Tactile architectural models and maquettes have been built in the external public spaces of Polish cities since the latter half of the 00s of the 21^st century. These objects are designed for the blind, but also other people - tourists, children, and those who arrive in wheelchairs. This collection has got currently more than 70 implements, which places Poland in the group of European leaders. Unfortunately, this "furniture", is not always "convenient" and safe for all recipients. Studies, which have been conducted together with Maciej Kłopotowski since 2016 across the country, show a number of serious design and executive mistakes or examples of misuse. The purpose of this article is drawing attention to these issues and pointing out ways how they can be avoided. These objects may become completely valuable, universal tool for learning and a great way of studying architecture in an alternative way.

The subject of research conducted by the team from the Bialystok University of Technology is architectural typhlographics—a kind of specialised tactile drawings dedicated to people with visual impairments. The aim of the publication is to present the specificity of this type of architectural graphics and to indicate the areas of its usefulness. Based on professional experience, available thematic literature, as well as specialist consultations, the authors made a multi-criteria analysis and valorisation of the obtained set of examples of architectural typhlographs. The result of the research is to indicate the main fields of current application, and to outline the potential and possible directions of further development of tactile architectural drawings. The specifics of the examined graphics are also presented, including their functionality, possible forms of representations and differences from typical architectural representations. The historical background of the typhlographics as well as the main principles of their creation are presented, as the supplement and basis for the author’s considerations. The research also showed the broad utility and social values of architectural typhlographs and the priorities for their further development.

Cultural ecosystem services (CES) play a key role in the sustainable development of rural areas—yet they remain poorly quantified in planning practice. This study examines the relationship between the supply and demand of CES provided by various types of Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs) in a rural landscape, using the municipality of Sosnowica (eastern Poland) as a case study. Landscapes such as forests, agricultural land, wetlands, and inland waters were evaluated using a set of biophysical and socio-economic indicators that reflect both their potential (supply) and actual use (demand) in terms of services such as recreation, landscape aesthetics, and cultural heritage. The findings reveal significant spatial disparities between CES supply and demand: forests and inland waters exhibit the highest supply potential, while agricultural land shows untapped opportunities in tourism and recreation. Wetlands, in particular, face notable service deficits—highlighting the need for targeted infrastructure and management interventions. Statistical analyses (Pearson correlation, Kruskal–Wallis test, Tukey HSD test) confirmed that the key factors shaping CES are accessibility and environmental attractiveness. The results indicate that CES mapping is a valuable tool for supporting sustainable rural planning, reinforcing local identity, counteracting depopulation, and stimulating socio-economic development.

In the contemporary world of image, the basic attribute of architecture is its visuality. Architectural spaces are designed primarily to be viewed by the public or the "eyes" of cameras. The design for the sense of sight only impoverishes the quality of human contact with architecture. The art of shaping space should involve all perception channels. One of the most important senses, allowing to feel the created space, to get to know it and live in it, is hearing. The sonic image of architectural space not only accompanies the visual image, but also significantly defines the quality of existential and aesthetic experiences. The architect's task should be to skilfully use acoustic signals as an integral part of the design process. This belief has inspired a multidisciplinary project entitled: "Sounds of architecture", devoted to the study of the phenomenon of sound and its significance in the perception and use of the architectural environment by people. This project was carried out under the guidance of the author in 2014-2015 with the involvement of representatives of various disciplines of science and art. The result of interdisciplinary research was the monograph "Sounds of Architecture", published in 2016.

The living standards and quality in the city are determined mainly by the urban ecosystem. When the locals are more aware of the advantages provided by the services of this ecosystem, they have a positive approach to the presence of green areas in the city. The research of the economic values of ecosystem services is currently one of the strongest arguments in favour of protection and may turn out to be especially effective in support of sustainable urban development. This is the reason for initiation of research aimed at assessment of the values of the ecosystem services provided by specific elements of the urban ecosystem in Lubartów. The survey was conducted online in 2017. The monetary value of UNS was evaluated with the use of the contingent valuation method. For this purpose, the amount defined by the respondents in the survey which they were willing to pay (WTP) for the improvement of the quality of the environment and other advantages resulting from UNS, or for the sole certainty that a particular asset existed, or the amount of compensation (WTA) expected for the loss of that asset or limited access to it. The urban natural system of Lubartów (approx. 265 ha) was estimated by the residents at PLN 5,832,756 for WTP, and PLN 5,502,600 for WTA. Moreover, the respondents declared that annually they were willing to pay PLN 212 to ensure a non-degraded and correctly functioning natural environment or they were willing to accept a compensation of PLN 200 for its loss. The respondents considered the urban park to be of the greatest importance, but they earmarked the highest amount of money to the upkeep of home gardens and garden allotments.

Grassland communities consist primarily of perennial herbaceous species, with grasses forming a dominant or significant component. These ecosystems have been utilised for economic purposes since the earliest periods of human history. In the natural environment, they fulfil numerous critical functions that, despite increasing awareness of climate change, often remain undervalued. Grasslands contribute directly to climate regulation, air purification, soil conservation, flood mitigation, and public health—all of which positively affect the well-being of nearby populations. Moreover, they satisfy higher-order human needs known as “cultural” services, providing aesthetic enjoyment and recreational opportunities. These services, in tangible terms, support the development of rural tourism. The objective of this study was to examine the perception of cultural ecosystem services provided by different types of grassland communities—meadows, pastures, and lawns. The study employed a structured questionnaire to evaluate the perceived significance and functions of these communities. Respondents assessed their aesthetic and recreational value based on land-use type. To quantify these dimensions, the study applies the Recreational and Leisure Attractiveness Index (RLAI), the Aesthetic Attractiveness Index (AAI), ranking methods, and contingent valuation techniques. Based on the respondents’ declared WTP (willingness to pay) and WTA (willingness to accept) values, statistically significant differences in the perceived value of land-use types were identified. Lawns were rated highest in terms of recreational attractiveness, meadows in terms of aesthetics, while pastures achieved the highest economic values. Significant differences were also observed depending on respondents’ place of residence and academic background. The results indicate that the valuation of cultural services encompasses both functional and psychological aspects and should be integrated into local land-use and landscape planning policies.