Increasing population and urbanization, with climate change consequences, such as rising temperatures, influence public health and well-being. The search to improve the quality of life in cities becomes one of the priority objectives. A solution can be found in the role of greenery in an urban environment and its impact on human health. This opens a path toward experimentation on microclimate green structures that can be inserted into dense urban spaces providing human and environmental benefits. The article proposes an automated greenery design method combined with rapid prototyping for such interventions. A theoretical analysis of the problem preceded the introduction of the method. The research process was developed in accordance with the main objectives of the CDIO framework (Conceive, Design, Implement, and Operate) with the SiL (Software in the Loop) and HiL (Hardware in the Loop) methods. Moreover, the applied test model allows for complex evaluation in order to ensure quality and directions for further development.

Contemporary climate challenges are changing the architect’s awareness, which results in a broader spectrum of interest. The available software enables the design of vegetation, but it is often very limited and requires specialist knowledge. The available software allows the creation of individual solutions based on visual algorithms or writing scripts; however, they are still not common methods used in architecture and urban planning. The study proposes a new complex digital method of selection and design of greenery based on a new parameter spreadsheet. The proposition is supported by the review and investigation of the software used by designers identifying a range of tools for the design of greenery. The study proposes a theoretical model for automated plant selection and variations of possible greenery scenarios that could be integrated into the design process at the early stages of concept development.

The environmental impact of plastic waste has become a significant concern worldwide, prompting innovative approaches to address sustainability challenges, particularly within architectural design. This research paper delves into assessing the environmental impact and sustainability implications of using hard-to-recycle plastic packaging waste in architectural design practices. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, challenges, and potential benefits of repurposing hard-to-recycle plastic packaging waste as building materials in an architectural context. The paper presents a compelling case study showcasing innovative architectural projects that have successfully integrated hard-to-recycle plastic waste. It offers recommendations for future research directions and policy interventions to promote the adoption of hard-to-recycle plastics in environmentally conscious architecture, thereby advancing sustainability goals and fostering a circular economy paradigm within the construction industry. The research paper also highlights a specific experiment conducted using hard-to-recycle plastic waste, illustrating the potential for creative solutions in sustainable architectural design. This study provides valuable insights into the environmental impact and feasibility of repurposing hard-to-recycle plastics as building materials, contributing to ongoing efforts to address sustainability challenges.

The paper gives insights into different forms of movement in contemporary architecture and examines them based on the reasons for their implementation. The main objective of the paper is to determine: the degree to which the complexity of kinematic architecture results from functional and spatial needs and what other motivations there are. The method adopted to investigate these questions involves theoretical studies and comparative analyses of architectural objects with different forms of movement imbedded in their structure. Using both methods allowed delving into reasons that lie behind the implementation of movement in contemporary kinetic architecture. As research shows, there is a constantly growing range of applications with kinematic solutions inserted in buildings' structures. The reasons for their implementation are manifold and encompass pursuits of functional qualities, environmental performance, spatial effects, social interactions and new aesthetics. In those early projects based on simple mechanisms, the main motives were focused on functional values and in later experiments – on improving buildings' environmental performance. Additionally, in recent proposals, a significant quest could be detected toward kinematic solutions that are focused on factors related to alternative aesthetics and innovative spatial effects. Research reveals that the more complicated form of movement, the more often the reason for its implementation goes beyond the traditionally understood "function". However, research also shows that the effects resulting from investigations on spatial qualities of architecture and new aesthetics often appear to provide creative insights into new functionalities in architecture.