Creation of the built environment and research in this field pose a particularly difficult challenge nowadays. The pace of social and technological change does not allow for evolutionary development of cities and the formation of their land use according to current conditions. Creating spatial solutions that are unmatched in their contexts is becoming not only possible, but very probable (see Alexander, 1964). The development of the built environment involves not only art, technology, history, economics and law, but also philosophy, culture, medicine, psychology, sociology and many other spheres in which human life is manifested. However, only a relatively small number of disciplines such as spatial planning, urban design, urban planning, etc. (ignoring at this point the differences in the meaning of the concepts) in their application layer are meant to create space and bear responsibility for it. Also society has certain requirements of practical nature towards them.This article attempts to outline the nature of research on space urbanised by people and to determine the four main fields of research aimed at the problems of man and the built environment. In the next part, particular attention is paid to issues related to the impact of the built environment on the life of its residents in order to highlight the particular role and complexity of this area of research. This study, acting as a kind of test of the research, cannot be considered representative. Nevertheless, the analysis prompts several reflections on the current and future role of the built environment in the development of our civilisation, as well as further challenges related to it.

The article presents selected issues within the field of space syntax, its theoretical assumptions, and application possibilities, taking into account, especially, works in the field of social and economic geography, and spatial management. The article attempts to present Polish works in the field of space syntax as related to the wider spectrum of its global applications. In Poland, the theory and research tools of space syntax are rarely used. It appears that there are two factors that influence the current marginalisation of space syntax. The first one is the relative complexity of the research procedure, which requires knowledge of specialist computer software. The second arises directly from the fact that, in reality, only occasional use of space syntax tools has been attempted within the Polish arena. This determines the actual lack of a native space syntax community that would support subsequent researchers who are ready to conduct such studies.

The article analyses the transformations and the internal diversity of the oldest urban structures of central Łódź, one of the biggest Polish cities. 19th-century Łódź was one of the greatest centres of the textile industry in Europe. Currently, the city faces major challenges, including a dramatic population decrease, population ageing as well as a vast revitalisation of urban structures aimed at reinforcing the new idea of the city’s inward development. The research on the layout of Łódź is based on the modern image of the city as well as four images preserved in historical plans. The subsequent, chronological models are analysed in terms of topological features with the use of space syntax methods. The conducted research made it possible to identify the internal, configurational diversity of the historic urban core of Łódź. A seemingly monotonous, orthogonal urban layout is, from a topological perspective, highly diversified. Due to the actions undertaken in Łódź and aimed at restoring urban structures in the broad sense, the study not only has a cognitive goal, but it also carries a practical context.

In accordance with the assumptions of space syntax, spatial configuration shapes spatial patterns of pedestrian traffic. The influence of configuration (spatial relations) on, for instance, pedestrian route choice causes further consequences, making an impact on the land use pattern or providing opportunities to form social relations. The identification of the configurational features of space may, therefore, play a crucial role in the processes of urban planning and renewal. The goal of the study is to verify the assumed relations between the theoretical measures of space syntax and the actual pedestrian traffic. The study proves that theoretical indices are strongly connected to the real pedestrian traffic intensity. This fact confirms the value of space syntax methodology in the studies on the relations between the society and the built environment.

Artykuł zawiera wyniki badań nad konfiguracją przestrzeni małych miast wschodniej Wielkopolski. Postępowanie badawcze oraz wnioskowanie oparte zostało na teorii i narzędziach składni przestrzeni (space syntax). Dotychczasowe badania utrzymane w tym nurcie wskazują, że ujęcie charakterystyczne dla składni przestrzeni wprowadza wartościowe wątki do badań nad funkcjonowaniem społeczeństw miejskich. Dowiedziono m.in. związków pomiędzy konfiguracyjnymi własnościami przestrzeni a ruchem pieszym, segregacją przestrzenną mieszkańców oraz lokalizacją przedsiębiorstw i aktywnością gospodarczą. Na arenie polskiej takie podejście do morfologii osiedli miejskich jest stosunkowo rzadkie. Prezentowany artykuł stanowi próbę wypełnienia tej luki. Przedstawione rozważania koncentrują się na konfiguracji przestrzeni najmniejszych miast wschodniej Wielkopolski oraz ocenie zmian ich rozplanowania w okresie ostatnich 100 lat, w świetle integracji, jednej z kluczowych miar składni przestrzeni. Analizy wykazały, że w rozplanowaniu badanych miast zaszły w analizowanym okresie istotne zmiany. Niemal wszystkie badane ośrodki rozwinęły swoje układy, niezależnie od zmiany stanu ludnościowego. Skala przeobrażeń przestrzennych nawiązuje do sytuacji demograficznej, zwłaszcza w miastach, które powiększyły swój potencjał ludnościowy.

Tourism and recreation are a very topical issue in Uniejów – a city which only recently introduced and developed these functions. This article is devoted to the tourists-residents relationship. Apart from a review of selected theoretical issues it also presents findings of surveys which examined the attitudes of the inhabitants of Uniejów and its region to the growing numbers of tourists, and their opinions about the effect of the new functions on the situation of the city. The present level of development of Uniejów's tourist functions as measured by the Baretje-Deffert index is low. The city is currently in the growth stage (according to Butler's stages of tourist areas evolution). This is in line with the positive attitude of the resident population to tourists. The respondents to the questionnaire survey reported good or fairly good relations with tourists visiting the city. Also, the majority of Uniejów's inhabitants have a positive opinion about the influence of the changes taking place in the city on the quality of life. However, some negative effects of increased tourist traffic have also been poined out, such as higher prices of goods in the shops.