| P. Nijkamp, S.A. Rienstra (1996) | Sustainable transport in a compact city. | “This concept is embodied in the «compact city», where housing is provided in a relatively high-density form, and where jobs are concentrated in the central city and in a limited number of sub-centers” [14]. |
|
| R. Burgess (2000) | The global perspective of the compact city concept. | “It is possible to offer a tentative and composite definition of contemporary compact city approaches as: «to increase built area and residential population densities, to intensify urban economic, social and cultural activities and to manipulate urban size, form, structure and settlement systems to pursuit of the environmental, social and global sustainability benefits, derived from the concentration of urban functions»” [15]. |
-
–
increase built area and residential population densities,
-
–
intensify urban economic, social and cultural activities,
-
–
the concentration of urban functions.
|
| E. Burton (2002) | Measuring urban compactness (on the example of UK cities). | “(…) the compact city is usually described as one or other or all of three types of city, two that are related to «product»:
|
-
–
high density,
-
–
mixed land use,
-
–
intensification.
|
| J. Arbury (2005) | Analysis of urban growth management on the example of the selected city. | “This model differs greatly from conventional urban development (or sprawl) by focusing on urban intensification, creating limits to urban growth, encouraging mixed-use development and placing a greater focus on the role of public transportation and quality urban design” [17]. |
|
| A. Polit (2010) | Advantages and disadvantages of the compact city concept. | “For many years, the remedy for all diseases of contemporary urban planning caused by the phenomenon of sprawl was seen in the concept of a compact city. The idea was to design buildings with relatively high intensity, to mix the functions of urban areas and to base their functioning on efficient public transport. Clear urban boundaries, revitalizing city centers, encouraging cycling or walking, and improving the quality of public spaces are important guidelines of the Compact City concept” [18]. |
-
–
relatively high density,
-
–
mix land use,
-
–
the effective public transport system,
-
–
clear cities boundaries,
-
–
revitalization of city centers,
-
–
pedestrian and bicycle communication,
-
–
high quality of public space.
|
| K. Solarek (2011) | The review of contemporary concepts of city development. | “The concept (…) is connected (…) with the structuring of space and with the main assumptions heading towards the shaping of Compact Cities, developing inwards, intensively - but according to their scale and character – built-up, with a mixed function of the area, pedestrian-friendly, and accessible by communication” [19]. |
|
| OECD (2012) | A comparative assessment of the compact city policies in OECD countries. | “Spatial urban form characterized by «compactness». By understanding various definitions of a compact city, this report defines its key characteristics as i) dense and proximate development patterns; ii) urban areas linked by public transport systems; and iii) accessibility to local services and jobs” [12]. |
-
–
dense and proximate development patterns,
-
–
urban areas linked by public transport systems,
-
–
accessibility to local services and jobs.
|
| E. Węcławowicz -Bilska (2012) | The review of the selected urban development concepts | “The compact city of short distance is an urban concept that promotes a relatively high density of builtup areas with a diverse, mixed-use of land. An efficient public transport system will encourage the abandonment of car transport and a compact urban layout will encourage walking and cycling” [20]. |
|
| P. Chhetri et al. (2013) | The analysis of the realization compact city model in Melbourne. | “The land-use policy changes built around the concept of the compact city include the following: Intensification, consolidation or densification, particularly around inner suburbs. In-fill development and redevelopment of brownfield land. More intensive use of urban land. Sub-divisions and conversions of existing development. Re-zoning and greater mixing of land use. Greater dwelling density and re-urbanization. Higher degrees of accessibility” [21]. |
|
| M. Stangel (2013) | Contemporary urban design in the context of sustainable development. | “The paradigm of a city of compact or sustainable urban planning in a broader sense calls for a dense, multifunctional building structure that is comfortable to walk and transport, with access to local services, jobs and green spaces” [22]. |
-
–
dense and multifunctional urban form,
-
–
effective public transport system,
-
–
accessibility to local services, jobs, green spaces.
|
| R. Kotharkar, P. Bahadure, N. Serda (2014) | Measuring urban compactness (on the example of Indian city). | “Essentially the compact city model defined as «…a high density, mixed-use development, within a restrictive geographical area with enhanced public transport and infrastructure facilities»” [23]. |
|
| B. Komar (2014) | The analysis of space quality of the selected housing estates in the context of sustainable development. | “A compact city is a city that has the following characteristics: a revitalized center, a high density of buildings, mixed functions of urban areas and numerous services. The Compact city also supports walking and cycling, reducing distances between work and housing, as well as building multifunctional facilities” [24]. |
-
–
the revitalized city center,
-
–
high density,
-
–
mixed land use,
-
–
promotion of cycle and pedestrian communication,
-
–
reduction distance between the place of work and housing.
