Prefabricated housing estates in Central and Eastern European countries on the verge of systemic and political transition

The issue of large-panel housing estates in socialist countries remains significant due to their scale, their long-term impact on urban structures, and their role in shaping housing systems still in use today. This study examines the development of post-war housing construction in selected Eastern Bloc countries, with particular focus on Estonia and Ukraine (as representatives of the former Soviet republics) and Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria, taking into account differences in ownership structures, management systems, and the implementation of industrialised building technologies. The research addresses several key questions: how large-panel housing systems were organised under socialist regimes; how their development differed across countries; to what extent industrialised construction methods contributed to the provision of housing provision; and how effective these systems were in meeting housing needs. The findings show that large-panel housing estates were a central tool of state policy, combining ideological objectives with economic pragmatism. Although all countries pursued the same goal of mass, affordable housing provision, they differed significantly in management and ownership models, with Czechoslovakia exhibiting the most diversified and effective system. The development of housing construction peaked at different times across countries, reflecting varied implementation of industrial technologies. While large-scale prefabrication enabled a substantial increase in housing supply and improved living conditions, its effects were uneven and often accompanied by limitations in quality and user satisfaction. These results provide a valuable basis for understanding the post-1990 transformation and marketisation of housing systems in the region.