Bold visions, reality, chances for the future. Evolution of the spatial layout of a modernist multifamily residential estate on the example of the Retkinia housing estate in Łódź

Tomasz Krystkowski

doi:10.37190/arc250103

Abstract

Modernist multifamily housing estates are home to about eight million Poles. In Łódź, almost half of the residents live in such estates. These complexes, built on a massive scale from the 1960s until the political transformation in 1989, will continue to play a significant role in the city’s spatial structure for many decades to come.

The subject of the article is Retkinia - the largest housing estate in Łódź. Developed since the early 1970s, it took its basic shape at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s. The author’s aim is to present the evolution of the estate’s spatial form. Starting from the bold visions of architects designing vibrant commercial-service centers for the estate, individualized public spaces, green recreational areas with rich amenities, or experimental buildings, to a much poorer implementation - a spatial layout devoid of many essential elements, later supplemented and adapted to current needs, yet still “unfinished.”

The research was based on archival queries, analysis and personal assessment of the estate’s space (mutual relations of buildings, public spaces and their equipment, communication system), and literature studies.

The results indicate that the existing spatial layout offers many possibilities for transformations in the context of current residents’ needs and contemporary challenges.

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2025

1(81)

Tomasz Krystkowski*

Bold visions, reality, future opportunities. Evolution of the spatial

layout of a modernist multifamily residential estate on the example

of the Retkinia housing estate in Łódź (Poland)

DOI: 10.37190/arc250103

Published in open access. CC BY NC ND license

Abstract

Modernist multi-family housing estates provide homes for approximately eight million people in Poland. In Łódź, almost half of the population

lives in housing estates. These complexes, built on a massive scale from the 1960s until the political transformation in 1989, will continue to play

a signicant role in the city’s spatial structure for decades to come. This article focuses on Retkinia, the largest housing estate in Łódź. Developed

from the early 1970s, its fundamental shape was formed by the late 1980s and early 1990s. The article presents the evolution of the estate’s spatial

form, from the bold visions of the architects who designed vibrant commercial-service centres, individualized public spaces, green recreational areas

with rich facilities, and experimental buildings, to the much poorer implementation of those plans – resulting in a spatial layout lacking many es-

sential elements, later supplemented and adjusted to current needs, yet still “unnished”. The research is based on archival queries, analysis, and the

assessment of the estate’s space (mutual relations of buildings, public spaces and their equipment, transport layout), as well as studies of the relevant

literature. The results indicate that the existing spatial layout oers many possibilities for transformations in the context of the current residents’ needs

and contemporary challenges.

Key words: Łódź, Retkinia, post-war modernism, housing estate

Introduction

It is estimated that as many as eight million people live

in modernist estates in Poland (Węcławowicz 2007). This

gure includes almost half of the population of the city

of Łódź – about 300,000 out of a population of 660,000

( Hanzl, Rembeza 2022, 97). Such housing complexes have

for a long time played and will continue to play an im-

portant role in the spatial structure of many Polish cities.

This article is a continuation of several years of research

concerning issues related to post-war urban planning and

the architecture of Łódź.

Here, we describe how the spatial form of the largest

housing estate in Łódź, Retkinia, evolved from the rst

plans and projects (concepts for the development of the

western areas of Łódź in the 1950s) to the present day. We

also identify challenges and potential solutions related to

further transformations of the estate, balancing function-

ality, sustainability, and the evolving needs of the commu-

nity. Although more than 50 years have passed since the

construction of the estate began, Retkinia still constitutes

an unnished spatial layout that oers many possibilities

for adaptation.

The territorial scope of the research covers the area of

the estate, about 3.1 km

, essentially limited by streets:

Bandurskiego and Waltera-Janke Avenues from the east,

Maratońska from the south, Popiełuszki from the west, and

Kusocińskiego from the north (Figs. 1c, 2).

State of research

The post-war architecture and urban planning of Łódź

have been attracting increasing interest from researchers

and

city enthusiasts for at least several years. Some publications

concern general trends (Stefański, Ciarkowski 2018),

while

others focus on specic periods. However, in both cases

* ORCID: 0000-0002-5619-2457. Institute of Architecture and

Urban Planning, Lodz University of Technology, Poland, e-mail: tomasz.

krystkowski@p.lodz.pl

28 Tomasz Krystkowski

the process of estate development constitutes only part of

the broader discussion (Gryglewski, Wróbel and Ucińska

2009; Sumorok 2010). The book BlokowiskaŁodzi [Hous-

ing Blocks of Łódź] provides a kind of com pendium of

multi-family housing complexes in Łódź (Bo rowski, Ko-

liński 2022).

