In the latest issues - Mazovia Regional Studies

The Transatlantic Radio Station in Babice as a landscape dominant and a symbol of modernity of the Second Polish Republic

Jarosław Jacek Chrapek

DOI: 10.21858/msr.57.01

Vol. no: 57

The article discusses the origins, significance and landscape impact of the Transatlantic Radio Station in Babice – one of the most important technical achievements of the Second Polish Republic. The radio station was built between 1921 and 1923 under an agreement with the Radio Corporation of America and was a key element of the Poland’s transatlantic communication system, handling connections to New York and later also to Tokyo, Cairo, Beirut, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. Ten towers, each over 126 metres high, erected on marshy land near Warsaw, were the tallest structures in Poland between 1923 and 1931, dominating the skyline of the capital and its surroundings. An analysis of historical sources, press releases, promotional and iconographic materials, along with a visibility simulation, showed that the facility was visible at distances of up to 78 kilometres and within an area of approx. 7,800 square kilometres. The radio station was not only a strategic installation but also a symbol of modernity and a landmark of symbolic value, comparable to Warsaw’s most recognisable structures. During World War II, it served the Kriegsmarine as a transmitter for U-boat communication. Destroyed in 1945, it remained forgotten for decades and is now the subject of interdisciplinary research combining the history of technology, archaeology, landscape studies and cultural heritage.

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The granting and revocation of municipal charters in Mazovia from the Middle Ages to the present day

Marcin Grodzicki

DOI: 10.21858/msr.57.03

Vol. no: 57

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The article addresses issues relating to the municipal charters granted to current and former cities in Mazowieckie Voivodeship. The spatial arrangement of cities throughout history is presented chronologically. The analyses were linked to factors relevant to cities – population size and the concentration of listed buildings. The theoretical foundations were outlined and the historical background was brought forward, including events that have influenced the subject matter. The loss of municipal charter was examined and attention was paid to the causes of decline. Selected cities, representative of the voivodeship, were described in detail. Reference is also made to contemporary processes associated with the establishment of new cities and the restoration of municipal charter to former cities, with particular attention paid to the period following 1989. The article highlights the link between granting municipal charter and a settlement network. It presents foundation of a city as one of the main factors shaping the contemporary settlement pattern of Mazowieckie Voivodeship.

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A model vision for improving transport efficiency – the case study of Zakopane

Maria Zachara

DOI: 10.21858/msr.57.02

Vol. no: 57

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This article addresses the issues concerning the transport system in Zakopane, highlighting the inefficiency of the current public transport and cycling mobility. The provisions of planning and strategic documents, a field survey and the results of a questionnaire point to the need to calm motor traffic in the city centre. To improve the system, a series of measures aimed at addressing current challenges were proposed. The focus is on increasing the share of public transport and cycling mobility in the urban transport network, creating an attractive transport offer and prompting to use Park&Ride and Bike&Ride facilities. Implementing any changes to improve the system requires in-depth analyses and expert discussions to develop solutions that prevent potential conflicts arising from various causes and consequences. The study culminates in a model vision for improving the transport system in Zakopane.

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The introduction of classificatory numbering for plots of land in Warsaw in 1784 as part of the modernisation of urban space

Marta Kuc-Czerep

DOI: 10.21858/msr.56.01

Vol. no: 56

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This article addresses the issue of the introduction of classificatory numbering for plots of land in the Warsaw urban area in 1784. The initiative for this undertaking came from the Chartering Commission, convened by King Stanisław August, whose aim was to estimate costs and raise necessary funds for building barracks for the Crown Foot Guard, the Crown Horse Guard, the Lithuanian Foot Guard and the Crown Artillery. The task of assigning numbers to plots of land was carried out by the Cobblestone Commission, chaired by Grand Marshal of the Crown Michał Jerzy Mniszech. As a result, in 1784 a handwritten schedule of the cubit tax was created, and a printed schedule of dues for barracks was published. The decision to assign numbers to plots of land in Warsaw was part of a trend in urban planning measures undertaken in Europe during the Enlightenment. On the one hand, this solution served to increase control over citizens and was intended to facilitate tax collection and conscription. On the other hand, it provided better orientation within the city, which was important for commercial activity and the operation of the real estate market.

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Culture as a factor in the socio-economic development: Trends in Mazowieckie Voivodeship

Ewa Baranowska, Marcin Grodzicki, Magdalena Żuchewicz

DOI: 10.21858/msr.56.04

Vol. no: 56

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This article presents the conditions, potential and development trends of culture as a factor in the socio-economic development of Mazowieckie Voivodeship. It addresses Warsaw, which brings together cultural heritage assets and is a cultural centre of the country that is recognised internationally. The authors discuss the tangible and intangible resources that determine cultural and tourism potential and affect the socio-economic development of sub-regional cities and selected settlement units in the voivodeship. They also discuss changes in the way culture is created and enjoyed, including the use of technology and artificial intelligence, which present both an opportunity and a development challenge. The article also presents the actions of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship Local Government to protect cultural heritage, develop culture and foster social inclusion, including cultural institutions, infrastructure projects and support programmes. The authors employ a desk research method to present culture as an element of regional identity and a resource for the socio-economic development of the voivodeship.

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Prospects of creating a regional hub based on the Central Transport Port

Tomasz Wardak

DOI: 10.21858/msr.55.01

Vol. no: 55

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The article characterises the aviation market in the Warsaw metropolitan area in 2024, in relation to the pre-pandemic period, describes the current standing of LOT Polish Airlines and the current standing and prospects of Warsaw Chopin Airport and refers to the expansion of Warsaw’s duopoly in the context of market development. The main objective of the study is to analyse the prospects of the development of an aviation transfer centre (hub) based on the planned new airport (Central Transport Port), taking into account existing trends in the aviation market on both macro- and micro-regional scales. The risks associated with the location of the Central Transport Port, the expansion of Warsaw Chopin Airport, the expansion of Warsaw Modlin Airport operations and the restrictions resulting from the closure of airspace over Russia due to the ongoing war in Ukraine were analysed. The beneficiaries of this situation were also identified, i.e. Istanbul Airport and airports in the states of the Persian Gulf. The study made use of available sources, including trade papers, industry websites, etc.

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Urban parks as a component of municipal administration and a city’s sustainable development policy – the example of Warsaw

Krystian Malesa

DOI: 10.21858/msr.55.02

Vol. no: 55

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This article describes the role of urban parks as a component of municipal administration and a city’s sustainable development policy, as exemplified by Warsaw. The paper combines a theoretical approach based on the concept of public goods and public governance theory with research conducted using polls among the residents of the capital city. The research findings indicate that urban parks are perceived primarily as spaces for leisure, relaxation and contact with nature, and that their ecological and social functions are an integral part of the quality of life in a city. The importance of parks in adapting cities to climate change, improving air quality, and social integration was emphasised. Urban parks also set an example of public goods financed from local government budgets. The conclusions indicate the need for further development of urban policies supporting green infrastructure, increase in local communities participation in decision-making processes and research on the economic and social impact of parks.

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Landscape resolution – changes in urban space by way of example of Ciechanów and Płock

Ewa Baranowska, Grażyna Gapińska, Martyna Sałata

DOI: 10.21858/msr.55.04

Vol. no: 55

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According to the provisions of the European Landscape Convention of the Council of Europe, “landscape is a key element of individual and social well-being”, this conceptualisation pertains to both urban and rural spaces. Changes occurring in the landscape result from economic development and land use, and a manifestation of these changes in progressing urbanisation is very often “advertising chaos”, affecting the quality of space, its readability and accessibility, both for residents of a given settlement unit and tourists.

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