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The Importance of Architectural Icons of the City of Szczecin for the Transformation of Landscape Identity and Promotion of the City’s Image

Author

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  • Wojciech Bal

    (Department of Contemporary Architecture, Theory and Methodology of Design, West Pomeranian University of Technology, 70-310 Szczecin, Poland)

  • Magdalena Czalczynska-Podolska

    (Department of Contemporary Architecture, Theory and Methodology of Design, West Pomeranian University of Technology, 70-310 Szczecin, Poland)

  • Maja Nieścior

    (Department of Contemporary Architecture, Theory and Methodology of Design, West Pomeranian University of Technology, 70-310 Szczecin, Poland)

Abstract

The practice of promoting an image of the city using architectural objects, and the need to identify or create architectural icons in urban spaces, outlined in this article, occurs in many cities worldwide. The city of Szczecin in Poland, the subject of this research, is no exception. The turbulent history of the city, which for years remained within the borders of Germany, makes it particularly worth analyzing in these terms because it shows the shifting popularity of architectural objects in the context of changing political, cultural, and economic conditions. The research presented here aims to identify iconic objects commonly exploited to build an image of Szczecin, assess their prominent features, and analyze changes over time in their popularity and use for these purposes. The historical and interpretive research was based on a detailed analysis of old and contemporary architectural objects of Szczecin depicted in postcards from the last hundred years, from the period spanning 1920 to 2023. The analysis covered several digital databases containing archival and contemporary postcards. This analysis enables the identification of the most popular objects, suggests the key characteristics of iconic buildings, and identifies four basic types of buildings, which are distinct in terms of purpose, message, and the specific image of the city to which each contributes. The duration of each type as a popular object, the strength of its impact on the city’s image, and its importance for the urban landscape are also identified. The research revealed that: architecturally iconic buildings are created concerning political, economic, and social conditions and the need to promote a specific image of the city, certain features contribute to a building’s potential as an architectural icon, and the strength of the building’s impact, its importance for the city landscape, and the possibility of creating a specific image depending on its iconic type.

Suggested Citation

  • Wojciech Bal & Magdalena Czalczynska-Podolska & Maja Nieścior, 2023. "The Importance of Architectural Icons of the City of Szczecin for the Transformation of Landscape Identity and Promotion of the City’s Image," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-37, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:11:p:8648-:d:1156603
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Andrea Garzulino & Maria Paola Borgarino & Davide Del Curto, 2021. "When GIS Joins the Conservation Management Plan of a 20th-Century Architectural Heritage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-37, April.
    6. Georgia Lindsay, 2018. "One icon, two audiences: how the Denver Art Museum used their new building to both brand the city and bolster civic pride," Journal of Urban Design, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(2), pages 193-205, March.
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    1. Dorota Janisio-Pawłowska, 2025. "Contemporary Parish Churches as Spatial Dominants and Elements of Young Cultural Heritage in the Urban Structure: The Case of Szczecin in the Context of Sustainable Development and the Protection of U," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-26, July.

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