The paper discusses the planning strategy of Luxembourg’s authorities as an answer to socio-economic changes resulting from the crisis in domestic industry. The diversification of metropolitan functions – to areas characterized by poor development may contribute to a more balanced development of the country based on the finance and scientific sectors. The article presents the socio-economic context accompanying changes in spatial policy.

This article aims to describe in more detail the implementation of the Healthy Cities strategy in the context of the improved quality of the architectural space based on the example of Poznan, and to assess whether the assumptions of the programme of the Polish Association of Healthy Cities and the ideas of Healthy Cities are met and to evaluate the changes in space dedicated to health care. At present, there is a growing social demand for health care, in this a demand for high quality space, which allows us to observe that there are interdependencies between the quality of architectural functional and spatial solutions applied in hospitals and the patient’s recovery process.

The author discusses the city of Oświęcim in terms of the abovementioned aspects, trying to justify that the city of Oświęcim is following the path of development. There are many issues which cover urban renewal through offering an increase of quality: an improvement of the quality of the public space within a city; the regeneration and modernisation of buildings and technical infrastructure within its Old Town area; increasing the rest, recreation and tourism offering of the city in areas along the Soła River; uphold the identity and culture of the area; use the creative potential that supports economic growth, including the creation of new employment opportunities, creating conditions for new economic investment. Reinforcing the intellectual capital of the city; use the potential that is Oświęcim’s location at the crossing of transit routes of national and voivodship-level significance.

The development of society is associated with technological progress, but it is also the cause of civilizational diseases. It is necessary to set new challenges for the 21st century Aquaparks. Can Water Parks provide, in addition to entertainment, learning and repeating the functionality of ancient prototypes? As part of a case study (Wodny Park Tychy), it was found that combining the functions of education with entertainment refers to tradition. At the same time, using the gamification of architecture, it allows you to verify knowledge through play.

The most important is the fact that the binder of these spaces are interpersonal relations. Review of new housing models – cooperative activities of various groups of people who share their common dreams about a new quality of living spaces, building new relationships and establishing a part of a larger organism, regaining a democratic voice in shaping urban space and pro-ecological activities.

The article is an attempt to show the relationship between architectural ideas and concrete matter in the Polish architecture of the beginning of the 21st century. The first part shows examples in which the perfection of architecture is associated not only with the rational principles of 20th century architecture, but also with what we define as the search for aesthetics in the appropriate expression of forms. The second part shows examples in which the perfection of architecture is associated not only with the metaphor principles of 20th century architecture, but also with what we define as the search for aesthetics in appropriate geometry of forms.

The paper presents a usage of civil laser scanning systems in architecture. Nowadays high performance equipment in terms of data acquisition, accuracy and speed is primary dedicated for surveyors. A new method of automated, current inventories of architectural objects is presented by using their characteristic geometrical features.

The paper deals with the influence that architecture has on a person who is facing death. The aim of this article is to discuss the role of the architectural environment in the process of passing away, and analysing the impact that architecture has on the dying person and his loved ones. The subject will take into consideration the example of hospitals. The theses presented rely on the theory of architecture, proxemics, thanatology, and the personal experiences of authors in the field of designing the structures described.

Vitra is undeniably a pioneer in the field of product and interior design and for over 60 years has been known as a top brand in the furniture industry. Even though it creates objects mainly from the field of industrial design, it is also known for the amazing architecture of the company’s headquarters. How did the architecture become the firm’s showcase? Why did Vitra decide to pump a gigantic amount of money into the development of the factory buildings that could also have been a group of bunkhouses and nobody would have been shocked? The answer to these questions is one simple truth – Vitra bet on AUTHENTICITY.

Analysis of the space in the series of figures Carceri by Gianbattista Piranesi and the use of the model of this space in contemporary architecture.

The contemporary wine architecture built in the sacral landscape, their interaction and philosophy are the particular focus of this paper. The paper presents two recently completed winery complexes in Hungary, the Bazaltbor Winery (2010) and the St. Ilona Winery (2013). Both of them are built at the foot of the volcanic hills (Badacsony, Somló), which “witness” the reunion of man and nature through over two thousand years of wine culture. The research goal is to discover the architects’ and landscape architects’ intentions, how did they face the challenge? Did they subordinate the winery to the landscape, did they copy the shape of the natural landscape, did they hide the building under the earth or did they re-interpret the whole situation? Did they react to the sacrality of the place?

