Journal Description
Architecture
Architecture
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on studies related to architectural research published quarterly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 26.4 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 4.5 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: APC discount vouchers, optional signed peer review, and reviewer names published annually in the journal.
- Architecture is a companion journal of Buildings and Sustainability.
Latest Articles
Landscape Design and Drawing as Tools for Understanding Climate Emergency and Sustainability
Architecture 2024, 4(1), 188-196; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/architecture4010012 - 18 Mar 2024
Abstract
Acknowledging the importance of climate challenges to our environment, landscape and cities, this review focuses on the exploration of visual methods (e.g., design, drawing, sketches) in relation to a deeper understanding of climate emergency and sustainability on a spatial scale. It provides an
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Acknowledging the importance of climate challenges to our environment, landscape and cities, this review focuses on the exploration of visual methods (e.g., design, drawing, sketches) in relation to a deeper understanding of climate emergency and sustainability on a spatial scale. It provides an overview of existing research and highlights the role design and drawing can play in landscape-led projects, as well as the impact these might have on behavioural change and decision-making. Looking at how design and drawing are perceived in landscape architecture and what their contribution is to the narrative of a project as well as the decisions made, this paper establishes a connection between pictorial forms and landscape. At the same time, this paper explores whether visualisations are used in relation to the climate and environmental challenges we face, sharing some light on the role they can play with regards to climate awareness and sustainability and how important they might be for our communities, cities and regions. This review highlights the need for further research around this topic and explains that there is a minor part of the literature looking at ways in which landscape design can be integrated into the wider climate emergency agenda and how this might influence behavioural change and the decision-making of various stakeholders.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Landscape of Sustainable Cities: Emerging Futures)
Open AccessArticle
Space Syntax at Expression of Science on User Flows in Open and Closed Spaces Aimed at Achieving the Sustainable Development Goal: A Review
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Paulo Wladinir da Luz Leite, Caliane Christie Oliveira de Almeida Silva, Leila Dal Moro, Brian William Bodah, Giana de Vargas Mores, Dirceu Piccinato Junior, Amanda Engel, M. Santosh and Alcindo Neckel
Architecture 2024, 4(1), 170-187; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/architecture4010011 - 06 Mar 2024
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Space syntax is utilized to model flows through open and closed built environments, which enables project innovation by rethinking the design of spaces on a global scale with better flow quality. Therefore, studies focused on spatial syntax, when related to comprehensive flows in
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Space syntax is utilized to model flows through open and closed built environments, which enables project innovation by rethinking the design of spaces on a global scale with better flow quality. Therefore, studies focused on spatial syntax, when related to comprehensive flows in open and closed spaces, provide a holistic and valuable understanding of the dynamics of user flows in the urban environment from a perspective centered on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11. This goal requires urban planners and designers to use approaches that support future decisions focused on urban design and planning. The object of investigation of this bibliographic study consists of an approach to representing space syntax in open spaces and closed spaces on a global scale. This study aims to analyze the concepts of pedestrian flows (open and closed) by a space syntax-based bibliographical approach on a global scale, demonstrating the capability of improvements in SDG 11 as applied to the architecture of sustainable flows. Methodologically, bibliographic searches were carried out using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method in databases linked to Scopus and ScienceDirect, focusing on space syntax in relation to the following terms: “open spaces” and “closed spaces”. Using the PRISMA method, 1986 manuscripts dealing with the term “open spaces” and 454 manuscripts dealing with the term “closed spaces” were identified, with the manuscripts most relevant to the topic being selected, followed by a frequency analysis based on a Content Analysis Method (CAM) to identify words with a degree of similarity, related to “spatial syntax: flow in urban environments” and “spatial syntax in closed built systems” in relation to the SDG 11. The results demonstrate the relevance of seven manuscripts in open spaces and four manuscripts in closed spaces related to space syntax. Frequency analysis identified open spaces and produced terms with frequencies such as space = 79 and shape = 46, showing a higher frequency in flows. In closed spaces, the literature has shown that the central term corresponds to space = 79 and flow = 76, making it possible to evaluate flows in circulation areas within the built environment. This study allows a better understanding of flows, highlighting the importance of the urban architecture in the functionality of user flows in sustainable environments, which is capable of contributing to the SDG 11, in the interface of architectural projects on a global scale.
