Hanna Hrehorowicz-Gaber

The portrayal of the city in art has evolved over the centuries, reflecting social, artistic, and philosophical transformations. The aim of this article is to trace these changes by analyzing the depiction of city fragments in paintings from various eras. The research method employed consists of analyzing three main elements: iconography, semiotics, and spatial analysis. These approaches facilitate an understanding of how artists depicted the city, its hierarchy, dynamics, and the relationships between its individual components. The city is examined as a space with diverse symbolic meanings sacrum, profanum, utopia, and dystopia. It can be a spiritual space, as in the case of Jerusalem or Rome in religious art; an everyday reality with its streets, squares, and marketplaces; an ideal city expressing harmony and order, as seen in Renaissance urban planning; or a space characterized by chaos, destruction, and dehumanization, as depicted in works associated with industrialization and modernism. The article also analyzes the evolution of the city's silhouette: from the enclosed walls of medieval towns to the skyscraper-dominated skylines of 21st-century metropolises. Furthermore, selected paintings from different epochs are presented to demonstrate how the imagery of cities transformed in response to prevailing ideas and values. The conclusions indicate that the representation of cities in art serves as a mirror reflecting shifts in the understanding of both urban space and human experience.

The architecture of spas and recreational complexes is increasingly being analyzed not only through the prism of its formal diversity but also through its functional, technical, and esthetic responses to evolving societal expectations. This article descriptively examines the context of evolving user needs and select examples representing new architectural forms integrated into the landscape, responding to the growing demand for beauty (understood subjectively), experiences, and emotional value in 21st-century tourism and recreation. The most diverse and characteristic examples were selected and described in order to maintain a broad context of analysis and illustrate contemporary changes as faithfully as possible. The descriptive approach enables a systematic and comprehensive representation of phenomena, identifying recurring patterns, spatial trends, and contextual relationships. Rather than being limited to numerical data, it provides a structured analytical framework that supports the objective documentation of architectural and urban processes. The aim of this study is to systematize selected design trends that reflect contemporary cultural aspirations and environmental concerns, and to illustrate the evolving relationship between architecture, nature, and users. The results indicate a consistent shift toward landscape-integrated, experiential, and esthetically driven architectural solutions, demonstrating that contemporary tourism facilities increasingly prioritize atmosphere, immersion in nature, and sensory engagement over traditional utilitarian design. This study concludes that beauty, understood as subjective esthetic experience, has become a key determinant in shaping new architectural forms, reinforcing the role of architecture as both a cultural expression and a tool for enhancing well-being in tourism and leisure environments.

Artykuł porusza kwestię dostępności przestrzeni miejskiej z perspektywy starzejącego się społeczeństwa Krakowa. Opierając się na koncepcji projektowania uniwersalnego – zasadzie z ponad 30-letnią historią – projekt ma na celu zebranie kompleksowego pakietu informacji o przestrzeniach szpitalnych i ich otoczeniu, aby zapewnić ich lepsze dostosowanie do potrzeb wszystkich w przyszłości. Wiele barier jest już usuwanych poprzez adaptację projektów i przestrzeganie przepisów architektonicznych i budowlanych; jednak nadal istnieją nieoczywiste, „miękkie” bariery. Usunięcie tych miękkich barier poprawi bezpieczeństwo, komfort i łatwość poruszania się po przestrzeniach miejskich. Analiza koncentruje się na otoczeniu placówek służby zdrowia, w szczególności szpitali publicznych w Krakowie, z wyłączeniem szpitali specjalistycznych (np. pediatrycznych i psychiatrycznych), gdzie liczba wizyt seniorów jest porównywalna z liczbą wizyt ogółu populacji. Środowisko opieki zdrowotnej wymaga szczególnej uwagi, ponieważ częstotliwość wizyt seniorów – z których wielu doświadcza znacznych ograniczeń związanych z wiekiem – jest znacznie wyższa niż w przypadku innych mieszkańców. Zmiany demograficzne postawiły przed miastami w państwach wysoko rozwiniętych wiele wyzwań, a ich skutki ekonomiczne, kulturowe i społeczne są obecnie widoczne również w Polsce. W badaniu przeanalizowano dostępność publicznych usług zdrowotnych dla mieszkańców miast i pieszych, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem jakości przestrzeni między węzłami komunikacyjnymi a wejściami do szpitali, w tym ciągów pieszych i całego obszaru szpitalnego. Zidentyfikowane niedociągnięcia mogą posłużyć jako punkt odniesienia dla działań mających na celu wspieranie samodzielnej mobilności osób starszych i poprawę ich jakości życia w starzejącym się społeczeństwie.