|
| Z. Paszkowski (Report of Living Space of Poles) (2014) | The selected trends of development of cities in Poland. | “A city model with an intensive, multifunctional and well-structured urban form, which also includes well-equipped recreational greenery and good accessibility to all necessary public services” [25]. |
|
| National Urban Policy 2023 (2015) | Definition activities of government administration in terms of urban policy in Poland. | “In planning development, local governments should act in accordance with the idea of a compact city, which - implementing the principles of sustainable development - promotes a polycentric structure, taking the form of dense and multifunctional buildings, served by pedestrian, bicycle and public transport, while reducing the need to use individual car transport” [9]. |
-
–
polycentric structure,
-
–
dense and multifunctional urban form,
-
–
effective public transport system with bicycle and pedestrian communication.
|
| S. Gzell (2015) | The selected problems of contemporary urban planning. | “(…) the idea of a compact city may be served by increasing the intensity of housing development, the development of urban set-aside, poorly used traffic areas or post-production areas” [26]. |
|
| K. Gasidło (2017) | Analysis of the methods to achieve compactness in existing dispersed urban form. | “Compact city is generally defined as a compactly developed city, as the term compactness evokes closeness, focus, continuity, concentration. Buildings and components of technical and social infrastructure should be close to each other, concentrate around public space, which reduces the distance and facilitates access to all functions of the city” [27]. |
|
| S. Tapper, T. Klöti, M. Drilling (2018) | Urban green spaces in the compact city (on the example of Swiss cities). | “The compact city approach is marked by high density, mixed land use, pedestrian-oriented habitation, the utilization of development reserves for construction projects and the structural transformation of former industrial areas or fallow land into service or residential areas of high quality (…)” [28]. |
|
![Built-up areas in Bialystok
Source: author’s own work based on Database of Topographical Objects from Regional Surveying and Cartographic Documentation Centre in Bialystok [32]](https://sciendo-parsed.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/64706f9983f1392090d697be/j_acee-2019-049_fig_001.