Time is a very important factor in the architectural creation of structure, form, and utility of flats and buildings in human settlements. The impact of the age of inhabitants stimulates the needs and arrangement of these flats. The other question in this case is the relation between the flexibility of a building and its heritage. The aspect of the form in housing is also very interesting: flexibility, adaptation and external appearance (elevation) of these buildings. The method of the paper is based on case studies, in situ inquiry (city walk: photo documentation, interviews, materials analysis) and theoretical research (literature insight). In this paper the authors will present the state of actual knowledge in this field in Europe. The following case studies will be shown: the city of Zabrze, the Silesia region in the south of Poland (flats for the elderly)! as well as ‘Puls 5’ – an adapted multifunctional building in the revitalized post-industrial area of Untere Hard in Zurich, Switzerland, and ‘Park Hill’ – modernized buildings in the housing area in Sheffield, England (flexibility in the process of revitalization and modernization of the heritage, flexibility of elevations). The results will concentrate on functional, constructional and esthetical adaptation aspects and flexibility of buildings with flats as a sign of time evolution, considering the need to improve the life quality of people, the preservation of heritage, and finally, sustainable development.