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Open AccessArticle
The Power of Place: Unleashing the Potential of Place-Based Green Energy Landscapes
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William Glockner, Krista Planinac and Kirk Dimond
Architecture 2024, 4(1), 148-169; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/architecture4010010 - 05 Mar 2024
Abstract
This research explores the role landscape architects can play in shaping renewable energy infrastructure in the Southwest United States. Conventional energy development often neglects the impacts on landscapes and communities, resulting in community frustration and project terminations. To address this issue and tackle
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This research explores the role landscape architects can play in shaping renewable energy infrastructure in the Southwest United States. Conventional energy development often neglects the impacts on landscapes and communities, resulting in community frustration and project terminations. To address this issue and tackle the need for decarbonization, the Southwest Regional Virtual Workshop was convened to foster co-creation and generate innovative ideas for new energy solutions. The Southwest Regional Virtual Workshop (SRVW) aimed to unite landscape architects, architects, engineers, and energy professionals to craft place-based, at-scale, and environmentally sensitive solutions. Key insights from this study demonstrate landscape architects have the capacity to help transform renewable energy projects into attractive, engaging, and productive infrastructure. Their expertise in community engagement, site-specific design, and interdisciplinary collaboration positions them as ideal designers for energy landscapes that go beyond mere functionality. By adopting a landscape-centric approach, landscape architects can help seamlessly integrate energy infrastructure with the environment and aesthetics to gain steadfast community support. Harmonizing functionality with visual appeal can instill a deep sense of pride and ownership among community members, ultimately fostering increased acceptance of renewable energy development. In conclusion, landscape architects can expand upon their expertise to include energy and help create projects that align with the values of local communities and contribute to a resilient energy future.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Architecture: Art and Urban Studies)
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An Exploration of Artistic Expressions of Everyday Peri-Urban Landscapes as a Method of Socio-Spatial Analysis in Spatial Planning
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Annelies Staessen, Antonio José Salvador and Ingfrid Lyngstad
Architecture 2024, 4(1), 124-147; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/architecture4010009 - 21 Feb 2024
Abstract
Everyday landscapes, including peri-urban areas, play a pivotal role in shaping our physical and mental environments. Nevertheless, spatial planning often falls short of integrating contemporary everyday life and lived space. This paper advocates for an expanded approach beyond traditional planning methods, exploring the
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Everyday landscapes, including peri-urban areas, play a pivotal role in shaping our physical and mental environments. Nevertheless, spatial planning often falls short of integrating contemporary everyday life and lived space. This paper advocates for an expanded approach beyond traditional planning methods, exploring the potential of artistic representations like drawings, photographs, and films to capture the nuances of peri-urban landscapes. Based on a selection of contemporary artistic works in the fields of drawing, photography, and cinema, this paper explores, through an analysis of specific projects and interviews with the artists, the potentials and constraints of these types of representations. This analysis of selected works reveals that these mediums embody a rich and complex collective journey, showcasing the profound connection between the artist and the environment. Structured around the key stages of analysis, documentation, and communication, the discussion elucidates the interrelated nature of these phases within a broader creative process. It underscores the significance of recognizing these artistic representations as integral components in planning processes, emphasizing their potential to provide unique insights into the complexities of peri-urban landscapes. In conclusion, this article proposes a set of recommendations for the incorporation of these artistic mediums within planning processes and urban studies.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Change and Everyday Life in the Spatial Arts)
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Integrating Machine Learning in Urban Pedagogy: Addressing Homelessness in Skid Row
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Taraneh Meshkani
Architecture 2024, 4(1), 112-123; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/architecture4010008 - 15 Feb 2024
Abstract
