Zakopane, Poland: the impact of mass tourism on new building development in heritage towns / Marta Mantyka, Ewa Stachura // W: Proceedings of the International Symposium Heritage for Planet Earth 2018. ... więcej

Zakopane, Poland: the impact of mass tourism on new building development in heritage towns / Marta Mantyka, Ewa Stachura // W: Proceedings of the International Symposium Heritage for Planet Earth 2018. – Florence : Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco : International Institute Life Beyond Tourism, 2018. – S. 83-89 : fot. – Bibliogr. s. 88-89, Abstr. – Mat. konf.: 20th General Assembly of the International Experts & Symposium Heritage for Planet Earth 2018, Florence, 3-4.03.2018. – ISBN 9788840474557

Zakopane is located in the foothills of the Tatra mountains. It is a renowned tourist destination attracting over 3 million visitors a year. Famous not only for nature, landscapes, tourism and winter sports, ... więcej

Zakopane is located in the foothills of the Tatra mountains. It is a renowned tourist destination attracting over 3 million visitors a year. Famous not only for nature, landscapes, tourism and winter sports, it is also known as a cultural centre for painting, music, and the iconic wooden architecture. The phenomenon of "Zakopane Style"1 goes back to the 19th c. when a group of Polish prominent art historians and architects, fascinated by traditional residential architecture, decided to transform vernacular building patterns into development of different use. At that time residential buildings were designed much bigger comparing to original ones, extended to accommodate additional rooms and a staircase. Architectural details, ornamentation and materials were meticulously copied to conform with the local style. Attempts to imitate traditional forms and elements appeared also in public buildings. Today we can observe a similar process to produce a new vernacular architecture for Zakopane in a similar way to the process that took place over hundred years ago. The rapid development of the city and the popularity of its endemic style among tourists brought with it the necessity to adapt the local vernacular architecture patterns, forms and elements into new residential and commercial style. These efforts are undertaken to satisfy visitors and maintain sense of place of city’s heritage districts. But in contrast to the 19th Century’s movement to protect the local vernacular architecture, the mass production of a new regional style today has mostly resulted in bad quality architecture. The regional forms, motifs and materials in newly established buildings, through fragmentary citations, imitations and re-interpretations of original forms of local architecture, have led to low quality, unaesthetic architecture that detracts from the beauty of the original heritage style. This process can be observed in both small and large-scale buildings. The aim of this paper is to identify and classify forms of vernacular inspirations in the contemporary architecture of Zakopane. It will also investigate and characterise the typological elements used to achieve a new vernacular style for Zakopane. The paper will present good and bad examples of buildings (or their fragments) representing a "New Zakopane Style". On this basis discussion with investors and architects can be entered to formulate and prepare guidelines for the preservation of regional heritage architecture of great value and improve the quality of new buildings and objects.