Dwelling or house vs nature (biologically active areas)

Abstract

In the current global pandemic situation, more and more people are asking themselves where it is better to live. In a house or in an apartment? Of course, opinions are divided. However facing to be closure in the residential space, more and more people have considered the possibility of buying even a small plot of land giving the opportunity to enjoy the open space and communing with greenery. Foreclosure has resulted that many people now struggling with issues of exclusion and depression. The opportunity to get out and commune with nature can have a positive impact on a person’s mood and perception of their current situation. Large city agglomerations, often deprived of sufficient green areas, are not able to provide adequate living conditions. Architects and urban planners in recent decades have been trying to provide the most convenient solutions to improve the quality of life in large cities. There are numerous green areas in cities or housing estates, often connected with water reservoirs providing better micro climatic conditions. In objects, green walls and roofs are being introduced to increase the comfort of living. It is worth to analyze a contemporary resident approach to the choice of place to live, what is better for him - a house or a flat (apartment)? Is it better to live in a house with a garden or in an apartment with a large balcony overgrown with greenery? Is it better to locate the apartment in the city center or on the suburbs, where there are larger concentrations of greenery? The issues presented in this article relate to research related to life satisfaction in houses or apartments of city dwellers, as well as they complement the research related to the observation of the impact of greenery on the leveling of the Urban Heat Island. Greenery is one of the factors improving micro climatic conditions, it is a stabilizer of temperature and humidity. Residents of selected appartments and houses were asked in what environment they would like to live and what is most important for them in terms of comfort of living. This paper will present the results of surveys and research on UHI in relation to green areas and their introduction into residential buildings. The aim of this paper is to illustrate the how important is relationship between residents’ satisfaction of living place and the biologically active areas in their vicinity.