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Design Studio 1995: “Urban Regeneration and Housing in a Transitional Economy: Lublin, Poland,” Seminar Curriculum

Abstract

The Urban Design Studio from Spring 1995, “Urban Regeneration and Housing in a Transitional Economy: Lublin, Poland” was a seminar led by Professors Mona Serageldin and David Neilson in the Spring 1994 semester at Unit for Housing and Urbanization (the Unit) at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. The 1995 Studio continued a series of studies on urban issues in societies undergoing economic restructuring, institutional transformation, and social change, focusing specifically on Lublin, Poland.

The 1995 topic built off a development strategy written by the Unit in 1994-1996, for the urban environment and housing situation in Lublin. See original reports: “Lublin Local Initiatives Program” & “Lublin Old Town Rehabilitation Project,” Urban Upgrading in Lublin, Poland, 1994-2000 (Project ID: 1994_08_001).

Curriculum components include an implementation strategy for public and private roles, public investment strategies, leveraging and cost-recovery options, housing typologies, street cross-sectional typologies, land use patterns, and block structures. Documents include a studio overview, syllabus, and an extensive report on “Urban Regeneration and Housing” in Lublin, Poland.

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Project Year:1995
Project Type:Urban Design Studio
Geographic Regions:Lublin, Poland
Reports:
Authors:Mona Serageldin; François Vigier; David Neilson; Janne Comeil; Nadar M. El-Bizri; Shimpei Ago; Ott Gira; Bert Hoffman; Hiroaki Inoue; Alyn Janis; Annette Kim; Victoria Marquis; William Doebele; Sonia Hammam; Carol Johnson; Alex Krieger; Barry Shaw
Sponsors:Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture
Categories:Design Studios; Education
  
ID:1995_00_001

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“Lublin Local Initiatives Program” & “Lublin Old Town Rehabilitation Project,” Technical Assistance for Urban Upgrading in Lublin, Poland, 1994-2000

Abstract

Between 1994 and 2000, the Unit for Housing and Urbanization (the Unit) and its successor, the Center for Urban Development Studies (CUDS), at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, worked on the Lublin Local Initiatives Program to promote urban development in Lublin, Poland. The program focused on rehabilitation and revitalization in Lublin’s neighborhoods to improve the quality of life by introducing the involvement of citizens in the planning process through participatory and empowerment strategies and the mobilization of local resources.

The Unit/CUDS subcontracted for the consulting firm Planning and Collaborative Development International (PADCO), and USAID/RHUDO Warsaw funded the mission to prepare guidelines for the development of Lublin’s municipal, technical, and managerial capabilities. The project included tenant participation and housing rehabilitation components. This work by the Unit and CUDS earned a Best Practice Award for excellence in improving the living environment at the Habitat II Conference in Istanbul in June 1996.

Documents fall into three main groups:

  • First, the Lublin Neighborhood Partnership Initiative documents (1995), including a Program Review mission, a Final Report, an Organizational Framework and Work Plan, a Strategy and Impact Assessment Impact Table, a paper on “Local Government Finance” by David Jones, and a Summary on “Initiating Neighborhood Partnerships” by Mona Serageldin and Ewa Kipta.
  • Second, a “Lublin Old Town Rehabilitation Project” proposal for the community supported upgrading plans for the historic Old Town region of Lublin, with Summary by Mona Serageldin from July 1996, “Lublin Seminar on City Revitalization: Revitalization of Distressed Urban Neighborhoods.”
  • Finally, a “Program Review Mission Field Report” November 1996 for the Polish cities of Szczecin and Lublin, with a “Lublin Field Report” from January 1997.

CUDS, later becoming I2UD, continued to rework Lublin-related documentation throughout the 2000-2010s for educational case studies or presentations. See two examples below for the Lublin Local Initiatives Program: Institutionalization of Community Based Development (Case Study, March 1997) and Lublin Local Initiatives Program: A Success Story (Report, October 2000).

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Project Year:1994-2000
Project Type:Technical Assistance
Geographic Regions:Lublin, Poland
Reports:

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Authors:Mona Serageldin; Janne Corneil; John Driscoll; Ewa Kipta; David C. Jones; David Neilson; Richard Shortt; Bogue Trondowski; Anna Zietek
Sponsors:USAID Regional Housing and Urban Development Office
Categories:Reconciliation and Development
  
ID:1994_08_001

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Gallery 12: Poland: Gdansk and Lublin (1994–1995)

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“Strategy for Technical Assistance and Training: Housing and Land Management in Poland,” Technical Assistance Report by Dr. Mona Serageldin, for Gdańsk, Gdynia, Kraków, Lublin, Poznań and Szczecin, Poland, 1992

Abstract

The paper “Strategy for Technical Assistance and Training: Housing and Land Management, Poland” was prepared in 1993 by Mona Serageldin, in her capacity as consultant to the International City Management Association (ICMA). Serageldin’s report was based on interviews and meetings with urban infrastructure officials in 6 Polish cities from 1992 (Gdańsk, Gdynia, Kraków, Lublin, Poznań, and Szczecin). The report covers issues relating to housing and land management, strategic planning, infrastructure finance, real estate development, privatization, and the promotion of private sector participation in urban development in Poland. The analysis concluded with a framework for structuring effective local relations to address major municipal finance concerns.

