People-Environment People-Environment Studies in SlovakiaStudies in Slovakia

Selected aspects of urban structures and spacesSelected aspects of urban structures and spaces

A.A. Urland, P. KardoUrland, P. Kardošš

Slovak University of TechnologySlovak University of Technology in Bratislava in Bratislava

AimsAims• attempt to highlight some of the most important phases and issues attempt to highlight some of the most important phases and issues

from an architect’s and urban designer’s point of view.from an architect’s and urban designer’s point of view.

• give an overview of the understanding and approaches to urban give an overview of the understanding and approaches to urban environments in the changing social and economic situations.environments in the changing social and economic situations.

• through a short look back into history and further developments set through a short look back into history and further developments set the general context in which the topic is then elaborated the general context in which the topic is then elaborated concentrating on the period of the past 15 years, the current situation concentrating on the period of the past 15 years, the current situation and possible future trendsand possible future trends

Facts & themes in Facts & themes in overviewoverview

• WWII - Czechoslovak Federal RepublicWWII - Czechoslovak Federal Republic

• 19931993 - - Slovak Republic Slovak Republic – present day– present day

• 1930s – 1960s:1930s – 1960s:

- - urban development and history (Mikuskovic, A., Hruska, E.)urban development and history (Mikuskovic, A., Hruska, E.)

- - theory of towns (Hrtheory of towns (Hruuza, J.)za, J.)

- - sociology of the present-day town (Musil, J.)sociology of the present-day town (Musil, J.)

Major study and research centres in Bratislava: Slovak Major study and research centres in Bratislava: Slovak Academy Academy of Sciences, URBION, Slovak Technical University of Sciences, URBION, Slovak Technical University

• Late 1960s:Late 1960s:

- - housing estates, e.g. examination of the urban conditions for housing estates, e.g. examination of the urban conditions for facilities in housing estates (Olexa, M.)facilities in housing estates (Olexa, M.)

- - living environment of towns (Celechovsky, G.)living environment of towns (Celechovsky, G.)

• 1970s:1970s:

- - sociology of housing (Musil, J.)sociology of housing (Musil, J.)

- - perspectives of housing in a socialist societyperspectives of housing in a socialist society

- - flat as the basic element of urban complexes (Benuska, M.)flat as the basic element of urban complexes (Benuska, M.)

- - space-forming principles of the dwelling environment in urban space-forming principles of the dwelling environment in urban ensembles (Alexy, T., Kavan, J., Trnkus, F.)ensembles (Alexy, T., Kavan, J., Trnkus, F.)

- - experimental studies to highlight the social and ideological experimental studies to highlight the social and ideological aspects of dwelling ensembles (Zalcik, T., Francu, D.)aspects of dwelling ensembles (Zalcik, T., Francu, D.)

- - development of functions with regard to new principles development of functions with regard to new principles (Hlinicky, J., (Hlinicky, J., Kardos, P.)Kardos, P.)

- - models of dwelling ensembles / new principles of housing models of dwelling ensembles / new principles of housing (Hlinicky, J., Kardos, P., Petrovsky, P.) (Hlinicky, J., Kardos, P., Petrovsky, P.)

• 1980s:1980s:

-- remodeling processes of zones, consideration of spaces (Alexy, remodeling processes of zones, consideration of spaces (Alexy, T.)T.)

- - people of the housing estates (Musil, J.)people of the housing estates (Musil, J.)

- - design of living environments (Honzik, K.)design of living environments (Honzik, K.)

- - perception of urban space (Zibrin, P.)perception of urban space (Zibrin, P.)

-- development and rational usage of the potential of urban development and rational usage of the potential of urban structures structures (Steis, R.) (Steis, R.)

• Early 1990s:Early 1990s:

- - experimental and ecologically determined design (Keppl,experimental and ecologically determined design (Keppl, J.,Spacek,J.,Spacek, R.)R.)

-- urbanurban environmental quality, urban courtesy, urban democracy, environmental quality, urban courtesy, urban democracy, sustainable development of urban landscapes, decency as sustainable development of urban landscapes, decency as a parameter of sustainability, ecological quality of buildingsa parameter of sustainability, ecological quality of buildings

- - basic relationships in the dwelling environment (Antalikova, M.)basic relationships in the dwelling environment (Antalikova, M.)

- - cultural heritage in settlements and landscapes (Alexy, T.)cultural heritage in settlements and landscapes (Alexy, T.)

- - humanization and revitalization of dwelling environments and of humanization and revitalization of dwelling environments and of the the compromised inner-town public spaces (Hanzalik, M., Brath, J.)compromised inner-town public spaces (Hanzalik, M., Brath, J.)