Social, sociological, and economic issues related to

Łódź estates have also been the subject of research by many

scientists. Anna Janiszewska, Ewa Klima, and Agnieszka

Rochmińska conducted research on the quality of life in

Łódź estates over a decade ago. Their studies focused not

only on the residents but also their apartments, buildings,

and the surrounding spaces (2011). The work of Paulina

Tobiasz-Lis explored, among other topics, social issues re-

lated to the appearance of gated housing estates in Łódź

(2011). Ewa Szafrańska devoted many articles to describ-

ing changes in the social, spatial, and functional structure

of Łódź estates. Additionally, she discussed the “dicult”

heritage of the PRL period, which includes multi-family

housing complexes. Szafrańska considered the possibilities

for further transformations of Łódź estates (2010; 2011;

2012). She is also the author of a book that is both an ex-

tension and a kind of summary of these studies (2016).

Estates are also covered from a historical, urban, and

architectural perspective in the Atlas historyczny miasta

Łodzi [Historical Atlas of the City of Łódź] (Krystkowski

2022b, c). Michał Bamberski (2024) is currently writing

a doctoral dissertation on Łódź estates. This topic is comple -

mented by fragments of Marek Grymin’s book (2009), in

which he describes the relationships between religious build-

ings and the spatial structure of the estates, and by pub

li -

cations by Maria Nowakowska (2020; 2021) and Aneta Paw -

łow ska (2021) concerning sculptures in the space of Łódź.

The Retkinia Zachód-Południe fragment (together with

part of the Widzew-East estate) has been the subject of pre-

vious research by the author of the present study. An analy-

sis of the relationship between the existing conguration of

pedestrian routes and the location of the estate’s key spaces

(main places of activity by residents) was presented at the

International Space Syntax Symposium in June 2024.

Methods

A detailed analysis of the Retkinia estate was initiated

at the beginning of 2023. Research methods included ana -

lyses of source texts (trade journals, daily press), histo-

ri cal maps, aerial photographs, orthophotos, as well as

original development projects. Extensive empirical ob-

ser vations were made in the estate area over several

months. In total, 30 observation points were designated

within the main public spaces, along the main pedestrian

routes, and in the spaces between blocks, where infor-

mation on the outdoor activities of space users was col-

lected during walks and observations; observations were

conducted on dierent days of the week and at dier-

ent times of the day. This allowed not only a better un-

derstanding of the estate’s structure, but also the way in

which its spaces are developed and function. On that ba-

sis, various analyses were also carried out (e.g., analysis

of the estate’s spatial structure with a typology of urban

enclosures, their function, and the activity of space users,

as well as analyses of transport and pedestrian routes).

However, the article focuses primarily on the extended his-

torical themes (clearly dierent visions of the estate from

dierent periods), which are discussed only very generally

or omitted in the literature. This work can therefore comple-

ment the current state of research on post-war multi-family

housing estates in the city. It can also make it clear that Ret-

kinia could have looked dierent from how it looks today.

Retkinia

Łódź survived relatively intact from World War II,

remaining almost the same as it was in 1939 in terms of

spatial structure. However, the city faced many problems,

including poor sanitary and hygienic conditions, largely

resulting from the mixing of residential and industrial

buildings (Krystkowski 2022a). In an attempt to solve the

dicult housing situation, new districts were built around

the organism shaped in the 19

and early 20

centuries

– which became the so-called “Strefa Wielkomiejska”

[Historical Urban Core], which is now the most valuable

area of the city (Urząd Miasta Łodzi 2012).

The rst plans for estates located on the western (but

also eastern) side of the city date back to the period just

after the end of World War II. At that time, they were seen

as predominantly single-family housing complexes. This

situation changed in the 1950s, when planners tried to bal-

ance the north–south spatial layout of the city by imple-

menting new multi-family housing districts on its western

and eastern edges.

In the rst general plan for urban development of the

city (Ogólnyplanzagospodarowaniaprzestrzennegomia

sta Łodzi; plan kierunkowy na rok 1961–1980 [General

Spatial Development Plan of the City of Łódź; directional

plan for 1961–1980]), the areas designated for expansion

were primarily located in the western areas (Retkinia,

Karolew, and Brus), which were considered to be the most

suitable due to microclimatic conditions. Their location in

relation to the city centre and the Łódź–Kalisz railway line

was also considered favourable, although the transporta-

tion network itself required signicant expansion (Jawor-

ski 1958, 92, 93).

Firstconcepts

The rst concepts for the development of the western

districts of Łódź (Retkinia, Brus, and Złotno estates), de-

veloped by Krystyna Krygier and Henryk Jaworowski

in the 1960s, assumed the creation of a very hierarchical

structure, with a clear hierarchy of residential and service

buildings. According to press reports, it was planned to

divide each estate into smaller units for 5,000–6,000 res-

idents. These units were to be equipped with a primary

school and a small commercial and service centre, to meet

the daily needs of the residents. The individual units were

planned to be separated from vehicular trac, without in-

tersecting streets (Gp 1964).