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Credential=ASIA6AP2G7AKAV7KI53H%2F20251213%2Feu-central-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20251213T001133Z&X-Amz-Expires=3600&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEEQaDGV1LWNlbnRyYWwtMSJHMEUCIQDKNa8y2lc0a0FpyiYuha1NvRqEFP6UmSLtJsox%2FjOcIAIgRf1VR%2F2z9TtrnD%2B1m2Vt%2FH2zcHfFeVyHGIPoaWRACgAqvQUIDRACGgw5NjMxMzQyODk5NDAiDGtbhLw3Wdws79NonSqaBSZ07EiTRHs0TsJ4mpDSApsikNHNkUTsM6tJ1ypQquKDvIFlQRWUtKwuwfFC6Z9Qjqyv5HM13kIXVXrEfdepp9Sy2MUd9XWK25MTx2V7uXsAKua6N5eb4zfBa1ghq2egZ1WQl6SIHLSrw8S6DOT0VWnaz5FJHfarUCokR9qmEoVUEIOTO%2BUlQBSNauCvKzRSmxNmp0zpnVi5kwv9%2FXMQaGOwMuaM4LiYhTmCy9fsWWVk0NEFeaRA3yg8tZX2FfuRlyoHQ2YW5czGNxIGHEgUSg4lwM8AQyAFVAParGUKmL9SBQ4TzugsER1xEppRIfLyhzerzwVQQ526PaVDEKXvMFyMtw7ONZkZqAGpa0M2aDWbZWg0joTQL8pg8CBNOTZFM%2BR86mEUFRNAuCWGBteSKHcxE%2Fw3ls7L36RPgR9DkvxJoCyUd5o4gf95iUetR3UURlD8BlQ9of9Z4WXGHnMB0Lm%2F4qObTUUdkb789UT2ua01I%2FfhTSeJuAnD%2B5GxBSK7sShhxxe2XdkCkexV1A8aF83TOZp%2F58wJ6CIcqtLrqKHbYPfxeH2HHyRXH5K1QiMD3i8ox69eW9Mf4M%2FwCiuGkWN43%2FvfGCtH7dkna4HWEhRl26So0CAYKedoZ%2FI8ekFkXmVOoC%2BMS02UD%2FIljhtZTDV71oUTPougTD69Dh5LZSaNSkymyDsrigqCueg6yIV6gyJv%2FzWWxRFzNsz9oSuDRyGO1ONrYYf7XRpii%2Bp1QDQjiYt4zjHmYIvY2bE4Z9JrjJARwNe2iEbwXxdjK%2FtBRGGzo5nQiWVCDW54y3UWyJ3gF4FOZy2xoDTCHnlcio49EGimyfuS9yhd9E6es3lOis5SgYkN7hLQfXavcHqC17Db3LzMvnedwuBpSDCm6%2FHJBjqxAdh7oddhjlgp8XvcZM%2Fwz76vAR7667PA6svUpsHSgIi0Eecm3ayDY8IZ2m3nbkGe6Y6XbroL2Ty3B8JFqSZKoqIAznrHvmk5ALuNzWf5Xo6Gf%2FMOh2hLVoK1sflhAjVz2sstjGqy6%2F0ETMaKS6O%2FJBnfcpmBfX6h1djmwbWmBsF389tmKZ1pB3Ew5SohucOZY2c8wsrkU1hQnz5aVOUoAYjPd0rOTek6eirHpxCi%2B2uv3g%3D%3D&X-Amz-Signature=9dc24be5b46348642f3dd7deb7987f6c4e07c97b7801d81eeaecaf92deb11fb7&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&x-amz-checksum-mode=ENABLED&x-id=GetObject)
![Green spaces in Bialystok
Source: author’s own work based on Database of Topographical Objects from Regional Surveying and Cartographic Documentation Centre in Bialystok [32]](https://sciendo-parsed.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/64706f9983f1392090d697be/j_acee-2019-049_fig_002.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Credential=ASIA6AP2G7AKAV7KI53H%2F20251213%2Feu-central-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20251213T001133Z&X-Amz-Expires=3600&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEEQaDGV1LWNlbnRyYWwtMSJHMEUCIQDKNa8y2lc0a0FpyiYuha1NvRqEFP6UmSLtJsox%2FjOcIAIgRf1VR%2F2z9TtrnD%2B1m2Vt%2FH2zcHfFeVyHGIPoaWRACgAqvQUIDRACGgw5NjMxMzQyODk5NDAiDGtbhLw3Wdws79NonSqaBSZ07EiTRHs0TsJ4mpDSApsikNHNkUTsM6tJ1ypQquKDvIFlQRWUtKwuwfFC6Z9Qjqyv5HM13kIXVXrEfdepp9Sy2MUd9XWK25MTx2V7uXsAKua6N5eb4zfBa1ghq2egZ1WQl6SIHLSrw8S6DOT0VWnaz5FJHfarUCokR9qmEoVUEIOTO%2BUlQBSNauCvKzRSmxNmp0zpnVi5kwv9%2FXMQaGOwMuaM4LiYhTmCy9fsWWVk0NEFeaRA3yg8tZX2FfuRlyoHQ2YW5czGNxIGHEgUSg4lwM8AQyAFVAParGUKmL9SBQ4TzugsER1xEppRIfLyhzerzwVQQ526