Loss of Potential: Large-Panel Housing Estates – Czyzyny Case

Large-panel housing estates are an inseparable element of the city structure, constituting approx. 35% of all housing resources in Poland. At the same time, they are recognised as crisis areas more and more frequently. Their functioning is burdened with a number of 'genetic' defects, like monofunctionality, monotony of development, undefined spaces, the lack of integration of the housing estates with the remaining part of the city, etc. However, it is undeniable that they also have their own assets, where the resource of open space and green areas seems to be the greatest potential. Many of the housing estates also exhibit unique spatial values, such as the vicinity of watercourses, greenery, or areas with historic and cultural values. Finding the potential and extracting its characteristic features, spatial values etc. are measures which offer the chance for the creation of a unique housing environment. In the process of revitalisation this potential could become a key element for improving this kind of structures, as well as creating complementarity and continuity of public spaces not only within the estate, but also in the city scale. The problem is that nowadays in many cases this potential is gradually annihilated, which is mostly connected with ongoing changes, dominated by chaotic densification of spaces with new buildings, modifying the initial arrangements of large-panel housing estates, and generating subsequent spatial, functional and social issues. In such a situation, while talking about the revitalisation process, it is necessary to mention that not only making use of the present potential is needed. It is also crucial to protect it, or retrieve it, if still possible. Against such a background of the outlined issues, this paper presents a case of two Cracow-based large-panel housing estates, located on both sides of the former runway of the airport in Czyżyny. This is an example of estates with a huge potential, where one can observe a dramatic process of destroying it. Some chances seem to be irreversibly lost, some seem to still exist. In such a context a question about the future of these housing estates arises.