Such solutions are reected in the model of the eastern

part of Retkinia (Zagrodniki-Piaski estate) shown in Figure 1.

EvolutionofthespatiallayoutofamodernistmultifamilyresidentialestateontheexampleoftheRetkiniahousingestateinŁódź 29

Unfortunately, it has not been possible to ascertain precisely

when this model was created, who its author was, or the details

of its concept.

However, it can be seen that the entire layout was clear-

ly divided into smaller units, in which residential buildings

were most likely to be concentrated around educational fa-

cilities located among greenery and distinguished by their

form. The individual units were dierentiated in terms of

spatial composition, which was shaped quite freely. They

consisted mainly of rather low and elongated buildings

(comprising shorter segments arranged in the shapes of the

letters “U” or “L”), which were combined in various ways,

creating more or less readable layouts (comb-like, block-

like) and urban enclosures. Variety was provided by low

and high point-block buildings. Such measures were most

likely aimed at breaking the monotony of the entire layout.

Thanks to the small scale of the buildings, the individ-

ual units would probably have had a rather intimate char-

acter, but due to the impossibility of accessing the rele-

vant archival materials, it is dicult to determine the exact

sizes and proportions of the buildings and accompanying

spaces proposed by the designers. Nonetheless, the whole

gives the impression of a calm space, complemented by

a network of small streets and pedestrian routes running

next to the buildings and through the main areas of the es-

tate. In this concept, there are no large parking complexes

(although garages were probably planned a short distance

from the residential buildings) or large-scale volumes. The

model resembles the large-scale estates being built in Łódź

at that time in Dąbrowa or Teolów. These estates were

criticized for the monotony of their form, to the extent that

[…] youdon’tevenhavetobetipsytonotndyourway

homeintheevening (A.P. 1966, 3).

A distinctive element of the entire layout was the axis of

the central hub. According to press reports, more special-

ized commercial and service centres (diversied oering:

shops, service points, post oce, cinema, community cen-

tre) were planned in the centre of each district (Retkinia,

Brus, and Złotno). It was intended that the centre could

be reached on foot within 10 min, even from the farthest

unit. The axis not only crossed the entire layout but also

connected the individual units. It was marked not only by

dierently shaped commercial and service buildings but

also by a group of higher point-block buildings.

Despite widespread prefabrication (already widely used

in the construction of other estates in Łódź), the designers

of the subsequent concept for the estate (Krystyna Krygier,

Tadeusz Sumień, and Szymon Walter) tried to give it an

individual character – the “climate of a large estate” (Kli-

mat wielkiego osiedla 1969). The shaped space between

the buildings was designed to help achieve this goal. The

plan was to create a whole repertoire of streets with dif-

ferent functions, leading to public transport stops, shops,

playgrounds for children, sports facilities for youth, or rec-

reational areas for the elderly. The streets themselves, of

dierent shapes and with surrounding buildings of dier-

ent heights, were to be additionally varied with passages

or overpasses. The ground oors of the buildings would

be occupied by various types of service premises, shops,

and cafes. The space was also to be enriched and diversi-

ed with small architectural elements. The plan was to use

“repetitive prefabricated elements to create unique spatial

forms” (Sob. 1970). Recreational areas – extensive but

concentrated – were also to play an important role (Sob.

1969). Sports areas with elds, tennis courts, swimming

pools (Sob. 1970), as well as walking areas “with pictur-

esque corners” were planned (Klimat wielkiego osiedla

1969). The architects’ visions were reected in attractive

sketches (Fig. 1b) published in the daily press, showing

varied, potentially attractive, and lively spaces, in contrast

to later models of the estate (Figs. 1c, 2).

Projectimplementation:early1970stolate1980s

The above proposals seem to disappear in the next con-

cept, also proposed by Krygier and Sumień, developed in the

early 1970s and selected for implementation after an inter-

nal competition between two “Miastoprojekt” design teams

(Fig. 1c, 2). According to these plans, Retkinia was to take

on an elongated shape (approx. 2.5 × 1.2 km) and consist

of three housing complexes: “Wschód” [East] (23 thousand

residents), “Śródmieście” [Centre] (13,000 re sidents), and

“Zachód” [West], comprising two large hous ing units (each

with 16,000 residents) (Krygier, Sumień 1973, 208), located

a b c

Fig. 1. Projects and visions of Retkinia:

a) model of the eastern part of Retkinia from the early 1960s (Zagrodniki-Piaski housing estate, source: Kuydowicz 1961, 455),

b) sketch by Krygier depicting a vision of the housing estate from the late 1960s (source: Klimat wielkiego osiedla 1969, 6),

c) a model of Retkinia-East from the early 1970s (source: Krygier, Sumień 1973, 209)

