Many industrial cities developed in the 19^th century. Although they cannot boast unique, centuries-old jewels, they certainly do not have to be ashamed of their architecture. An excellent example is Katowice, a city of merely 156 years of age. Although it cannot compete with 800-year-old cities in terms of monuments, Katowice impresses with the pace of development, momentum, and innovative urban solutions.

Cieszyn is a town located in the south of Poland on the border with the Czech Republic, on the Olza River. Cieszyn has only 32,000 residents, however, it boasts a long and rich history. Its development and shape were influenced by the shifting national borders, and thus by different cultures, languages, religions, and traditions. Like every border region, it is a specific area where one can observe the clash of groups different with regard to linguistic, social, and historical aspects, often burdened with negative stereotypes about their neighbors from the other side of the river.

The Katowice conurbation is one of the most interesting settlement systems on the map of Poland. It is distinguished by its close proximity to as many as 54 municipalities (including 17 cities and towns), an area of 3,329 km² (1285 square miles), and a number of approx. 2 million people (data from 2019). Its origins date back to the 19^th century, and its rapid development took place after World War II. Although individual towns and cities developed independently, they were linked by the same city-forming factor – hard coal mining and, in part, also other branches of traditional industry. This, in turn, has had significant consequences for the economic, economic, political, social, and spatial dimension of the conurbation.

Cities have always attracted people. They have provided more opportunities for educational, professional, material, social, or personal betterment. Although living in the city, in addition to providing numerous opportunities, is also associated with a lot of risks and disadvantages, and many city dwellers in different moments of their lives increasingly often decide to leave for a place in the middle of nowhere,  the attraction of cities is not decreasing. Quite the contrary. It is estimated that by the end of this century, nearly 90% of the population will live in cities or in their vicinity. The importance of metropolitan areas will also systematically increase, as the population will concentrate around them.

A town or city is a settlement unit with a predominance of compact buildings and non-agricultural functions, which has urban rights or the status of a town or city granted under separate regulations. Each city and town has its own specificity expressed in history, architecture, urban layout, and the way of life of its inhabitants. Cities and towns are expected to make their spaces aesthetically pleasing, attractive, and diverse, with an interesting blue-green infrastructure. While many of the cities meet these criteria, few people consider how much social significance each of them has.

What do Stockholm, Hamburg, Nantes, Copenhagen, and Tallinn have in common? All these cities have been awarded the title of European Green Capital by the European Commission. However, for a city to be considered truly ecological, a few green roofs or walls are not enough. A city is an ecosystem that slightly differs from the natural ones in terms of environmental processes. Concrete market squares, plazas, and housing estates disrupt the water management of the city's ecosystem. This can be seen in the increasingly frequent inundations and floods, when the water does not reach an outlet after large and sudden rainfall and floods the streets. On hot days, the same concrete plaza resembles a hot frying pan. Trees in the city center can help reduce the temperature by providing soothing shade or shelter from gusty winds. Fortunately, we are gradually starting to understand urban errors.

Rome, Paris, London, Vienna... the most beautiful metropolises in Europe owe their fame and power to a large extent to the rivers on which they are located. Since the dawn of time, people, looking for the most convenient places to settle, have chosen the valleys of life-giving rivers, which fed, watered, irrigated crops, fertilized the soil, and collected waste. They were also fast communication routes and played a defensive role in emergency situations. In Leonardo da Vinci's design of an ideal city in 1487, the river was a sine qua non condition. It ensured not only proper hygiene, but also the transport of goods, which allowed for the reconciliation of practical an,d aesthetic requirements.

Even if we live in a small town, we identify with the nearest large urban center and are interested in its development. The topic is important because more than 3.5 billion people already live in towns or cities, and by 2030, this will apply to as much as 60% of the world's population. The trend is extremely dynamic and transforms the reality that surrounds us. According to United Nations forecasts, the population of cities will almost double by 2050. Therefore, the 2016 Quito Declaration highlighted the importance and role of cities in the context of demographic processes, economic activities, social and cultural interactions, and the effects of environmental and humanitarian processes.

The area of New York City destroyed by the 9/11 terrorist attack, now referred to as Ground Zero, continues a process that dates back to the earliest traces of human civilizational activity. There, one can read, layer by layer, the historical changes that have taken place in the area, and new buildings continue to appear on the rubble of the past.