bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Function of time in narration of contemporary cities
Authors: Szpakowska-Loranc Ernestyna
Published: July 2022

Contemporary perception of time differs significantly from historical one. The contemporary time is speeding, divergent, meticulously quantified with abstract units, disconnected from perception of space. Differences between day and night, physical and digital, far and near are constantly, gradually vanishing.
With this new time perception, contemporary urban space has evolved. Cities extend, their centres melt; deallocation, speed and light images explode interior-exterior oppositions. The space aspires to the speed of light. Shizophrenic, kinetic reality, where signifiant leaves signifié is characterized by discrepancies: economic barriers, fences, and incessant opening into virtual reality.
Time is a factor joining events in narration and in architecture. Chronology of events is shattered in contemporary literature, introducing strategies of retrospection, anticipation and anachrony. The situation in contemporary architecture is similar. These strategies appear also in contemporary cities: retrospection in historic monuments, anticipation in avant-garde, “science-fiction” buildings and anachrony in non-places on the verge of physical and virtual reality. Lines of events in a plot of a city’s narration has changed. Certain duality of a contemporary city space appears: perception of sheer time in ruins, monuments, and a temporal flow of events-spaces.
Along with the speeding urban organism, an idea of slow city spaces has appeared. The idea of a city “tasted” with senses, replacing the terms of acceleration, progress and change with: slowness, reflection, variety, essence; effects of reflective attitude towards reality, traces of resistance against the inevitable loss of beauty in contemporaneity. A phenomenological approach as a response for the speeding city reality.
Thisarticle analyses affiliations between the contemporary perception of time, narrative strategies and city space.
Tamed city: the perception of urban space by visually impaired people
Authors: Tota Paulina
Published: July 2022

Relations between man and his surroundings can always be referred to the general question of one’s being in the world. Therefore, the spatiotemporal reality creates a framework for any human activity. Space orientation is the basis for determining the place of a human being - not only in the physical environment, but also in the whole spectrum that is carried by its meaning.
The city has become a primary habitat for man and his nearest space – hence it seems to be essential to take into consideration the issue of urban spaces; perception.
Thanks to cognitive processes, a human being has the ability to create in his mind a subjective representation of the physical world outside of him. The physical world can be perceived by constructing our internal mental image based on the information received through our five senses. It is estimated that up to 90% of the external stimuli are received by man via eyesight. The other four senses provide us only with 10% of all sensations.
Visually impaired persons are so often presented as those users of space who do not understand it entirely. Usually we do not realise that blind people are the ones who are the most attentive audience to the city space: they pay attention to those of its elements that are almost imperceptible for people without disabilities.
The article discusses the issue of urban composition as one of the determinants of orientation in the urban space. The author aims to analyse the issues of perception and environmental cognition together with the question of cognitive maps created by blind space users.
The notion of order and the spatial logic of a new polis: three approaches to the problem of rationality in the contemporary philosophy of urbanism
Authors: Zuziak Zbigniew K
Published: July 2022

Inspired by the questions about the sense of the city and the condition of contemporary urbanism, the author discusses the notion of order in the context of strategic and structural factors affecting spatial logic of a “New Polis”. Focusing on structural forces and decision-making patterns underlying the configuration of urban projects, he identifies three ways of argumentation where the possible answers could be found. These lines of reasoning can also be regarded as philosophical approaches to the problem of rationality in contemporary theories of urbanism. Using urban strategy-structure relations as the typological criterion, he distinguishes between three types of rationality – or three types of order: 1) morphological, 2) strategic and 3) synergic. In the first instance, the logic of urbanistic decisions is interpreted in the morphological context of urban structure and its dynamics. In the second case, spatial logic of urban form reflects neoliberal strategies focused on large-scale urban developments. In the third approach, called here as synergic configuration, it is assumed that strategies which pay more attention to the construction of physical and functional links between urban development projects will induce synergy expected in the overall strategy of a New Polis. Such a configuration of networked projects – and respective synergy of urbanistic construction – reflects the idea of strategic planning with a strong urban project gaming component. Focusing on structural implications of this type of urban synergy, the author proposes also the SAS (strategies – actors – structures) model. He illustrates this idea with the examples taken from the city of Krakow.
The lost space: on the blurry boundaries of urbanity
Authors: Bigaj Przemysław
Published: July 2022