Il. 1. Projekty i wizje Retkini:

a) makieta wschodniej części Retkini z początku lat 60. XX w. (osiedle Zagrodniki-Piaski, źródło: Kuydowicz 1961, 455),

b) szkic autorstwa Krygier przedstawiający wizję osiedla z końca lat 60. XX w. (źródło: Klimat wielkiego osiedla 1969, 6),

c) makieta Retkini-Wschód z początku lat 70. XX w. (źródło: Krygier, Sumień 1973, 209)

30 Tomasz Krystkowski

ible throughout the estate layout. Along with the parking

complexes located along them, they separated individual

housing complexes, forming clear boundaries that were

also spatial barriers.

The main commercial, service, and cultural centres –

one of district signicance, the rest of estate signicance

(A.P. 1969) – were planned to be grouped into compact

complexes located at tram stops along the main communi-

cation artery of the estate. Depending on the concept, they

were seen as large volumetric structures directly above the

road artery and tram stops or as complexes of light pavil-

ions located on both sides of the artery and connected by

footbridges (spanning the trench and connecting the tram

stops) (Sob. 1972; Szafer 1981, 191–193). The commer-

cial and service centres were situated on pedestrian axes

perpendicular to Wyszyńskiego Avenue, which were to

connect them with the areas of the three main housing

complexes.

Some parts of the estate were to receive special design

solutions (Fig. 3). For example, Retkinia Zachód-Południe

was developed based on a new urban norm project, which

increased the area of green spaces per resident (to 5.5 m

The main element of this part of Retkinia was the planned

estate park with an area of 9 ha (Sob. 1973). Additionally,

the spatial layout was to feature a linear building layout

located along the tram route and a freely shaped group of

11-story point-blocks located in the southern part (Krygier,

Sumień 1973, 209).

As in other parts of the estate, the main commercial cen-

tre was planned at the tram stop, above the street (a complex

of light commercial and service pavilions). In addition, the

creation of a complex of so-called associated services was

planned, consisting of a kindergarten, school, community

centre, and child care point (Sob. 1973).

Despite attempts to break the monotony and give dier-

ent characteristics to parts of the estate, the large scale of

the layout and the spatial solutions used by the architects

made the whole t into the trend of […] purist,“modelur

bansolutions” (Gliński, Kusztra and Müller 1984, 68). In-

dividual fragments lacked the intimate character that could

be found in earlier proposals.

along the main communication artery (Wyszyńskiego Ave-

nue) with a tram line running in a trench. The three housing

complexes were designed in dierent ways. The aim of their

spatial dierentiation was to break […] the monotony of

standardized “largepanel” architectureandfacilitate the

identicationof“one’sownestateandbuilding” (Krygier,

Sumień 1973, 208).

What distinguished this concept from earlier plans was

primarily the much larger scale, in common with many

other estate plans from that period. Although they were

concentrated around green areas and educational complex-

es, individual fragments of the layout (“Wschód”, “Śród-

mieście”, and “Zachód”) were not clearly divided into

smaller units, as in the earlier project. Despite the fact that

the large areas were to be lled with rather low buildings

(situated dierently than before), the designers proposed

the creation of a series of high and elongated “slab build-

ings”, sometimes several hundred metres long, signicant-

ly aecting the perception of the whole. Additionally, in

some parts of the estate the buildings were spaced with

signicant distances between them, aecting the spatial

cohesion of the whole.

Although the large areas were separated from the imme-

diate vicinity of the streets, the road arteries were very vis-

Fig. 2. Model of Retkina, early 1970s

(source: Krygier, Sumień 1973, 208)

Il. 2. Makieta Retkini, początek lat 70. XX w.

(źródło: Krygier, Sumień 1973, 208)

Fig. 3. Sketches of the estate’s service facilities:

a) a shopping and service complex planned over Wyszyńskiego Avenue (drawing by J. Wachowiak, source: Sob. 1974b, 6),

b) a prototype school (drawing by M. Klimczyk, source: Sob. 1974a, 6)

Il. 3. Szkice obiektów usługowych osiedla:

a) zespołu handlowo-usługowego planowanego nad al. Wyszyńskiego (rys. J. Wachowiak, źródło: Sob. 1974b, 6),

b) prototypowej szkoły (rys. M. Klimczyk, źródło: Sob. 1974a, 6)

a b

EvolutionofthespatiallayoutofamodernistmultifamilyresidentialestateontheexampleoftheRetkiniahousingestateinŁódź 31

