THE ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF GREEN AREAS IN CONTEMPORARY SPACES OF KRAKOW ON CHOSEN EXAMPLES

The article aims to emphasise the significance of green areas in the space of a contemporary city. The example chosen to illustrate the discussed problem is Krakow. The author presents certain selected green areas in the city, of different location, character and function. The field research carried out by the author, including investigation into how the spaces are used, their compositional significance for the city and their relations with the surrounding development, indicates an important role they play in shaping the functional and spatial structure of the city. The selected examples are areas of recreational, compositional and integrating function, varied in size or space organisation. They are situated in different parts of Krakow and accompanied by stylistically and functionally diverse development. They are constantly used by the city inhabitants and constitute an important element of the city fabric. Over the years, some of them have fallen into partial disrepair, the quality and character of the space they offer has also changed. Preserving them in the city structure remains important for sustainable development, and improving their quality may promote creation of attractive public spaces in densely built urban environment. Special attention should be paid to the areas which may constitute parts of a network of green spaces. These are the ones which may create such network on the basis on the existing natural environment. They may become elements integrating individual parts of the city. Maintaining green areas in good condition and improving their quality affects the correct growth of the city and reduces the inconveniences resulting from development intensification. Creating new green enclaves and protecting the existing natural greenery within the city spatial structure still seems to be one of the major tasks which must be included in any contemporary concept of city development and growth.