Large Plate Panel Buildings in Eastern Europe
A Case Study of Poland Neighborhoods
Maksymilian Janus (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
Abhijeet Chandel – Mentor (TU Delft - History, Form & Aesthetics)
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Abstract
Large plate panel building architecture is one of the important aspects related to the historical background and its development, especially in Slavic Europe where buildings were linked with the Soviet occupation. Through examination of case studies, the study focuses on social, economic, and political factors that played a role in the rapid introduction and implementation of "concrete pre-fabricated" houses, popularly known as "large plates" in Poland and other Eastern European countries.
Briefly, the paper covers the political dimension of large plate panel buildings. It is an argument in favor of aligning these buildings with socialist ideals and with other goals in shaping urban landscapes. The research provides insight into the impact of plate technology on city architecture, but it also focuses on the urbanization trends of Polish cities during the era of the People's Republic of Poland (PRL).
Furthermore, the studies focus on the existing conditions of the small plate buildings, factoring them in features like durability, problems in maintenance, and their estimated life span. Discourse on the housing crisis in Poland is undertaken, in which relevant aspects of revitalization costs are analyzed and the position of the government is examined. Despite the fears for the mere resourcefulness of big plate buildings experts say that they may have a life span of 100+ years under warranty conditions.
Thereafter, the research stresses the persistence of large plate panel buildings in the housing landscape by narrating their historical significance and searching the issues in their sustenance. Even today plate buildings constitute a very important part of Polish housing but the example of some other countries – Germany and Netherlands – show us at the same time they are facing certain deficiencies that suggest possible future developments in large sheet structures.