CONTEMPORARY CITY GATES AND TOWERS


JACEK GYURKOVICH
EWA WĘCŁAWOWICZ-GYURKOVICH

Gates and towers do not protect the access to contemporary cities. There is no such need, nor such possibility, because post-modern towns – post-polis – are occupied mostly by strangers. The gates have moved from the outskirts into the city centers long time ago. The attempts of placing new gates on the borders are condemned to failure. Gates and towers have become only signs in the space, symbols of a place, strong forms, orientation points, which facilitate the identification of a place. Today’s city gates are open – they are an invitation which makes orientation within the city’s chaos easier.