Project summary

The PhD project is expected to be an integral part of the research project funded by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic.

Post-war housing estates (HEs) represent an important part of the housing stock in postsocialist countries and their development over the past decades is often discussed. Yet, in spite of relatively rich research evidence based on case studies, systematic and comprehensive research on housing estates in specific countries or regions is lacking. This project aims to bring new empirical knowledge about HEs in Czech cities using a comparative perspective and a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods. The project has three main interrelated aims: (1) to identify development trajectories of HEs in Czech cities; (2) to assess residential satisfaction of inhabitants and their attitudes towards residential mobility; (3) to understand everyday life in today's HEs, residents' attachment to place, and their relation to the material environment and social environment of HEs. The results will also contribute to developing theories in urban studies and are useful for planning and creating interventions in HEs. The applicants are encouraged to get in touch with the PhD supervisor to discuss the details of their PhD project based on their personal interests and research skills. It is expected that Slavomíra Ferenčuhová will act as a co-supervisor.

Selected publications of the research group

• OUŘEDNÍČEK, M., ŠPAČKOVÁ, P., POSPÍŠILOVÁ, L. (2018): Long-term Development and Current Socio-Spatial Differentiation of Housing Estates in Prague, Czechia. In: Hess, D., Tammaru, T., van Ham, M. (eds.): Housing Estates in Europe: Poverty, Ethnic Segregation and Policy Challenges. Springer, Cham, 339-359.
• ŠPAČKOVÁ, P., POSPÍŠILOVÁ, L. (2017): Social Status of Housing Estate Populations in Czech Cities. In: Skřivánková, L., Švácha, R., Lehkoživová, I. (eds.): The Paneláks: Twenty-five Housing Estates in the Czech Republic. The Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Prague, 252-265.
• ŠPAČKOVÁ, P., POSPÍŠILOVÁ, L., OUŘEDNÍČEK, M. (2016): The Long-term Development of Socio-spatial Differentiation in Socialist and Post-socialist Prague. Sociologický časopis/Czech Sociological Review, 52(6): 821-860.
• TEMELOVÁ, J., NOVÁK, J., OUŘEDNÍČEK, M., PULDOVÁ (ŠPAČKOVÁ), P. (2011): Housing Estates after Socialism: Various Trajectories and Inner Differentiation. Urban Studies, 48(9): 1811−1834.
• TEMELOVÁ, J., SLEZÁKOVÁ, A. (2014): The changing environment and neighbourhood satisfaction in socialist high-rise panel housing estates: The time-comparative perceptions of elderly residents in Prague. Cities, 37: 82−91.

Current research projects of the group

• History and future of housing estates: quality of residential environment and residential satisfaction. 2019-2021. Grant Agency of the Czech Republic. Principal Investigator: Petra Špačková (Faculty of Science, Charles University), Co-investigator: Slavomíra Ferenčuhová (Institute of Sociology, Academy of Science)
• Residential segregation and mobility of foreign citizens: analysis of neighbourhoods, housing trajectories, and neighbourhood effects. 2019-2021. Grant Agency of the Czech Republic. Principal Investigator: Martin Šimon (Institute of Sociology, Academy of Science), Co-investigator: Ivana Křížková (Přidalová) (Faculty of Science, Charles University)
• Real populations in Prague and Central Bohemia region: daily mobility monitoring and population prognosis. 2018-2020. Technology Agency of the Czech Republic. Principal Investigator: Martin Ouředníček
• Contemporary changes of social environment within the Czech suburbs. 2018-2020. Grant Agency of the Czech Republic. Principal Investigator: Martin Ouředníček