Air pollution is one of the important environmental problems in Poland. The main cause of its occurrence is emissions associated with individual heating of buildings. The reduction of the primary energy demand in a building is influenced by its proper thermal modernization, including in particular insulating. In view of the above, this article presents the results of studies on the possible environmental benefits of thermal modernization of single-family houses for the area of Southern Poland. The analysis was limited to determining the impact of measures to reduce air pollution emissions by insulating the building envelope of single-family houses. The research was conducted for two voivodeships: Śląskie and Małopolskie. Its aim is to identify the financial costs and achievable ecological effects of the thermal modernization of single-family buildings. The geographical selection of the research area was based on the fact that it covers the most polluted region in Poland. This region is characterized by many features that influence poor air quality. Among these features, the most important are: diversified building structure, a diverse topography, and very high population density. To limit multiple variables, we have selected a scenario method that has already been used in similar research. Four scenarios were established to show the relationship between the value of emission reductions and the level of funding for thermal modernization. The analysis allows a comparison of the effectiveness of individual variants and the transposition of their results into the possibilities of action in the region. This research will help to supplement the knowledge of the impact of insulating building envelopes on reducing pollutant emissions by reducing the energy demand of a building. They also identify a possible link between the level of this reduction and the grant amount for thermal modernization. As a result, it was found that a high share of external funding—stimulating the tendency of the inhabitants of the analyzed voivodeships to effective thermal modernization, and thus reducing the buildings’ energy consumption—has a significant impact on the improvement of air quality.

The importance of the quality of public spaces increases with the inhabitants' awareness. A well-designed place gives users a sense of security. Underpasses are a special type of urban space, which, despite relatively high implementation costs, are used quite often, especially in large cities. In recent years, Krakow underground passages have been called "fear tunnels". However, not all of them cause a sense of danger. The aim of the research was to determine the factors that make the underground passage become user-friendly and do not create a sense of uncertainty? Underground passages located in various parts of the city and performing various functions were analysed. Underground public spaces have different shapes and dimensions. In the conducted research, it was analysed whether the technical parameters of the underpass - such as width and height have an impact on the user's sense of security. It was checked how the spaces in which no services exist are perceived and whether these spaces are available to all users. The aim of the research was to determine the elements affecting the reception and use of this special type of urban space. The analysis was carried out for ten underground passages located in various parts of Krakow. Out of these ten, five spaces of the most diverse character were selected for the performance. Underground transitions with different saturation with service functions, different number of users, different degree of adaptation for people with mobility difficulties and various aesthetic level were analysed. Areas with high saturation of service functions and located in places generating a large number of users were rated as the best. Spaces with a small number of services and with the proportions of a tunnel longer than sixty meters were rated as the worst, despite the good technical condition and facilities for people with mobility problems.

Cities all over the world are expanding their suburbs, which typically feature districts comprised of single-family development - urban sprawl. In recent years, urban sprawl has also become highly visible in Poland, not only in the vicinity of large cities like Krakow, Rzeszow or Warsaw, but has also affected several smaller municipalities, e.g. in the south of the country. Based on the case study of the municipality of Biecz, located at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, it was concluded that spatial disharmony is strongly linked with municipal policy. The lack of precise legal regulations causes areas that are assigned for development in planning documents to exceed the actual development potential of the municipalities themselves.

The purpose of this article is to highlight the main challenges presented by the spatial transformation of countryside as a result of strong investment pressure in the metropolitan zones of selected Polish cities. The research focuses on the spatial structures of selected communes adjacent to Warsaw, Kraków and Lublin. The study deals with the problem of spatial transformations of the rural landscape. This was done on the background of socio-economic redevelopment and demographic changes. The results show a significant investment pressure and identify the stages and forms of spatial development characterising urbanisation in the studied suburban areas in recent years. The author's planning concept is proposed as an example of a tool for controlling excessive dispersal at local and regional levels.

Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie transformacji przestrzeni publicznej, jaka zaszła w wyniku przeprowadzenia procesu rewitalizacji. Problem przedstawiono na przykładzie przekształceń, jakim uległ rynek Osieka, małego miasta położonego w województwie świętokrzyskim. Przedstawiono analizę porównawczą w zakresie dostępności, zagospodarowania funkcjonalno-przestrzennego oraz zagadnień kompozycyjnych i estetycznych w odniesieniu do przestrzeni rynku przed rewitalizacją i po rewitalizacji. Wskazano, że realizacje powstające w wyniku rewitalizacji wpływają na poprawę atrakcyjności miejsca. Odpowiednio zagospodarowane małomiasteczkowe rynki krystalizują układ przestrzenny całej miejscowości, stanowiąc ich wizytówkę, są także silnie związane z poczuciem tożsamości lokalnej mieszkańców.