Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing 788

Jerzy Charytonowicz Christianne Falcão Editors

Advances in Human Factors, Sustainable Urban Planning and InfrastructureProceedings of the AHFE 2018 International Conference on Human Factors, Sustainable Urban Planning and Infrastructure, July 21–25, 2018, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida, USA

Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing

Volume 788

Series editor

Janusz Kacprzyk, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Polande-mail: kacprzyk@ibspan.waw.pl

The series “Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing” contains publications on theory,applications, and design methods of Intelligent Systems and Intelligent Computing. Virtually alldisciplines such as engineering, natural sciences, computer and information science, ICT, economics,business, e-commerce, environment, healthcare, life science are covered. The list of topics spans all theareas of modern intelligent systems and computing such as: computational intelligence, soft computingincluding neural networks, fuzzy systems, evolutionary computing and the fusion of these paradigms,social intelligence, ambient intelligence, computational neuroscience, artificial life, virtual worlds andsociety, cognitive science and systems, Perception and Vision, DNA and immune based systems,self-organizing and adaptive systems, e-Learning and teaching, human-centered and human-centriccomputing, recommender systems, intelligent control, robotics and mechatronics includinghuman-machine teaming, knowledge-based paradigms, learning paradigms, machine ethics, intelligentdata analysis, knowledge management, intelligent agents, intelligent decision making and support,intelligent network security, trustmanagement, interactive entertainment,Web intelligence andmultimedia.

The publications within “Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing” are primarily proceedingsof important conferences, symposia and congresses. They cover significant recent developments in thefield, both of a foundational and applicable character. An important characteristic feature of the series isthe short publication time and world-wide distribution. This permits a rapid and broad dissemination ofresearch results.

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Chairman

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Hani Hagras, University of Essex, Colchester, UKe-mail: hani@essex.ac.uk

László T. Kóczy, Széchenyi István University, Győr, Hungarye-mail: koczy@sze.hu

Vladik Kreinovich, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, USAe-mail: vladik@utep.edu

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Jie Lu, University of Technology, Sydney, Australiae-mail: Jie.Lu@uts.edu.au

Patricia Melin, Tijuana Institute of Technology, Tijuana, Mexicoe-mail: epmelin@hafsamx.org

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Ngoc Thanh Nguyen, Wroclaw University of Technology, Wroclaw, Polande-mail: Ngoc-Thanh.Nguyen@pwr.edu.pl

Jun Wang, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Konge-mail: jwang@mae.cuhk.edu.hk

More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/11156

Jerzy Charytonowicz • Christianne FalcãoEditors

Advances in Human Factors,Sustainable Urban Planningand InfrastructureProceedings of the AHFE 2018 InternationalConference on Human Factors, SustainableUrban Planning and Infrastructure, July 21–25, 2018,Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Studios,Orlando, Florida, USA

123

EditorsJerzy CharytonowiczThe Angelus Silesius University of AppliedSciences in Walbrzych

Walbrzych, Poland

Christianne FalcãoCatholic University of PernambucoRecife, Brazil

ISSN 2194-5357 ISSN 2194-5365 (electronic)Advances in Intelligent Systems and ComputingISBN 978-3-319-94198-1 ISBN 978-3-319-94199-8 (eBook)https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94199-8

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018947431

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Advances in Human Factorsand Ergonomics 2018

AHFE 2018 Series Editors

Tareq Z. Ahram, Florida, USAWaldemar Karwowski, Florida, USA

9th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomicsand the Affiliated Conferences

Proceedings of the AHFE 2018 International Conference on Human Factors,Sustainable Urban Planning and Infrastructure, held on July 21–25, 2018, inLoews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida, USA

Advances in Affective and Pleasurable Design Shuichi Fukuda

Advances in Neuroergonomicsand Cognitive Engineering

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Advances in Design for Inclusion Giuseppe Di Bucchianico

Advances in Ergonomics in Design Francisco Rebelo and Marcelo M.Soares

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Advances in Human Factors and Ergonomics inHealthcare and Medical Devices

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Advances in Human Factors in Simulationand Modeling

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Advances in Human Factors and SystemsInteraction

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Advances in Human Factors in Cybersecurity Tareq Z. Ahram and Denise Nicholson

Advances in Human Factors, BusinessManagement and Society

Jussi Ilari Kantola, Salman Nazirand Tibor Barath

Advances in Human Factors in Robotsand Unmanned Systems

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Advances in Human Aspects of Transportation Neville Stanton(continued)

v

(continued)

Advances in Artificial Intelligence, Softwareand Systems Engineering

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Advances in Human Factors, Sustainable UrbanPlanning and Infrastructure

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Advances in Physical Ergonomics & HumanFactors

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Advances in Interdisciplinary Practice inIndustrial Design

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Pedro Miguel Ferreira Martins Arezes

Advances in Social and Occupational Ergonomics Richard H. M. Goossens

Advances in Manufacturing, ProductionManagement and Process Control

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Advances in Usability, User Experienceand Assistive Technology

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Advances in Human Factors in WearableTechnologies and Game Design

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Advances in Human Factors in Communicationof Design

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vi Advances in Human Factors and Ergonomics 2018

Preface

The discipline of Human Factors and Sustainable Urban Planning and Infrastructureprovides a platform for addressing challenges in human factors and engineeringresearch with the focus on sustainability in the built environment, applications ofsustainability assessment, demonstrations and applications that contribute to com-petitiveness and well-being, quantification and assessment of sustainable infras-tructure projects, and the environmental, human, social, and economic dimensionsof sustainable infrastructure. A thorough understanding of the characteristics of awide range of people is essential in the development of sustainable infrastructureand systems and serves as valuable information to designers and helps ensuredesign will fit the targeted population of end users.

This book focuses on the advances in the Human Factors in Sustainable UrbanPlanning and Infrastructure, which are a critical aspect in the design of anyhuman-centered technological system. The ideas and practical solutions describedin the book are the outcome of dedicated research by academics and practitionersaiming to advance theory and practice in this dynamic and all-encompassingdiscipline.

