Changes in Functional and Spatial Layouts of Polish Single-Family Houses

Abstract

The article presents the evolution of functional and spatial layouts of single-family houses in Poland, with particular emphasis on the functions of a contemporary house. Singlefamily housing constitutes a significant part of the construction market in Poland. The way of forming functions in single-family buildings in the historical cycle has characteristic features resulting from the culture of the society in a given period. The functional and spatial layout of each object is an important part of its architecture. Architecture is the art of organizing space in order to satisfy the material and spiritual needs of man. Building is an essential part of this organization. When we describe the architecture of a building, we mean its form – construction of the body, function, structure and detail, texture and colour. However, a casual observer primarily perceives the appearance of the building – its body and the way it is finished. The construction of the building is usually hidden, invisible to the observer. The investor and future user most often put in the first place the functional layout. The estates of single-family houses are an important part of the modern city landscape. Such estates may consist of free-standing, semi-detached, terraced and atrium buildings. They are developed on the basis of individual projects designed for a specific user, or based on repetitive projects, selected by the investor in cooperation with the architect, from project catalogues of various architectural studios. At the same time, the developer’s estates are being designed, offering ready-made houses, which the future user chooses without the participation of the designer. The most interesting in terms of the functional arrangement and spatial solutions are the projects of unique houses located in atypical situations, both within cities and on their outskirts. In each of these cases, the future user – investor in a decisive way draws attention to the functional layout of the building. The customs prevailing in society, the structure of the family and the style of family life in a given historical period had decisive influence on shaping the functional and spatial systems of single-family buildings. At present, in the era of globalization present in all areas of life, there have been significant changes in the way of life of the family that affect the functional and spatial layout of single-family houses. Global standards in creating the function of buildings are thus being adopted.