URBANISATION PROCESSES ON AGRICULTURAL LAND IN THE SUBURBAN ZONE OF WARSAW

JAN MACIEJ CHMIELEWSKI, ANNA MAJEWSKA

In Poland, the processes of suburbanization in the external areas of big cities proceeded differently than in neighbouring countries. Three agrarian reforms (1864, 1919, 1944) which successively eliminated large landed estates had an important influence upon the colonization of agricultural land. This caused significant fragmentation of agricultural lands and the raising of some settlements, often in isolation from rural building complexes. At the end of the 19th century, supported by railways, summer-resorts, garden-cities and housing estates started to be established around Warsaw. Parcelling out often occurred in a spontaneous and haphazard character. However some settlements with very interesting urban solutions were also established, planned by architects – urbanists. This can be also distinguished today in Warsaw’s urban structure. In the period of the PRL (Polish Peoples Republic), another division of agricultural land occurred. This was usually prepared by land surveyors. This process intensified after 1989, as a result of the unprofitability of land cultivation and disappearance of the agricultural zone around Warsaw. Land division became a base point for organization of space for new non-agricultural building complex areas, construction went along all accessible roads, however building development is still dispersed. Warsaw’s hinterland have anti-urbanization features – it does not strengthen the historical urban centres in the zone and it does not favour the raising of new cities, its characteristic feature is urban spreading and sprawl.