Advertising in public space. Signs - a historical sketch

Krzysztof Gieleciak

Advertising in public spaces.
Signs – a historical sketch.
Krzysztof Gieleciak

When discussing the principles of siting advertising boards and devices, including signboards, it is impossible to ignore historical analysis. An example here can be the designs of building elevations that were implemented at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries in Bielsko-Biała.

The authors of the elevation designs with rich modernist decor applied the principle of entering signs in designated fields resulting from architectural divisions. The signs were incorporated into horizontal strips located below the cornices separating the individual floors. The areas of the designated fields for the signs were limited to the necessary minimum and were a complement to the composition of the entire elevations. They were not dominant elements despite the fact that the premises were planned to have a service or commercial function.

It is also significant that the lettering compositions placed within the signboards were constructed using letter fonts commonly used at the time, reflecting the character of the era.

These fundamental principles of designing signs on building facades are reflected in the provisions of the Advertising Resolution.

For comparison, here are some contemporary examples of signboard placement on building facades in Bielsko-Biała before the Advertising Resolution came into force, which demonstrate the generally low quality of public space.