Katarzyna Ujma-Wąsowicz - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Katarzyna Ujma-Wąsowicz

AHFE international, 2018

The idea of creating sensory gardens, also known as gardens of senses, is developing around the w... more The idea of creating sensory gardens, also known as gardens of senses, is developing around the world since the beginning of the 20th century. Such places are organized mainly for the disabled people for the purpose of socializing, therapeutics and education. Spatial zones of sensory gardens refer to different senses like taste, smell, touch, hearing, kinesthetic sense and others. Following towards social expectations, the authors of the paper have taken the task which resulted in developing detailed guidelines for constructing innovative educational and recreational path called the Greenhouse of Senses dedicated to visually impaired as well as to healthy people. Three aims were given at the beginning of the research. The first was bringing new values into education programme for children and young people with visual disorders. The second was to develop a sensory garden independent from the climate conditions. The third task was to extend the available offer aimed at advancing integration processes between disabled and non-disabled people. Chosen research methods, which are based on close cooperation with users, as well as with experts on ergonomics, pedagogy, psychology, sociology, physiology, dendrology and others, are to bring effects in the form of the development of the functional and spatial plan including the arrangement and detailed equipment for this unprecedented educational training ground of a limited volume.The assumed final effect of the authors’ research is constructing a model facility near the school for blind and partially sighted children in Dąbrowa Górnicza (Poland) and supporting the implementation of new teaching methods and reinforcing integration processes within the facility, as well as in wider range of the city and the region.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 15TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON X-RAY MICROSCOPY – XRM2022

Architecture, Civil Engineering, Environment

In recent years, the concept of developing sports cities has gained popularity and become a notab... more In recent years, the concept of developing sports cities has gained popularity and become a notable trend. Urban public spaces have played an important role as suitable venues for informal sporting activities in cities. Policymakers and scholars have come to realize that an aesthetically pleasing and well-designed public space can encourage and increase participation in sports. This systematic review aims to identify the factors that influence the shaping of public spaces for sports cities accessible to all. Ten electronic databases were searched to identify relevant studies published between 2010 and 2022. The data were independently assessed and extracted by two reviewers. Full-text copies of 68 articles were read, and 24 articles meeting the inclusion criteria were included in this review. A synthesized descriptive analysis of the data was then performed. The results of this review identified factors that influence the shaping of urban public spaces for sports cities, including s...

5th International Conference of Contemporary Affairs in Architecture and Urbanism

it's clear to the world that the eastern Japan earthquake was the biggest disaster the modern wor... more it's clear to the world that the eastern Japan earthquake was the biggest disaster the modern world had ever came to face, that's why it was of great importance that we took crucial lessons of it on every aspect possible so that we can be more ready for future disasters, no matter what is their scale, because as we know disaster are going to come, in all shapes and kinds, and a major disaster like the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake is going to be upon us every few decades, so being ready, as calculations have proofed, spending and providing for the preparedness phase, is 7 times better, safer and cheaper, than trying to solve the problems in the recovery phase, after the disaster happens, in this study we'll be doing an analysis of the event, and suggesting numerous solutions to prevent the likelihood of a similar scenario in the future.

Current Urban Studies, 2021

Mass street running has become one of the most popular sports that has taken place in the city's ... more Mass street running has become one of the most popular sports that has taken place in the city's center for many years. The interest in the participation of people with disabilities in street running has increased. Policymakers and urban planners are also aware that improperly designed public spaces create a physical barrier for disabled people to participating in street running independently. However, very limited research exists to introduce physical barriers in public spaces for disabled runners. The aim of this research was to introduce perceived physical barriers in the city in-between buildings for disabled runners. The data were randomly collected through an online survey of 110 disabled street runners. Chi-square analysis was carried out to find the results of perceived physical street elements and the avoidance of the running environment's surfaces that become barriers for disabled runners. The t-Test was conducted to explore differences between physically disabled and visually impaired runners in their perception of the barriers of the running environment. This study concluded the perceived types of street surfaces that should be avoided in running environments and perceived barriers in-between buildings that have a negative impact on the organization of running for disabled runners. However, the perceived attributes in-between buildings positively influence running organizations and encourage participation of physically disabled and visually impaired runners in the running environment. Urban practitioners should prioritize revitalizing in-between buildings through developing accessibility to remove all the impediments that may encourage and promote more disabled people to participate in street running.

Advances in Human Factors, Sustainable Urban Planning and Infrastructure, 2017

The objective of these deliberations is to broaden the discourse relating to the effect of revita... more The objective of these deliberations is to broaden the discourse relating to the effect of revitalisation measures undertaken in post-industrial areas and their references to issues connected with preserving the identity and heritage of a place. Upon the example of the Upper Silesian conurbation, the Authors shall present research reflecting how post-industrial areas can become creative urban spaces. The first to be presented will be the case of the city of Gliwice, where the territory of a former coal mine assembles the most innovative IT and R&D companies. The second case will focus on the city of Katowice, where the territory of the former coal mine have been included in structures of a zone assembling cultural facilities. In both cases, a phenomenon that seems to be extremely valuable is the attempt to change the negative image of post-industrial areas into an attractive urban space, preserving the industrial heritage.

