Resilient Cities and Inclusion: Urban Design as a Response to the Ukrainian Crisis in Poland

Abstract

This article highlights the potential of urban relations linked to collective accommodation centers (CACs) established following the Ukrainian conflict in several Polish cities. Poland has been one of the largest host countries for Ukrainian refugees; their location has been resolved with a widespread system of small centers instead of a massive solution. Faced with the human presence, it becomes essential to evaluate the urban nature of CACs, investigating the real and potential influence on the context in which they are inserted. It is interesting to ask how the neighborhood can respond to the presence of such structures, considering the temporality of the presence and status. The current state is analyzed according to the principles of the 15-min city, using the five largest CACs as focus points, and following a report of the actions carried out to integrate refugee communities into the sociourban context. An experimental, three-phase research framework was developed for the study, based on the application of artificial intelligence in GIS environments. Our research showed that, although several noteworthy inclusive events were organized for refugee communities in the analyzed areas, these events often lacked permanence. As a result, the opportunity to leave a lasting—although temporary—imprint on the urban landscape was largely missed.