In shaping the urbanistic assumptions of socialist realism, the aspect of the sacred was often overlooked or marginalized for various reasons. This presentation is an attempt to tackle this problem on the example of urban planning – Nowa Huta. The topics discussed will be related to the origins of religious worship in Nowa Huta – the „city without God”, the choice of the siting of such objects as well as the aspect of the contemporary existence of these spaces, their preservation, and creation in today’s reality.

The paper stresses the importance of heritage preservation in urban renewal and the need to use the economic and social processes that occur in the area for the benefit of sustainable development, with the example of former international concession in Hankou in Chinese province of Hubei. The author proves that in order to maintain a healthy urban identity it is justifiable to create architecture in harmony with pre-existing architecture and urban tissue.

Northern Ursynów in Warsaw, built in the 1970s for 40 000 inhabitants, was planned as a small town rather than an estate. It combined the ideas of the neighbourhood unit and the city within the city. Eventually only housing blocks, some of the schools and a few shops were built. Through the next 10 years designers delivered several masterplans for Ursynów’s further development which introduced new types of buildings with respect to the primary structure, reflecting a structuralist approach.

The process of Polish cities’ spatial development which belongs to the municipality’s own tasks is mainly a derivative of the spatial policy provided by local authorities. The process has to be implemented exclusively on the basis of law and strictly within the existing limits. Therefore, the question needs to be asked how do municipal authorities, responsible for local development meet their obligations and what are their main expectations? To answer this question a research questionnaire was sent to local authorities concerning their “perception of the Polish law and its effectiveness on local spatial development as well as expected changes in current legislation”. Based on the results, the work focuses on the capacity of municipal authorities to fulfill their planning tasks and the elementary problems they face, while carrying out their duties. The thesis deals with inconsistencies of the legal changes expected by local authorities with the changes implemented in the past. It also attempts to identify most necessary changes in present Polish legislation.

The aim of the research was to determine the impact of local spatial development plan for area of the city of Świdnica – Osiedle Zawiszów entries on the condition and quality of the urban space. The results of the analyses allowed us to verify the spatial impact on the environment resulting from changes in spatial development and socio-economic development. As part of the research, a gradual assessment of the urban space was carried out based on the environmental quality indicators analysed using Leopold’s cause and effect matrix. Then, a forecast of possible impact on individual components of the environment resulting from the planned transformation of the area was made. The analyses were based on generally available spatial and statistical data sources supported by GIS tools.

This article is an overview of urban solutions applicable in the fight against the problem of smog and air pollution in the city. The author presents ways of shaping the urban space by introducing a number of urban, architectural, strategic and functional processes aimed at improving air quality. Their function is argued for pioneering works which were put into effect.

Polish railways almost from the very beginning struggled against many difficulties. Firstly, there was the need to unify the three partitioning powers’ railway networks and rebuild the pool of rolling stock. After the Second World War, the Polish railway network was once again heavily damaged by the war and succumbed to plunder conducted by the Red Army. Finally, during the political transformation of the 1990s, Poland has seen a wave of transportation closures that had no precedent in the history of Europe. Thus, rebuilding railways and restoring transportation should be a priority for the Polish state. This work describes the conditionings regarding closing down and restoration of railway lines over the years, forms hypotheses about mistakes which were made during the reorganization and are still made today, causing harm to Polish rail transport, towns and societies, and shows the potential solutions for Polish railways. However, as shown by the study of this report – the policies and actions taken do not provide a perspective towards such restoration in the near future, with detriment to Polish railways, towns and local communities, as well as the whole society.

The essay focuses on the condition of modern society. The author tries to assess the potential hidden in communities and define important aspects of areas of life that affect the perception of space. The author, conscious of the crisis in society and evolution towards a mature mass civilization, tries to deeply analyse a few aspects which were only outlined in The New Charter of Athens. He looks for a way to plan effectively involving a majority of inhabitants. The author tries to explain how to stimulate awareness of social responsibility by the use of communication channels. He refers to the methods tried and tested in European cities which have been used in a process of designing valuable public spaces.