The author attempted to characterise qualities of complexes of buildings built on various scales in Polish cities, in search of the lost qualities of urbanity and the possibility of reclaiming the housing environment for the city and its residents, a housing environment that is conducive to social integration thanks to the urban climate of the spatial and functional structure of new development complexes in which open public space links urban tissue that is equipped with the necessary programme of social service infrastructure.

The aim of this paper is to discuss energy certification systems and multi-criteria certification schemes – both the assessment tools focusing on the level of the single building and on the urban level. The role of certification systems and the emerging technologies as a means of reducing energy consumption and achieving the high energy quality of the built environment is investigated.

This paper analyses multi-criteria methods for assessing sustainable buildings and their impact on the ecological quality of the built environment. The aim is to define assessment standards in multi-criteria methods and to demonstrate that civil structures designed and built in accordance with established standards and procedures increase the ecological value of the built environment and the comfort of the inhabitants within it. The methods chosen for the analysis were mainly those enjoying the greatest prestige among users, planners, designers and investors. Selected methods were analysed and verified to propose the author’s building assessment model and verification thereof in the design process on the example of the presented projects. The building assessment methods analysed were shown to have a positive impact on the design process and the environmental quality of the built environment. Quality improvement takes place through: pro-environmental land use, improved energy and water efficiency, improved efficiency in the use of materials and resources, preference for local materials and technologies, preference for eco-innovation, increased comfort for users and residents and their participation in the design and evaluation process of the built environment.
A complementary objective is to promote knowledge of sustainable design methodologies that can result in the creation of environmentally friendly architecture that influences the quality of the residential environment and the comfort of residents.