Scattered around any Polish city- big or small, are “bloki mieszkalne” a.k.a. “Bloki”. These tall, ugly, concrete, towers are a sort of symbol of Polish cities and families. Most middle class Polish families are habitants of these bloks, even as the economy in Poland improves some families don’t wish to leave their small crowded apartments. I know my aunt has lived in the same small apartment on the 8th floor since the 60s, yet she has the money to build a house but doesn’t want to leave her blok lifestyle.

Tower blocks were an idea of french socialist, artist and architect Le Corbusier. He dreamed of were working class families could live in cities full of tower blocks. He called them “living machines” and thought that cities should be based on only tall rectangular towers. He wanted to rebuild Paris with tower blocks and parks.

Try imagining Paris with only buildings looking like that!

Now local governments and urban planners are trying to take care of tower blocks in order for them not to turn into slums and still have an appeal to society. More stores and businesses are opening up in and around the neighborhoods with blokis and colorful coats of paint are used to renew the tattered facades.