Idea of sustainability and its chosen manifestations

Anna Bać 

doi:10.5277/arc140201

Abstract

The issue of sustainability is at present one of the leading subjects in an international scope. On the one hand, it is fashionable, while on the other hand it is an essential factor of the stable development of civilization. Both a high level of social awareness and the willingness to change are conditions of implementing the idea of sustainability. Effects of sustainability are manifested on three basic planes, i.e. economic benefits, social justice and satisfaction as well as environmental protection. They should influence all spheres of life and the process of creating a built environment. In architecture, sustainability develops a new, wider approach to an investment process. It is manifested by criteria and indicators which were briefly outlined here. Polish specificity of sustainability was pointed out. Threats resulting from the process of uncritical following of the fashion, without a deeper understanding and application of the idea, were also shown.