This paper investigates the application of machine learning in urban and architectural education, with a focus on addressing homelessness in Skid Row, Los Angeles. It presents a case study of an urban design studio utilizing data-driven methods to propose transitional housing solutions, emphasizing
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This paper investigates the application of machine learning in urban and architectural education, with a focus on addressing homelessness in Skid Row, Los Angeles. It presents a case study of an urban design studio utilizing data-driven methods to propose transitional housing solutions, emphasizing the importance of design in the context of social justice. The study explores the use of machine learning and digital cartography for a detailed analysis of Skid Row’s dense homeless population, offering students a thorough insight into urban challenges. The research also identifies the complexities involved in integrating these technologies into educational frameworks, including issues with data accuracy, technical hurdles, and ethical considerations. The paper concludes by advocating for an interdisciplinary, data-informed, and socially conscious approach in architectural and urban design education, highlighting its necessity in preparing students to effectively tackle contemporary urban problems.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interdisciplinary and Multi-Scalar Design and Research Models in Architectural Practice and Education)
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Standard Block and Modular Dwelling Designs in Hong Kong’s Public Housing
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Lu Wang, Jingru Cyan Cheng, Wojciech Mazan and Sam Jacoby
Architecture 2024, 4(1), 89-111; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/architecture4010007 - 13 Feb 2024
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This paper examines the role of standard block and modular dwelling designs in Hong Kong’s public housing provision since the mid-1950s. It explores how standard types have evolved in relation to housing policies, demographic and socio-economic changes, and minimum space requirements. In contrast
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This paper examines the role of standard block and modular dwelling designs in Hong Kong’s public housing provision since the mid-1950s. It explores how standard types have evolved in relation to housing policies, demographic and socio-economic changes, and minimum space requirements. In contrast to other countries, Hong Kong lacks defined space or room standards. In the absence of space standards, Hong Kong relies on a living density standard. This paper studies the historical development of Hong Kong’s public housing in terms of dwelling size as a measure of housing quality, questioning the effectiveness of standard block and dwelling designs as housing design controls and highlighting the contextual nature of dwelling usability and size. The analysis is based on public housing design projects, policies, and data implemented or presented by the Hong Kong government, particularly the Hong Kong Housing Authority.
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An Experiment in Transdisciplinary Systems Mapping: Architecture and the Water–Energy–Sanitation Nexus in Brazil
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Marco Aurélio Soares de Castro, Norma Valencio, Deljana Iossifova, Cristine Diniz Santiago, Luciana Ziglio, Arthur Valencio, Erica Pugliesi, Juliano Costa Gonçalves, Eric Cheung and Ulysses Sengupta
Architecture 2024, 4(1), 73-88; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/architecture4010006 - 31 Jan 2024
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Urban environments contain and are part of a wide range of interconnected complex systems, including infrastructures and services. Rapid and often uncontrolled urbanization triggers distributive inequities and environmental injustices, posing urgent and interconnected challenges that demand inter- and transdisciplinary solutions. Despite architecture’s commitment
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Urban environments contain and are part of a wide range of interconnected complex systems, including infrastructures and services. Rapid and often uncontrolled urbanization triggers distributive inequities and environmental injustices, posing urgent and interconnected challenges that demand inter- and transdisciplinary solutions. Despite architecture’s commitment to ‘sustainability’, its central role in urban systems and their dynamics as well as the discipline’s intersections with other disciplines remain relatively little explored. In this contribution, we focus on the water–energy–sanitation (WES) nexus in Brazil, drawing from transdisciplinary workshops, scoping reviews, and systems mapping. We propose a framework for the analysis of urban nexuses. This framework builds on transdisciplinary systems mapping for the identification of nexus components, nodes, and their interconnections. Our findings indicate that a nexus perspective allows us to identify challenges in urban nexuses, productive intersections with the knowledge and approaches from other disciplines, and possible solutions in collaboration with non-academic stakeholders. We advocate for an expanded professional field and a redefined sense of responsibility within the discipline.