The vast majority of buildings in Retkinia were built us-

ing the Szczecin system, with only a few structures made

using the Wk-70 system. However, the estate built in the

1970s and 1980s is not a homogeneous spatial layout. It is

a combination of several dierent smaller layouts, among

which the comb layout, created by 5-story blocks,

mostly

elongated (from 2 to 12 staircases), can be considered dom-

inant. In addition, many nest layouts can be distinguished,

shaped by a series of varied structures (5- or 11-story

point-block buildings, 5- or 11-story 2-staircase buildings,

5-story characteristic L-shaped buildings), linear layouts

(created by elongated 5-, but also 11-story, even 10- or

11-staircase “slab buildings”), or the least popular block

layouts (created by 5-story blocks) (Fig. 4).

The readability of the entire layout can be considered

on two scales, macro and micro. On the macro scale, the

main

compositional axes (communication arteries) are very

clear

and distinctly divide the estate into individual parts.

On the micro scale (individual parts of the estate), read-

ability is disrupted, which on the one hand results from the

way buildings are positioned relative to each other, as well

as from the insucient number of landmarks, and on the

other hand is related to the conguration of internal streets

and pedestrian paths (paths without continuity, paths that

suddenly end, improvised paths). These elements nega-

tively aect the level of integration of the individual parts

of the estate.

Despite attempts to diversify the form of the estate (var-

ied residential buildings), the overall concept was quite

monotonous and less varied, at least when compared to the

presented models (Figs. 1c, 2). There were few structures

that really stood out from the rest. An exception can be

found in one of the few commercial-service buildings, the

“Okrąglak” [Circular building] (Fig. 5a), located near the

intersection of Wyszyńskiego Avenue and Retkińska Street.

There were few commercial-service buildings in the initial

phase of implementation in Retkinia. To meet the current

needs of residents, in some parts of the estate, apartments

located on the ground oors of residential buildings were

adapted for service premises. In addition, several prefabri-

cated pavilions were built, made of concrete prefabricates

or as buildings with a light steel structure (Fig. 5b).

The spaces between buildings are greatly varied in size.

In many places, the sense of enclosure is very distinct, al-

though the type of enclosure is often dicult to classify.

Often, it is also impossible to determine the central angles,

Fig. 4. Retkinia residential buildings: a–e) buildings from the 1970s and 1980s, f–g) buildings erected between 1989 and 2005,

h) buildings erected between 2006 and 2015, i) contemporary buildings (photo by T. Krystkowski)

Il. 4. Zabudowa mieszkaniowa Retkini: a–e) obiekty z lat 70. i 80. XX w., f–g) obiekty powstałe od 1989 do 2005 r.,

h) obiekty powstałe od 2006 do 2015 r., i) obiekty współczesne (fot. T. Krystkowski)

a d g

b e h

c f i

32 Tomasz Krystkowski

due to their spreading out over the area. In the case of the

most popular comb layouts, the central angles range from

~30º to ~46º. These values are presented in more detail

in Table 1, including the Building Coverage (BCR) and

Floor Area (FAR) ratios (also given in Figs. 6a, b). For

most areas of the estate, these values are quite low (ranging

from 0.08–0.37 and 0.38–1.40 for low buildings), with the

exception of fragments of linear layouts built using long

and high “slab blocks” (values 0.18–0.40 and 2.03–4.53).

For years, little attention was paid to the shaping (ar-

rangement or equipment) of the spaces between buildings.

For several years, the estate was a construction site lacking

basic elements of the space between the blocks, such as

pavements. Many pedestrian paths connecting important

parts of the estate were elephant paths. The space itself was

“diversied” by building materials or construction waste

(e.g., damaged slabs). Such problems, often mentioned by

the local daily press, aected many similar estates in Po-

land (Basista 2001).

Until the end of the 1990s, the facilities on the estate were

rather basic and devoid of aesthetic or functional qualities

(vast lawns, asphalt sports elds, poor and poorly equipped

playgrounds on gravel). There were some sculptures, al-

though only in some parts of the estate (mainly in Retkin-

ia-Wschód) (Figs. 7a–c). Among the most interesting were

the several-metre high openwork “Morela” [Apricot] (author

Ryszard Popow), located within the road intersection, out-

side the estate itself but in its immediate vicinity (Fig. 7c),

the smaller but characteristic “Bociany” [Storks] and “Ma-

cierzyństwo” [Motherhood] (author Michał

Gałkiewicz,

a c e

b d f

Fig. 5. Commercial-service buildings and complexes of the estate completed: a) and b) in the 1970s and 1980s, c) at the beginning of the 1990s,

d) at the beginning of the 21

century, e, f) contemporary (photo by T. Krystkowski)

