Design Studio 1996: “Strategic Urban Redevelopment in a Transitional Economy in Gdansk, Poland,” Seminar Curriculum

Abstract

The Design Studio from Spring 1996, “Strategic Urban Redevelopment in Gdansk, Poland,” was led by Professors Mona Serageldin and David Neilson. The Studio examined urban planning, housing, and development in Poland, economic policies and conditions in the Gdańsk Province, and basic construction costs and building typologies in Gdańsk.

Documents include a detailed Studio overview with course schedule and full report, the full report “Urban Regeneration and Housing in a Transitional Economy: Gdansk, Poland,” and a case study summary, “A Foreign Investor’s Perspective on Strategic Planning and Urban Development in Poland.”

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Project Year:	1996
Project Type:	Urban Design Studio
Geographic Regions:	Gdańsk, Poland
Reports:	1996 Design Studio: Strategic Urban Redevelopment in Gdansk, Poland 1996 Design Studio: Urban Regeneration and Housing in a Transitional Economy, Gdansk, Poland 1996 Design Studio: Gdansk, Poland, A Foreign Investors Perspective (Case Study)
Authors:	Mona Serageldin; Boguslaw Rutecki; David Neilson; Dariusz Knowski; Janne Corneil; Robert Lach; Boguslaw Trondowski; Anna Zietek
Sponsors:	Unit for Housing and Urbanization, Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Categories:	Design Studios; Education

ID:	1996_01_001

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Related by: Design Studio Seminars (1981-2003)

Design Studio 1981: “Housing Design in Islamic Cultures” in Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, Seminar Curriculum (Project ID: 1981_08_001)
Design Studio 1984: “The Revitalization of a Traditional Urban Quarter” for the Medieval Darb al Ahmar District, Cairo, Egypt, Seminar Curriculum (Project ID: 1984_01_001)
Design Studio 1984: “Design, Technology and Logistics for Large Housing Projects,” in Algeria, India, Iraq, Malaysia, Mali, and Singapore, Seminar Curriculum (Project ID: 1984_07_001)
Design Studio 1987: “Arad New Town,” Land-Fill Development Solutions for Arad New Town, Muharraq Island, Bahrain, Seminar Curriculum (Project ID: 1987_00_001)
Design Studio 1988: “Urban Infrastructure Planning and Programing in Developing Countries,” Chapters 1-7, Seminar Curriculum (Project ID: 1988_00_004)
Design Studio 1989: “Rabat’s Urban Fringe,” Urbanization Analysis of Rabat, Morocco, Seminar Curriculum (Project ID: 1989_01_001)
Design Studio 1990: “The Medina of Tunis,” Urban Regeneration for the Historic Hafsia District, Tunis, Tunisia, Seminar Curriculum (Project ID: 1990_00_002)
Design Studio 1992: “Cairo and the Medieval City” &”Urban Regeneration in Medieval Cairo,” in Cairo, Egypt, Seminar Curriculum (Project ID: 1992_00_002)
Design Studio 1993: “Rabat’s Urban Fringe,” Rabat, Morocco, Seminar Curriculum (Project ID: 1993_00_001)
Design Studio 1994: “A New Urban Center for Adjamé, Abidjan, Ivory Coast,” Seminar Curriculum (Project ID: 1994_01_001)
Design Studio 1995: “Urban Regeneration and Housing in a Transitional Economy: Lublin, Poland,” Seminar Curriculum (Project ID: 1995_00_001)
Design Studio 1996: “Strategic Urban Redevelopment in a Transitional Economy in Gdansk, Poland,” Seminar Curriculum (Project ID: 1996_01_001)
Design Studio 1997: “Strategic Planning and Local Development,” Seminar Curriculum (Project ID: 1997_01_001)
Design Studio 2003: “Urban Strategies for Economic Recovery: A Revitalization Strategy for New Bedford, Massachusetts,” Seminar Curriculum (Project ID: 2003_09_001)

March 1993February 2026

“Technical Assistance for Gdansk Technical University Faculty of Architecture,”Curriculum Development, Gdansk, Poland, 1992

Abstract

In January 1992, the Unit for Housing and Urbanization at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design developed short experimental courses to meet three main objectives in providing technical assistance to faculty at Gdansk Technical University in Poland. Strategy objectives covered included:

Development economics and project feasibility analysis;
Real estate economics and appraisals; and
A development strategy for the Old City of Gdansk.

