THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARCHITECTURE OF FOLK SCHOOLS IN POLAND BETWEEN XIX –XX CENTURIES

Abstract

The article analyzes the historical and cultural heritage of Polish rural public school architecture at the turn of the XIX and XX centuries. The evolution of the architecture of educational spaces in Poland, which took place under the influence of a combination of cultural and national traditions and a complex set of socio-political, socio-economic, internal and external factors, was considered. General concepts of styles of school facades, planning features of small schools, performed a spatial analysis of school spaces and identified its planning features.
 The architecture of Polish public schools in the second half of the 1920’s was largely influenced by the requirements of the new school reform accepted after the First World War. Elements that fit the postulates of school reform began to be used, but above all, it reflected conservative building traditions. Architects, in the spirit of the era, in the construction of school buildings referred to the ideas of modernism. The size and shape of windows has increased, corridors have expanded, toilets in schools have been designed, and even fountains for drinking water in school corridors. The size and number of classrooms and furnishings have also changed. As a result, it has formed a more comfortable and fully adapted modern school premises.
 The schools were built mainly on the initiative and funds of local communities and philanthropists. Most of the schools built during that period are still operational. The projects of these schools have developed interiors and provided typical layout of the school grounds, used advanced engineering, design and hygiene solutions that suited the spirit of the era and fully met the needs of teachers and students. That is why till now the Polish public schools are of great importance for the history of the Polish people and world architecture history.