Il. 5. Obiekty i zespoły handlowo-usługowe osiedla zrealizowane: a) i b) w latach 70. i 80. XX w., c) na początku lat 90. XX w.,

d) na początku XXI w., e), f) współcześnie (fot. T. Krystkowski)

Fig. 6. Łódź, Retkinia, schemes of: a) Building Coverage Ratio (BCR), b) Floor Area Ratio (FAR) (elaborated by T. Krystkowski)

Il. 6. Łódź, Retkinia, schemat: a) powierzchni zabudowy, b) intensywności zabudowy (oprac. T. Krystkowski)

EvolutionofthespatiallayoutofamodernistmultifamilyresidentialestateontheexampleoftheRetkiniahousingestateinŁódź 33

Figs. 7a, b), as well as the somewhat hidden “Autonomizm

X – Dziurawiec” [Autonomism X – Holey-Thing] (author

Andrzej Jocz) in the inter-block space of the estate (Nowa-

kowska 2020; 2021; Pawłowska 2021).

Not all elements of the estate were realized according

to the original plans. Despite obvious shortcomings and

problems, a backbone was created that could be supple-

mented and adapted to the needs of residents in the fol-

lowing years. During construction, some passages under

long buildings, which were intended to shorten the way

for residents, were abandoned. In some places, planned

“osets” in the shapes of residential buildings, which were

supposed to prevent the monotony of the entire estate,

were also abandoned. However, the separation of pedestri-

an trac from vehicular trac, and above all the creation

of separated estate alleys with playgrounds, rest areas, and

small architecture, were seen as important elements that

were successfully implemented (Sobierajska 1975).

Afterthepoliticaltransformation

After the political transformation in 1989, the funda-

mental spatial layout of the entire estate did not undergo

radical changes. The emerging residential buildings mostly

lled previously undeveloped areas, and did not disrupt the

previously established structure. The residential buildings

constructed in the 1990s and early 2000s stood out pri-

marily due to their architecture, which diered from ear-

lier buildings, and in some cases, their urban form. Many

buildings, although constructed over a period of more than

a decade (from the time of the transformation), and de-

spite being in some cases prefabricated and in others us-

ing traditional technology, are quite similar to each other.

The buildings are distinguished mainly by the details of

the balconies (dierently shaped railings), sloping roofs,

or nishing materials. The space around them is shaped

similarly. The buildings clearly enclose the space, creat-

ing internal courtyards. These are built up on all sides or

sometimes open, but still strongly perceptible (the value of

the central angle ranges from ~24º to ~50º). These spaces

are publicly accessible and serve the residents. The men-

tioned buildings create “mini-urban” layouts of a block

character. Some of the developments also stand out with

slightly higher Building Coverage (BCR) and Floor Area

(FAR) ratios (0.18–0.29 and 0.89–1.38 for low-rise build-

ings) compared to similar-sized blocks built in the 1970s

and 1980s.

The latest buildings (from around 2020), dier from the

oldest buildings primarily in architectural form, with sim-

ple shapes in subdued colours. Some also stand out from

the surroundings due to their signicantly higher Building

Coverage (BCR) and Floor Area (FAR) ratios (0.42 and

2.11, although low, 5-story buildings predominate), as well

central angle values (~55º to ~62º) resulting from the small

distance between buildings. Unlike the developments from

previous decades, where the space in the immediate vicin-

ity of the buildings was open (public), the new develop-

ments are closed. This space is also sometimes devoid of

features that could serve the residents (e.g., the immediate

surroundings of the buildings is a parking lot). Therefore,

one might wonder to what extent the new developments

add value to the estate, forming closed enclaves for the rest

of the residents or going beyond the main area of Retkinia

(new developments in Kusocińskiego Street).

At the same time, since the mid-1990s the blocks built

in the 1970s and 1980s have been undergoing a process

of thermal modernization and related aesthetic improve-

ments. The latter took very dierent forms, with colour

compositions of dubious value and more subdued realiza-

tions in recent years.