Humanization and revitalizationHumanization and revitalization

- theoretical basis outlined (Svecova, Alexy, T., Trnkus, F.) as a theoretical basis outlined (Svecova, Alexy, T., Trnkus, F.) as a

secondary process of urban design, a social urban programme for secondary process of urban design, a social urban programme for solving problems of an “ill” urban structure. It was seen as an objective solving problems of an “ill” urban structure. It was seen as an objective urban process, a specific programme which enters the urban structure urban process, a specific programme which enters the urban structure with concrete aims. with concrete aims.

- - ways of achieving it: ways of achieving it:

*rational, concerning the content, smoothness*rational, concerning the content, smoothness of movement, etc.of movement, etc.

*aesthetic aspects, change of proportions,*aesthetic aspects, change of proportions, modeling of spaces, modeling of spaces, regulation, certain differentiation based on values, etc. regulation, certain differentiation based on values, etc.

- - negative phenomena and their confrontation with present-day conditions negative phenomena and their confrontation with present-day conditions and tendencies (Alexy, T.)and tendencies (Alexy, T.)

- - evaluation of the present situation of post-war dwelling ensembles with evaluation of the present situation of post-war dwelling ensembles with aim of their functional transformation (Kavan, J.)aim of their functional transformation (Kavan, J.)

- - aesthetic questions of forming urban environments (Trnkus, F.) aesthetic questions of forming urban environments (Trnkus, F.)

• mid 1990s:mid 1990s:

- - Inner heterogeneity of urban structuresInner heterogeneity of urban structures

- - compromised urban structures, scale of old and newcompromised urban structures, scale of old and new

- - urban design did not seem to understand human needs and urban design did not seem to understand human needs and desires and the enriching nature of picturesque desires and the enriching nature of picturesque

urban urban spaces spaces

- - missing points of identification, orientation in space, scale, missing points of identification, orientation in space, scale, legibility, order, etc. (Hanzalik, M.)legibility, order, etc. (Hanzalik, M.)

- - ‘urban renewal’ (Szolgayova, E.) – stress the influence of ‘urban renewal’ (Szolgayova, E.) – stress the influence of towns towns on social life, communication and contactson social life, communication and contacts

the psychological aspect of renewal touches the urban the psychological aspect of renewal touches the urban fabric but also the town as a place of social contacts, fabric but also the town as a place of social contacts,

lifestyle, influence of surroundingslifestyle, influence of surroundings

- - one of the most studied areas: housing estate Petrzalkaone of the most studied areas: housing estate Petrzalka

- - researesearcrch on marginal territories (Pasiak, J.,Faltan, h on marginal territories (Pasiak, J.,Faltan, L.,Gajdos, P.)L.,Gajdos, P.)

- - interpretation of historic urban fabric, restor. (Schwarczova, interpretation of historic urban fabric, restor. (Schwarczova, A.)A.)

- - appearance of townscapes, colour appearance (Urland, A.)appearance of townscapes, colour appearance (Urland, A.)

• Late 1990s, 2000 - Late 1990s, 2000 -

-- evaluation of the environmental quality of dwelling evaluation of the environmental quality of dwelling ensemblesensembles

(INTERREG III/A, Nr. 1206 – Bau(INTERREG III/A, Nr. 1206 – Bauökologische Qualität ökologische Qualität vvon on Wohnhabitaten)Wohnhabitaten)

- - chaos and anti-chaos applied to urban planning (Ivanicka, chaos and anti-chaos applied to urban planning (Ivanicka, K., K., Krempasky)Krempasky)

- - development and trends in urban and spatial planningdevelopment and trends in urban and spatial planning

- - environmental planning and environmental evaluation and environmental planning and environmental evaluation and social social participation (Belcakova, I., Petrikova, D., SPECTRA) participation (Belcakova, I., Petrikova, D., SPECTRA)

- - landscape ecology (Demek, J.)landscape ecology (Demek, J.)

- - methodologies for evaluating the environmental impacts of methodologies for evaluating the environmental impacts of urban planning documents on regional and urban planning documents on regional and

settlements settlements level (Finka, M., Belcakova, I.)level (Finka, M., Belcakova, I.)

-- public participation – nprinciples and techniques (Petrikova, public participation – nprinciples and techniques (Petrikova, D., D., Belcakova, I., Gindlova, D., Kusy, I.) Belcakova, I., Gindlova, D., Kusy, I.)

- - spatial development and planning in the enlarged EU – spatial development and planning in the enlarged EU – challenges as spatial development strategies at challenges as spatial development strategies at

European level and spatial research European level and spatial research (Finka, M., etc.)(Finka, M., etc.)