Purification of the Air in the Historic Cities of Towns

Abstract

Air pollution observed from the beginning of the industrial age has had a negative impact on the health, quality and life expectancy of the inhabitants of urban agglomerations. The problem of particulate and gaseous pollutants in PM 10 fine particulate matter and PM 2.5 suspended in air is a particular threat. The emission of harmful substances is spatially and temporally differentiated in the urban area and depends on the degree of urbanization and the level of vehicular traffic as well as the season of the year. City centres filled with compact buildings of historic character are a special issue in the planned and implemented urban regeneration strategy. The multidimensional issues of the protection of the historic structure of the city centre are more and more important in the aspects of revitalization processes in line with the sustainable development of cities. The surface of the facades of the tenement houses currently undergoing renovation works can be used as planes used with the help of the latest technological developments for air cleaning processes. The first part of the article presents technical and technological possibilities applicable to the development of facades of architectural objects. In addition to vertical garden technologies, which are increasingly successfully used in architectural realizations, the latest developments in technology and material engineering, including the importance of titanium dioxide (TiO2) - TiO2 nanoparticles, as a component of building and finishing materials, such as cement and facade paints. Titanium dioxide from the 20s of the 20th century was used as an effective component of paints with excellent properties of opacity and bleaching pigments. Building materials containing TiO2 nanoparticles have revolutionized the building materials market at the beginning of the 21st century thanks to their special selfcleaning, bactericidal, anti-static and air-cleaning properties. These materials have also been used in conservation work. The second part presents examples of implementation of conservation measures using the latest material technologies and examples of green wall projects and the effects of these works. To sum up, the article focuses on the issue of facades in architectural objects of inner-city buildings and adaptation possibilities of these areas for the purpose of air purification and improving the quality of life of urban residents. The revitalization activities implemented in the spirit of sustainable development are currently correlated with the challenges for contemporary measures to protect cultural heritage.