A growing number of urban interventions, such as culture-led regeneration strategies, has emerged alongside growing awareness of the concept of re-urbanization. These interventions evolve to create a holistic urban vision, with aims to promote social cohesion and strengthen local identity as opposed to traditional goals of measuring the economic impact of new cultural developments. Szczecin’s, Poland urban strategy is focused on the expansion of culture—a condition for improving the quality of life and increasing the city’s attractiveness. This article assesses the potential for re-urbanization of Szczecin’s flagship cultural developments. Questionnaire surveys and qualitative research methods were used to assess the characteristics that distinguish cultural projects in the formal, location-related, functional, and symbolic layers, as well as examining their social perception. The results show that the strength of these indicators of urbanscape identity affects how the cultural developments are assessed by the society. Semiotic coherence and functional complexity of the structures have a significant impact on the sense of identification, while their monumentality and exposure contribute to the assessment of the impact on their surroundings. A development with a firm identity, embedded in the city’s tradition not only preserves the cultural heritage of the city but also makes inhabitants feel association with the new project.

The historical landscape reveals diverse social, economic, political transformations that create an identity of place, one which should be protected for future generations. Manor and park estates have been and continue to be valuable parts of cultural heritage and a distinguishing feature of the rural landscape in Europe. Since 1945, however, they have often failed to resist negative changes, especially in Eastern Europe where, after the Second World War, countries adopted the socialist system, which abolished private property and placed many historical buildings under the management of state institutions for several decades. In this context, it is important to study their current state of preservation. This study analyzes the condition of manor and park estates in Western Pomerania, Poland, that became the property of State Agricultural Farms (PGRs) after the Second World War. For this purpose, it was necessary to determine the extent of their transformation brought about by the State Agricultural Farms from 1949–1991, as well as changes that have occurred in the past 30 years. A qualitative method was used to assess the preservation of historical manor and park estates and to classify them according to their degree of preservation. The results showed that 42% of the estates surveyed have had their original form and spatial composition transformed, and their preservation status is assessed as moderate. Nearly 30% are in poor condition, which is hindering their full revitalization and the restoration of cultural and natural values. Only 28% of manor and park estates are maintained in a very good state. It is a matter of concern that the decline of these estates has been continuous and that restoration efforts have been limited. However, by assessing the current state of preservation, we can identify the measures necessary to stop further deterioration and preserve the cultural heritage of the region. It is clear that the preservation of these estates is essential to maintaining the identity of Western Pomerania. Manor and park estates are historical monuments associated with the people who once lived there. They must be protected to promote sustainable development and preserve a common European cultural heritage for future generations.

Apart from interactivity, representativeness (in the meaning of grandness) is the basic and required characteristic of public open spaces. The representativeness of public open spaces (POS) is understood in terms of their ability to portray cities and their inhabitants as a whole. This study considers the historical value of public spaces and determines their contemporary role as spaces for representing cities. Moreover, we explore the relationship between the natural value of such places and their representativeness function. It was necessary to define the criteria determining the representativeness of public spaces, including their physical, semiotic, and functional features. The study was carried out in the midtown zone of Szczecin. The subject of the study is urban landscape objects. The landscape, according to the definition presented by the European Landscape Convention, is part of the land, as perceived by local people and visitors, which evolves through time as a result of being acted upon by natural forces and human beings. The landscape approach used in this research enables an assessment that requires taking into account and comparing many aspects that build the layers of the landscape. Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used to assess the characteristics that distinguish POS in the symbolic, formal, location-related and functional layers and to examine their ecological value. The results of the study generally confirmed our hypothesis: i.e., embedding the studied POS within the city’s tradition—with its strong semiotic connections and with the specific history of the place (genius loci)—increases the space’s range of contemporary, representative functions. At the same time, an apparent decrease in the prestige of the studied POS was observed. Although they originally had high historical value, they either lost key artifacts constituting that identity or were excluded from the main functional and compositional axes of the city. Moreover, this study proves that the representativeness of POS, conditioned by historical value and contemporary functional, spatial, and location features, is generally inconsistent with their high natural value. Still, this inconsistency does not have to be a mean contradiction.

Numerous scientific studies demonstrate that incorporating elements of horticultural therapy or sensory gardens into green spaces can have a positive impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of users. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is also a need to establish sensory gardens within educational and research institutions, such as universities. The results of a survey revealed that all respondents expressed interest in the creation of sensory-stimulating gardens. However, the issue of their accessibility remains subject to further discussion. Design concepts prepared by students, based on the survey findings, also confirm the feasibility of implementing sensory garden elements within the surroundings of university buildings.

Alongside formality, recreation and fostering integration are the two main features that contribute to the attractiveness of urban public space. The aim of this study is to investigate specific types of recreation activity in the most formal squares in Szczecin. In addition, this research analysed the age of users and whether recreation activity involved groups or individual users. The research covered six squares located in the core city centre and at the same time at on the main urban axes. The study is based on multiple direct observations method, as well as historical, iconographic, and field studies. Differences were observed both in the saturation and diversity of activity types in individual squares, as well as in the age of users and the way people congregate. According to the results of the study, both the location of the square and the links to public realm, as well as the elements of its equipment, are factors that influence the sociability and types of recreational activities practiced in the public space.

Obecna nadodrzańska dzielnica Szczecina – Golęcino (niem. Frauendorf, Golazin, Golentin) – należała przed II wojną światową do chętnie uczęszczanych przez szczecinian miejsc, ze względu na atrakcyjne położenie z malowniczym widokiem na Odrę. W połowie XIX stulecia na całym obszarze Golęcina znajdowało się wiele różnego rodzaju kawiarni, restauracji i hoteli, a dodatkowym atutem ówczesnego Frauendorfu było istnienie na jego terenie dwóch zakładów wodoleczniczych. Blask całej okolicy nadawało jednak wówczas Wzgórze Elizy (niem. Elisenhöhe, obecnie nazywane Wzgórzem Kupały), stanowiące naturalne wzniesienie morenowe skarpy nadodrzańskiej o wysokości 70 m nad poziomem morza. Rozciąga się z niego piękny widok, zarówno na Odrę, jak i pobliską dolinę wokół potoku wpadającego do rzeki. Na wzgórzu znajdowała się restauracja z rozległym tarasem widokowym. Działania wojenne oraz okres po 1945 r. spowodowały, że zagospodarowanie całej dzielnicy wraz ze słynnym Wzgórzem Elizy zostało zdegradowane, a po turystyczno-rekreacyjnym charakterze okolicy niewiele dziś pozostało. Zabudowa Wzgórza Elizy zostało zupełnie zniszczona, teren porastają samosieje, a takĪe zdziczałe drzewa owocowe i winorośl. Dominujący w krajobrazie stał się, zdewastowany w ostatniej dekadzie, schron przeciwlotniczy wzniesiony na stoku wzgórza w trakcie wojny. W referacie zostaną przedstawione możliwości rewitalizacji tego obszaru opartej na historycznych, a nieistniejących obecnie elementach zagospodarowania w połączeniu ze współczesnym pomysłem na wykorzystanie schronu i jego otoczenia.