Searching for a Model for the Development of Social Housing in the Post-war Transformation Period in Poland

Abstract

The article deals with issues of social housing and designing of residential buildings, implemented as part of social programs. The general development of the concept of social housing in the post-war period - from 1945 up to modern times, is presented. Area limits are shrunk to Polish conditions. The scope of the research covered the primary, completed architectural objects created in the above-mentioned period. Such a time frame shows the dynamics of building development and presents the concept of social housing in the so-called “late industrialization” in Central and Eastern Europe and the specific housing development situation in this part of Europe. The results of the research lead to the formulation of the basic idea that, in Polish conditions, there is a significant shortage of housing designed for poorer sections of the population - easily accessible, meeting the criteria for flexibility of housing systems for different users. This is a necessary background to the contemporary understanding of this issue, especially in the countries undergoing political transformation after 1989, covering the area of Central and Eastern European countries, especially Poland. There are visible attempts to change the model of use of social, urban, residential and private space. The problems of social housing development in Poland are supplemented with knowledge about the activities of new entities for creating the organizational framework of this type of construction (such as: Social Building Societies – “TBS” and others appointed by municipalities, social organizations and associations in urban and extra-urban areas) Poland in 1996 - now. Their participation in the creation of this type of architecture implies design and organizational solutions for the implementation of desirable residential buildings. Attention is also paid to the environmental effects of the designed architecture and adaptation to local conditions. It is important to recognize the current state of development of the design of this type of residential buildings to generate the form of such architecture in the conditions of transformation (social, political and economic, etc.) The emphasis here is on understanding the principles and specificity of designing a residential social architecture. The article calls for a wider application of new technologies and methods for the use of renewable energy sources in Polish conditions for social housing solutions. This approach to the design of environmentally sensitive architecture, in which new technologies for obtaining energy for social purposes play a key role, are becoming desirable in Polish conditions. The question of eco-efficiency in social housing solutions in Polish conditions is raised as an inseparable mechanism of organizational, design and implementation activities. The buildings and social estates currently designed in Poland are an example of searching for a pattern adapted to the new conditions in the 21st century.