Currently, an active debate is underway among the academic community, urban planners, and policymakers regarding optimal models of urban development, given that the majority of the population now resides in cities. One concept under discussion is the 15 min city, which posits that all urban residents should be able to reach key, frequently used services within a 15 min walk or cycle. Although the literature suggests numerous potential benefits, debate persists about whether such cities would be optimal from the standpoint of sustainable development objectives and residents’ quality of life. The ongoing discussion also concerns the extent to which existing cities are capable of aligning with this concept. This is directly linked to the actual spatial distribution of individual services within the city. The literature indicates a research gap arising from a shortage of robust case studies that would enable a credible assessment of the practical implementation of this idea across diverse cities, countries, and regions. This issue pertains to Poland as well as to other countries. A desirable future scenario would involve comprehensive mapping of all cities, with respect to both the spatial distribution of specific services and related domains such as the quality and coherence of linear infrastructure. This article presents an analysis of the spatial accessibility of basic urban services in the context of implementing the 15 min city concept, using the city of Koszalin (Poland) as a case study. This city was selected due to its representative character as a medium-sized urban centre, both in terms of population and area, as well as its subregional functions within Poland’s settlement structure. Koszalin also exhibits a typical spatial and functional layout characteristic of many Polish cities. In light of growing challenges related to urbanisation, climate change, and the need to promote sustainable mobility, this study focuses on evaluating access to services such as education, healthcare, retail, public transport, and green spaces. The use of Geographic Information System (GIS) tools enabled the identification of spatial variations in service accessibility across the city. The results indicate that only 11% of Koszalin’s area fully meets the assumptions of the 15 min city concept, providing pedestrians with convenient access to all key services. At the same time, 92% of the city’s area offers access to at least one essential service within a 15 min walk. Excluding forested areas not intended for development increases these values to 14% and 100%, respectively. This highlights the extent to which methodological choices in assessing pedestrian accessibility can shape analytical outcomes and the interpretations drawn from them. Moreover, given this article’s objective and the adopted analytical procedure, the assumed pedestrian walking speed is the key parameter. Accordingly, a sensitivity analysis was conducted, comparing the reference scenario (4 km/h) with alternative variants (3 and 5 km/h). This approach demonstrates the extent to which a change in a single parameter affects estimates of urban-area coverage by access to individual services reachable on foot within 15 min. The analysis reveals limited integration of urban functions at the local scale, highlighting areas in need of planning intervention. This article proposes directions for action to improve pedestrian accessibility within the city.

Intuitive reasoning is a fundamental aspect of both the creation and interpretation of art. It allows artists to express their deepest emotions and subconscious thoughts, leading to works that can evoke strong reactions in viewers. For those who interpret art, intuition enables a direct and holistic understanding that goes beyond analytical fragmentation, allowing for a more personal and profound engagement with the work of art. Academic research conducted on the works of Polish and Ukrainian students has shown that art in times of unrest reflects deeply hidden emotions. The works of students from Zaporizhzhia collected less than a week before the armed invasion of Ukraine in 2022 indicated national sentiments, fears, and premonitions that were absent from the works of Polish students. The armed conflict with Russia, which has been ongoing since 2014, has strengthened the sense of national identity and patriotism among Ukrainian youth. A comparison of the perspectives of Polish and Ukrainian youth shows differences resulting from direct experience of the conflict and the influence of media, education, and politics on their perception.

