Changes in rural farmstead layouts in the Knyszyn Forest area

Traditional farmstead layouts of the borderland of Podlasie and Grodzieńszczyzna, together with their associated greenery, constitute an important element of the rural cultural landscape, fulfilling identity-related, aesthetic, and functional roles. In recent years, however, their systematic decline has been observed. The aim of this study was to analyse the scale of this phenomenon. Research conducted in the years 2017−2025 included the layout of buildings in relation to surrounding vegetation in 14 street-pattern villages located in the vicinity of the Knyszyn (Knyszyńska) Forest. The results indicate the disappearance of traditional farmstead layouts, mainly as a result of changes in the spatial arrangement of buildings within the farmstead plot and the influence of new trends in landscape design. Possible solutions to counteract this loss of traditional farmsteads are proposed, including the implementation of legal regulations and emphasising the importance of education in the field of cultural heritage.