A total of four main sections presented in this book:

I. Ergonomics in Material and Environment DesignII. Sustainable Urban Planning and InfrastructureIII. Ergonomics in Building and ArchitectureIV. Construction Industry

Each section contains research papers that have been reviewed by membersof the International Editorial Board. Our sincere thanks and appreciation to theboard members as listed below:

Clinton Aigbavboa, South AfricaAgata Bonenberg, PolandWojciech Bonenberg, PolandBogdan Branowski, PolandAlexander Burov, Ukraine

vii

Alina Drapella-Hermansdorfer, PolandKlaudiusz Fross, PolandAnna Jaglarz, PolandBronislaw Kapitaniak, FranceLudmila Klimatskaya, RussiaVladko Kolbanov, RussiaRobert Masztalski, PolandAndrej Szpakov, BelarusRomuald Tarczewski, PolandElżbieta Trocka-Leszczyńska, PolandJoanna Tymkiewicz, PolandEdwin Tytyk, Poland

We hope that this book, which is the international state of the art in UrbanPlanning and Sustainable Infrastructure domain of human factors and ergonomics,will be a valuable source of theoretical and applied knowledge enablinghuman-centered design for global markets.

July 2018 Jerzy CharytonowiczChristianne Falcão

viii Preface

Contents

Ergonomics in Material and Environment Design

Urban Green Spaces: An Element of a City’s Balance Betweenthe Built and Natural Environments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Wojciech Bonenberg, Mo Zhou, and Shoufang Liu

Open-Air Work Zones for Students at the Faculty of ArchitectureDepicted on the Basis of Pilot Student Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Dorota Winnicka-Jasłowska, Joanna Tymkiewicz, and Klaudiusz Fross

The Campus Space in Research and Student Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Joanna Tymkiewicz, Dorota Winnicka-Jasłowska, and Klaudiusz Fross

Public Spaces - For People or Not for People? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36Klaudiusz Fross, Joanna Tymkiewicz, and Dorota Winnicka-Jasłowska

Success Analysis in Architectural Design Competitions in Termsof Design Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47Wojciech Bonenberg

Computer Lab - Space Organization and Environmental Conditions:Case Study Assessment Compared to the Theoretical Model . . . . . . . . . 56Michał Sitek

Quality of the Built Environment from the Point of View of Peoplewith Autism Spectrum Disorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68Agnieszka Bugno-Janik and Maria Bielak-Zasadzka

Sustainable Housing Environment: Form and Territory . . . . . . . . . . . . 79Wojciech Januszewski

Modelling of Runway Infrastructure Operations in an Effortto Increase Economic and Environmental Sustainable Development . . . 90Julio Roa and Junqi Hu

ix

BIM in Prefabrication and Modular Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100Wojciech Bonenberg, Xia Wei, and Mo Zhou

Reviewing the Negative Impacts of Building Construction Activities onthe Environment: The Case of Congo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111Mbuyamba Mbala, Clinton Aigbavboa, and John Aliu

Architectural Design in the Context of Sustainable Development . . . . . . 118Beata Majerska-Palubicka

Sustainable Urban Planning and Infrastructure

Shaping the Space for Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder . . . . . . 131Maria Bielak-Zasadzka and Agnieszka Bugno-Janik

A Stakeholders Perspective on the Causes of Poor Service Deliveryof Road Infrastructure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140Nokulunga Mashwama, Clinton Aigbavboa, and Wellignton Thwala

Affordable Housing as a Spatial Planning Tool for Shrinking Cities.Case of Poland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151Agata Twardoch

Kurdish Garden as an Example for Middle East Botanical Garden:New Approach and Aspect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164Kardo N. Kareem, Wojciech Bonenberg, and Bahram K. Maulood

The Improvement of the Quality of Public Spaces on the Exampleof Student Competition Designs: A Case Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174Rafał Radziewicz-Winnicki

Structural System for Development of Scenic, Historical, LandscapeParks in China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184Teresa Bardzinska-Bonenberg and Shoufang Liu

Assessment of Parking Demand in the Central BusinessDistrict of Lahore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194Ammad Arshad, Irum Sanaullah, Amna Chaudhry, Zahara Batool,and Hina Saleemi

Public Space Projects in the Open Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203Alicja Maciejko and Roman Czajka

Sound and Form in Public Spaces of Contemporary Hotels . . . . . . . . . . 216Joanna Jablonska, Elzbieta Trocka-Leszczynska, and Romuald Tarczewski

Resilience in Housing Regeneration for a Smart City Model . . . . . . . . . 226Donatella Radogna and Manuela Romano

x Contents

Law in Motion or Passionate Observer on the Shelf? The GhanaianDisaster Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236Olivia Anku-Tsede, Believe Quaqoo Dedzo, Michael Asiedu Gyensare,and Aaron Makafui Ametorwo

The Role of Active Mobility for the Promotion of Urban Health . . . . . . 248Cristiana Cellucci and Michele Di Sivo

The Needs of Children and Their Caregivers in New Urban Lifestyles:A Case Study of Playground Facilities in Hong Kong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257Kin Wai Michael Siu, Yi Lin Wong, and Mei Seung Lam

Problems of Ergonomics in Lecturing History of Architectureand Town Planning Throughout Architectural Studies Course . . . . . . . 266Teresa Bardzinska-Bonenberg

Micro-space Planning: Social Action for Popularizing of this PlanningMethod in Silesian’s Case-Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277Katarzyna Ujma-Wąsowicz, Agnieszka Piórkowska,and Małgorzata Kądziela

Urban Informal Settlement and Infrastructure for Sustainable UrbanDesign: Investigating the Correlates and Mitigation Strategy . . . . . . . . . 289Oluwole Soyinka, Ben Spencer, Kin Wai Michael Siu, Jeff Hou,and Laure Heland

School Architecture: Components to Improve Quality and Sociabilityin a City in the Northeast of Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303Maria Juliana Morais and Terezinha Silva

Barriers of Building Maintenance in Private Tertiary Institutionsin Nigeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312Douglas Aghimien, Ayodeji Oke, and Clinton Aigbavboa

Creative Cluster and Urban Rehabilitation: Case Studyin Northeast Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324Christianne Soares Falcao and Alberico Paes Barreto Barros

