RE-search: towards socially attractive city squares Comparative case study of two main squares in cities of Cieszyn (Poland) and Český Těšín (Czech Republic) MSc. Thesis Landscape Architecture and Planning Author: Marie Římanová Supervisor: Dr. Henk de Haan Examiners: Dr. Henk de Haan, Dr. Meghann Ormond Wageningen University and Research Centre Department of Environmental Sciences Socio-spatial Analysis Chair Group November 2010 COLOFON RE-search: Towards socially attractive city squares Comparative case study of two main squares in cities of Cieszyn (Poland) and Český Těšín (Czech Republic) MSc. Thesis Landscape Architecture and Planning SAL- 80436 RE-search: towards socially attractive city squares © Wageningen University and Research Centre Department of Environmental Sciences Socio-spatial Analysis Chair Group Comparative case study of two main squares Author: Ing. Marie Římanová in cities of Cieszyn (Poland) and Český Těšín (Czech Republic) Supervisor: Dr. Henk de Haan Examiners: Dr. Henk de Haan, Dr. Meghann Ormond November 2010 MSc. Thesis Landscape Architecture and Planning Specialization Socio-spatial Analysis SAL-80436 Author: Ing. Marie Římanová Supervisor: Dr. Henk de Haan Examiners: Dr. Henk de Haan, Dr. Meghann Ormond ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my special appreciation and thanks to: Jan al Saheb Ondřej Fikoczek Henk de Haan Wageningen University and Research Centre Guljamal Jumamuratova Renata Morawiecová Department of Environmental Sciences Danica Nikoć-Pollard Elena Římanová Socio-spatial Analysis Chair Group Eliška Římanová Adam Sabela November 2010 2 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES PART 1 Figure 1.1 „Relationship of attractivity“ between space and people; conceptual framework related to the topic Introduction: Space-people relationship of thesis .................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................. 9 Figure 1.2 Location of city squares in Cieszyn and Český Těšín .......................................................................................... 12 1.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................................................................10 Figure 1.3 Print screen images of city squares in Cieszyn (Poland) and Český Těšín (Czesch Republic) taken by online 1.2 Research approach and objective ............................................................................................................................11 web camera ............................................................................................................................................................................... 13 1.3 Research background and motivation ....................................................................................................................12 Figure 1.4 Specification of a general conceptual framework, defined by case study objects ........................................................... 14 1.4 Research questions .....................................................................................................................................................14 Figure 1.5 Outline of research process ................................................................................................................................... 15 1.5 Outline of the thesis ...................................................................................................................................................15 Figure 2.1 Market Square (Oulu, Finland) .............................................................................................................................. 19 Figure 2.2 Kotzia Square (Athens, Greece) ............................................................................................................................ 19 2. Theoretical background ...............................................................................................................................................................16 Figure 2.3 Cathedral Square (Vilnius, Lithuania) ................................................................................................................... 19 2.1 Definition of square ....................................................................................................................................................16 Figure 2.4 People have a strong demand for social interaction in nature ......................................................................... 20 2.2 Function of city squares in historical context ...........................................................................................................16 Figure 2.5 Passive contacts .................................................................................................................................................... 21 2.3 Typology of city squares ..........................................................................................................................................18 Figure 2.6 Representation of the relationship between the quality of outdoor spaces and the rate of occurrence of 2.4 Sociability .................................................................................................................................................................20 indoor activities ........................................................................................................................................................................ 22 Figure 2.7 A square, being by definition “public”, allow “everyone” to have access ........................................................... 23 3. Case study: city squares of Cieszyn and Český Těšín ..................................................................................................................24 Figure 3.1 Localization of cities of Cieszyn in Poland and Český Těšín in Czech republic .................................................... 24 3.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................................................................24 Figure 3.2 Localization of main squares within city centre map of Cieszyn and Český Těšín ............................................ 25 3.2 City of Cieszyn and Český Těšín in socio-spatial facts ...........................................................................................25 Figure 4.1 The city square of Cieszyn, an overall view ........................................................................................................... 36 3.3 Brief history of cities of Cieszyn and Český Těšín .....................................................................................................26 Figure 4.2 The city square of Český Těšín with its dominant Town Hall ............................................................................... 37 Figure 4.3 Zucker´s (1959) typology of urban squares ........................................................................................................ 37 PART 2 Figure 4.4 Town square in Český Těšín (1929) ...................................................................................................................... 39 „Expert“: Space oriented research Figure 4.5 The city square as a meeting place throughout history ............................................................................................... 40 4 Space oriented research ................................................................................................................................................................30 Figure 4.6 The city square as a place of political events ....................................................................................................... 41 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................30 Figure 4.7 The city square as a place of cultural events ....................................................................................................... 41 4.2 Theoretical background and methodology ................................................................................................................30 Figure 4.8 Most of ground floor facades have small units with diversity functions ............................................................ 42 4.3 Data collection .............................................................................................................................................................34 Figure 4.9 According to Gehl´s classification the fully passive facades considered as “dull” category ............................... 43 4.4 Data analysis and presentation ..................................................................................................................................35 Figure 4.10 Night situation in Cieszyn .................................................................................................................................. 44 4.5 Results I .....................................................................................................................................................................82