Metropolitan Class In Warsaw Space Cover Image

Klasa metropolitalna w przestrzeni Warszawy
Metropolitan Class In Warsaw Space

Author(s): Bohdan Jałowiecki, Karol Olejniczak, Magdalena Krajewska
Subject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: EUROREG - Uniwersytet Warszawski, Regional Studies Association - Sekcja Polska
Keywords: Warsaw; metropolitan class; spatial behaviour; apartments

Summary/Abstract: The objective of the research was to analyze the patterns of behaviours in the urban space of the rich inhabitants of Warsaw. The targeted group can be classified as members of the rising metropolitan class. The research covered interviews with 132 inhabitants of the luxury apartments. The location of the apartments in Warsaw is in fact the result of the former socio-spatial structure of Warsaw and the subjective valorisation of urban space. The research revealed that one of the main motives for choosing the apartments as a place for living was the need of security. Another reason given by the interviewee was a sense of belonging to the own class – sense of being in a “peer group” and the prestige of the place. The inhabitants of the apartments create “a separate world” around themselves. It consists of well secured, protected, isolated houses, luxury consumption, top restaurants, malls, pubs, private schools and travels to exotic, foreign countries (for business purposes or just for vacations). The inhabitants of the apartments have spots of interests in the urban space and they travel between these isolated points of the city in their luxury cars. Thus, these members of rising metropolitan class have very limited contact with the “life on the ordinary streets”.

  • Issue Year: 4/2003
  • Issue No: 11
  • Page Range: 59-74
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: Polish