Fig. 7. Sculptures within the fragment of the Retkinia-Wschód estate:

a) “Bociany” and b) “Macierzyństwo” by M. Gałkiewicz, c) “Morela” by R. Popow (photo by T. Krystkowski)

Il. 7. Rzeźby w obrębie fragmentu osiedla Retkinia-Wschód:

a) „Bociany” i b) „Macierzyństwo” autorstwa M. Gałkiewicza, c) „Morela” autorstwa R. Popowa (fot. T. Krystkowski)

a b c

34 Tomasz Krystkowski

Religious buildings are a group of important buildings

in the structure of some large-panel housing estates. In

Retkinia, there are three churches: the parish of the Sacred

Heart of Jesus in Retkińska Street, the parish of the Holy

Family in Wyszyńskiego Avenue, and the parish of the

Holy Eucharist in Popiełuszki Street. Another church, the

parish of Christ the King, is located on the outskirts of the

estate, between Retkinia and Karolew, in Bandurskiego

Avenue. Except for the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Retkiń ska

Street, construction of these buildings began after 1989

(Grymin 2009). Two of the churches are located near im-

portant streets. They are clearly exposed, but the way the

immediate surroundings are shaped reduces their role as

local landmarks. Both churches are located in chaotically

developed areas – in the vicinity of unarranged greenery,

large parking lots, and an overhead power line in the case

of the church in Bandurskiego Street, and in the vicini-

ty of garages, low pavilions housing various workshops,

and areas of improvised parking in the case of the church

in Popiełuszki Street. The two other churches are located

“inside” the estate structure. The largest, and at the same

time the oldest and most interesting in terms of architec-

ture is the church located in Retkińska Street, which was

rebuilt during the construction of the estate at the turn of

the 1970s and 1980s. However, it is obscured and almost

completely dominated by nearby 12-story “slab blocks”.

The church located in Wyszyńskiego Avenue was for years

a “temporary” chapel situated near recreational areas and

arranged greenery. Due to its small size, it is lost in the

overall estate layout. Currently, the construction of a larg-

er, nal building is underway. Despite the dierences in the

scale, quality of architecture, and the shape of the imme-

diate surroundings, the churches have something in com-

mon, i.e., a weak spatial connection with the estate struc-

ture. This reduces their role as important buildings on the

estate scale.

The greatest changes concerning the development of

Retkinia after 1989 mainly involved commercial-service

buildings, which were lacking during the main implemen-

tation period of the entire concept. A signicant number of

commercial-service buildings were built near public trans-

port stops, in areas planned as commercial-service centres.

Therefore, it can be said that they continue the original as-

sumptions of the estate designers to an extent.

However, the visions of the designers, who saw these

centres rather as shopping streets with service premises

located on the ground oors of buildings, friendly and at-

tractive spaces for residents with appropriately shaped small

architecture, did not materialize. The commercial buildings

that began to be built more intensively in the 2000s are most-

ly typical buildings for popular supermarket chains, supple-

mented by service pavilions built in recent years (Fig. 5e, f).

These buildings do not create coherent urban and architec-

tural complexes. The space around them is often dominated

by expanses of parking lots. The main clusters of commerce

and services in Retkinia are therefore complexes primarily

shaped for car users. Despite their aws, these complexes

broke the residential monoculture of the estate.

Many spaces accompanying residential buildings have

undergone signicant positive transformations in recent

years. These changes largely concern the main recreation-

al areas of the estate. Some of these have nally been

equipped

adequately to their function. New sports elds,

playgrounds, brine graduation towers, and outdoor gyms

have been built (Figs. 8a–c). The quality of greenery has

also signicantly improved, with intentionally shaped orna-

mental compositions. After several decades, the estate has

at least partially begun to look as its designers imagined.

Fig. 8. Selected main public and recreational spaces of the estate:

a–c) fragment of Retkinia-Śródmieście, d) still unfinished “park” in the Retkinia Zachód-Południe (photo by T. Krystkowski)

Il. 8. Wybrane główne przestrzenie publiczne i rekreacyjne osiedla:

a–c) fragment Retkini-Śródmieście, d) ciągle niedokończony „park” w części Retkinia Zachód-Południe (fot. T. Krystkowski)

a cb

EvolutionofthespatiallayoutofamodernistmultifamilyresidentialestateontheexampleoftheRetkiniahousingestateinŁódź 35

Summary

The spatial layout of the Retkinia estate in Łódź has

undergone considerable transformation. The composition,

architecture, and volume of buildings, as well as the forms

of the spaces between them, have changed from unied but

more intimate forms, through large-scale, “model” solu-

tions, to individualized, small layouts. Although more than

50 years have passed since the construction of the estate

began, the whole is still not a completed urban layout.

Despite positive changes in the estate’s space, there are

still areas requiring further transformations. These include

areas with the potential to become main public spaces,

including unarranged greenery areas which lack proper

maintenance, equipment, or clear boundaries (Fig. 8d).

By introducing properly shaped new buildings, it would

be possible to spatially organize some parts of the estate,

maintain its coherence, and emphasize the importance of

certain spaces.

This applies to areas that are commercial centres. There

is potential for the development of trade and diverse ser-

vices to strengthen Retkinia’s functional oer. However, it

is important that new buildings create architecturally and

urbanistically coherent complexes that add value to the

entire estate structure. Such developments could not only

enrich the landscape but also serve as landmarks, of which

there are still few.

