IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/lauspo/v152y2025ics026483772500050x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Still suffering, still on the periphery? Different paths of the town's post-war spatial change. Evidence from north-eastern Poland

Author

Listed:
  • Musiaka, Łukasz
  • Sudra, Paweł
  • Spórna, Tomasz

Abstract

The scale of destruction of many historical cities due to the warfare of World War II and the varied directions of spatial transformation during the post-war political and economic uncertainty period in Poland was unprecedented. As a result, in many cities, we are confronted with a significant differentiation in the character of the development of central areas and numerous spatial and functional problems. The main objective of the study is to present the results of a comparative study of the varied forms and effects of rebuilding the historic centres of small towns in northeastern Poland after World War II. Small towns were selected because of their peripheral character to the large centres rebuilt in the first place. Out of a group of 17 towns in the Warmian-Masurian voivodeship destroyed in at least 70 %, three case studies with different land use policy approach were chosen. The paper proposes an original research model based on different spatial scales of analysis and quantitative and qualitative research methods of the built-up area. For this purpose field studies, graph method, built-up areas and planning document analyses based on contemporary and archival materials in a GIS environment were used. The results allowed for the classification of the directions of the post-war urban recovery and construction of case-study models of reconstruction based on neointegration (Węgorzewo), conditional restructuring (Lubawa) and the model of an unbuilt-up town (Kisielice). Our findings indicate that the negative consequences of the spatial transformations (e.g., spatial chaos, lack of a functional and spatial centre, unbuilt quarters and limited effectiveness of planning and revitalisation tools) are still felt today despite the corrective measures taken. They also suggest a need for local and regional debate on the needs and possibilities for further revitalisation of the study area and a recovery programme developed at the national level.

