Transformations in housing construction in rural areas of Poland's Lublin region-Influence on the spatial settlement structure and landscape aesthetics

The analysis presented here concerns the influence of housing construction on spatial systems and the physiognomy of rural settlements serving various economic functions. In addition, the study offers an assessment of the influence new construction is having on the living conditions experienced by country-dwellers and the appearance and aesthetics characterising rural settlements. Particular attention is paid to modern housing construction, which only began to flourish in Poland in the period of economic transformation. A basis for the work has been provided by detailed research (field surveys, questionnaires and interviews) carried out in 15 villages located in Lublin voivodeship, eastern Poland. Changes in the spatial structure of villages under the influence of the new building are presented by reference to three villages representative of the residential, tourist-recreational and agricultural functional types. The post-1989 process of economic transformation has magnified spatial differences as regards the kind of new housing construction taking place in rural areas. The intensity at which new building is taking place is very much a function of the size of the adjacent urban centre and the area's distance from it. Housing construction concentrates close to the main transport arteries, along which a belt of enhanced economic activity is to be found. Pressure from new investors is giving rise to a transformation of the natural environment, as well to the appearance of new conflicts between agriculture and housing. The development of new styles of building has led to changes in traditional configuration of villages. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.