GREENERY AS MEANS OF CHANGE IN LITTLE TOWN SQUARES IN THE LUBLIN REGION (ON THE EXAMPLE OF JÓZEFÓW NAD WISŁĄ, KOCK, KURÓW AND WĄWOLNICA)
AGATA KOZAK, KINGA KIMIC
Throughout the ages, little towns around Lublin (Poland) have undergone changes of historical, economic and social nature along with the entire region. They acquired new functions, which required different management of their main squares. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, these provincial towns gradually absorbed the idea of healing urban settlements by introducing greeneries into public spaces. In some places during the interwar period there appeared plant compositions along roads and streets, and even green squares in the middle of main squares. This increased the aesthetic value of these central parts of settlements, as well as improved the general wholesomeness of the towns’ spaces.
This analysis of the town squares in Józefów nad Wisłą, Kock, Kurów and Wąwolnica throughout their history – from the beginnings of the settlements up until now – shows a progressive introduction of plantings as ornamental elements as well as for purposes of leisure. It also indicates the need for a case-by-case individual study in order to define precise guidelines for revalorisation projects depending on the character of the town and its historical and spatial circumstances.
This paper is based on a thesis written as part of the “Cultural Heritage Protection” Postgraduate Programme at the Faculty of Architecture, Warsaw University of Technology, under the supervision of dr hab. arch. Danuta Kłosek-Kozłowska.
Keywords: Lublin region, square, little towns