POST-SOCIALIST TRANSFORMATION AND SOCIO-CULTURAL REVITALIZATION OF URBAN SPACE: THE CASE OF NOWA HUTA

This article examines the post-socialist transformation and revitalization of Nowa Huta, a model monotown (socialist city) established in 1949 near Kraków, Poland. Originally designed as a self-sufficient industrial satellite with a radial-axial urban layout and monumental architecture, Nowa Huta exemplifies socialist realism in urban planning. The study analyzes how the district’s urban structure, architectural ensembles, and symbolic codes have been reinterpreted in the post-1989 period through the interaction of multiple Actors—municipal authorities, cultural institutions, community organizations, and residents. Methodologically, the research employs a multi-level framework addressing Actors, instruments (regulatory, cultural, and social), and dimensions of urban morphology and identity. Findings demonstrate that transformation occurs primarily through the re-signification of heritage rather than radical reconstruction, while the combination of regulatory protection, cultural initiatives, and grassroots practices fosters resilient urban identity. The study highlights Nowa Huta as a model for the adaptive reuse and revitalization of mono-industrial cities, offering insights applicable to post-socialist contexts, including Ukrainian towns facing similar socio-economic and cultural challenges. The study presents Nowa Huta as a case of spatial and socio-cultural re-signification, highlighting approaches to urban and socio-cultural revitalization that can inform post-socialist reinterpretations, particularly in Ukrainian monotowns facing socio-economic and cultural challenges.