Resilience of Urban Areas to Warfare: A Theoretical Framework with a Focus on the Spatial Structures of Housing Estates

Abstract This article discusses the resilience of housing estates to external armed aggression. The research problem was narrowed down to the compositional and spatial aspect and included some functional problems. The aim of this study was to identify the key features of the spatial structures of housing complexes that determine the ability to defend, to survive an attack or occupation, or to recapture territory seized by the enemy. The method used to achieve this objective was a literature study that lead to a systematisation of the elements of resilience assessment, followed by an examination of selected residential areas using the theoretical framework developed. Due to the current international situation and the topicality of the issue of the security of Polish cities, Warsaw was selected as the research area, a city where one can find a wide range of diverse spatial structures, characteristic of the cities of eastern Poland. The result of the study is the identification of features that promote resilience to war risks, although they are currently not widely appreciated and indicated as a requirement for the design of residential environments. The conclusions can form the basis for further research to formulate guidelines for design with resilience to armed aggression in mind.