The boundaries of the modern city are defined by administrative divisions – boards informing about the lines created artificially on a map and not by physical “barriers” – walls, gates, frontages. At the same time, dynamic urbanization of suburbs takes a spontaneous and often chaotic nature which satisfies the immediate needs of today's generation. This is often done without any reflection on the future order and shape of urban spaces. These are the lost spaces where the essence of urbanity has been eliminated – i.e. a clear hierarchy of public interiors which the local community is organized around and which the accepted forms of private buildings have been subordinated to. Numerous, often radical voices and opinions meaning to improve the status quo appear among contemporary and renowned artists. The article attempts to provide a synthesis of a certain range of issues related to the blurring of urban boundaries’ readability and the need to return to the distinctive definition of today's urban structures and spaces.
Separation or integration: on evolution of the spatial model of the multinational city
Authors: Jasiński Artur
Published: July 2022

The traditional model of the multinational city, which was based on the harmonious coexistence of separated ethnic residential districts and common multinational public areas, where the exchange of services and goods took place, gives way to the contemporary model, based on the principles of dispersion and segmentation. In the postmodern city virtual space has increasingly becoming a platform of exchange: numerous economic, social and cultural functions are performed through the ubiquitous electronic communications.
Public space, symbolic for the European concept of the city, is losing many of its previous functions in favour of the Internet. The dispersion of immigrants in the structure of the multinational city is conducive to the emergence of an attractive, kaleidoscopic and multicultural urban organism, their separation in ethnic ghettos results in intensification of pathologies.
Nodal points in the structure of Kraków’s inner city
Authors: Ogrodnik Daniel
Published: July 2022

In line with the leading topic of the conference Back to the Sense of the City, the author discusses problems related to the process of emergence of key fragments of the contemporary city. These are activity and development concentrations of various kind called nodal points. Their form and content reflect both the condition of a city as a social organism and the influence of the mechanisms (of the market and regulatory nature) responsible for its spatial growth. The article presents the general theoretical and methodological grounds on which the study of this problem area has been based as well as the analysis of the situation in certain selected areas in central Kraków, such as Krakowskie Centrum Komunikacyjne /Kraków Transportation Centre/, Zablocie, the area of the Market Hall in Grzegórzki and the Mogilskie Roundabout. In conclusion, the author defines the main spatial problems in shaping nodal points in Kraków’s central districts and presents them against the backdrop of how similar areas have been dealt with in other European cities.
Residential areas in the structure of the city: case studies from west europe and Krakow
Authors: Schneider-Skalska Grażyna , Tor Paweł
Published: July 2022

Once they adopted the sedentary lifestyle, humans set to building settlements which were to protect groups of families and give them the sense of belonging to a material and social community. The settlement unit which could be called a housing complex goes back thousands of years BC. The scale of problems related to housing environment grew considerably with the emergence and development of cities, yet truly distinctive quantitative and qualitative changes occurred in the early 20th century.
Implementation of the programmatic assumptions of the Athens Charter resulted in the emergence of spatial and functional structures based on hierarchic dependence of components. The initial projects reflected the pursuit of a human-scale environment and the structural division into neighbourhood units. Undoubtedly, the second part of the 20th century brought about a change in the trends of development in cities. Large housing estates were abandoned in favour of a much greater diversity of housing complex forms – the revived form of city street, urban block or the classic form of a residential complex with clearly delineated structure, services and – most frequently –some recreational areas. The 21st century draws from well-known patterns, complementing them with new elements and solutions imposed by the requirements of the principles of sustainable development. Due to the limited availability of land in highly urbanized central city parts, contemporary housing development occupies more peripheral areas, often at the border between urban and rural neighbourhoods. The development process involves numerous participants, often with opposing interests – public authorities, whose concern should be sustainable growth of the whole city, and developer firms and investors, whose motivation is to maximize profit. This situation has led in most Polish cities to the emergence of disconnected fenced-away residential ghettos with no spatial order.
Meanwhile, housing development in Western Europe continues to be built as planned urban complexes drawing from the experience of the past and satisfying the needs of the contemporary city dwellers.
The article presents several urban complexes with dominant housing development (Orestad in Copenhagen, Monte Laa and Nordbahnhof-Area in Vienna, Ijburg in Amsterdam and Riem in Munich) built relatively recently.It discusses their functional, spatial and social characteristics, which make them examples of good practice in contemporary urban planning. They demonstrate clearly that only comprehensive planning in a broader scale guarantees creation of high-quality urban spaces, where the welfare of resident communities is a priority.
Revitalisation of large-panel housing estates as a chance for the creation of continuity and complementarity of public space in the contemporary city
Authors: Szczerek Eliza
Published: July 2022

