Małgorzata Doroz-Turek

Sacred buildings have constituted a distinctive element of urban space for centuries. Catholic churches have consistently exhibited a monumental character, regardless of the period in which they were constructed. The form of these buildings has been shaped by prevailing architectural styles, ecclesiastical guidelines, and the political context. This was also the case in Poland, especially during the most recent historical period—the post-war period, encompassing the second half of the 20th century and the early 21th century. During this time, the most significant changes in both the external form and functional organization of churches can be observed. This diversity resulted, among other factors, from the complex socio-economic and political conditions of the communist and post-communist periods, as well as from the revolutionary provisions of the Second Vatican Council. This study presents sacred architecture in two centrally located Polish cities of comparable size—Kielce and Częstochowa. An analysis was carried out of the number of churches and their forms in order to identify similarities and differences.

The purpose of the article is to show how a city can develop in symbiosis with its natural environment and protected area, which is in line with the idea of sustainable development. The study examines the role and importance of post-mining land reclamation in restoring the natural values of degraded areas. The authors present the theme of the symbiosis between architecture and unique nature—understood simultaneously as natural and cultural heritage—using the example of the Polish city of Kielce and its surroundings. This is an area rich in green spaces, including protected ones, within and around which urban space is developing and where both historical and contemporary architecture is situated. This study demonstrates that symbiosis, the protection of nature, and cultural heritage are key elements of contemporary design. The city and architecture can thrive in post-mining areas, and the reclamation process, as the research suggests, can catalyse the creation of architecture that is deeply embedded in the landscape, complementing it rather than competing with it. Social surveys conducted for this study indicate that residents of the region recognise and appreciate the need to protect natural resources and integrate architecture with nature, demonstrating the relevance and timeliness of the issues addressed.

Cultural heritage presently holds an enormous potential for the development of not only large cities, but above all, small towns and townlets. The value of cultural heritage is used as a development factor, which, owing to conservation activities, is to serve both the city and the society. Revitalisation and adaptation, along with protection and conservation of heritage objects, have recently become the most popular conservation activities throughout Europe and Poland. Revitalisation works are performed on a large scale with a view to improving the quality of life of the inhabitants of the revitalized area, raising both the city's standards and its aesthetic appearance, and consequently encouraging people to live in it as well as attracting tourists. In recent years, numerous revitalisation projects have been carried out in Poland. The analysis focuses on the issue of real possibilities of determining the scope and scale of such projects. In big urban centres, there is an enormous substantive potential and financial resources for conducting the indispensable analyses for revitalisation programs. However, small towns lack both the substantive support and the necessary resources to prepare appropriate analyses for revitalisation works. Therefore, in small towns, the most urgent and essential revitalisation works are carried out, related to infrastructure, such as bicycle paths, and public spaces, like the market square, a local museum, the greenery as well as sport and recreation areas. At the next stage, more complex revitalisation projects, such as works within a historical complex, including ruins, requiring more detailed analyses, reflections and design solutions, are developed and introduced. In order to solve these problems and develop specific projects, specialized teams and designers should be consulted. Unfortunately, the regulations of public procurement, where the lowest price is a priority, are not a helpful instrument for an appropriate determining of the concept and the scope of the future revitalisation solutions. An alternative solution is to develop revitalisation concepts as part of student projects, where the city councils can be presented with a variety of ideas that can be used in the future revitalisation project after the analysis. The subject matter of the article will be presented using the example of Polish towns whose local authorities are trying to restore their former splendour through revitalisation activities. For this purpose, the preserved cultural heritage is used, along with the ruins of old historical buildings.

The theme of the article is the rehabilitation of monuments dedicated to adapt to the new feature, different from the first use. In the case of adaptation of old buildings, monuments of architecture, it is “carried out mainly within the framework of a comprehensive conservation and restoration activities,” and rehabilitation is associated with a thorough renovation usually temporarily operated or abandoned and neglected buildings, a sufficient or very poor technical condition. The author shows the rehabilitation and adaptation, as conservation activities, which play an important role engineering activities aimed at improving the state of the historic building, but maintaining the main principles of conservation. An article about the rehabilitation of the building is devoted mainly Dovecote with tower, which consists on a former farm yard of the palace complex in the Brzeg Dolny, which the project the author took part. Tematem artykułu jest rehabilitacja zabytków przeznaczonych do adaptacji na nową funkcję, odmienną od pierwotnego użytkowania. W przypadku adaptacji starych budynków, zabytków architektury, jest ona „dokonywana przeważnie w ramach kompleksowych działań konserwatorsko-restauracyjnych”, a rehabilitacja związana jest z gruntownym remontem zazwyczaj tymczasowo użytkowanych, albo opuszczonych i zaniedbanych obiektów, w dostatecznym lub bardzo złym stanie technicznym. Autorka ukazuje rehabilitację i adaptację, jako działania konserwatorskie, w których ogromną rolę, oprócz projektowych, odgrywają działania inżynierskie mające na celu poprawę stanu obiektu zabytkowego, ale z zachowaniem głównych zasad konserwatorskich. Artykuł o rehabilitacji poświęcono głównie budynkowi Gołębnik z wieżą, składającemu się na dawny Folwark założenia pałacowego w Brzegu Dolnym, przy projekcie którego udział brała autorka.