GREEN ARCHITECTURE - REQUIREMENT OR DESTINY OF CONTEMPORARY SUSTAINABLE CITIES?
JUSTYNA KLESZCZ
PIOTR SOBIERAJEWICZ
ABSTRACT
The use of sustainable development methods as the only possible form of creating ecologically efficient architecture seems to create a false impression that there are no other opportunities for developing contemporary eco-architecture in confrontation with the challenges faced by urban populations. This paper aims to discuss the idea of green architecture as one of the ways of developing modern sustainable cities, a form of transforming urban structures in a different way than before. It takes up the issue more holistically, extending it to more aspects, without only stressing the importance of energy efficiency, water management and the use of modern technology in the service of saving natural resources. Green architecture can become the most creative element of contemporary cities. However, the question remains whether the dynamically changing urban environment has an alternative, or whether green architecture is to remain only one of many possible ways of forming contemporary urban spaces. It will be important whether it becomes one of global design trends or whether its main principles will at some point be imposed, directly or indirectly, by formalized requirements for creating urban space. Leveraging the adaptability potential of the city to implement new functions, service areas and recreation models, and activating them, stimulating self-sufficiency through systemic introduction of a new form of architecture, can in this case constitute a response to the deteriorating quality of non-urbanised environments and the answer to the problem of urban disintegration. It can also give an opportunity to broaden the circle of architectural customers beyond just people, and purposefully create space with the developing urban biocenosis in mind.
Key words: green architecture, urban biodiversity, urban green, sustainable development, eco-active architecture, interspecific areas, urban biome