Large-panel housing estates have become a permanent element in the landscape of numerous European towns and cities, especially in the eastern part of the continent. Initially, they evoked delight and gave hope for a better housing environment. Then their picture changed radically, when it turned out that in numerous cases they were becoming a place of spatial and social pathology. The search of solutions to the problem, and – depending on capacities – undertaking remedial measures – this is the next stage in their existence. Nevertheless, it pertains most of all to wealthier European states, with Germany being in the lead in this respect.
In Poland, such housing estates are still referred to as crisis areas, but so far no systematic approach to the improvement of their situation has been adopted. This could be changed by works undertaken predominanly in the second decade of the 21st century at the governmental level, devoted to an efficiently functioning system allowing for systematic revitalisation activities. In the context of housing estates, they can constitute a chance not only for the crisis elimination, but also for the creation of a high-quality housing environment, corresponding to new and constantly changing needs of the 21st-century society and complementary towards other housing structures of the city.
The goal of this paper is to present a synthesis of issues connected with the revitalisation of large-panel housing estates depending on their characteristics and conditions, which constitutes a case study upon the example of two housing estates located in Cracow. These problems are also demonstrated in the context of methods of improving of the quality and building of the continuity of urban public spaces using the potential offered by the space of open housing estates.
Cities of Los Angeles
Authors: Twardowski Mariusz
Published: July 2022

The world capital of the movie industry does not keep up with the world capital of business when it comes to the application of urban planning solutions. Los Angeles and New York are poles apart, to say the least, as far as their cityscapes are concerned. New York is the essence of a high-density city, whereas the metropolitan area of Los Angeles is a group of several cities scattered over a vast territory, each with its own small centre. The climate is different, the lifestyles are different and so are the paradigms of the two urban schools. If there are any similarities, they may be found in the environmental approach gaining popularity in both cities, as people have realised they do not really want to spend more than one-third of the day in their cars commuting. The article discusses the phenomenon of the L.A. metropolitan area – a polycentric city covering the area of 12,500 square kilometres, and the Los Angeles County – a nearly mythical city composed of small mythical units.
Return to a coherent city: on the example of Lublin
Authors: Wrana Jan , Fitta-Spelina Agnieszka
Published: July 2022

This article discusses a very important and current problem of the loss of integrity in Lublin. It also contains suggestions for the improvement of present situation and preventing the problem in the future. The paper is a continuation of research conducted by J. Wrana as part of habilitation thesis entitled “The role and importance of architecture in the process of integrating the spatial structure of the city – on the example of Lublin”.
One of the methods of integrating urban spatial structure is conscious creation of architectural forms, and their increasing significance in the formation of “synergy” relations. The binder of “re-integration” city could be the “integration architecture” - buildings of high quality, socially attractive features, located in the important nodal points, which improve the consistency of the environment. Supplementing the city with such facilities greatly increases its aesthetics, also associated with consistency. Their functions are not only the classic ones (services, education, etc.) as in various ways, they also influence city landscapes. They complete street frontages, integrate campuses and housing estates, create composition axes, integrate surroundings, and enrich the services.
The authors focus on the example of Lublin – a centuries-old city with rich and fascinating history, nowadays dealing with its post-industrial heritage and facing spatial problems. The city is regaining its lost integrity through architecture: it has become a place where a number of noteworthy integrating projects have been realised. The examples of integration architecture in Lublin are, among others: Centre for the Meeting of Cultures “Theatre in Construction” and Eastern Innovation Centre of Architecture (Lublin University of Technology).
The role of values in the development of a city
Authors: Zieliński Miłosz
Published: July 2022

The paper provides two examples which illustrate how different values can materialise themselves throughout the cityscape. These images allow us to formulate a conclusion - a postulate regarding the need to revise our hierarchy of values. It is the opinion of the author that returning to traditional values can provide the physical space of cities with a chance to develop while taking into account the wealth of cultural heritage. The opposite can result in the worrying tendency to construct public spaces in a manner that is dominated by economic principles.
Expansion of functions of urban areas to rural areas: the case of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska
Authors: Korzeniowska Agata
Published: July 2022

