A compact city and its social perception: A case study

Abstract

This article examines the Polish city of Toruń in terms of the compact city concept. It analyses the theoretical elements of the compact city concept using Toruń as a case study and taking into account the psychological aspects (i.e., social perception) of a compact city. The case study collected primary data during fieldwork in 2013 and 2014. The methodology consists of a literature review, satellite photo grid analysis (250 × 250 m) and social perception of the compact city (n = 128) assessed through questionnaires with representative quantitative data. The research was also supplemented with an analysis of the accessibility of the main sites in Toruń. The results are presented on a map of urban areas and graphs of social perception. The study concludes that Toruń is a compact city from the urban point of view, but it is not perceived as such from the psychological or social points of view.