and surroundings which do not compete against the main architectural
complex.
These principles ought to be restored in contemporary urban practice.