The town of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, located ca. 40 km from Cracow is a constantly developing center of the furniture industry established in the 19th century. It is a formal capital of the Kalwaria Zebrzydowska municipality, whose administrative borders include 11 villages. However, practically speaking, the area along the main east-west road (national route no. 52), from the access road in Brody, may be considered as one big urban area. It is an example of an area in which borders between towns and adjacent villages are indicated only by name plaques, often indistinguishable from advertising boards. Buildings typical for, and originating from, urban areas, expand beyond the town’s borders in a free and uncontrolled manner. The town grows chaotically, its structure changes, i.a. through creation of new functional areas, also expanding beyond formal borders, decreasing the significance of the town center and introducing changes to the communication structure. Moreover, urbanized rural areas change as well, becoming a suburb, or, as in the case of this town of 4.5 thousand inhabitants, a quasi-suburban area. The process seems inevitable, if not natural. How does Kalwaria Zebrzydowska function today? Where are the borders of its constantly changing structure? What will be the fate of such "expanding” towns?
Attractiveness of small and medium-sized towns as places of residence
Authors: Paprzyca Krystyna
Published: July 2022

There are many causes of the ‘drop in the attractiveness’ of small and medium-sized towns. Nevertheless, the key problems are the urban sprawl beyond the town limits, changes in the social and economic structure, and degradation of urban space. Irrational spatial management is reflected in empty, undeveloped areas in towns, and in the dispersion of development to the outskirts of towns. Other issues of towns, relating to the aesthetics, the quality of urban spaces are unclarified ownership-related legal issues, which translates into ‘empty’ uninhabited townhouses in good locations in towns. Each city, each small and medium-sized town, is a system consisting of two related and cooperating elements: the spatial environment, and the social environment. Relations between the spatial and social environment lead to processes which have their effect on the quality of life and residence of man. Discernible changes in the social structure of town inhabitants (such towns are usually inhabited by older people, the young tend to leave) are caused – among other things – by unemployment, low income, as well as people’s habits. Poor material condition of town residents, a lack of any external capital, largely reduce its ‘attractiveness’. There are stimulators that improve attractiveness, and these are e.g. planning, economic, and cultural stimulators.
Halle-Neustadt: the shrinking icon of modernism
Authors: Racoń-Leja Kinga
Published: July 2022

Halle-Neustadt, built as a new city for the workers of the chemical industry, was recently celebrating its 50 years of existence. The former pride of socialism is now facing dramatic shrinkage, with the population drop of 46%. The paper presents the history of the city – its growth and fall. It discusses the demolitions which took place in the city and the simultaneous 2002-2010 IBA Saxony-Anhalt revitalisation programme, including the post-evaluation facts. The Kompetenzzentrum Stadtumbau workshop conducted in 2014 by HTW Dresden, TU Delft, CUT Krakow, Gent University and UT Chalmers – a project carried out under the auspices of the City of Halle and the Land of Saxony-Anhalt offers a new perspective onto the problem. The final results and strategies developed within the framework of the project raise the question of relations between an urban form and the community. The problem manifests itself by uneven distribution of population between the modern Neustadt and the traditional Altstadt – the latter still featuring the authentic historic block structure. Serving for over millennium as the centre of Halle – Altstadt, saved from the ravages of wars, now renovated and vibrant with life, exemplifies the return of people to their identity - to the traditional sense of the city.
Urban brand in the era of mass communication
Authors: Bonenberg Agata
Published: July 2022

The purpose of this article is a scientific reflection on the contemporary transformations in managing an urban brand. It is an original interpretation of challenges faced by municipal authorities and urban planners in managing an urban image. Urban marketing ensures competitive advantage, attracts capital, inhabitants and investments. This article presents analysis of the methods of urban brand managing from the point of view of the requirements of mass communication. It also characterizes the evolution of marketing methods, purposes and effects in planning the directions of spatial development of cities. The contemporary forms of urban marketing have been elaborated. Basic discrepancies between traditional administrative and bureaucratic approach and pro-social orientation have been indicated and special attention was paid to brand's perception from the perspective of an ordinary user of public space. Differences between various marketing strategies have been analysed. In the conclusion it has been stated that the network society has significantly changed the "traditional" approach to urban marketing, in particular to urban brand management in the era of mass communication. It determines the relevance of the deliberations which, in the author's opinion, may show both the inspiring and application values.
My smartphone is my sense: augmented experience of the city
Authors: Celewicz Piotr
Published: July 2022

