River and Riverside Areas-in the Context of Shaping the Urban Space - Case Study

Nowadays, the need of "return to the river" is universally recognized The human need for contact with elements of the natural environment is particularly emphasized, in connection with our increasingly processed environment. In a number of publications in the field of architecture and urban planning, the role of these natural areas in shaping coherent, sustainable urban structures is also underlined. The aim of the article is to indicate the potential use of the corridor formed by the river and the areas constituting its neighbourhood for shaping the urban space: in a functional, compositional and ecological sense. As an example, the Vistula River in Cracow was chosen. The research covered areas that are close to the river within the city's administrative boundaries. The Vistula Valley in Krakow creates a special space in which natural and cultural values intermingle. Over the centuries, both the spatial structure of the city and the layout of the water network - resulting from its natural transformations and the use of its elements for economic or defense purposes - have changed. The special cultural value of the Vistula river valley in Krakow is represented by the medieval urban layouts of the Old Town, Kazimierz, and Podgorze, as well as unique historical complexes and buildings. The historic buildings accompanying the river have significant compositional significance, being dominants or observational closures, building and deciding on the unique beauty of this Krakow salon. From the point of view of environmental values in the analyzed area, focus is drawn to the western and eastern zone of the Vistula valley. In the eastern part of the Vistula valley, particular attention should be paid to the occurrence of geothermal water deposits located in the region of Przylasek Rusiecki and Wyciaza in the vicinity of the Vistula river corridor. The analyzed area, due to its natural and cultural value, should play an important role in shaping the spatial structure of Krakow. As a linear area, it can become an important and attractive public space. Due to the extent of the area on which the research was carried out and the complexity of the research problems, some of the issues are only sketched in the article, signaling the values and significance of the studied area, and generally indicating the principles and possibilities of using these values to shape and improve the quality of urban space.