PaVDEKXvMFyMtw7ONZkZqAGpa0M2aDWbZWg0joTQL8pg8CBNOTZFM%2BR86mEUFRNAuCWGBteSKHcxE%2Fw3ls7L36RPgR9DkvxJoCyUd5o4gf95iUetR3UURlD8BlQ9of9Z4WXGHnMB0Lm%2F4qObTUUdkb789UT2ua01I%2FfhTSeJuAnD%2B5GxBSK7sShhxxe2XdkCkexV1A8aF83TOZp%2F58wJ6CIcqtLrqKHbYPfxeH2HHyRXH5K1QiMD3i8ox69eW9Mf4M%2FwCiuGkWN43%2FvfGCtH7dkna4HWEhRl26So0CAYKedoZ%2FI8ekFkXmVOoC%2BMS02UD%2FIljhtZTDV71oUTPougTD69Dh5LZSaNSkymyDsrigqCueg6yIV6gyJv%2FzWWxRFzNsz9oSuDRyGO1ONrYYf7XRpii%2Bp1QDQjiYt4zjHmYIvY2bE4Z9JrjJARwNe2iEbwXxdjK%2FtBRGGzo5nQiWVCDW54y3UWyJ3gF4FOZy2xoDTCHnlcio49EGimyfuS9yhd9E6es3lOis5SgYkN7hLQfXavcHqC17Db3LzMvnedwuBpSDCm6%2FHJBjqxAdh7oddhjlgp8XvcZM%2Fwz76vAR7667PA6svUpsHSgIi0Eecm3ayDY8IZ2m3nbkGe6Y6XbroL2Ty3B8JFqSZKoqIAznrHvmk5ALuNzWf5Xo6Gf%2FMOh2hLVoK1sflhAjVz2sstjGqy6%2F0ETMaKS6O%2FJBnfcpmBfX6h1djmwbWmBsF389tmKZ1pB3Ew5SohucOZY2c8wsrkU1hQnz5aVOUoAYjPd0rOTek6eirHpxCi%2B2uv3g%3D%3D&X-Amz-Signature=3c10183c8409cfbbe614dde38b9bcf2ea02ce421a412b1e7ce8749ddd8efe03e&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&x-amz-checksum-mode=ENABLED&x-id=GetObject)
![Public transport stops with access zone (500 m) in Bialystok
Source: author’s own work based on Database of Topographical Objects from Regional Surveying and Cartographic Documentation Centre in Bialystok [32]](https://sciendo-parsed.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/64706f9983f1392090d697be/j_acee-2019-049_fig_003.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Credential=ASIA6AP2G7AKAV7KI53H%2F20251213%2Feu-central-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20251213T001133Z&X-Amz-Expires=3600&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEEQaDGV1LWNlbnRyYWwtMSJHMEUCIQDKNa8y2lc0a0FpyiYuha1NvRqEFP6UmSLtJsox%2FjOcIAIgRf1VR%2F2z9TtrnD%2B1m2Vt%2FH2zcHfFeVyHGIPoaWRACgAqvQUIDRACGgw5NjMxMzQyODk5NDAiDGtbhLw3Wdws79NonSqaBSZ07EiTRHs0TsJ4mpDSApsikNHNkUTsM6tJ1ypQquKDvIFlQRWUtKwuwfFC6Z9Qjqyv5HM13kIXVXrEfdepp9Sy2MUd9XWK25MTx2V7uXsAKua6N5eb4zfBa1ghq2egZ1WQl6SIHLSrw8S6DOT0VWnaz5FJHfarUCokR9qmEoVUEIOTO%2BUlQBSNauCvKzRSmxNmp0zpnVi5kwv9%2FXMQaGOwMuaM4LiYhTmCy9fsWWVk0NEFeaRA3yg8tZX2FfuRlyoHQ2YW5czGNxIGHEgUSg4lwM8AQyAFVAParGUKmL9SBQ4TzugsER1xEppRIfLyhzerzwVQQ526PaVDEKXvMFyMtw7ONZkZqAGpa0M2aDWbZWg0joTQL8pg8CBNOTZFM%2BR86mEUFRNAuCWGBteSKHcxE%2Fw3ls7L36RPgR9DkvxJoCyUd5o4gf95iUetR3UURlD8BlQ9of9Z4WXGHnMB0Lm%2F4qObTUUdkb789UT2ua01I%2FfhTSeJuAnD%2B5GxBSK7sShhxxe2XdkCkexV1A8aF83TOZp%2F58wJ6CIcqtLrqKHbYPfxeH2HHyRXH5K1QiMD3i8ox69eW9Mf4M%2FwCiuGkWN43%2FvfGCtH7dkna4HWEhRl26So0CAYKedoZ%2FI8ekFkXmVOoC%2BMS02UD%2FIljhtZTDV71oUTPougTD69Dh5LZSaNSkymyDsrigqCueg6yIV6gyJv%2FzWWxRFzNsz9oSuDRyGO1ONrYYf7XRpii%2Bp1QDQjiYt4zjHmYIvY2bE4Z9JrjJARwNe2iEbwXxdjK%2FtBRGGzo5nQiWVCDW54y3UWyJ3gF4FOZy2xoDTCHnlcio49EGimyfuS9yhd9E6es3lOis5SgYkN7hLQfXavcHqC17Db3LzMvnedwuBpSDCm6%2FHJBjqxAdh7oddhjlgp8XvcZM%2Fwz76vAR7667PA6svUpsHSgIi0Eecm3ayDY8IZ2m3nbkGe6Y6XbroL2Ty3B8JFqSZKoqIAznrHvmk5ALuNzWf5Xo6Gf%2FMOh2hLVoK1sflhAjVz2sstjGqy6%2F0ETMaKS6O%2FJBnfcpmBfX6h1djmwbWmBsF389tmKZ1pB3Ew5SohucOZY2c8wsrkU1hQnz5aVOUoAYjPd0rOTek6eirHpxCi%2B2uv3g%3D%3D&X-Amz-Signature=ae5d3a22df9ee55e24e859b73171d334f63ab7ad7a8516ccbe202d5a9dc1b15d&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&x-amz-checksum-mode=ENABLED&x-id=GetObject)
![Residential area in access zone of public transport stop in Bialystok
Source: author’s own work based on Database of Topographical Objects from Regional Surveying and Cartographic Documentation Centre in Bialystok [32]](https://sciendo-parsed.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/64706f9983f1392090d697be/j_acee-2019-049_fig_004.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Credential=ASIA6AP2G7AKAV7KI53H%2F20251213%2Feu-central-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20251213T001133Z&X-Amz-Expires=3600&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEEQaDGV1LWNlbnRyYWwtMSJHMEUCIQDKNa8y2lc0a0FpyiYuha1NvRqEFP6UmSLtJsox%2FjOcIAIgRf1VR%2F2z9TtrnD%2B1m2Vt%2FH2zcHfFeVyHGIPoaWRACgAqvQUIDRACGgw5NjMxMzQyODk5NDAiDGtbhLw3Wdws79NonSqaBSZ07EiTRHs0TsJ4mpDSApsikNHNkUTsM6tJ1ypQquKDvIFlQRWUtKwuwfFC6Z9Qjqyv5HM13kIXVXrEfdepp9Sy2MUd9XWK25MTx2V7uXsAKua6N5eb4zfBa1ghq2egZ1WQl6SIHLSrw8S6DOT0VWnaz5FJHfarUCokR9qmEoVUEIOTO%2BUlQBSNauCvKzRSmxNmp0zpnVi5kwv9%2FXMQaGOwMuaM4LiYhTmCy9fsWWVk0NEFeaRA3yg8tZX2FfuRlyoHQ2YW5czGNxIGHEgUSg4lwM8AQyAFVAParGUKmL9SBQ4TzugsER1xEppRIfLyhzerzwVQQ526PaVDEKXvMFyMtw7ONZkZqAGpa0M2aDWbZWg0joTQL8pg8CBNOTZFM%2BR86mEUFRNAuCWGBteSKHcxE%2Fw3ls7L36RPgR9DkvxJoCyUd5o4gf95iUetR3UURlD8BlQ9of9Z4WXGHnMB0Lm%2F4qObTUUdkb789UT2ua01I%2FfhTSeJuAnD%2B5GxBSK7sShhxxe2XdkCkexV1A8aF83TOZp%2F58wJ6CIcqtLrqKHbYPfxeH2HHyRXH5K1QiMD3i8ox69eW9Mf4M%2FwCiuGkWN43%2FvfGCtH7dkna4HWEhRl26So0CAYKedoZ%2FI8ekFkXmVOoC%2BMS02UD%2FIljhtZTDV71oUTPougTD69Dh5LZSaNSkymyDsrigqCueg6yIV6gyJv%2FzWWxRFzNsz9oSuDRyGO1ONrYYf7XRpii%2Bp1QDQjiYt4zjHmYIvY2bE4Z9JrjJARwNe2iEbwXxdjK%2FtBRGGzo5nQiWVCDW54y3UWyJ3gF4FOZy2xoDTCHnlcio49EGimyfuS9yhd9E6es3lOis5SgYkN7hLQfXavcHqC17Db3LzMvnedwuBpSDCm6%2FHJBjqxAdh7oddhjlgp8XvcZM%2Fwz76vAR7667PA6svUpsHSgIi0Eecm3ayDY8IZ2m3nbkGe6Y6XbroL2Ty3B8JFqSZKoqIAznrHvmk5ALuNzWf5Xo6Gf%2FMOh2hLVoK1sflhAjVz2sstjGqy6%2F0ETMaKS6O%2FJBnfcpmBfX6h1djmwbWmBsF389tmKZ1pB3Ew5SohucOZY2c8wsrkU1hQnz5aVOUoAYjPd0rOTek6eirHpxCi%2B2uv3g%3D%3D&X-Amz-Signature=fdfac741447a48079f4886f746f19b3a544797b4e914d6b71be3cc6a4baea66c&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&x-amz-checksum-mode=ENABLED&x-id=GetObject)