[Excerpt: Preface, page 6; List of Photographs and Illustrations]

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Project Year:1992
Project Type:Technical Assistance Report
Geographic Regions:Poland (Gdańsk, Gdynia, Kraków, Lublin, Poznań, and Szczecin)
Reports:
Strategy for Technical Assistance and Training: Housing and Land Management, Poland (Mona Serageldin, January 1993)
Authors:Mona Serageldin
Sponsors:USAID Regional Housing and Urban Development Office; International City/County Management Association (ICMA)
Categories:Urban Planning
  
ID:1992_00_001

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“The Abidjan Experience”- Four Research Reports on Community-Based Urban Development in Adjamé, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 1990-1995

Abstract

Between 1990 and 1995, the Unit for Housing and Urbanization (later the Center for Urban Development Studies, or CUDS) at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design prepared four research reports on the commune district of Adjamé in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). As a collection, these materials present a detailed analysis of urban housing trends in Côte d’Ivoire from the 1990s, covering economic, historical, architectural, financial and socio-geographical elements.

First, in September 1990, the Unit produced a major research endeavor, “Urban Infrastructure on Municipal Revenues and the Integration of Informal Sector Activities: The Abidjan Experience.” The report was produced for the USAID Office of Housing and Urban Programs in Washington D.C.

Second, in January 1994, Mona Serageldin and François Vigier wrote “Designing for Urban Growth, Abidjan Ivory Coast,” covering the socio-geography of Abidjan/Côte d’Ivoire in 5 detailed sections on National Context, Landscape, The Urban Landscape, Housing Typologies, and a detailed condition analysis of the Commune of Adjamé.

Third, in September 1994, the Unit presented “Community Based Development Lessons from Experience Across Cities” for a forum on “Enabling Sustainable Community Development” at the 2nd World Bank Conference. The presentation built on the Unit’s previous research on Adjamé among other cities, sponsored by the USAID’s Office of Environment and Urban Programs.

Fourth, in October 1995, Mona Serageldin and CUDS wrote a Working Paper, “Successful Institutionalization of Community Based Development of Adjamé, Abidjan.” The paper built off all previous research on Abidjan, covering six international case studies from Abidjan, Boston, Cairo, Lima, Lublin, and Tunis, selected because of their innovative character.


[Excerpt: “Community Based Development: Lessons from Experience Across Cities,” for the 2nd World Bank Conference, September 1994, Introduction, by Mona Serageldin for the Unit, 09/1994]/

“The ESD Conference, just completed yesterday, saw a remarkable unnamity on two points of relevance, to a discussion of cross-cutting lessons.

First, that community involvement is paramount for any meaningful action to reduce poverty and improve the urban environment; and Second, that there is no single formula to do it. The diversity of cities and their local context entail that concepts be adapted to the particularities of the local context.

Yet, there is a lot to be learned from the sharing of experiences. In spite of the diversity, there are common threads. The issue of empowerment was eloquently discussed this morning. Other issues have been discussed by the previous speakers. My presentation will highlight principles which structure interfaces between communities and municipalities in order to foster community based development approaches.”

Project Year:1990-1995
Project Type:Urban Development Research
Geographic Regions:Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (also Boston, United States; Cairo, Egypt; Lima, Perú; Lublin, Poland; and Tunis, Tunisia)
Reports:
Authors:Mona Serageldin; François Vigier; Samir Abdulac; Howard Trett; Wafaa Abdalla; Jeanine Anderson; Nader El Bizri; Janne Corniel; John Driscoll; Denis Lesage; Sherif Lotfi; David Neilson; Tarek Sweilim
Sponsors:Unit for Housing and Urbanization, Harvard University Graduate School of Design; World Bank; USAID
Categories:Urban Planning
  
ID:1990_09_001

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Related I2UD Photograph Galleries

Gallery 2: Côte d’Ivoire: Adjamé, Abidjan (1990-1995)

Galleries 6-7: Egypt: Cairo and Helwan (1986, 1990)

Gallery 12: Poland: Gdansk and Lublin (1994–1995)

Gallery 13: Tunisia: Tunis (1978-1990)