The realization of the idea of “garden cities” in inter-war Poland. Exemplified with Podkowa Leśna and Kolonia Letnia Żarki

Abstract

The article presents two cases of parcellation in inter-war Poland based on the idea of the garden city, which resulted in the establishment of Podkowa Leśna near Warsaw and of Kolonia Letnia Żarki in the then Kielce voivodship. The introductory part outlines Ebenezer Howard’s idea, which is an important point of reference for the two case studies. The analysis concerns the following issues: the circumstances of establishing the settlement, the formal, legal and organizational steps taken during the realization of the designs, the spatial arrangement of the settlements, the tempo of selling the plots and of new inhabitants’ settling, the development of infrastructure before World War II and the evidenced involvement of the inhabitants. The final part points to similarities and differences between the two cases described, and draws some general conclusions about the opportunities, chances and challenges involved in such projects in inter-war Poland. It is highlighted that most of them were doomed to failure due to adverse economic conditions, land speculation and the irresponsible approach of those that parcelled out their land for sale. The two projects analysed stood out against such a background. Podkowa Leśna managed to keep its character mainly thanks to investments made in its early years (realized by the “Miasto-Ogród” company), while Kolonia - to the constant involvement and initiative of Karol Raczyński, the owner of the parcelled estate. In each of the two “garden cities” there was a association of the inhabitants, which took care of the settlement’s development in line with the initial vision.