Agnieszka Bucka

The article raises issues of natural architecture, presenting the advantages of ecological construction and demands of sustainable development. It presents an example of the use of natural material (straw) to erect buildings in the straw bale technology. On the basis of the presentation of the building it is shown that future bio-construction may be based on simple, natural and environment-friendly materials [2]. It underlines the benefits and the need to develop natural construction for the good of a mankind and the environment, with regards to the aspect of energy efficiency – both in the process of building and operation. It emphasizes that nowadays the natural architecture gives more and more possibilities of building passive objects or even zero-energy ones. The idea of the publication is also to sensitize the audience to the fact of the use of straw to create objects representing contemporary polemic against the traditional solutions of form and architectural building blocks.

The paper presents the problem of degradation of the former industrial complex PKWK “Jawiszowice” in Brzeszcze with its buildings and technical infrastructure, and examines the possibility of its re-use. It emphasizes the benefits of the area revitalization in the broad sense that seems to be the most sensible decision which may be made after the termination of extraction of the raw material. The main aspect is the implementation of innovative and creative solutions which consequently enable the creation of the development not only for the city of Brzeszcze but for the entire region. This example – which is the subject of the present discussion – was also the subject of author’s previous studies conducted in the framework of the masters’ thesis.

The article discusses the issues of the use of water and vegetation in architecture, and more specifically in a residential envi­ronment. Examples of the use of the plant world and water are presented to approximate their important role in the space in which we live, work and rest. Based on the review of selected solutions used in architecture: free-standing vegetation in the interiors of the building, atrium, orangery or winter gardens, it was shown that the presence of the aquatic environment in the living space, especially life-giving flora with a rich microclimate, significantly improves health, well-being, and aesthetic reception of the interior, comfort of living and human work, and primarily the quality of air necessary for us to live. An impor­tant noteworthy element is the use of the vertical surface of ubiquitous walls, which can perfectly serve as a base for all kinds of plantings, not only decorative but also usable, fulfilling a significant role in the environment in which we live.