Architecture of Concrete Prefabricated Apartment Houses in Slovakia in Relation to the Nesting Habits of Delichon Urbicum

Abstract

Czechoslovak Republic faced the serious need of dwellings for more numerous post-war generations in 50's up to 70's of the 20th century. New technology of the modular concrete high-rise apartment houses enabled an extensive mass construction. From 90's of the 20th cent. increasingly more strict demands regarding thermal insulation properties were applied and the most frequently chosen technology to deal with them was ETICS added to concrete external walls. Interaction of various bird species and insulated façades, not limited to failure or damage, are interesting theme. This research deal with the nesting preferences of Delichon urbicum species in relation to the characteristics of architecture. The housing estate Solinky in Žilina in the northern Slovakia was a locality chosen for monitoring and analysis as housing estates belong to the important nesting/breeding grounds of the several bird species. In order to maintain ecological balance, necessary architectonical features should be provided as nesting sites in context of the topology of houses and paper identifies them. Future lies in solutions for coexistence of apartment dwellers and bird species in urban space.