According to Marshall McLuhan's theory of media, in which he claims that the media have become prostheses of human senses, nowadays we are witnessing the growing domination of mobile devices over most human activities in daily life. Why are social media so important in our lives? There are growing groups of application developers who offer brand new solutions which on the one hand can help us in our daily lives, but on the other they have a potential to disturb them, too. Some of these solutions offer a very interesting option of creating the so-called augmented reality, which enables us to gain access to a lot more data existing and circulating in our surroundings. Even social media can be used in addition to real architecture for building a new spectrum of impressions related to a place or city. It is the time for competition in which creativity can show us a new scenario for the future. The article is a subjective set of selected cases demonstrating the use of technology in devices, such as smartphones or tablets, and the potential of applications which use cellular networks to transmit data. They can be used for redefinition of the concept of experiencing the city and urban structures. This viral experience can shape new relationships and dependencies between people, media content, social network and urban spaces. How far will we go in the future? Which of these new phenomena will prove to be unimportant and will disappear as unnecessary? Gradually, as time goes by, we will find out.
The city as a collective living structure is the place of producing experience and consuming art which is based on the urban scale as the background for acting pedestrians; it may be seen as a kind of a digital game. The presented content may lead to the conclusion that, as humans, we are dependent or at least very attached to new technologies that allow us to define our identities and the position in the progress of civilisation.
International Expo in Lodz: an opportunity or threat for the development of the city: impact of a cultural event on the spatial structure
Authors: Cysek-Pawlak Monika Maria
Published: July 2022

The presented study discusses the currently announced candidature of Lodz for the organization of the International Expo 2022 in the context of its impact on territory development and urban structure. The main goal of this work is to evaluate the role and importance of cultural events such as the International Expo in the process of shrinking cities regeneration. The methodology of research is based on the analysis of local and national initiatives taken in terms of Expo organization as well as urban policy. The study shows that the concept of Expo is in agreement with and completes current local projects including the New Center of Lodz, main railway station and the revitalization program. Moreover, this initiative is in line with new urban politics at a national level (Urban Renewal Act, National Urban Policy, National Strategy of Urban Renewal). Urban renewal, the central theme of the Expo 2022 in Lodz, opens new possibilities and may became a catalyst for the redevelopment of the degraded urban tissue. The Expo should not be treated as a single cultural event but it should rather be a long-term initiative constantly stimulating the city. The candidature of Lodz, in contrast to previous Expos located in the suburbs of cities, relies on the development of urban tissue located in the center of the city. The initiative of Expo 2022 will certainly promote the development of Lodz. With its main theme and localization, the Expo 2022 supports the model of compact city.
Challenges of the NYC urban governance
Authors: Jopek Dorota
Published: July 2022

New York is the city that once was called by Rem Koolhaas- the urban laboratory with a distinctive ability of implementing innovative solutions to meet its development challenges. That was years before the explosion of the Asian megacities, when New York had to face the problems of the rapid growth of its population together with the uncontrolled urbanization. Continuing of having an ambition to be the world's most dynamic urban economy New York is also set to be the city of choice where families, businesses, and neighborhoods thrive. From the New York City's priorities of being the world's capital of capitalism and the global city – nowadays there are visible changes in planning for the city growth. The main focus of the urban policies is ensuring quality of life for generations of New Yorkers to come and one of the goals of the New York City`s strategic plan for the future is to be a strong and just city. At the same time, its diverse neighborhoods with their own distinctive character, history, and culture are listed among the city’s greatest assets. Is it an innovative solution for city's strategic plan? – probably not and the more adequate term would be return to the origins of democracy – but in terms of New York's development history - it is a slightly different case.
Real investment in the virtual spatial planning process: quality of urban space in contemporary legal regulations in Poland
Authors: Korbel Wojciech
Published: July 2022

City spatial planning is a complicated process with several targets such as the quality of space and proper urban development. Important aspect of this process is the scope of planning tasks required to be done. Another one is the transposition of prepared, virtual plans into the process of real building investments’ creation. The article approaches the problem of chosen existing and newly proposed, legal instruments of spatial planning in Poland, formulating the general thesis, that current polish legislation does not focus on its actual outcome - the quality of investments and its surroundings. Seeking potentially most convenient, legislative solutions, two alternative ways of possible changes have been analyzed.
The first way, “the descriptive way”, is a way to provide in local spatial development plans, much more detail inscriptions (than it is now) concerning obligatory features of potential investments. The first way also leads to a greater level of different restrictions inscribed in city’s planning documents and gives less opportunities for architects.
The second way, “the evaluating way”, is a way which assumes much smaller degree of planning restrictions in local plans and greater opportunities for architects, but it also allows proper public authorities (other than conservator’s office) to evaluate and possibly reject particular design, not only on the objective, legal grounds but also on the subjective grounds of spatial harmony and visual appearance of the project.
The analysis of these two seek the most proper solutions for possible changes in Polish legislation system, considering them either as the alternative ways or as the combination of both at the same time. The research also leads to the underestimated role of urban - architectural competitions. The implementation of this instrument into Polish planning system, (as a legal instrument) can potentially have the highest impact on the quality of designed space and be widely approved by the society.
Potential of city networks in shaping the world’s ecumene
Authors: Kwiatkowski Krzysztof
Published: July 2022