Cel pracy: Celem opracowania jest wielowymiarowa ocena i waloryzacja terenów nadrzecznych rzeki Wilgi w Krakowie z zastosowaniem metod interdyscyplinarnych, pozwalających na zintegrowane ujęcie aspektów przestrzennych, przyrodniczo-krajobrazowych i percepcyjnych. Celem uzupełniającym (szczegółowym) jest analiza percepcyjno-strukturalna przestrzeni miejskiej w otoczeniu rzeki pozwalająca na identyfikację determinant i ram krajobrazu, kształtujących tożsamość wizualna ujścia Wilgi do Wisły w Krakowie. Materiał i metody: Podczas kwerendy w archiwaliach i Internecie wykorzystano materiały źródłowe charakteryzujące abiotyczne, biotyczne środowisko doliny Wilgi w jej dolnym biegu. W ramach identyfikacji biologicznych, fizycznych i kulturowych komponentów krajobrazu określono bezpośrednią i pośrednia strefę oddziaływania na krajobrazowe położenie rzeki Wilgi. Na podstawie map topograficznych, ortofotomapy, obserwacji terenowych wyznaczono i oceniono kluczowe elementy krajobrazu. Wyniki i wnioski: Wielokierunkowa ocena przedmiotowego odcinka Wilgi możliwa była dzięki zastosowaniu trzech przedstawionych w artykule metod waloryzacji rzeki i obszaru nadrzecznego. Metoda obrazowa Kevina Lyncha pozwoliła zbadać funkcjonowanie przestrzeni nadrzecznej Wilgi w strukturze miejskiej oraz jej postrzeganego charakteru przez użytkowników. Metoda Oglęckiego i Pawłata i River Habitat Survey umożliwiły zidentyfikować elementy przyrodnicze i ocenić stan hydromorfologiczny rzeki na odcinku ujściowym. Obie metody doprowadziły do zbliżonych wniosków co do jakości ekologicznej analizowanego fragmentu rzeki i doliny. Metody socjologiczne i urbanistyczno-środowiskowe i hydromorfologiczne pozwalają objąć szerszy kontekst związany z odbiorem widokowym doliny Wilgi w jej dolnym biegu ale też walory przyrodnicze charakterystyczne dla terenów nadrzecznych.

The space in which young people learn undoubtedly has an impact on the quality and effectiveness of learning. Following this lead, the project team, supported by participatory activities, created the concept of a modular mobile classroom that responds to contemporary environmental and social challenges.

Educational institutions in Poland often struggle with various problems, such as the lack of an adequate number of rooms or the poor technical condition of buildings. This is due to many factors, such as the age of the buildings, demographic trends, migration, political, social, historical, and cultural conditions and, above all, financial conditions. In order to address these problems, the Krakow University of Technology undertook the implementation of the “Green Classroom” scientific project as part of the “Science for Society” programme of the Ministry of Education and Science. The Green Classroom is a mobile, free-standing educational facility consisting of a geometric arrangement of four basic modules. Integrating this type of facility into existing infrastructure, especially in urban areas, requires the availability of suitable land, taking into account hydro-meteorological and wastewater conditions. This study presents a method using geographic information system (GIS) tools to select school areas where it is possible to locate “Green Classrooms”, taking into account sustainable land retention. Based on typical rainfall for the city of Krakow, stormwater runoff was calculated taking into account the adopted “Green Classroom” module. An additional sealed surface (a “Green Classroom” system) increases the rainwater runoff by approximately 1 m³. In order to balance the rainwater runoff, it is recommended to install a rainwater collection tank with a capacity of 1 m³ next to the “Green Classroom” module. In order to relieve the storm sewer system, especially in highly sealed urban areas, it is recommended to use aboveground or underground stormwater tanks. The size of the tanks should depend on the impervious surfaces and their number on the site conditions. Nomograms for the city of Krakow have been developed to estimate the size of tanks.

This article aims to demonstrate the technical capabilities and effectiveness of an energy production and management system for school facilities using a modular solution. The system is assumed to generate electricity from renewable sources, such as wind or sun. The potential of renewable energy sources in Cracow, Poland, was assessed, with a focus on solar energy (photovoltaic panels, PV). Taking into account the installation of heating and other equipment, an analysis of the facility’s electricity demand was carried out. The study recommended the use of a heat pump system to heat and cool the facility. Renewable energy sources will meet 81% of the facility’s projected annual demand, according to the study. An analysis of the energy consumption and production profiles shows that almost 69% of the energy produced by the PV panels is consumed on site. Of the remaining energy, 31% is fed back into the grid and sold to the grid operator or used by other facilities within the shared settlement. The overall balance results in a small electricity deficit that must be covered by the grid. If suitable sites are available, the facilities under study could consider installing a wind turbine as a potential supplement to the energy deficit.