Green office buildings, constructed with a view to the latest ecological technologies, are gaining widespread popularity in the real estate market, among both tenants and investment funds. Consequently, more and more investors and developers are deciding on building green, that is according to LEED or BREEAM environmental standards. The main principles of innovative sustainable architecture revolve around energy and water saving, environmental footprint, and worker productivity.

A house with a view of the sky, a house made entirely of glass, or an eco-friendly house that powers itself – these are only few examples of modern architecture. All around us, there are more and more buildings that are nothing like those constructed several years ago. New materials and technologies are reshaping the way we build. With an appropriate budget, we can create almost anything, and the only limit seems to be our imagination.

The 2012 UEFA European Football Championship, undoubtedly one of the most eagerly anticipated sporting events in Poland, is just around the corner. It is estimated that almost a million fans from Europe and around the world will head to Poland for this tournament. There is no denying that Euro 2012 will provide an excellent opportunity to promote our country – especially Poland’s host cities. Definitely, visitors’ attention will be drawn to the ultramodern National Stadium – the main Euro 2012 tournament venue, which will host three first-round matches, one quarter-final, a semi-final and, most importantly, the opening match combined with official opening ceremonies.

Our health, comfort and well-being depends, to a large extent, on indoor air quality, and hence on our home's ventilation system. Basically, while working, sleeping, relaxing, or simply living, we spend most of our time indoors, rather than out in nature. Therefore, alongside paying attention to exhaust fumes from vehicles or power plant emissions, we should also consider the problem of air pollution in our homes.

There is no doubt that electricity plays a fundamental part in our daily lives. Whether watching TV, charging a cell phone, or simply turning on the light in the room, we rely on our home’s electrical system.

Every building, whether a new house or an old tenement, needs to provide its occupants with the most essential utilities such as gas, electricity, water. Therefore, when building your own home, you should ensure two things. First, that the construction adheres to the building plan, and second that all the systems and installations in the house are operating correctly. The one that should be given special attention is undoubtedly the proper plumbing system.

The thought of chimneys frequently conjures up different images for a lot of people. While some of them are connected with special Christmas atmosphere, and specifically Santa Clause stuffing himself down the brick-built structure, others are about the industrial landscape with high chimneys and billows of smoke. Above all, however, chimneys provide practical benefits to a house, at the same time adding character and charm to it.

An elevator is undoubtedly the ‘heart’ of any skyscraper. Once you get five or more floors, stairs prove to be a fairly inconvenient technology. Therefore, ever since the first passenger elevator was installed by Elisha Otis in the department store on Broadway, New York, elevators have started to function as a major part of skyscraper design. Not only do they allow the construction of skyscrapers, but they may also affect their design.

Train stations are the places most commonly associated with missed connections or delayed trains. Probably everyone has, at least once in his or her lifetime, complained about the long time spent on waiting for the train to come. Wouldn’t it be great to spend that time in a very special way? Interestingly, there are some railway stations in the world that provide the passengers with a unique and memorable experience. One of them is undoubtedly the Haydarpaşa Station in Istanbul, the place that is worth taking a closer look at.

Over the past few years, the areas across Poland have suffered from destructive flooding. The most harmful were probably the floods during the summer and winter of 2010. Consequently, they have shown that a great number of houses in Poland are not flood-resilient. With another wet season on its way, now’s the time to protect your home just in case. Find out what you need to do to make sure you’re prepared.