The contemporary global space is characterised by huge disproportions of social inequalities, drastic division between a core and peripheries, unequal access to education and general mobility, and many more. These phenomena lead to a feeling of dependence and marginalisation of specific social classes as well as ethnic, national and religious minorities. In the extreme situations that might evoke a feeling of humiliation. The scale of tensions results in unpredictable acts of aggression.
The need for taking actions in order to reduce these disproportions has emerged. It is necessary to aim at achieving the balance on a world scale. This means creating the world ecumene defined by Ulf Hannerz as a ‘region of persistent culture interaction and exchange.’ To a certain extent, the state of balance is an ideal state. Reaching it fully is very challenging, or perhaps even impossible. Nevertheless, we should aim at achieving the balanced state by implementing the further steps of its pursuit.
Activities related to a city network might become the mechanism which enables to create the ecumene. The efficiency of public engagement is based on: (1) an anti-ideology syndrome – focusing on basic problems of living, which are universal to all of us; (2) an overlap of two basic self-organisational activities: protest politics and social participation (based on deliberative democracy); (3) performance phenomenon – depends on generating the audience for the protest politics; (4) consistency and firmness of protests practices, which results in high efficiency.
In terms of architecture, aiming at the ecumene means shaping public spaces which are crucial to multiculturalism. The theory of thirdspace of Edward W. Soja (which is contradictory to the concept of Homi K. Bhabha) might be an inspiration for creating of the ecumene. The theory holds that public spaces are superpositions for two ‘worlds’ – real and symbolic. Spaces which are formed in this way enable to reveal in a performative way the potential of unexpected meetings of remote cultures.
Utopia and imagination
Authors: Biliński Grzegorz , Duzel-Bilińska Alicja
Published: July 2022

The most important aim of the "Back to the Sense of the City" International Conference is to draw attention to the city and the sense of its being, the fact that a city seen as a heterogeneous entity is not only a work of its direct creators: architects, engineers, civil servants and municipal services, but all who "fill" it, primarily its inhabitants. A particular role is attributed to artists. It is the artists’ duty not only to shape it but also creatively criticize and contemplate.
Artistic actions understood as the city’s activity and activity in relation to the city have certain qualities of utopian events, manifesting in the unattainability of a goal, idealistic activity base, transience of events and the type of references to it /to the city/. The paper focuses on such interpretative approach to these actions. The meaning of this notion is usually interpreted as a place that does not exist, "... from the Greek outopos (gr. ou - no, topos - a place, non-place, place that does not exist, non-existent) and the eutopia (good place) ".
Our statement, built on an idea of an internal dialogue, a dialogue between the main text and the footnotes and quotations, focuses on the changing of the ways of thinking about the city as a work of active art, on the role of an artist, architect, town-planner in this process and their activities seen as special intellectual contribution to the development of this kind of space. It is also a kind of provocation relating to the description of similarities of the artistic and architectural activities in the context of the space of a city.
City as a work of art
Authors: Tabisz Stanisław
Published: July 2022

Impressional and comparative reflection about the existence and the operation of selected cities in a context of their unique aesthetics and beauty, by a painter, draftsman and designer, the chancellor of the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow. A description of a direct experience of the city seen as an open work of art, specific in its structural complexity both in its material and spiritual atmosphere
Geometry and life of urban space
Authors: Salingaros Nikos A. , Pagliardini Pietro
Published: July 2022

This essay introduces rules for building new urban squares, and for fixing existing ones that are dead. The public square as a fundamental urban element behaves both as a node and as a connector of the urban fabric. Like the components of an organism, each urban element is itself highly complex, and this conception contradicts postwar design trends based on abstract simplistic ideas: those are imposed in order to control instead of stimulating social life. Urban structures, infrastructure, human beings, their activity nodes, and all their interconnections come together to form a “super-organism”, a complex and dynamic whole that is the city. This happens only when the geometry of the urban fabric is encouraged to develop in a living manner. The basic element of this “super-organism” is urban space that works with informational processes. In European culture, the square connects the local urban space with other squares, streets, and roads with a strong pedestrian use. A living city works through its connections to reach the properties of a “super-organism”.
Quantitative analysis of the social division of space and segregation in Mexican cities: case Culiacan Rosales, Sinaloa, Mexico
Authors: Acosta Rendón Jorge Javier , Marmolejo Duarte Carlos Ramiro
Published: July 2022

