How do we find well-resolved spaces amidst the ubiquitous concrete? How to get to interestingly designed, created with people and the environment in mind valuable places in our cities? A unique map, actually NIEMAPA, City of Good Solutions, will help.
The 
The author of the illustration is Maciek Blaźniak from Studio Ładne Halo
© NIEMAPA
Małgosia Żmijska and Asia Studzińska from the collective Mamy Projekt, "we have" NIEMAPA, create creative guides to the whole country - the Urban series, which encourages exploration (you will find there maps of Rzeszów, Katowice in the version for seniors, Kielce or Szczecin, among others), the Regional series, which inspires weekend trips (in it we can find, among others, NIEMAPA forests of Gdansk Pomerania, Upper Silesia and Poznan. Poznan), the Thematic series, which explores interesting issues in greater depth (in which you'll find, among other things, a NIEMAPA of national roads created with the General Directorate for National Roads and a training NIEMAPA versus germs), and the Polish series, available in five languages. Their most recent work, published in the Thematic series - City of Good Solutions - presents projects scattered around Poland designed to serve both residents and nature.
© Mamy Projekt
care for common space
Illustrated by Maciek Blaźniak of Studio Ładne Halo, NIEMAPA City of Good Solutions was created in 2022 in cooperation with the Chamber of Architects of the Republic of Poland and the companies Cedral, Equitone, Promat and Siniat.
Universal education and horizon-expanding dialogue on topics of architecture and urban planning are very important," says Anna Kulinskaya, Member of the National Council of the Chamber of Architects. - We are happy to see a growing public awareness, people who appreciate their surroundings as a common value. We also run an educational program called "Shaping Space," in which young people, among other things, discover what role urban planners, architects, city authorities play in shaping space, and what role each of us - as residents - can play. The bicentennial of the Chamber of Architects of the Republic of Poland is a great opportunity through NIEMAPA to encourage not only the youngest, but whole families to care about our common space," he adds.
NIEMAPA is a starting point for talks about shared space
© NIEMAPA
dreams of a friendly city
What can we find in the latest NIEMAPA? The authors have included on it, among others, the Wroclaw housing estate Nowe Żerniki, which was created in cooperation of more than forty architectural studios (you can read more about this project here), the playground Kasztanowy Ogród Krakowian (Chestnut Garden of Cracovians ) realized by the Cracow's Board of Urban Greenery, or the accessible building of Warsaw's Primary School No. 399 designed by Maciej Siuda.
NIEMAPA is an element of spatial education
© NIEMAPA
I dream of a friendly city, where I can feel safe, healthy, nurture relationships with loved ones, get inspired and build well-being with my family and nature," explains Malgosia Zmijska. - On our latest NIEMAP, we show examples collected from all over Poland of solutions that make our lives better. We want to show that how our space is organized greatly affects us, and talking about it with each other is the key to change. NIEMAPA is a tool for such a dialogue, created by experts and illustrated by the excellent Maciek Blaźniak from Studio Ładne Halo," he adds.
spatial education for everyone!
NIEMAPA is not only an illustrated guide to well-designed places, but also a starting point for conversations (not only with the youngest!) about common space, an incentive for participation in the processes of shaping the next good projects, and an educational tool that explains, among other things, what urban visual artists, urban planners and landscape architects do.
who has influence on the city?
© NIEMAPA
With the fact that spatial education is important and necessary, I think we all agree. I am very positive about the actions that serve it," says Robert Konieczny. NIEMAPA is an interesting tool, with cool graphics. I hope it will be used in many workshops, which will result in a better quality of the space around us," adds the architect.
where to look for good solutions?
A free paper version of NIEMAPA can be obtained at the Tuvim Library in Lodz, the headquarters of the Chamber of Architects in Warsaw, the Museum of Architecture in Wroclaw, the Little Traveler's Room at the Emigration Museum in Gdynia, the Coal Mining Museum in Zabrze, selected departments of the Tychy City Hall and the Tychy City Museum. The online version can be downloaded here. Nothing, just pick up the map and set off on the trail of good urban solutions!
