The social picture of prefabricated large-panel tower blocks on the example of the “Przyczółek Grochowski” housing estate

Abstract

The aim of the work was to demonstrate that the residential estates of prefabricated tower blocks in Warsaw, despite their flaws and negative stereotypes, make good if not some of the better places to live in present-day Warsaw. Burdened with bad publicity and yet commonplace in the landscape of Polish cities, concrete tower block estates originating in the era of the Polish People's Republic have a complex history. Their creation was a response to the urgent problem of the housing deficit in Poland lying in ruins after the war and also a significant contribution to social changes. The history of the phenomenon of tower block estates, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of this solution for the standard of living and satisfaction of citizens constitute an important cultural theme. These estates were an ideological and even experimental solution, like the Przyczółek Grochowski housing estate designed by O. Hansen. During the current era of housing shortage, these places can be a very interesting alternative for city dwellers.