The analysis of the social division of space in urban contexts for understanding how fragmented this urbanized space and elements spatially reflect this division, this can certainly help clarify what are the main causes and potential effects of their dynamics has in relation with other social phenomena.
Although the phenomenon of the social division of space and segregation is inherent in the growth and development of all cities, in Latin America is evident from a morphological perspective because the forms of production of the houses are different, and because endowments spaces public of the best equipped areas of infrastructure and equipment are antagonistic depressed. This phenomenon and the problems it generates is so complex that for study and analysis should be addressed in an interdisciplinary way and framed in long-term processes.
For the development of this work we have been used factor analysis with the method of the principal components to reduce the size of a large amount of variables related to housing produced, socio-demographic aspects and levels of education of the population living in the Culiacan Rosales, Sinaloa, Mexico.
Housing types and choices in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alhubashi Haytham , Roca Cladera Josep
Published: July 2022

Recently, and because of oil revenues, Gulf countries achieved great developments and made huge steps to be an advanced countries. These revenues encouraged Gulf countries to develop their economy, infrastructures and policies. Among Gulf countries, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made a noticeable progress in recent decades in enhancing and developing the economy and urban form.
Presently, there were different types of housing such as Villas, Duplex villas, Penthouse and so on. These housing divided, according to various factors such as Family income, requirement and needs, also take into account of the customs and traditions in the Saudi community.
This study will discuss some of these changes like Housing sizes and use, actual needs, ability and the reasons behind these changes. Moreover, it is divided into two main parts, Theoretical review and analysis of data collection. The research techniques used are analysis of E-Questionnaire.
Finally, the study would help to understand some of the expectations and needs of the Saudi Residents in the biggest cities in Saudi Arabia, for example the majority of households prefer to live in an independent and separate housing like (Villa).
New urban processes in Encarnación City, Paraguay: the waterfront development and urban renewal
Authors: Brites Walter Fernando
Published: July 2022

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the recent transformations experienced by the city of Encarnación (Paraguay), as a result of its new urban development, influenced by the effects of the additional work done on the Yacyreta hydroelectric dam, built by Argentina and Paraguay on the Parana River. Based on an exploratory and descriptive research approach, I argue that there has been a change in the patterns of urban land occupation, not only because of the growth of the reservoir located in the Parana River (new waterfront) and the consequent relocation of the population affected, but also due to the emergence of urban renewal processes, regeneration, and high-quality public works. All these changes have resulted in a new urban configuration of the city and an architectural modernism that is generating new public spaces, sanitation, infrastructure, and new opportunity structures for urban life. Among them are the creation of extensive beaches on the riverfront and new business areas. However, on the other hand, the massive displacement of poor people toward other urban or peripheral areas has rapidly enabled a new fragmentation of the city.
Among other conclusions, we will argue that, despite having highlighted the benefits of the urban transformation that the city is undergoing, Encarnación is experiencing a differential change of its urban space characterized by accentuated and discontinuous interventions in different socio-spatial spheres and the creation of an increasingly more segregated city, causing a disconnect between the new, highly qualified central areas and the new urban peripheries
Social conflict in response to urban sprawl in rural areas: urban reconfiguration of the Mezquital valley as influence area of the megalopolis of Mexico City
Authors: Carrasco Brisa , Cadena Edel , Campos Juan , Hinojosa Raquel
Published: July 2022

The urban sprawl of metropolitan areas involves complex processes of coexistence between urban and rural dynamics, the functional redefining of central urban areas and rural areas or urban-rural surrounding transition generates land conflicts. In this paper the context of Mexico City megalopolis and its expansion process, will be discussed in the new specialization of the central city to tertiary services and increasing the value of land, it has resulted in the expulsion of the industry and social housing to the increasingly distant urban periphery. The urban development by strength of small towns that surround Mexico City, has generated various social conflicts that claim the right to a healthy environment and territory. The aim of the paper is to analyze the process of urban expansion of the megalopolis of Mexico City to the region of Mezquital Valley, with main emphasis on urban and industrial growth and the emergence of social conflicts in response to these territory changes. The research method is the quantification of urban growth detected by statistical data and monitoring social conflicts related to urban expansion in Mezquital Valley. By the work has been revised three emblematical and recent cases of this social movements: the Ciudades del Bicentenario project, movements against cements industries and the MSW management project SIGIR: Valle de México. The main conclusions were that urban expansion has generated social and environmental impacts, for populations that are exempt from the benefits of central urban areas. These new peripheries require a comprehensive urban planning, which are considered social needs and environmental rationality. Otherwise they become bonded areas that grow in marginal conditions and are affected by the progress that generate them benefits away from them generates new problems.
The route of company towns in Lower California: historic centers and industrial heritage
Authors: Gómez Cavazos Enrique Esteban
Published: July 2022

