The role of green infrastructure in strengthening the cultural identity of downtown zones in medium-sized Polish cities

Author : Justyna Zdunek Wielgolaska, Małgorzata Denis, Anna Majewska

Abstract :This research explores the potential of green solutions in the downtown areas of medium-sized cities in Poland to protect the cultural landscape of medium-sized cities in Poland. Maintaining urban identity is a global issue affecting many cities, with historic monuments and greenery playing a key role. This study focuses on the city centers of the Masovian Voivodeship. Poland, as one of the countries of the so-called Eastern Bloc, has experienced numerous post-transition processes that have threatened the identity of Polish cities. The aim is to examine whether, and to what extent, existing green spaces meet contemporary standards and address contemporary civilizational challenges. It also aims to identify potential for improvements in this area, including by identifying vacant spaces that could be adapted, for example, into pocket parks. The downtown areas were selected to illustrate the issues under study and provide opportunities for comparative analysis. Cities exceeding 20,000 were studied as key administrative centers with preserved historical functional and spatial structures. The analyses were based on archival cartographic studies, a topographic database, and GIS software for geospatial data analysis and visualization. The research aimed to identify existing green infrastructure elements that impact the cultural landscape and to assess the extent to which this system could be supplemented. The study identified gaps in meeting standards and demonstrated opportunities for supplementation

Keywords :Urban planning, urban identity, green infrastructure.

Conference Name :International Conference on Architectural Humanities and History (ICAHH-25)

Conference Place Athens,Greece

Conference Date 24th Nov 2025