Another issue to address is the integration of individual

parts of the estate, which are currently very varied. This

is inuenced by the fact that many important pedestrian

routes lack continuity, with some of them being still im-

provised paths.

The above issues cover only part of the problems to

be solved. Solving issues related to form (including aes-

thetics), functions (diversity of function), equipment, and

the signicance of spaces could have a positive impact.

For example, increasing the availability of high-quality

public spaces and amenities can signicantly strengthen

residents’ outdoor activities, as mentioned by Jan Gehl

(Gehl 2009; 2014). These elements also play a huge role in

creating a suitable environment for walking (walkability),

which is one of the key features of liveable and sustainable

neighbourhoods.

Translatedby

JohnSpeller

Type of development:

Building Coverage

Ratio (BCR)

Floor area ratio

(FAR)

Value of the central angle

Buildings from the 1970s and 1980s

comb layout (low) 0.13–0.23 0.65–1.17 from ~30º to ~46º

block layout (low) 0.20–0.24 1.00–1.16

from ~16º

to ~25º–34º

nested layout (low) – point-blocks 0.08–0.20 0.38–0.95 *

nested layout (low) – longitudinal, 2-staircases 0.19–0.37 0.95–1.83 from ~48º to ~51º

nested layout (low) – L-shaped buildings 0.15–0.17 0.69–0.82 *

nested layout (high) – point-blocks 0.12–0.15 1.35–1.40 *

nested layout (high) – longitudinal, 2-staircases 0.11–0.16 1.32–2.41 from ~46º to ~51º

linear layout (low) 0.17–0.25 0.80–1.14 ~30º to ~50º

linear layout (high) 0.18–0.40 2.03–4.53 *

Buildings from the 1990s

block layout (low) 0.18–0.28 0.89–1.38 from ~24º to ~37º

Turn of the 20

and 21

century buildings

block layout (low) 0.20–0.29 0.88–1.46 ~28º to ~50º

block layout (high) 0.38 2.54 –

Contemporary development (last 5 years)

block layout (low) 0.20 1.21 ~46º

mixed layout (low/high- with low-rise buildings dominating) 0.42 2.11 ~55º to ~62º

* no possibility to determine reliable values of the central angle

Table 1. Type of development, Building Coverage (BCR) and Floor Area (FAR) ratios, and the value of the central angle in inter-block enclosures

(elaborated by T. Krystkowski)

Tabela 1. Rodzaj zabudowy a współczynniki powierzchni i intensywności zabudowy oraz wartość kąta środkowego we wnętrzach międzyblokowych

(oprac. T. Krystkowski)

36 Tomasz Krystkowski

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Streszczenie

Śmiałe wizje, rzeczywistość, szanse na przyszłość.

Ewolucja układu przestrzennego modernistycznego wielorodzinnego zespołu mieszkaniowego na przykładzie osiedla Retkinia w Łodzi

Modernistyczne wielorodzinne osiedla stanowią miejsce zamieszkania około ośmiu milionów Polaków. W Łodzi niemal połowa liczby mieszkań-

ców żyje na takich osiedlach. Zespoły te, realizowane na ogromną skalę od lat 60. XX w. do czasu transformacji ustrojowej w 1989 r., będą jeszcze

przez długie dekady odgrywały ogromną rolę w strukturze przestrzennej miasta.

Przedmiotem artykułu jest Retkinia – największe łódzkie osiedle. Realizowane od początku lat 70. XX w. zasadniczy kształt uzyskało na przełomie

lat 80. i 90. XX w. Celem autora pracy jest przybliżenie ewolucji formy przestrzennej osiedla. Począwszy od śmiałych wizji architektów kreślących

tętniące życiem centra handlowo-usługowe osiedla, zindywidualizowane przestrzenie publiczne, zielone tereny rekreacyjne o bogatym wyposażeniu

czy eksperymentalne obiekty, po znacznie uboższą realizację – układ przestrzenny pozbawiony wielu istotnych elementów, w latach późniejszych

uzupełniany i dostosowywany do bieżących potrzeb, a jednocześnie ciągle „nieukończony”.

Badanie oparto na kwerendzie archiwalnej, analizie i ocenie własnej przestrzeni osiedla (wzajemne relacje zabudowy, przestrzenie publiczne i ich

wyposażenie, układ komunikacyjny) oraz studiach literatury przedmiotu.

Wyniki wskazują, że istniejący układ przestrzenny daje wiele możliwości przekształceń w kontekście aktualnych potrzeb mieszkańców oraz wy-

zwań współczesności.

Słowa kluczowe: Łódź, Retkinia, powojenny modernizm, osiedle mieszkaniowe