In the last decade residential development in Krakow has been particularly intensive. In consequence of many parts of the city being left without any local zoning plan, land designated for property development is developed to the maximum while the overreaching vision for the area is missing. This often has an adverse effect on the quality of public spaces, the characteristics of which is merely resultant from the development process developed with little public green space. This article presents an analysis of the functional and spatial transformation of the “Ludwinów-Mateczny” area in Krakow, which has been developed so far in spite of the lack of a local zoning plan, attractive not only in terms of its location, but also because of its proximity to valuable natural areas. It presents the results of a study of the local housing development process over the period starting approximately in 2010 and ending in 2022. The research was based on analyses of available planning and statistical documents, the author’s quantitative analysis of changes in the land designation (purpose) and use structure, as well as on the field research.

The housing crisis is one of the biggest challenges in Poland. Potential remedies are investments in which public and private funds are allocated respectively for land, a construction, a building infrastructure, and the infill, i.e. the building envelope and equipment. The method of dividing investments according to the above scheme is called Open Building (OB). It assumes the flexible shaping of the usable area of buildings constructed in cooperation between public and private investors, including future residents. The research aims to analyse the Open Building as a potential element of Polish housing policy. The adopted research method consists of the analysis of the housing situation in Poland, analysis of the OB and realized investments complying with its assumptions, as well as indicating a possible implementation strategy of OB as an element of counteracting housing exclusion

Climate change, increasing density of population – especially in urban areas - and pollution of the environment contribute to the need to develop and implement a sustainable design. A broader knowledge is needed to achieve good decision making during the design process. Modern certification systems, programs that support architects in creating neighborhood developments and urban plans (NSATs). The research includes three systems – LEED-ND, EcoDistricts, and One Planet Living. It is based on the method of critical analysis, literature, internet sources and design materials from the chosen examples, which achieved the approval of a system. The research aims to compare the chosen systems, showing differences between them and establishing the influence of these differences on the design of neighborhood developments and urban plans.

Today’s housing conditions in Poland are relatively improving, as proven by numerous quantitative statistical data. However, it often happens that new developments deviate from the quality standards of 21st century housing environments. The aim of the publication is to present the author’s analysis of the housing situation in Poland. The authors will discuss the problematic in two research issues: a critical way analyzing the mechanisms of the realization of today’s housing development (realized after 2000), and a positive way on the example of three case studies of high quality housing environments realized in Poland. In the first part of the research, non-reactive desk-research methods were used, while in the second part of the research, the authors applied a site inspection of the discussed residential environments, i.e.: a) Riverview in Gdańsk, b) Fort Śliwickiego in Warsaw, and c) Kurkowa 14 in Wrocław. The conclusion of the research presented recommendations to improve the quality of residential environments in Poland.

This paper focuses on diagnosing the socio-spatial problems of Malta as a multi-cultural country. The study was based on defining the needs of the country’s citizens and an analysis of the socio-spatial development of Valletta – as a city representative of Malta. The conclusions of this investigation served as a starting point for an attempt to formulate guidelines for shaping a new spatial order for the city. The study was performed as a part of cooperation between the Cracow University of Technology with the Consulate of the Republic of Malta in Cracow. Design proposals of contemporary architectural and urban complexes in Malta’s capital that included said guidelines were drafted. These proposals were presented in Master’s thesis projects prepared by second-cycle students of the Architecture course taught at the Faculty of Architecture of the Cracow University of Technology.