JAN MACIEJ CHMIELEWSKI

Since the beginning of the Faculty of Architecture of Warsaw University of Technology students were educated the ability to design in urban scales. This design school was initiated by professor Tadeusz Tołwiński, and later developed by Professors Kazimierz Wejchert and Hanna Adamczewska-Wejchert. Currently at the Faculty of Architecture, both at engineering studies and master's level, students compulsory carry out two urban projects. The organization structure of the Faculty made it so, that at Warsaw University of Technology arisen several schools of urban design. It results from different professional experiences and scientific interests of the teaching staff. Both professors and assistants, in a significant percentage, are active town planners, as evidenced by their membership in the Chamber of Urban Planners. These schools are characterized by different approaches to urban issues, from the architectural to planning. Differences in the manner of teaching arise also from the need to educate not only on Architecture and Urban Planning course, but also on the Spatial Planning course. At the Faculty are also run post-graduate studies, where participants representing various professions, have diverse preparation for this type of design. Design topics primarily relate to matters currently concerning urban planners, fitting into the country's current economic issues, but are based on optimistic development forecasts. Creative and visionary students' projects show how our cities might look like if economic, administrative and organization barriers were overcome, which in many cases determine the unsatisfying spatial order of Polish cities.

Keywords: school, urban design, Warsaw