Wpływ form przestrzennych na lokalną tożsamość mieszkańców górnośląskich osiedli Giszowca i Nikiszowca

This paper is an analysis of the relationships between form of space and the identity of its inhabitants, with special consideration of Upper Silesia. The main aim is to show that space, especially the city space, has got a great influence on the ties which connecting inhabitants and their methods of defining themselves. It’s based on analysis of two silesian workers settlements: Nikiszowiec and Giszowiec. These two settlements were built in the beginning of XX century, in order to assurance a great number of flats for miners who worked for Georg von Giesche’s Erben company, and their families. Hole process of constructing Nikiszowiec and Giszowiec was supervising by director Anton Uthemann and both of them were created by two German architects: Emil and George Zillmann. They were trying to create stabile living conditions but in two different urbanistic and architectural forms. Nowadays Nikiszowiec is still the same and intact in his original form but the majority of Giszowiec was destroyed and substituted by a new form, what has an influence on today’s inhabitants life. The paper shows the importance of the city and settlement in creating and sustaining apophatic Silesian identity, among others because of unceasing geopolitical changes in this region.