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Open AccessArticle
Function Follows Form: Considerations on Hard Heritage Facing the Climate Emergency
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Maria Rita Pais
Architecture 2024, 4(1), 46-72; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/architecture4010005 - 23 Jan 2024
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In the discipline of architecture, there is an established familiarity with the 19th century’s Louis Sullivan’s pithy dictum “form follows function”. The expression has indeed directly and indirectly inspired many authors and movements, especially during the beginning of the 20th century, when objectivity
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In the discipline of architecture, there is an established familiarity with the 19th century’s Louis Sullivan’s pithy dictum “form follows function”. The expression has indeed directly and indirectly inspired many authors and movements, especially during the beginning of the 20th century, when objectivity showed its value in improving the progress of the industrial society. Nonetheless, the reception effects of such architecture with the primacy of function were responsible for decisive transformations in architectural form, human behaviour, social transformations and material and technological manoeuvres and gave rise to very rich developments related to form, history and inhabitants’ psychological engagements, among many others. So, what about the reception effects framed in the natural and inhabited environment? Could we make space for a sense of greater need, facing a climate emergency? The present paper brings the example of a bunker’s super-resistant heritage, as a paradigmatic sample of material resistance, that supports the idea that “Function (can) Follow the Form” when re-signifying hard architecture, as is the case with Plan Barron of Defence of Lisbon and Setubal, a recently declassified military heritage set of buildings. The study conducts a critical literature review as a qualitative method of research that groups factors into clusters to give evidence to some conceptual theoretical frameworks: “hardness”; “inheritance”; “object trouvé”; “affordance”; and “empathy”. These concepts become then the basis to frame a new paradigm: function follows form can be a pertinent approach when dealing with super-resistant structures in the present climate crisis. This inverse paragon, well explained, could work as a motto to architects for a new era of global climate action.
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Open AccessArticle
The Contribution of Typological Studies to the Integrated Rehabilitation of Traditional Buildings: Heritage Enhancement of Urban Centres in Inner Alentejo, Portugal
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Ana C. Rosado and Miguel Reimão Costa
Architecture 2024, 4(1), 35-45; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/architecture4010004 - 05 Jan 2024
Abstract
The urban centres of inland Alentejo (southern Portugal) have long faced a depopulation crisis which, besides undermining the cohesion of the communities, compromises the conservation of the architectural heritage. The tendency to apply the discourses on tourism and population pressures from coastal cities
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The urban centres of inland Alentejo (southern Portugal) have long faced a depopulation crisis which, besides undermining the cohesion of the communities, compromises the conservation of the architectural heritage. The tendency to apply the discourses on tourism and population pressures from coastal cities to these inland territories can be detrimental to their analysis given the sheer difference in demographic dynamics. Transformations in traditional architecture—a key facet for defining these historic urban landscapes—require analysing within this social context. The imperative need to rehabilitate traditional buildings, endowing them with the living conditions communities today require, must be guided by morphological analysis, knowledge of housing history, typologies, and traditional construction techniques. This rehabilitation concept integrates into the transformation processes that traditional architecture has been undergoing for centuries, constituting adaptable and flexible structures across their organisational variants, which should be studied through a prospective approach. The article characterises the transformation of urban domestic architecture in the region, from the early modern period to the present. The results of various research projects are summarised, gathering over 500 cases. The conclusion argues that the historical process itself results in a set of themes, tools, and opportunities for these buildings’ adaptation to current needs.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation of Architectural Heritage. New Urban Perspectives: Conceptual, Methodological, Technical and Management Advances)
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Analysis of Touristification Processes in Historic Town Centers: The City of Seville
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Germán Herruzo-Domínguez, José-Manuel Aladro-Prieto and Julia Rey-Pérez
Architecture 2024, 4(1), 24-34; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/architecture4010003 - 31 Dec 2023
Abstract
Encouraged by the administration, the gen9otrification process has been useful in economic terms for the reactivation of the socio-cultural fabrics of historic urban spaces in decline. What was initially considered an advantage has led to the touristification of historic centers, and in turn
