Lockdown in a disneyfied city: Kraków Old Town and the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic

Kraków Old Town underwent dramatic transformations during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study reveals how pre-pandemic commercialization and 'Disneyfication'—turning the historic center into a tourist-centric space—left it vulnerable to lockdowns. Restrictions exacerbated physical and functional changes, turning the area into a ghost town. Using modified figure-ground diagrams, researchers analyzed accessibility, considering both tangible (e.g., infrastructure) and intangible (e.g., social dynamics) factors. The findings highlight the fragility of historic urban centers in the face of crises like pandemics or climate change. The study also critiques current recovery policies, advocating for adaptive strategies to ensure resilience against future disruptions.

Porębska, A., Barnaś, K., Dendura, B., Kania, O., Łukasik, M., Rogulska, A., Szpakowska-Loranc, E., & Zieliński, M. (2021). Lockdown in a disneyfied city: Kraków Old Town and the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. URBAN DESIGN International, 26(4), 315–331. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41289-021-00175-5