Ergonomics in Building and Architecture

The Impact of Ergonomic Guiding Principles on the Formationof Modern Monumental Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333Agnieszka Gębczyńska-Janowicz

Space Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342Klaudiusz Fross and Maria Bielak-Zasadzka

Ergonomic Aspects of Development of Architecture in the Contextof Sanitary and Hygiene Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354Rafał Janowicz

Contents xi

Architecture of Public Toilets in the Landscape – Disorderor Integration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364Anna Jaglarz

Human Scale in Architecture of Schools Located in DenseUrban Fabric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377Andrzej Dudzinski

Ergonomics as the Common Denominator and Vital Conditionto Achieve Sustainability of Buildings of Different Types on Exampleof Two Built Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387Pawel Horn

New Challenges for the Industrial Architecture. Ergonomicson the Edge of a New Era of IT Technology and Deep Learning . . . . . 400Pawel Horn

The Latitudinal Vomitories at the Stadium Stands - The New Conceptversus Classical Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 408Zdzislaw Pelczarski

Civil Projects (Participatory), Company Funds and Small Grantsas Factors Integrating Local Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 419Jerzy Charytonowicz and Alicja Maciejko

Ergonomics in Functional and Spatial Shaping of Bedrooms . . . . . . . . . 430Przemyslaw Nowakowski

From Industry 4.0 to Nature 4.0 – Sustainable InfrastructureEvolution by Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 438Leszek Świątek

Post-occupancy Evaluation Research Method in Architecture -Conscious Creation of Safe Living Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 448Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska

An Investigation of Government Support Influence on Low-IncomeHousing Construction Quality in South Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 457Chikezie Eke, Grace Akidi, Clinton Aigbavboa, and Wellington Thwala

Human Factors in the Correlation with Aesthetics and Pro-ecologicalTechnology in Modern Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 464Anna Gumińska

How Vertical Farming Influences Urban Landscape Architectureand Sustainable Urban Developments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 476Mo Zhou, Wojciech Bonenberg, Xia Wei, and Shoufang Liu

xii Contents

Construction Industry

Causes of Delay in Various Construction Projects:A Literature Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 489Mbuyamba Mbala, Clinton Aigbavboa, and John Aliu

Construction Professionals Perception of Solid Waste Managementin the South African Construction Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 496Ayodeji Oke, Clinton Aigbavboa, Douglas Aghimien,and Nkululeko Currie

Benefits of Biomimicry Adoption and Implementation in theConstruction Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 506Olusegun Aanuoluwapo Oguntona and Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa

Measuring Labour Productivity in Labour Intensive Workson the Road Construction in Ghana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 515Emmanuel Bamfo-Agyei, Clinton Aigbavboa,and Thwala Welligton Didibhuku

An Assessment of Lean Construction Practices in theConstruction Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 524Olusegun Aanuoluwapo Oguntona, Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa,and Gloria Ndalamba Mulongo

Environmental Impacts of Construction Activities: A Caseof Lusaka, Zambia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 535Chanda Musenga and Clinton Aigbavboa

Author Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 543

Contents xiii

Ergonomics in Materialand Environment Design

Urban Green Spaces: An Element of a City’sBalance Between the Built and Natural

Environments

Wojciech Bonenberg1(&), Mo Zhou1, and Shoufang Liu2

1 Faculty of Architecture, Poznan University of Technology, Poznan, Poland{wojciech.bonenberg,mo.zhou}@put.poznan.pl

2 Liaoning Urban and Rural Construction and Planning Design Institute,Shenyang Shi, China

liushoufang15940203503@hotmail.com

Abstract. The article presents a report on the possibility of using greenery asan element of natural balance in the city. The research was carried out in 2016and 2017 with the aid of Poznan University of Technology Faculty of Archi-tecture students and under the guidance of the authors. The reasons for thegrowing environmental problems in cities and proposals for remedial measuresto prevent a breakdown of the ecological balance have been suggested. In thiscontext, a model equilibrium in the natural spatial plan of the city was proposed,based on the quantification of the basic relationships between biotic andanthropogenic components. It emphasises the need to establish a dynamic bal-ance in the urban environment. Particular significance to ecological engineeringbased on the principles for adapting biocoenoses to habitat conditions wasassigned. Research within this scope focuses on three primary directions:adapting natural sites to the changed environmental conditions, ecosystemprotection, formation of new natural ecosystems. The presented method fordefining environmental balance was used in drafting detailed designs forrebuilding the natural environment in the Poznan Metropolitan Area.

Keywords: Urban greenery � Environmental balance � Anthropogenic activity

1 The Problem

Green spaces are an important component of urban structure. They provide a setting,where built up areas are uniquely interwoven with the fabric of a society. Naturalconditions, social standard and investment activities all contribute to the state of greenareas in cities.

The unique character of urban green areas takes root in the “urban planning pro-cess”, which generates the structure of a city through complex environmental, social,organisational and technical interrelations combined with the actions of its residents.

The very diverse forms of urban green spaces are created with varying intensity.Sometimes they owe their existence to coordinated planning activities, whilst at othertimes to spontaneous growth. But regardless of whether they came about as a result of

© Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2019J. Charytonowicz and C. Falcão (Eds.): AHFE 2018, AISC 788, pp. 3–13, 2019.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94199-8_1

natural phenomena or the efforts of urban planners, green spaces define the character ofan urban environment.

1.1 Natural Constraints for Urban Growth

The interactions between humans and the natural environment they live in haveassumed the characteristics of constraints, of a critical nature for further development ofthe settlement network. Nature’s ability to spontaneously regenerate the intensivelyconsumed resources has declined drastically. A deficit of natural resources is dis-cernible in urbanised areas (which until quite recently were looked upon as an inex-haustible source of spatial development). Substances accumulate in the environmentwhich exhibit harmful biological impact on life forms. Devastated areas, disusedindustrial areas and landfill sites are gradually taking up increasing swathes of land andin doing so they not only eradicate landscape qualities but also curtail settlement andrecreation opportunities available to the ever growing urban populations [1].

Environmental problems attributable to the fact that more and more people areconsuming increasing amounts of natural resources gave rise to serious fears forregional development perspectives. This is illustrated by Ehrlich’s “ecological disaster”scenario, primarily driven by the disproportionate increase in the environmental burdenresulting from population growth [7].

