A Model of Functional-Spatial Transformation of Medieval Urban Structure. The Example of Krosno in the Subcarpathia in Poland

Cities of historical origin are a key element of European cultural heritage. Currently, they face a socio-economic crisis and spatial degradation. The subject of this study is the historical spatial layout of a medium-sized provincial town that obtained its municipal privileges in the late Middle Ages. It was a royal town founded under Magdeburg Law in the fourteenth century as a part of an important initiative of Casimir the Great for the urbanization of old Małopolska. The research problem was to find an answer to the question of how to make use of this valuable material historical heritage in the development processes of medium-sized towns in the context of contemporary threats such as unfavorable demographic, climatic, and economic changes. The main objective was to determine the potential of historical spatial structures in the process of regaining lost identity and distinctiveness, while the application objective was to create design and programming guidelines that would be useful in conducting potentially effective spatial policy. The research procedure was conducted in several stages, from the perspective of an architect-urbanist. It began with an outline of the historical urban structure and was followed by its morphological analysis and urban planning analysis. The analyses took into account aspects such as compactness, clarity of separation from the surrounding landscape, topography-dependent morphology, clarity of separation between public spaces, and mobility. It was concluded that the form of the historic urban fabric can largely determine the character of the city and its functional surroundings, can also be its brand and a symbol of cultural continuity, but at the same time can be a friendly place to live.