Company towns in the peninsula of Baja California can be considered a tool for urban development from the late nineteenth till early twentieth century. The Mexican Government used the industrialization in northern Mexico as a strategy of economic occupation, a great challenge to occupy a peninsula scarcely populated. Major territorial concessions to foreign companies allow them to settle large industries, to build up company towns and industrial cities. In the article I analyze the occupation and development policy of this part of Mexico showing 10 cases where companies mapped cities in this territory. I defend the hypothesis that these cities may have new development opportunities due to the rich industrial heritage they contain.
Does polycentricism influence residential values? an analysis for the Metropolitan Region of Barcelona
Authors: Marmolejo Duarte Carlos Ramiro
Published: July 2022

This paper explores the relationship between centrality and land values. While in literature centrality is simplified as the proximity to centres, which normally are identified using qualitative approaches, in this paper a novelty vision is proposed. It differs from state of the art approaches since centrality is derived from an integrated indicator coming from data regarding the time-space behavior of citizens. In order to test whether centrality correlates with urban values, a regression model is used departing from data of Metropolitan Barcelona, such a method allows for controlling architectural variables that influence residential housings, as well as other locational factors beyond centrality that may affect land values. The results suggest that urban form does influence the spatial distribution of urban values; nevertheless such an impact is not as high as other locative factors such as socioresidential segregation. So urban policies intended to democratize urban quality should be focused not only in urban structural factors but also those regarding social differentiation of space.
New region urban networks in the Colombian Caribbean
Authors: Niño Soto Alexander Steward , Badillo Jiménez Walberto Lucas
Published: July 2022

The Caribbean region in Colombia has large land areas and low connectivity between urban centers, the study proposed a methodology of analysis of 10 major cities to validate a regional project called “Diamante Caribe-Santanderes”. The methodology was structured from 4 hubs and 11 indicators of urban analysis that was applied to each of the urban centers. From the mapping results of an image analysis of the various aspects of urban reality was obtained. This study was able to identify trends and potential of the territory and is accomplished propose a new political and administrative structure that integrates large unconnected areas. It also qualifies intervention projects in different scales for each local center, inter between municipal centers, and finally large territorial unions to consolidate a regional identity. The most important of the study is to propose within the categories of analysis systematic search of polyvalent interactions develop joint responses to the needs of communities at the same time elements of conservation measures and restoration of ecosystem dynamics of the environment. Finally, the study shows that under current legislation it is possible to create this new territorial entity, with cultural identity and articulated planning parameters under new regional organization of urban centers.
Angelópolis territory of virtual model
Authors: Carranza Luna José Eduardo , Martínez López Víctor Manuel
Published: July 2022

The virtual city is no longer an internet affair where you can navigate between fantastic spaces and known sites invented by man.
Today the virtual city is a real physical site linked by the network, which is controlled by the big phone service providers offering the necessary connections and bank transfers, financial movements and even provide other services to administrate hotels, restaurants, hospitals, schools, universities and other franchise business
The contemporary urban development contemplates available spaces for the establishment of these virtual cities along companies, commerce, different bank entities, organizations, corporations and international institutions, offices among others in unbeatable places with all of the services provided, equipment, and transportation, which can be managed from the countries of origin of the owners companies which act as the business matrix.
In the same way that Rem Koolhaas explains the “Generic City”, the zone of development called Angelópolis is one of the most exclusive commercial zones in Puebla city, México, and it was developed in the same manner as in the rest of the world that is, as an urban appendix, that normally invades nearby settlements next to the big city and is situated inside the metropolis limits in order to establish the physical and demographic continuity in this new sector with the rest of the city. These new urban districts developments are very much alike as others in the world, so the present paper explains the important characteristics of the Angelópolis zone and the relation with the exterior and virtual connections that are being now generalized among the planet.