Carvalho considers incorrect use of technology to be behind the growing envi-ronmental problems in cities [6].

According to Maddox, the biggest conflicts with nature in developed, intensivelyurbanised areas do not stem from population growth, but rather incompetent use oftechnology [12].

Boulding points out that industrial production can be used as a measure for the lossof natural resources. The larger the economy, the more production is required to sustainit [5]. This subject is also associated with the rapid ageing of hi-tech products, energyand waste management. People are consuming increasing amounts of energy to obtainthe latest models of advanced products. The planned lifetime period, which entails thedestruction or disposal of an item which is still usable, has become the generallyadopted means for growth, even though it is particularity harmful from the point ofview of natural resource management (including spatial management) for theenvironment.

In this context, remedial measures to prevent a breakdown of the ecological balancehave been suggested. The “spaceship earth” concept, put forward by Boulding is one ofthe most significant [4]. It emphasises the need to establish a dynamic balance in theenvironment. On a world scale this means an end to exponential growth, stabilisation ofproduction and consumption and securing the quality of the primary natural resources.Maher emphasises that a shift from “quantity” to “quality” in spatial use will avert anecological disaster [13]. Last assigns particular significance to ecological engineeringbased on the principles for adapting biocoenoses to habitat conditions [11].

Hough precisely defines the conditions which are required to ensure a decentquality of life [10].

4 W. Bonenberg et al.

“A Blueprint for Survival”, co-authored by E. Goldsmith and D. Allen, is a textwhich not only spells out the general concepts for a sustainable (stabilised) ecology, butalso refines plans for implementing given transition phases [8]. Based on the sus-tainable economics concept, the blueprint emphasises the need to appropriatelyorchestrate changes in spatial development management, aiming to reverse the currentdevelopment directions which endanger the natural environment.

Bonenberg presents a compilation of measures and actions needed to restore thealready damaged environmental balance [3].

Wenk presents an interesting approach to the environmental protection problem set[22]. The author makes no attempt at justifying the limited effectiveness of remedialmeasures used today and draws a conclusion that regeneration of natural environmentis not possible without mankind’s moral revival, especially when it comes toself-control.

Ecopsychology devotes a lot of attention to these concepts. This new disciplinecarries particular value, as it concerns the interpersonal dimension of health. Ecopsy-chology sets itself the task of defining the links between our health and well-being andthe natural environment, where the primary focus is on green spaces. It is a type of acultural personification of the bonds with nature. That new assessment of the bondsbetween mankind and the surroundings, has serious implications when it comes tospatial planning as it talks about individual preferences and behaviour of the residentswith respect to green spaces. These preferences should be expressed through a sub-jective approach to the surrounding green areas, articulated by spatial policy with itsinterpersonal reflection in meticulous designs of green areas [2].

2 Environmental Balance in Cities

The “man - natural environment” relationship has become one of the primary factorslimiting growth of urbanised areas. Human activity within these areas as well as theenvironment’s ecological “quality” become entangled in an approximately inverseproportion. In a city centre for example, the former of the two factors is high, whilst thelatter - low. On the other extreme, when we consider a location in a nature reserve,unspoilt by man, the aforementioned proportion will be inverted.

The idea to bond human activity with the environment’s ecological “quality” wascoined a long time ago. Architecture is one of the first disciplines, which considered theenvironment as an element inextricably linked with the activities of social groups aswell as individuals. In the classic “De architectura libri decem”, Vitruvius analysed thenatural conditions for building new cities. In chapter four of Book One, he points outthe impact of the climate and ways to choose a healthy site and in chapter six the effectof winds on the health of the residents. He devoted chapter six of Book Eight to testingfor good water – he made a connection between the appearance of the inhabitants of agive region, the type of deposits in vessels and local vegetation with the properties ofwater. He presented ways for testing and avoiding harmful exhalations when diggingwells [20].

Urban Green Spaces: An Element of a City’s Balance 5

References to the idea of unity between living organisms and the environment (andthis includes unity between man and nature) may be found in subsequent geographical,biological and medical texts.

Whereas balance in natural ecosystems has been investigated quire thoroughly andunambiguously, the balance in artificial ecosystems still provokes discussions. Disputesprimary revolve around theoretical research models and practical urban planning andarchitectural activities with reference to settlement areas.

In the context of nature, these are one of a number of spatially separate ecologicalsystems found in the environment. It is emphasised that nature is a mosaic ofecosystems on different levels of succession, some already “mature” exhibiting highinternal stability whilst the “younger” ones are less stable, with less species diversityand no internal balance. These are most often associated with human settlementactivity.

Simmons identified four types of ecosystems which should make up a sustainablespatial system [17]:

(1) Artificial ecosystems, which include the “built-up environment” within settle-ments. In order to prolong their existence, these depend on various types ofexternally supplied energy and materials.

(2) Very productive, intensively used agricultural areas with the ability to generatehigh crop yields.

(3) Compromise areas, such as multiple-use forests, recreational areas, landscapeparks or pastures.

(4) Mature non-agricultural ecosystems, or areas of vegetation unspoilt by man.These comprise important clusters of high biotic diversity and vital sites for gasexchange in the environment.

Odum presented a model of spatially separate types of environment needed by man.He used the given ecosystem’s development stage and circulation of resources as thecriteria [14].

The model encompasses the following ecological systems, grouped in accordancewith the basic biological function:

(1) inanimate systems (the urban environment, urbanised areas),(2) multi-use systems (intermediate type environment),(3) developing systems (productive environment),(4) mature systems (protective environment).

Maintaining an environmental balance requires an appropriative partial balance tobe determined in each of the aforementioned areas.

This imposes particular requirements over the spatial planning process in order toensure sustainable development of urbanised areas.

The theoretical description of the complex system of interactions between settle-ment activities and nature within those areas is still inadequate.

At first sight, such a statement may seem unjustified - is it not the case thatnumerous scientific disciplines have been probing the impact of mankind’s economicactivities on the environment? Nevertheless, the reasons for change, consequences ofthe negative impact of urban planning factors in nature require continuous research.

