Abstract
Values generated by art and culture usually almost automatically generate social values that appear around the source of the said art, and thus around theatre buildings or concert halls as well. They help to shape the sense of identity of a place, which is important both to local residents and to those from further afield who are interested in cultural events. The experience of social values created around a source of culture is, however, not always as obvious. Can social values be built in public spaces surrounding theatre or concert hall buildings independently of the cultural events that take place inside them?
Three Polish built projects featuring theatre and entertainment buildings built over the past five years in Gdańsk, Warsaw and Katowice were selected in order to analyse this problem. They have won numerous distinctions and awards, including for their innovative solutions in terms of the public spaces created in their immediate vicinity.