Sadyba and Stegny housing estates – the natural aspect in the regeneration of the residential environment

The subject of this article is the transformation of the built environment of selected housing estates from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s in Warsaw with special attention to natural values. Changes in the built environment and new investments cause: destruction of the natural environment, functional limitations of settlements, and, as a result, deterioration of local conditions and quality of life. The contemporary neighboring estates of Sadyba and Stegny, currently functioning in the city’s fabric, were built in a period when, the natural aspect was a special element shaping the location, an indicator of a healthy residential environment and the fulfillment of housing needs. The aim of the article is to present the changes taking place in the development of green areas over the last 20 years and to show the unfavorable processes of degradation of the natural environment along with possible corrective actions. Reference to the natural aspect is particularly important in the modern city, where efforts should be made to implement the principles of sustainable development, especially in the context of the 11th goal of UN Resolution 2030. This article presents a graphic comparative analysis of selected fragments of settlements in terms of the main assumptions of natural elements in the settlements’ fabric. The results of a survey of Sadyba estate’s residents, regarding the state of greenery and its management, is also presented. Based on the analysis of selected settlements, conclusions are presented for preventing further degradation of the natural environment and its improvement. To achieve a better quality of life, it is necessary to introduce educational activities and strategic planning for a sustainable environment.