6 W. Bonenberg et al.

This is perhaps associated with the signification rate at which changes are taking place.Many failed, unsuccessful efforts in an urban environment, where the expected benefitswhere overwhelmed by the losses stand testament to the above. The reason behind sucherrors is most often found in the difficulty associated with drafting a reliable forecast asto the environment’s reaction in urbanised areas and insufficient tried and testedmethods for determining an acceptable level of anthropogenic interference. First andforemost, a lack of clearly defined criteria for an environmental balance in an urbanenvironment should be emphasised.

3 Criteria for Environmental Balance in Cities

When talking about environmental balance in cities, one should define the balancelevel. It is obvious that reinstating optimal conditions for the development of maturenatural biocoenoses within those areas is impossible as this would entail eradicatingmankind’s settlement and economic activities.

On the other hand, neither is it possible to continue the progressing degradation ofnatural vegetation complexes, which lead to them being entirely eliminated from anurban areas.

The desired balance level should be within the two extreme boundaries. And thus,spatial development plans should be drawn up for the green areas (vegetation) to retaintheir spontaneous regeneration capabilities with respect to the damage inflicted bysettlement activities within territorially defined spatial units [3].

Environmental balance in a city can be described by the “man - natural environ-ment” relationship. In order to obtain sufficiently accurate data to build a modelenvironmental balance system within the scope of a city’s spatial development plan, thebasic relations between biotic and anthropogenic components were quantified. Thisquantification will make it possible to determine accurate proportions in terms of areaand will provide guidelines as to the type of spatial development in a given areas. Atthe same time, it will facilitate a comparison of the implied state with the actual state,indicating spatial development directions which maintain or restore environmentalbalance.

The desired balance can be expressed using the following abstract, simplifiednotation:

NA ¼ AC: ð1Þ

where:

NA - stands for the quality of the natural environment within the boundaries of thegiven urban spatial unit,AC - stands for anthropogenic activity within the boundaries of the given urbanspatial unit,NA/AC = g - balance level index.

Urban Green Spaces: An Element of a City’s Balance 7

Equation (1) can also be expressed as:

NA=AC ¼ 1: ð2Þ

When ecological balance within a given area is disrupted, then:

NA=AC\1: ð3Þ

and z = 1 − NA/AC indicates the scale of the danger.There is extensive discussion in literature on the subject in question as to the

selection of accurate indices describing the state of the environmental balance [3]. Itdepends on the specific nature of the area subject to the plan, scale and scope ofavailable reports. A comprehensive suggestion within this scope has been put forwardby the Mission to Save Earth Team as part of UN Agenda 21 on Sustainable Devel-opment. The indices have been selected on the basis of 7 criteria: measurability,innovation, adequacy, comparability, usability in design applications and effectives.

The two primary ecological system components - AC and NA are made up of setsof various types of values. For example, the NA component exhibits a system of(variable) characteristics, such as: energy flows at given trophic levels, plant speciesdiversity, food chains, biomass quantity, etc. Similarly, the AC component may bedescribed using the number of residents and the number of employed individuals in agiven area, flow of materials, energy consumption, size of investment sites, etc.

3.1 Quality Characteristics of the Natural Environment

In spatial planning, when talking about green spaces we are dealing with a communityof species organised in such manner, that it exhibits specific characteristic properties,not seen in individual specimen or populations which it is made up of. The communityfunctions as a certain whole, through mutual metabolic connections. The term “bio-coenosis” is used in most ecology texts to describe all biological components of such acommunity (fauna, flora and soil microbes). A “biotope” refers to the specific habitatconditions encountered in a biocoenosis.

Trojan cites the following characteristics of biocoenoses [19]: characteristic speciescomposition, species composition richness, duration in time, area and boundaries.Biocoenoses exhibit a specific trophic structure, energy flow rate and the rate at whichit accumulates, as well as properties such as: capacity, stability, diversity, successionstages. Many authors use the “biocoenosis” term for large, independent ecologicalunits, such as forests. However, accordion to some opinions, biocoenoses may spanareas as little as s few square meters. Odum makes a distinction between highlyorganised and relatively independent “large biocoenoses” and “small biocoenoses”which, to a large extent, are dependent on neighbouring ecological systems [14]. Wangassociates the areas of biocoenoses which inhabit an ecosystem with the basicadministrative units [21].

A similar diversity is seen when it comes to opinions of classifying biocoenoses.Such a classification is most often based on: major structural properties, physicalenvironment of the biosciences or functional relations. As an example, we may cite

8 W. Bonenberg et al.

Perelman’s classification attempts [15] based on basic biogeochemical properties andclassification based on functional relations [18].

The presented diversity of opinions on the areas, boundaries and classification ofbiocoenoses, allows one to refer to a biocoenosis as a certain abstract value - rarely isthere a clear distinction between biocoenoses, they often overlap, one blends intoanother. This provides some justification to link the areas and boundaries of bio-coenoses with basic spatial units where sustainable growth is to be ensured.

In defining the variables associated with the quality of the natural environment NA,it was assumed (constituting a simplification of a kind) that they are linked to thebiocenotic balance of green areas within settlement units. Partial environmental qualityassessment criteria were selected to adequately reflect the basic requirements definingthe balance level as set forth at the outset. Thus, variables were selected which aredecisive to the largest extent possible in terms of:

– biocoenoses regeneration ability with respect to the damage done by productionactivities engaged in by the ecosystem’s community,

– ability to compensate for the psychological and physical stress suffered by theresidents, which, amongst others, is associated with biocoenoses landscapequalities.

One of the primary criteria for assessing the regenerative ability of vegetation is itsstability.

The stability principle states that the energy flowing through every closed naturalsystem changes it until self-adjustment mechanisms permanently adapt the system tothe surrounding conditions. Upon reaching stability, energy changes occur within asystem in a uniform, pre-determined manner and at a defined rate. A high degree ofstability is a property of developed biocoenoses, which inhabit “mature”, extensiveforest, meadow or aquatic ecosystems.

However, it is known that a system is only stable within certain boundaries, outsideof which controlled stresses result in destabilisation. Then the biocoenosis (flora) losesits ability to restore itself to the original state. The degree of floral stability depends onthe changes taking place in the abiotic environment. These changes may stabilise ordestabilise a system.