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Encouraged by the administration, the gen9otrification process has been useful in economic terms for the reactivation of the socio-cultural fabrics of historic urban spaces in decline. What was initially considered an advantage has led to the touristification of historic centers, and in turn to the alteration of their original use. In these settings, the demographic void caused by increasingly shunning local identity has combined with pressure from excessive tourism and the obsolescence of heritage protection bodies in charge of conservation. Given the crisis affecting the definitions of the current system, this study aims to review the environmental agents of heritage value in relation to the processes of touristification and gentrification. Data obtained from different methodologies are analyzed using a multidisciplinary database, a model which enables the analysis of the relevant information from the different interacting fields. This case study focuses on the historic town center of Seville, specifically between 2015 and 2020. Elements are defined as indicators for these processes and the analysis of this case study will comprise the main results of this research.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation of Architectural Heritage. New Urban Perspectives: Conceptual, Methodological, Technical and Management Advances)
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Spatial Transformation—The Importance of a Bottom-Up Approach in Creating Authentic Public Spaces
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Mustapha El Moussaoui
Architecture 2024, 4(1), 14-23; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/architecture4010002 - 22 Dec 2023
Abstract
This study explores the integration of phenomenology in urban placemaking, focusing on the Ghobeiry neighborhood in Beirut. By examining the transformation of a public garden through a phenomenological lens, this research highlights the impact of a bottom-up approach in urban design. The methodology
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This study explores the integration of phenomenology in urban placemaking, focusing on the Ghobeiry neighborhood in Beirut. By examining the transformation of a public garden through a phenomenological lens, this research highlights the impact of a bottom-up approach in urban design. The methodology combines a literature review with empirical data gathered from interviews and observations within the community. The findings indicate that the initial top-down development of the public garden failed to resonate with residents, leading to its neglect. However, a shift towards community engagement, initiated by a local social activist, encouraged a sense of ownership and transformed the space into a vibrant, meaningful area. This study contributes to urban planning literature by demonstrating the practical application of phenomenological principles, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in creating authentic urban spaces. It underscores the need for inclusive, participatory approaches in urban development, offering insights into the transformative potential of engaging local narratives and experiences.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Built Heritage Conservation)
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Open AccessReview
A Vertical City Park Model for Promoting Physical Activity and Sports Practice in People of All Ages
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Andrea Petrigna and Luca Petrigna
Architecture 2024, 4(1), 1-13; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/architecture4010001 - 20 Dec 2023
Cited by 1
Abstract
(1) Background: Modern society is characterized by urbanization and an increase in noncommunicable diseases. Governments frequently adopt policies to intervene in this regard; however, they are not always successful. Parks are an easy and feasible health intervention, but they are not always present
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(1) Background: Modern society is characterized by urbanization and an increase in noncommunicable diseases. Governments frequently adopt policies to intervene in this regard; however, they are not always successful. Parks are an easy and feasible health intervention, but they are not always present in cities due to a lack of space. Considering the above aspects, the present study aims to analyze the scientific literature on this topic to provide a city park model versatile in different urban contexts. (2) Methods: A review of the scientific literature on this topic is performed to discover building models designed to replace/flank urban parks. (3) Results: No such articles are found in the scientific literature. The proposed model is a vertical city park. It is a modular structure designed to be adaptable to the urban context. It includes parks, sports fields, and fitness centers in a green and healthy environment. (4) Conclusions: In the scientific literature, there are no mentions of city park models. Consequently, a design model is proposed. This model for a vertical city park can be an instrument for a population-based health program. This solution has the potential to be feasible and economical, thereby giving the community a more easy-to-adopt instrument.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Built Environments and Human Wellbeing)
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Unpacking Shifts of Spatial Attributes and Typologies of Urban Identity in Heritage Assessment Post COVID-19 Using Chinatown, Melbourne, as a Case Study
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Shiran Geng, Hing-Wah Chau, Elmira Jamei and Zora Vrcelj
Architecture 2023, 3(4), 753-772; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/architecture3040041 - 06 Dec 2023
Abstract
Many studies acknowledge the significance of assessment frameworks for urban heritage sites in preserving their identities. Due to the pandemic and its impact on heritage sites and visitors, the spatial features and identities of many heritage sites have undergone inevitable shifts, challenging the
