THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS IMPROVEMENTS:
The disadvantages of deficient legislation and poor control over operations in neighbourhoods could be, to some extent, eliminated by the higher accountability of individuals for space and their desire, as well as the need for an environment that allows comfortable, safe and high-quality living. The study of the features of projects of successfully executed comprehensive renovations of multi-dwelling buildings has shown that the key players in prosperous renovations are residents, enlightened and heavily involved in the procedure.
Fortunately, more and more users/residents are increasingly aware of the importance of the visual consistency of a particular building, but the recognition of the significance of the coherent neighbourhood as a whole for the higher quality of the living environment is not yet high enough. The awareness that the arrangement of the entire neighborhood and the appearance of the building as a whole also affect the value of each individual property within the complex, is unfortunately not yet strongly present.
It is essential to rethink the importance of common goods and shared goods. The recognition that open spaces in modernist neighbourhoods present something of extremely high value is needed. It is necessary also to raise awareness that any activity of an individual is reflected in common space, our shared good. Individual inappropriate interventions on the exterior of building degrade ones-own property, and at the same time, one also cause degeneration of the wider area in which the building is located. Of course, one satisfies own needs, but only conditionally as their selfish intervention has a negative impact on ‘one’s’ shared good in the form of common open space as well.
The residents/users of neighbourhoods should be aware of their “power” in terms of the ensuring the quality of the environment in which they live as they are the first in the line that can add to the improvement of the surroundings of their property. But they also must be conscious of the consequences of their actions, which might sometimes be very harmful to the appearance of the building or/and the neighbourhood in a whole. For the good results, they have to act right.
That is possible only if they know how.
