Towards the reuse of materials in Polish architecture: Working in the post-socialist context

The article provides a discussion on how socialism, its aesthetics and architecture have influenced contemporary sustainable architecture in Poland, especially the choices of materials and aesthetics present in Polish society. The article focuses on problems grounded in the socialist ideology, which affected contemporary Polish architecture such as: negations of socialism (e.g. denial of maintaining habits, homogenous aesthetics, temporary solutions), remnants of previous system (e.g. denial of natural, local, old materials) or the effects of westernization (e.g. the use of new, luxurious materials). Post-socialist reality is a challenge for sustainable approach to architecture and materials. This paper aims to analyse specific, Polish context and to establish possible guidelines for future development of sustainable concepts and architectural applications of reused materials in architecture in Poland.