Medieval Bourgeois Tenement Houses as an Archetype for Contemporary Architectural and Construction Solutions: The Example of Historic Downtown Gdańsk

The basic urban tissue of medieval European cities consisted of brick townhouses. In the cities of northern Europe, these tenements were characterised by a block based on an elongated rectangular plan, covered with a gable roof with a ridge oriented perpendicularly to the street. The side walls of the tenement house were common for both neighbours and constituted a basic structural element. The gable façades were not loaded with ceilings, providing freedom in shaping them. The aim of this work is to determine the reasons why this method of shaping tenement houses in historical city centres has survived to the present day, becoming an archetype for contemporary architectural and construction solutions, despite the passage of time, numerous historical events, war damage, changing architectural styles, fashions and building techniques and technologies. The historical centre of Gdańsk has become the research material in this paper, where by means of such methods as historical source material analysis (iconographic), observation (operationalisation of preserved historical objects), comparative analysis of completed contemporary investments, and 3D modelling of structural systems, an attempt has been made to determine the main factors determining contemporary architectural and structural solutions. The reason for the extraordinary durability of this type of construction model can be found in the enormous rationality and efficiency of this solution. It allows for very intensive use of land, easy access of all front elevations to the main communication routes, cheapness of construction resulting from small spans and use of common structural walls for the neighbouring buildings, ease of shaping gable elevations, and fire safety. Aesthetic considerations are probably also important here, although it should be assumed that their significance began to grow only in the second half of the 19th century. However, it seems that the most important factor which made the model of the mediaeval bourgeois tenement house become an archetype for contemporary architectural and construction solutions is the timeless message contained in this model, a specific code allowing it to be unambiguously identified as a form of urban house—a place of safe living and at the same time a visible sign of the rich history of European cities, an element creating their cultural and spatial identity, a component of the living, constantly transforming urban fabric.

Profesorowie Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego: Władysław Chłopicki i Władysław Reiss oraz ich powiązania rodowe, czyli o Krupniczej nieco inaczej

The history of the inhabitants of the house at 5 Krupnicza Street in Krakow inspired to write this book, the aim of which is to present the history of two families who came to Krakow from different parts of Poland. The „Pod Matką Boską” tenement house, which has become a life haven for so many generations of Reiss and Chłopicki, including medical professors associated with the Jagiellonian University, is the basis of a much wider story about the intertwining of human lives. Thanks to these circumstances, we restore memory, and we often realise for the first time how far fates of families intertwine and connect with each other. Reaching deeply into the family roots, we not only find numerous family ties, but also appreciate their importance. We also understand better how history influences the course of life and how individual decisions can influence the course of events. The pages of this book will include wellknown and distinguished figures, who have their place in the history of politics and science, as well as doctors, military leaders, politicians. There will be also room for those who cared about family and public matters without publicity, serving current and everyday matters, but without whom great things could not have been fulfiled.

Medieval brick and stone timber framed houses – a missing link in the development of Silesian tenement house?

Our study presents the most recent directions of research on the medieval burgher house in Silesia, looking at the issue through the prism of a certain house from Głogów, unique in the region, with a mixed brick and timber-framed structure with Steinwerk, which forces us to ask questions about the universality of this type of solutions – long absent in the panorama of large Silesian cities. A proposition of the typology of Silesian townhouses with a mixed structure, which was based on the results of research conducted by the author in Silesian cities in the years 1997–2018, was also presented.

Diagnosis of the Technical Condition of Historic Tenement Houses as the First Stage of Revitalisation of the City

Revitalisation of degraded downtown areas is a problem for many cities and towns in Europe. All spatial, economic and social changes result from the expectations of residents together with technical needs. The scope of revitalisation activities results from the diagnosis of the technical condition of the degraded part of the city. The article presents a sample assessment of the technical condition of a tenement house in Kożuchów located within a downtown complex covered by revitalisation plans.

The meaning of activities in Okolice Sztuki – much went on at Strych

The text is a commentary to the phenomena in Polish modern art in the final years of the 20th century. It constitutes a “first-hand” account by a participant of the events and the host of the location. The location was the author’s private workshop in the attic of a Łódź tenement house in the very centre of the city, in the circles of artists creating situations, meetings, events and objects, which established Kultura Zrzuty [the Whip-round Culture], a phenomenon which described the activities of artists independent of state institutions and officials patrons in the 1980s. The analysis of the events within the area of independent Okolice Sztuki inspired the author to discuss the form of other artists and his own, who created art in Strych [literally: attic] in an unchanging conflict between physical and social existence and freedom in art.

The Problem of Moisture Content in Historical Buildings Based on a Classicist Tenement House at 14A, Śląska Street in Gubin

Diagnostics and mitigation of excessive moisture effects are some of the most frequent problems in historical buildings. In this article, an attempt was made to measure the moisture content of construction elements in the historical tenement house in Gubin. It is the largest town in the Krosno Poviat, in the area of the Lubuskie Voivodeship. The town suffered from military actions during World War II whereby approximately 90% of its urban development was destroyed. The tenement house at 14A, Śląska Street is one of the more well-preserved buildings, made in the classicist style with characteristic historical features. The whole history of the building is unknown but there are freemasonry symbols on the elevation, and probably the Military Police had its headquarters there after 1945.

Tenement Housing and Domestic Conflict in Diobu Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Aims: To examine Tenement housing and domestic conflict among Residents in Rivers State, Nigeria Study Design: Cross-sectional survey design Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Mile 1 and Mile 2 Diobu, Port Harcourt Methodology: Triangulation methodology was used in this study to obtain insight into the problem. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. With the quantitative method data were collected using questionnaire and with the qualitative method data was collected using FGM and interviews with respondents. Probability design involving a simple random sampling technique was used. Results: The result revealed an existing relationship between the common use of the toilet, bathroom, kitchen etc. and conflict among dwellers of tenement houses Furthermore it was revealed that there was a relationship between overpopulation and conflict among tenement house dwellers and that there is a relationship between tenement house pattern and conflict among dwellers. Conclusion: It was concluded that a comprehensive approach should be employed to continuously check quality in housing structures and allocation. Also, realistic policies that will alleviate the suffering of Nigerians as it pertains to housing should be enacted and implemented.