An objective of the taken discourse is cogitation over applicability of available research method... more An objective of the taken discourse is cogitation over applicability of available research methods used to assess the built environment quality (i.e. architectural structures and urban interiors) in order to impartially and scientifically verify the beauty and appropriateness of the perception compared to subjective acceptability of a given place by its users. Methods that provide impartial data in architecture and urban solutions evaluation can be considered as quality characteristics. While the results closest to authors’ expectations are obtained in the post-occupancy evaluation (POE) architecture research method, with studies in the field of environmental perception, and results of phenomenological research. Initial concept and assumptions were made for new methodology of design to be used by future architects and urbanists education, which gives more insight about the importance of human factors consideration in built environment.

Advances in Human Factors, Sustainable Urban Planning and Infrastructure, 2018

Czasopismo Techniczne. Architektura, 2008

The need for leading an active life style, including amateur sport, which has a vital influence o... more The need for leading an active life style, including amateur sport, which has a vital influence on our physical and intellectual fitness, should be obvious at present. Recent research of the Polish society indicates that generally the amount of exercise a person does, decreases with their age. It seems justified to ask the question about the roots of such a state of affairs. Is it a matter of bad habits? Or maybe our mentality? Or a lack of spatial conditions for doing sports at an older age? This paper concentrates on the last problem. It tries to answer this question on the basis of an analysis of the genesis of areas/facilities of physical activity for senior citizens and modern social and spatial conditions for the existence of such places. Further, the paper shows a description of noticeable trends of future development present in the environment of active seniors in the 21st century. In the summary, defines research directions which could positively influence the development o...

BUILDER

Klęski humanitarne to nieodłączny element życia na Ziemi. Z powodu różnych katastrof, naturalnych... more Klęski humanitarne to nieodłączny element życia na Ziemi. Z powodu różnych katastrof, naturalnych i powodowanych przez człowieka, w których budynki ulegają zniszczeniu, mieszkańcy terenów zurbanizowanych zmuszeni są niejednokrotnie do zamieszkiwania w odległych od swych dotychczasowych domostw miejscach. Ideą projektu było przeprowadzenie prac badawczo-projektowych mających na celu opracowanie kontenera nowej generacji, który mógłby być multiplikowany w sposób wertykalny, przybierać różne funkcje, być budowany i rozbierany przez samych użytkowników, składać się w pewnych swych częściach z materiałów biodegradowalnych, w innych na tyle lekkich i wytrzymałych, by wykorzystać je wielokrotnie (zgodnie z ideą gospodarki obiegu zamkniętego – gospodarki cyrkularnej).

Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2016

Ergonomy is not automatically attributed for an architectonic projects. Construction regulations ... more Ergonomy is not automatically attributed for an architectonic projects. Construction regulations and norms partially guarantee ergonomic solutions. But still, there is a free, great field for creative work (visions, ideas) for designer. Architects can, but do not have to, use ergonomic principles in projects. They can also freely omit them. We know, that high quality ergonomic buildings are functioning, in built environment, as well as unergonomic and ineffective ones, so-called “ill”. Why is it like that? Why architects are enabled to design unergonomic, “ill” objects? Why the investor agrees to inefficient building? Is such an object a success or a failure? Authors think that this subject is extremely current, because it makes us notice, a big amount of basic project errors in buildings. The article presents and discusses examples of pleasing from the outside but non-ergonomic, ineffective and non-functional buildings - the masterpieces of architecture. This type of design is called - “the architecture of absurd” (Fross 2015). It also indicates that using a methodology of qualitative research, evaluate the design at the stage of concept and programming. Design with the principles of ergonomics guarantees the future quality of the object [5].

Nowadays, processes of novelty in architecture progress fast. Even if the world stopped turning a... more Nowadays, processes of novelty in architecture progress fast. Even if the world stopped turning after the fall of 2008, more than any other art form, architecture is linked to prosperity, innovation, to respect for design quality. As architecture is a costly thing it is made for the order of a given client. Thus the role of a client and an investor is of great importance. Therefore architecture must satisfy their requirements and utilitarian and aesthetic expectations. Architecture, like art – could be divided into two simplified groups: the “great” architecture and the “casual” architecture. Usually we do not take casual buildings into consideration. They serve to make housing, working, commercial places and others. Currently the works of great architecture mean nothing if not varied and inventive. Even buildings that appear to rectilinear are full of details and elements that have not existed before. The society accepts the situation, especially when the architecture concerned is ...

WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment

The subject of the research are problems connected with the impact of city areas prepared for pra... more The subject of the research are problems connected with the impact of city areas prepared for practising outdoor, active sports on the quality of life of people living there. The research comprises issues connected with planning and designing outdoor sport areas not only in the context of the quality of urbanized environment but also in the aspect of ergonomics conditions and of mental needs of future users. The research was conducted in Poland among school children (aged 16-17) living in towns of the Upper Silesian Agglomeration – post-industrial areas, subjected to restructuring processes. In the research such tools as the authors’ questionnaire, interviews and face-to-face conversations were used. The results of the research allow to determine contemporary tendencies concerning development of outdoor sport among teenagers and to sketch assignments which should be done to enable realization of their expectations. Additionally, the results of the research will constitute the basis ...

Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2011