(a) A biocoenosis growing under natural ecological succession conditions will resultin increased stability. An analysis of a succession trajectory, or the changes andorder of biotic communities from the initial biotope inhabitation until the processof changes comes to an end and the final biocoenosis stabilisation are depicted intexts by Sahney and Benton [16].

(b) A reduction to biocoenosis stability is associated with the effects of variousstresses, most often caused by urban planning and mankind’s economic activities.Some effects of that activity, impact the flora and constitute a powerful stimulusdisturbing the self-adjustment mechanisms. The most “sensitive” species areeliminated, and we have a progressively more barren, unstable biocoenoses. Thephenomenon is widely discussed in many papers [9].

A general conclusion may be drawn from such research papers, that stability can beidentified as a set of (variable) properties which describe biocenotic communities.

Urban Green Spaces: An Element of a City’s Balance 9

However, it is difficult to quantify most of these variables. For example, measuringan ecosystem’s primary production requires the application of laboratory methods(isotope method or CO2 and O2 variation analysis). In the opinion of many authors,some properties listed in the table are correlated. Therefore, it is not necessary tomeasure all variables to assess the biocenotic stability of green areas, but only some,those which yield most easily to measurements. For example, Odum emphasises thatspecies richness increases as the proportion of energy expenditures for breathing to thequantity of biomass decreases [14]. It has also been demonstrated that for a largerquantity of vertical habitat zones, the rate of exchange of nutrition components betweenthe organisms and the surroundings increases. Similarly, resistance to external distur-bances is stronger in biotic communities which exhibit higher species diversity andinhabit larger areas.

That relationship has been used as a basis for new industrial and communal wastedisposal concepts. These methods take advantage of opportunities to utilise decom-posable contaminants by appropriately controlling their supply to a biocoenosis. Thesesubstances, if supplied in moderate quantities, may increase the overall biocoenosisproductivity and constitute a valuable source of mineral food components (e.g. phos-phates, nitrates, carbonates, etc.).

These examples show, that sufficiently large and diverse (in terms of species) greencomplexes are able to maintain stability of an artificial ecosystem which includessettlement areas.

Quality characteristics of the natural environment should be easy to quantify. Thisis important for practical application in spatial planning.

The following quality characteristics of the natural environment in settlementregions have been selected on the basis of the depicted analysis [3].

s1. Species richness index.

This is considered to be one of the simplest methods for detecting and assessingenvironmental pollution levels. The ability to identify species suffices to determine thisindex.

s2. Species evenness index.

Species evenness refers to the distribution of individuals across all the presentspecies. If the community is not very even, then most individuals represent a singlespecies. The remaining individuals are distributed across the remaining species. Thisstate prevails most often when some (most resistant) species are afforded significantgrowth opportunities. The growth of other (more sensitive) species is held back by theimpact of limiting factors (e.g. pollution).

s3. Spatial stratification - the number of vertical habitat zones.

Spatial stratification has been determined to be between 0 and 5 (trees, shrubs,herbs, undergrowth, litter and humus).

s4. Number of indicator species.

Indicator species are rare species and their presence (or absence) is used to infer thequality of a natural environment.

10 W. Bonenberg et al.

These environmental risk indices are considered to be simple to acquire and reli-able. For example, lichen is a good index for atmospheric pollution due to its sensitivityto acid rain.

s5. This biocoenosis area (determined on the basis of planimetric readings and siteobservations).

3.2 Characteristics of Anthropogenic Activity

The following variables have been adopted to describe the AC component [3]:

a1 - Number of residents within an urban unit.a2 - Number of people employed within an urban unit.a3 - Size of built-up area.a4 - Urban unit “catchment” area.

For sites located at various distances from the centre of the settlement activity, theaforementioned a4 decreases proportionally to that distance.

a5 - Quantity of urban unit infrastructure components.a6 - Material balance - quantity of materials transported to and from the urban unit.

One should note that the variables describing AC are directly related to the givenlocation. They depict mankind’s current and planned urban and economic activitylevels within each identified urban unit. They are easy to determine on the basis ofanalyses which encompass demographic forecasts, spatial development directions, thecurrent and planned size of built-up areas, waste management effectiveness and energyconsumption forecasts.

4 Measuring Environmental Balance

In accordance with the adopted assumption, ecological balance should include areaswhere the residents are active on a daily basis, and thus primarily urban functional andspatial units associated with work, dwellings and recreation.

Then, the desired balance for every urban functional and spatial unit, as defined byEq. (1), assumes the following form [3]:

rða1; a2; a3; a4; a5; a6Þ ¼ wðs1; s2; s3; s4; s5Þ: ð4Þ

where:

r, w - location multipliers, associated with the specific nature of human activitiesand habitat conditions (climate, water and soil) within the urban functional andspatial unit.

The following procedure has been adopted to measure NA and AC:

– determination of partial indices for each area subject to the research on the basis ofstatistical data, planimetric readings and site visits,

Urban Green Spaces: An Element of a City’s Balance 11

– calculation of normalised values for the aforementioned indices by placing rawvalues of each index on an identical normalised scale (0/100),

– determination of a rank for each index; here given indices were compared usingpaired significance method

– calculation of NA and AC values as an arithmetic mean of the normalised andweighted partial indices values.

The presented method for defining environmental balance was used in draftingdetailed designs for rebuilding the natural environment in the Poznan MetropolitanArea. The research area was divided into 344 functional and spatial units. AC and NAvalues were calculated for these areas which were then recorded on a city map. Bylinking areas where the aforementioned indices had similar values, “contour maps”were obtained depicting the level of anthropogenic activity (AC) and natural envi-ronment quality level (NA). Analogously, AC/NA were also marked on a city map,facilitating an identification of sites where environmental balance is most disrupted.

