Znaczenie trudnego dziedzictwa kulturowego socmodernizmu w rozwoju miast

Abstract

The architectural heritage of the Polish People’s Republic (PRL) represents an ambivalent category of cultural resources, often perceived as dissonant heritage. Its negative perception, compounded by aesthetic controversies, technical degradation, and inappropriate modernization, complicates its protection and integration into urban development policies.

This dissertation investigates the significance and development potential of socialist modernist heritage in Poland, focusing on heritage awareness, territorial impact, and cultural and economic value. Its objectives are to examine the integration of heritage into urban policies, assess its strategic potential, and conduct a comprehensive valorization of selected resources.

Situated within regional studies, the research draws on local development theory, the resource-based view, and David Throsby’s theory of cultural capital. It examines non-residential socialist modernist buildings in former voivodeship capitals, selected purposively according to their functional diversity, architectural authenticity, and cultural significance. A mixed-methods approach combines historical-interpretative analysis, document analysis, field observations, and CAWI and CATI surveys conducted in 2023–2024. Strategic potential is assessed using the VRIO framework, while economic non-use value is estimated through the willingness-to-pay (WTP) method. The research findings are synthesized in the Atlas of Socialist Modernist Heritage.

The findings reveal that despite limited public awareness and insufficient integration into urban development strategies, socialist modernist heritage possesses considerable development potential. The study highlights its capacity to strengthen territorial capital, urban attractiveness, competitiveness, and local identity. Its recognition, valorization, and appropriate management can support more sustainable and heritage-sensitive urban development.