Short-term recommendations to the curriculum included fostering increased collaboration among teaching units by regrouping them into academic clusters sharing a common body of knowledge, developing new core courses, and strengthening studio projects to include realistic references to the new situation in Poland. Documents include professional training guidelines, proposal, and final report.

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Project Year:	1993
Project Type:	Technical Assistance
Geographic Regions:	Gdańsk, Poland
Reports:	Gdansk Technical University, Professional Training Needs (Reconnaissance Report, January 1992) Gdansk Technical University (Proposal, January 1993) Gdansk Technical University (Final Report, October 1993)
Authors:	James Canestaro; Alex Kreiger; Rodolfo Machado; Jerzy Soltan; François Vigier
Sponsors:	USAID Office of Housing and Urban Programs
Categories:	Education

ID:	1993_03_001

January 1992February 2026

“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

[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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“Strategy for Technical Assistance and Training: Housing and Land Management in Poland,” Report by Mona Serageldin (Project ID: 1992_00_001)
Design Studio 1995: “Urban Regeneration and Housing in a Transitional Economy,” Lublin, Poland (Project ID: 1995_00_001)
Habitat II Conference: “Leadership and Best Practices,” Mona Serageldin, Istanbul, Turkey (Project ID: 1996_06_001)
International Education Program (IEP) 2000, Lublin Local Initiative Program (Case Study) (Project ID: 2000_10_001)
International Education Program (IEP) 2000, Szczecin Local Partnership Program (Case Study) (Project ID: 2000_10_001)
“Lublin Local Initiatives Program” & “Lublin Old Town Rehabilitation Project,” Urban Upgrading in Lublin, Poland, 1994-2000 (Project ID: 1994_08_001)

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“Arusha Urbanization Strategy and Urban Development Plan,” Development Strategy for Arusha Municipality, Tanzania (Project ID: 2012_01_001)
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Executive Training Course 2006: “Strategic Planning for Sustainable Infrastructure Development,” Workshop Curriculum with Case Studies, Pretoria, South Africa (Project ID: 2006_11_001)
IEP 2003: “Infrastructure and Partnerships for Local Economic Development” in Pretoria and Bloemfontein, South Africa (Project ID: 2003_08_001)
IEP 2002: “Strategic Planning for Local Development & Urban Revitalization,” Program Overview (Project ID: 2002_01_001)
“Indicators of Performance for Local Development,” Case Study on the LITMUS Programme by the Borough of Southwark, London, 2001 (Project ID: 2001_09_003)
Workshops on “Strategic Planning and Management of Municipal Infrastructure Programs,” from Review of Grant-Funded MIPs in South Africa (Project ID: 1999_05_002)
“Housing Microfinance Initiatives,” Case Study for USAID Microenterprise Best Practices Initiative (Project ID: 1999_00_001)
ITP 1998: “The Role of Public/Private Partnerships in Urban Improvements,” with Case Studies on Kreuzberg, Berlin (Germany), GIS Mapping on Cape Cod (US), and the Maarouf Quarter of Cairo (Egypt) (Project ID: 1998_07_001)
“City of Szczecin Capital Improvement Program,” Case Studies for Technical Assistance Program, Szczecin, Poland (Project ID: 1996_06_002)
ITP 1994: “Revitalization in Older Urban Spaces,” Upham’s Corner, Dorchester, Boston, South Boston, and New Haven (US); Montpellier (France); and Cork (Ireland) with Case Studies (Project ID: 1994_07_001)
“Introduction to Local Finances,” Teaching Monographs and Case Studies on Finance Management, 1994-1999 (Project ID: 1994_07_002)
“Regularizing the Informal Land Development Process,” International Case Studies for the USAID Office of Housing and Urban Programs, Mona Serageldin (Project ID: 1990_10_001)