Suggested Citation

  • Musiaka, Łukasz & Sudra, Paweł & Spórna, Tomasz, 2025. "Still suffering, still on the periphery? Different paths of the town's post-war spatial change. Evidence from north-eastern Poland," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:152:y:2025:i:c:s026483772500050x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2025.107517
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026483772500050X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.landusepol.2025.107517?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Vítor Oliveira, 2024. "Urban form and the socioeconomic and environmental dimensions of cities," Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(1), pages 1-23, January.
    2. Łukasz Musiaka & Paweł Sudra & Tomasz Spórna, 2021. "Spatial Chaos as a Result of War Damage and Post-War Transformations. Example of the Small Town of Węgorzewo," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-33, May.
    3. Marra, Giulia & Barosio, Michela & Eynard, Enrico & Marietta, Cristina & Tabasso, Matteo & Melis, Giulia, 2016. "From urban renewal to urban regeneration: Classification criteria for urban interventions. Turin 1995–2015: evolution of planning tools and approaches," Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal, Henry Stewart Publications, vol. 9(4), pages 367-380, August.
    4. Steven Brakman & Harry Garretsen & Marc Schramm, 2004. "The strategic bombing of German cities during World War II and its impact on city growth," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 4(2), pages 201-218, April.
    5. Rogatka, Krzysztof & Kowalski, Mateusz & Starczewski, Tomasz, 2023. "Less important space? Spatial planning in small towns in Poland," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    6. Łukasz Musiaka & Tomasz Figlus & Robert Szmytkie, 2021. "Models of morphological transformations of centres of the largest Polish cities after World War II," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(3), pages 511-535, March.
    7. Łukasz Bugalski & Piotr Lorens, 2023. "Post-Second World War Reconstruction of Polish Cities: The Interplay Between Politics and Paradigms," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(1), pages 182-195.
    8. Anna Małgorzata Jachimowicz, 2022. "Morphology of Warsaw City Structure Using Urban Indexes and GIS Tools," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-27, January.
    9. Birch, Colin P.D. & Oom, Sander P. & Beecham, Jonathan A., 2007. "Rectangular and hexagonal grids used for observation, experiment and simulation in ecology," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 206(3), pages 347-359.
    10. Łukasz Bugalski & Piotr Lorens, 2023. "Post-Second World War Reconstruction of Polish Cities: The Interplay Between Politics and Paradigms," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(1), pages 182-195.
    11. Kukulska-Kozieł, Anita, 2023. "Buildable land overzoning. Have new planning regulations in Poland resolved the issue?," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    12. Uwe Altrock, 2023. "“Reconstructionism”: A Strategy to Improve Outdated Attempts of Modernist Post-War Planning?," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(1), pages 211-225.
    13. Uwe Altrock, 2023. "“Reconstructionism”: A Strategy to Improve Outdated Attempts of Modernist Post-War Planning?," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(1), pages 211-225.
    14. Ken Taylor, 2016. "The Historic Urban Landscape paradigm and cities as cultural landscapes. Challenging orthodoxy in urban conservation," Landscape Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(4), pages 471-480, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Szymański Michał & Szmytkie Robert, 2025. "Changes in the morphology of the Old Town in Głogów (SW Poland) in the post-war period," Environmental & Socio-economic Studies, Sciendo, vol. 13(2), pages 67-78.
    2. Kryczka, Piotr, 2024. "Unravelling the paradox of spatial homogeneity: An analysis of land use planning and monofunctional development in Wroclaw, Poland," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    3. Łukasz Musiaka & Paweł Sudra & Tomasz Spórna, 2021. "Spatial Chaos as a Result of War Damage and Post-War Transformations. Example of the Small Town of Węgorzewo," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-33, May.
    4. Seraphim Alvanides & Carol Ludwig, 2023. "Bombed Cities: Legacies of Post-War Planning on the Contemporary Urban and Social Fabric," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(1), pages 165-168.
    5. Albers, Thilo & Bartels, Charlotte & Schularick, Moritz, 2022. "Wealth and its Distribution in Germany, 1895-2018," CEPR Discussion Papers 17269, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    6. Stephen J. Redding, 2010. "The Empirics Of New Economic Geography," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(1), pages 297-311, February.
    7. Burhan, Nik Ahmad Sufian & Mohamad, Mohd Rosli & Kurniawan, Yohan & Sidek, Abdul Halim, 2014. "National Intelligence, Basic Human Needs, and Their Effect on Economic Growth," MPRA Paper 77267, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Abadie, Alberto & Dermisi, Sofia, 2008. "Is terrorism eroding agglomeration economies in Central Business Districts? Lessons from the office real estate market in downtown Chicago," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(2), pages 451-463, September.
    9. Edward L. Glaeser, 2021. "Urban Resilience," NBER Working Papers 29261, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    10. Juan Felipe Riaño & Felipe Valencia Caicedo, 2024. "Collateral Damage: The Legacy of the Secret War in Laos," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 134(661), pages 2101-2140.
    11. Jan David Bakker & Christopher Parsons & Ferdinand Rauch, 2020. "Migration and Urbanization in Post-Apartheid South Africa," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 34(2), pages 509-532.
    12. David Cuberes & Rafael González-Val, 2017. "The effect of the Spanish Reconquest on Iberian cities," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 58(3), pages 375-416, May.
    13. Sungsoo Yoon & Youngjoo Moon & Jinah Jeong & Chan-Ryul Park & Wanmo Kang, 2021. "A Network-Based Approach for Reducing Pedestrian Exposure to PM 2.5 Induced by Road Traffic in Seoul," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-14, October.
    14. Suling Guo & Wei Sun & Wen Chen & Jianxin Zhang & Peixue Liu, 2021. "Impact of Artificial Elements on Mountain Landscape Perception: An Eye-Tracking Study," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-18, October.
    15. Philipp Ager & Casper Worm Hansen & Lars Lønstrup, 2015. "Shaking up the Equilibrium: Natural Disasters, Immigration and Economic Geography," Discussion Papers 15-17, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics.
    16. repec:osf:socarx:pbzn6_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Ersilia Verlinghieri & Elisabetta Vitale Brovarone & Luca Staricco, 2024. "The conflictual governance of street experiments, between austerity and post-politics," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 61(5), pages 878-899, April.
    18. Redding, Stephen, 2020. "Trade and Geography," CEPR Discussion Papers 15268, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    19. Calvo, Thomas & Lavallée, Emmanuelle & Razafindrakoto, Mireille & Roubaud, François, 2020. "Fear Not For Man? Armed conflict and social capital in Mali," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(2), pages 251-276.
    20. Christopher T. Emrich & Yao Zhou & Sanam K. Aksha & Herbert E. Longenecker, 2022. "Creating a Nationwide Composite Hazard Index Using Empirically Based Threat Assessment Approaches Applied to Open Geospatial Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-25, February.
    21. Boura, Georgia & Ferguson, Neil S., 2024. "Incorporating geographic interdependencies into the resilience assessment of multimodal public transport networks," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:152:y:2025:i:c:s026483772500050x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Joice Jiang (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/land-use-policy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.