124 areas most at risk were identified on the basis thereof, and actions aiming torestore balance were suggested. The expected positive results stem from project sug-gestions entailing reinstating local environmental balance. And thus:

– in 15 functional and spatial units a reduction of local vehicle traffic was suggested infavour of safe pedestrian and bicycle access,

– in 3 functional and spatial units establishing water reservoirs (ponds) was recom-mended at sites which are currently home to abandoned substandard industrial andwarehousing developments,

– in 45 functional and spatial units green corridors were recommended which com-prise a cohesive ecological network interlaced with residential estates,

– in 16 functional and spatial units dense green belts were recommended on bothsides of major trunk roads,

– in 30 functional and spatial units encompassing existing urban parks, enriching thegreenery species mix was recommended,

– in 13 functional and spatial units, establishment of “city farms” was recommendedto produce food for the local residents,

– in 2 functional and spatial units, establishment of extensive biocenotic communitieswas recommended, to filter municipal waste water and to compost organic wastes.

5 Conclusion

The “man - natural environment” relationship has become one of the primary factorswhen it comes to urban quality of life. Green areas are an important environmentalbalance component.

The suggested method for determining environmental balance in an urban settingprovides significant support for the designs and planning procedure. The conclusionsyielded by environmental balance analysis define the role and place of green areas in acity, the scope of necessary investments, how green spaces should be managed and theassociated costs. In that context, green areas are an indispensable element of the “newurban planning culture” in urban design.

12 W. Bonenberg et al.

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1. BenDor, T.K., Metcalf, S.S., Paich, M.: The dynamics of brownfield redevelopment.Sustainability 3, 914–936 (2011)

2. Bonenberg, W.: Beauty and ergonomics of living environment. In: Vink, P., Kantola,J. (eds.) Advances in Occupational, Social, and Organizational Ergonomics, pp. 575–581.Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton (2010)

3. Bonenberg, W.: Przemysł w mieście. Ekologiczna metoda modernizacji zakładówprzemysłowych zlokalizowanych na obszarach intensywnie zurbanizowanych, pp. 56–62,97–106. Zeszyty Naukowe Politechnika Slaska 850, Gliwice (1985)

4. Boulding, K.E.: The economics of the coming spaceship earth. In: Jarrett, H. (ed.)Environmental Quality in a Growing Economy: Essays from the Sixth RFF Forum, pp. 3–14.John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore (1966)

5. Boulding, K.E.: What do we want to sustain? Environmentalism and human evaluations. In:Costanza, R.: Ecological Economics: The Science and Management of Sustainability,pp. 367–383. Columbia University Press, New York (1991)

6. Carvalho, A.C.V., Granja, A.D., Silva, A.G.: A systematic literature review on integrativelean and sustainability synergies over a building’s lifecycle. Sustainability 9(7), 1156 (2017)

7. Ehrlich, P.E., Holdren, J.P.: Impact of population growth. Science 171(3977), 1212–1217(1971)

8. Goldsmith, E., Allem, D., Allaby, M., Davoll, J., Lawrence, S.: Blueprint for survival.Ecologist 2, 1–50 (1972)

9. Horn, R., Dahy, H., Gantner, J., Speck, O., Leistner, P.: Bio-inspired sustainabilityassessment for building product development - concept and case study. Sustainability 10(1),130, 2–25 (2018)

10. Hough, P.: Environmental security. Routledge, New York (2014)11. Last, F.T., Hotz, M.C.B., Bell, B.G.: Land and its uses – actual and potential an

environmental appraisal. Plenum Press, New York, London (1982)12. Maddox, J.: The case against hysteria. Nature 235, 63–65 (1972)13. Maher, T.M., Baum, S.D.: Adaptation to and recovery from global catastrophe. Sustain-

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Urban Green Spaces: An Element of a City’s Balance 13

Open-Air Work Zones for Studentsat the Faculty of Architecture Depictedon the Basis of Pilot Student Projects

Dorota Winnicka-Jasłowska(&), Joanna Tymkiewicz,and Klaudiusz Fross

Faculty of Architecture, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland{Dorota.winnicka-jasloslowska,joanna.tymkiewicz,

klaudiusz.fross}@polsl.pl

Abstract. The following article pertains to a student project called: Open-AirWork Zone for Students of the Faculty of Architecture. It elaborates on thescope of pre-design research which preceded projects carried out by students.The context in which such places came to be, within the space of contemporarycampuses, was also analyzed. Next, two concepts put forth by students weredescribed as the result of end-of-semester papers completed at the Department ofDesign and Qualitative Research of the Faculty of Architecture at the SilesianUniversity of Technology (Gliwice, Poland). The publication also contains abrief description of the changes made to the structure of the Polish highereducation facilities, as a result of significant factors which influenced the newmethods of making use of the space and its new quality.

Keywords: Higher education � Universities � Students’ zoneLearning and teaching space

1 Introduction

The idea for the Open-Air Work Zone at the Faculty of Architecture of the SilesianUniversity of Technology came into being a few years ago. There had been, of course,requests made by the students for places where one could spend their leisure timeduring breaks between classes, outside the building. Before the start of the project andat the very beginning, pre-design research was done together with students, whichwould diagnose their needs as to the projected space and would indicate the properlocation, in the closest vicinity of the building of the Faculty where the open-air workzone would be located. In recent years, there have been lots of analyses made bystudents of the Architectural Faculty of the Silesian University of Silesia in the scope ofpre-design research and concept designs connected with locations intended forspending leisure time between classes. During these breaks, one could either relax andsocialize, or work and learn. In the course of research carried out by students in theirown environment, it turned out that they wished to see a space for both work andleisure that would be located in the vicinity of the faculty’s building and wouldfunction better than the contemporary one.

© Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2019J. Charytonowicz and C. Falcão (Eds.): AHFE 2018, AISC 788, pp. 14–23, 2019.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94199-8_2

2 New Functional and Spatial Needs at ContemporaryUniversities

Common access to sources of knowledge possible by means of the World Wide Web ledto the situation where forms of work changed along with the ways in which knowledgewas acquired. What is more, new phenomena in the process of socializing also arose. Atpresent, human beings, and in this case we are referring to students, may be activewherever they wish set foot; they could decide to work, learn and collect data of off theInternet at each place. They have the possibility to work at any given place, on thecondition that they could find there appropriate working conditions. The possibility ofusing the Internet and its resources, at any place of the university, caused that new formsof work came into being along with possibilities to socialize at places where it wasimpossible in the past. [9, 10]. What is truly significant today for the shaping of newuniversity structures and for the sake of innovative and functional solutions is theknowledge of the forms of work used today, as well as the cooperation in the scope oflearning, and also the way people behave at that particular moment. According toOECD1, the most basic form of the academic faculty’s development process, along withtheir buildings (in terms of the shaping of the space) is the knowledge of users’ needs. Inthe 21st century, OECD claims that we are facing a new image of space and facilities,based on the following assumptions: information and communication technology (ICT);students’ expectations, their lifestyle (features of an information-based society); socialinteraction in the scope of the learning process [10, 11]. The aforementioned assump-tions have a significant influence on the design of the space intended for learning. Atpresent, one should no longer perceive the space of the university in a traditional way.Forms of learning and activities used have changed for the following models:

• Collaborative model which consists in actions based on team work, with a largernumber of people.

• Immersive model which consists in individual work, requiring more focus.• Mixed model which serves as a combination of group and individual work, such as

works done at laboratories, where a high-level network connection is provided justlike a proper space for group work.

• “Anywhere” model where knowledge is being acquired in both formal and informalspaces2. Inside the existing buildings of the university, more open and public-accessspaces are being planned for. Their arrangement will allow students to work wher-ever they wish to. That model, according to the students who were interviewed, goesbeyond the buildings themselves. As a result, the external space of the campusbecomes almost equivalent in relation to the interiors of the buildings.

1 OECD – Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; OECD constitutes aninternational institution which deals with qualitative research into higher education systems. Itassesses, supports and promotes good practice for the sake of the quality that the scientificenvironment should maintain. Source: A. Blyth: OECD Programme on Education Building. www.oecd.org/edu/facilities.

2 The division made by OECD [13] D. Winnicka-Jasłowska’s description based on the publication[12].

Open-Air Work Zones for Students at the Faculty of Architecture 15

3 Statutory and Organizational Changes at Polish AcademicFacilities

Polish universities of today have undergone a series of transformations in the scope ofeducation and higher education system. Of course, there have also been some orga-nizational and social changes made to the academic facilities. In 1989, Poland as asocialist country (until 1989) changed its political system into capitalism, which causedthat legislature connected with education and higher education also had to undergo athorough transformation. But the most important changes were made in 2004 whenPoland became a member the European Union.

At first, the main changes were brought about by way of a reform passed in 2005.After that, a highly significant document called: The Strategy for the Development ofHigher Education in Poland until 2020 was prepared by Ernst & Young B.A and theInstitute for Market Economics. That very document became the key strategic act andsince 2012 it has been implemented at Polish academic facilities accordingly. Actionstaken on the basis of that document are to help increase the quality across all fields ofthe university’s activity, especially in education, scientific research and the relationshipwith the social and academic environment. According to the authors, raising the qualityof the higher education requires Strategy [12], and action in the scope of six strategicgoals:

• Diversity in the academic facilities and courses of studies;• Mobility on the part of the academic staff and students;• Competition in the higher education system;• University’s effectiveness in being able to take advantage of their own resources;• Transparency in the activity of the facility;• Openness of the academic facility to the social and economic surrounding.

Three out of the six strategies presented above can undoubtedly have an influenceon the material resources of higher education institutions. These include: the openness,mobility and competitiveness [12].

Openness of universities requires a new approach to the shaping of the space withinbuildings and the campuses. When referring to the openness, the authors of the Strategy[12] determine the principles connected with the flow and transfer of knowledgebetween universities. However, the notion of openness also pertains to greater freedomand needs in the scope of relationship between various internal and external environ-ments of academic facilities. Openness stands for, among others, actions that are aimedat closing the gap between external environments and the scientific environment.Through different modes of action as well as greater accessibility - academic facilitiesare becoming the organizers of numerous events of scientific and promotional char-acter. Such an approach is currently very broad and requires new spaces within thestructures and within the areas that belong to campuses. As many an event take placeoutside, the external space should be thought of differently than in the past.

Mobility of students and of the academic staff has become popular in Poland. As aresult of that change, the quality of work and studies have significantly improved overthe last 10–15, which means that Polish academic facilities have now found themselves

16 D. Winnicka-Jasłowska et al.

in the same league as foreign higher education institutions. This pertains not only to theshaping of the space, the process of equipping the laboratories but also to the estheticsof the structures and buildings together with all academic areas. The fact that academicfacilities can now compete against one another, which constitutes one of the conditionsof the Strategy [12], has also had an influence on the above.

These three main strategic conditions - openness, mobility and competitivenesshave significantly changed the methods of the functioning of academic facilities, alongwith their organization. They also influenced the ways the space is being used andimproved its quality.

4 Silesian University of Technology - Revitalizationof the Campus Area

Over the last couple of years, the Silesian University of Technology, has madenumerous beneficial changes which caused that the quality of the usable space hasimproved. New structures equipped with common functions appeared, such as theEducation and Congress Center (built in 2004), or the laboratory structure called theCenter of New Technologies (2014). The latest investment made by the SilesianUniversity of Technology was the reconstruction and functional and spatial modifi-cation of the whole area of the university’s campus (2014). That undertaking wasradical in its scope. It encompassed, above all, a project which involved the exclusionof the Akademicka Street from the vehicle traffic and the construction of a shared zonewhich now runs through the campus, from the eastern part to the western part. Thepedestrian zone was significantly broadened and thus creates recreational spaces andoffers a new image of squares in front of the entrances to the faculty’s buildings. Newlandscaping elements were introduced such as: benches, fountains and pedestals withthe names of the faculties. What is more, also the underground infrastructure for theinstallations was replaced.

The process of the campus reconstruction lasted for about two years. Changeswhich were made generated numerous subjective comments and assessments within thestudent and worker environment. These changes also influenced the decision as towhether the research should be done to make an assessment of the new solutions3

(Figs. 1 and 2).

3 Qualitative research at the campus of the Silesian University of Technology was done several timesby different research teams. For the first time, the campus was examined in 2014/2015 by a team ofstudents supervised by Doroata Winnicka-Jasłowska. That research was described at length in theauthors scientific monograph, written in Polish [10].

Open-Air Work Zones for Students at the Faculty of Architecture 17