OIKOblog FASTU: Mapping the proximity

Architecture and urban planning are part of the physical manifestation of our society, expressive of its values and its resources. Buildings, landscapes and cities are spatial expressions of human activities, social processes and institutions. Today the social and cultural milieu in which architects work is rapidly changing. They must be able to translate needs and resources of the society into relevant solutions of living environment. Architects must address the emerging problems of the day both practically and theoretically. Suburban housing is in the process of the town development the phenomenon, which substantially affects the characteristics of the living environment. Current trends represent the two different directions of the construction of new residential areas.

One way focuses on extensive form of construction at the edges of cities and rural settlements without a comprehensive settlement of the services and amenities, and the second by densification of already existing residential structures which were built in the past, in contact with the existing areas. The problem of the construction of the current suburban residential zones is deficient solution in terms of application of the factors that contribute to the harmonisation of the living environment. This is the economic, social, environmental and cultural factors. In the construction of the residential units are missing in the spectrum of features that significantly contribute to the quality of the living environment and bringing it to the city way of life.

The main starting point in the development of the living environment should be the application of the principles of sustainable development. These principles are reflected in the architectural design which should ensure the necessary level and capacity development of the housing.

As a response to the problems of suburban development is the first-rate attention devoted to high-quality processing of territorial plans, use of the sites that have lost their original function and the revitalization of existing estates.

The role of architects is to develop the future housing schemes which will find appropriate solutions of the broad scope of problems connected with the suburban housing.

Faculty of Architecture Slovak University of Technology Bratislava presents the Design Studio dealing with the proximity issues and the barriers in the east development area of Bratislava, which is generated by the big refinery Slovnaft.