Peri-urban parks based on the remnants of the historic fortified and agrarian landscapes on the southern periphery of Kraków as witnesses of landscape change

Source abstract

This research explores the 150-year spatial transformation of Kraków’s southern periphery, tracing its evolution from an agrarian landscape into a 19th-century fortified "strategic landscape" following the construction of the Kraków Fortress, where greenery and visual corridors were deliberately designed to serve defensive purposes. Historically, military building restrictions preserved open fields and visual corridors, effectively halting suburban sprawl for decades and sustaining agricultural use of the fields. However, the fortress's obsolescence after WW II and the shift from central management after the collapse of the communist system in 1989, with the subsequent 2003 abolition of master plans, triggered a phase of uncontrolled urban sprawl and fragmented growth. Using a mixed-methods approach—including historical cartographic analysis, military archives, and orthophoto comparisons (1970–2023) — this study quantifies the resulting environmental impact. Quantitative analysis via QGIS reveals a 31% loss of green space in the surveyed area (Sector VIII) between 1990 and 2021, with detailed study areas experiencing a 36% decline. The paper argues that remnants of these historical layers are vital for establishing peri-urban parks, such as those at Fort 52 "Borek" and Fort 52a "Jugowice". These sites provide essential ecosystem services, enhance residents' well-being, and maintain cultural identity within high-density residential districts. By identifying universal driving forces, such as political shifts, economic pressures, and environmental sustainability, the research provides a framework for integrating military heritage into sustainable urban planning. This approach highlights the potential of post-military landscapes to serve as high-quality green infrastructure while safeguarding historical continuity against the pressures of modern urbanisation.