Instytut Geograficzny Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego i początki planowania przestrzennego oraz regionalnego w Krakowie (do 1945 r.)

The Institute of Geography at the Jagiellonian University and the beginnings of spatial and regional planning in Krakow (prior to 1945).

Summary: The beginnings of spatial and regional planning on Polish territory are closely tied to Krakow, especially the academic community of the Jagiellonian University. Initial steps in this direction were taken towards the end of the 19th century, mainly thanks to the efforts of the Physiographic Commission of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences as well as the Tatra Mountain Society. The first course of study in this field focused on the city of Zakopane and its principal mentor was Mieczysław Orłowicz. The relevance of this field of study was recognized by the founders of the UJ Institute of Geography - Professors Ludomir Sawicki and Jerzy Smoleński - already at the beginning of the 20th century. However, the most productive era of Polish geographers in this field were the 1930s. In 1928, The Podhale Commission for Regional Affairs was formed in Krakow. The name of this institution was changed in 1933 to The Commission for Regional Affairs of Podhale and Western Beskidy Mountains.Significant contributions to the work of the Commission were made by two geographers: Jerzy Smoleński (Director of the Institute) and Stanisław Leszczycki. Most of the regional planning work for the Podhale region was done at the Institute of Geography. In early 1937, the existing regional planning organization was transformed into the Krakow Regional Planning Commission. Jerzy Smoleński, having been nominated by the Minister of Internal Affairs, became the director of this new entity. The greatest accomplishments in this field can be attributed to Stanisław Leszczycki - who had been involved in planning efforts since 1928. Leszczycki created a major in social and economic geography within the regional planning framework. He also developed the basis for anthropological geography in regional planning. Finally, Leszczycki used his planning experience to publish a book called "Podhale Region - Economic and Geographic Foundations of Regional Planning" (Krakow, 1938). This was the first Polish publication dealing with regional planning research methods. The book is still used today by geographers and planners. The formation of the Mountain Region Union in 1936 played an important role in the development of spatial planning with the Office of Regional Planning as a key executive body. The Union focused its activity on the Polish Carpathian Mountains. A number of geographers also played key roles: (J. Smoleński, S. Leszczycki, J. Flis, M. Klimaszewski, W. Ormicki, W. Milata). The Krakow school of geography was the only academic center in Poland that actively pursued spatial and regional planning research between the world wars. This type of research was performed by nearly all faculty members of the Institute of Geography as well as by a large number of students. The work of Professor Danuta-Jackowska has been a continuation of this tradition at the Institute featuring significant accomplishments in the field of spatial planning. It is hoped that the Professor will continue to remain active

Domański B., Kurek W. (red.), 2009, Gospodarka i Przestrzeń. Prace dedykowane Profesor Danucie Ptaszyckiej-Jackowskiej, IGiGP UJ, Kraków, s. 123-157.

Instytut Geografii i Gospodarki Przestrzennej UJ

ISBN 978-83-88424-45-8

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