Walkability and modern urbanism: case study of two housing estates in Lodz, Poland

This paper examines the criteria for walkable urban environments and how they have evolved from earlier urban planning doctrines. Specifically, it critiques the modernist movement’s emphasis on separating transportation modes and redefining traditional circulation, noting that urban spaces designed according to these principles now require significant revision. This issue is particularly pressing in Poland and Eastern Europe, where modernist apartment complexes house a significant portion of the population. Our study aims to find strategies for revitalizing these modernist areas by analyzing the layouts of two extensive housing estates in Lodz, Poland: Retkinia and Widzew East. Through a combination of spatial configuration studies, typo-morphological studies, and activity distribution analysis, we identify the strengths and weaknesses of these layouts to propose targeted redevelopment interventions. We also define general criteria for evaluating the congruence of modernist principles and walkability. Our research reveals that the main factor affecting walking patterns in modernist housing estates is the location of key destinations, including public transport stops and services. Another element that affects walking is space configuration, in particular, the congruence of path layout, landscaping, and recreation equipment distribution.