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Many studies acknowledge the significance of assessment frameworks for urban heritage sites in preserving their identities. Due to the pandemic and its impact on heritage sites and visitors, the spatial features and identities of many heritage sites have undergone inevitable shifts, challenging the current assessment frameworks. As numerous urban heritage sites are being revitalised post COVID-19, this study aims to explore how heritage-assessment frameworks can be adapted during the pandemic to sustainably capture the identity of urban heritage sites, particularly from a spatial perspective. Methodologically, the study first examines existing urban-heritage-assessment frameworks, including typologies, embedded spatial attributes, and analysis methods, through a literature review. The research adopts the methodology framework for collecting and assessing evidence to demonstrate the cultural significance outlined in the ‘Guidance on identifying place and object of state-level social value in Victoria’ under Criterion G by the Heritage Council of Victoria. Chinatown, Melbourne, serves as the case study to address the research questions, utilising qualitative data from archival review and field observation. The results highlight the shortcomings of current heritage assessments, particularly in urban contexts, emphasising the overlooked importance of spatial attributes for understanding urban identity. This is exemplified by the exacerbated identity crisis in Chinatown, Melbourne, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the study recommends future heritage assessments incorporate spatial attributes with a thematic approach tailored to diverse cultural-heritage backgrounds in the post-pandemic era. The study acknowledges the sample size and encourages future studies to test the framework with case studies of varied backgrounds.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Built Environments and Human Wellbeing)
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Landscape Urbanism—Retrospective on Development, Basic Principles and Application
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Nika Balon, Ines Hrdalo, Ana Mrđa, Monika Kamenečki, Dora Tomić Reljić and Petra Pereković
Architecture 2023, 3(4), 739-752; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/architecture3040040 - 23 Nov 2023
Abstract
The urban and landscape professions of the 21st century are developing diverse theoretical and practical models that they apply in solving the problems of the modern city. One of these models is landscape urbanism, which can be understood as a newer way of
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The urban and landscape professions of the 21st century are developing diverse theoretical and practical models that they apply in solving the problems of the modern city. One of these models is landscape urbanism, which can be understood as a newer way of looking at the city and its infrastructure again, incorporating the relationship between the city and nature, and ecological and landscape principles into its fundamental core. In a theoretical but also a practical sense, it suggests new modalities that are considered to be able to contribute to the current problems of modern cities, especially those related to the ecology of the city. By reviewing the development stages, methodological framework and practical applications, this paper determines the potentials and limitations of the concept of landscape urbanism and suggests modalities of application in the modern city.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Landscape of Sustainable Cities: Emerging Futures)
Open AccessArticle
The Potential of Green Engineering Solutions for Energy Conservation in Residential Buildings Towards Sustainability: A Case Study of Saudi Arabia
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Abdullah ALshabanat and Siddig Omer
Architecture 2023, 3(4), 713-738; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/architecture3040039 - 22 Nov 2023
Cited by 1
Abstract
Developing countries in hot climate regions such as Saudi Arabia have witnessed rapid population growth, which has led to greater resource consumption as a result of the increased demand for new buildings. This research proposes a multi-objective evaluation of the potential green engineering
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Developing countries in hot climate regions such as Saudi Arabia have witnessed rapid population growth, which has led to greater resource consumption as a result of the increased demand for new buildings. This research proposes a multi-objective evaluation of the potential green engineering solutions to conserve energy using a building within the ROSHN housing project, which is one of the mega projects in Saudi Arabia, as a case study for this paper with the aid of simulation software, taking into consideration the context of the sustainability concept. The results showed that traditional passive architectural design, whether courtyards or Mashrabiya, had the nearly greatest influence, with percentages ranging from −4% to −5.15% for varied parameters and designs compared to the base case energy usage. Furthermore, energy efficiency solutions for the building envelope’s external insulation and finish system (EIFS) enabled a drop in the U-value that lowered energy usage to −5.40%. However, the wall insulation thickness beyond 300 mm in this system has no substantial influence on energy savings. This research’s most clear finding is that a P2P system for PV panels on a district scale can supply enough energy to meet its needs after implementing the optimal strategy of the other proposed solutions.
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(This article belongs to the Topic Building Energy and Environment, 2nd Volume)
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Housing Experimentation and Design Guides: Affordable Housing in Guangzhou since 2006
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Lu Wang and Sam Jacoby
Architecture 2023, 3(4), 692-712; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/architecture3040038 - 20 Nov 2023
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This paper examines the recent growth of government-led affordable housing in Guangzhou, addressing a paucity of global housing studies that explore experimental and contextual policy approaches in China. It also addresses the lack of Chinese housing studies recognizing the impact of housing design
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This paper examines the recent growth of government-led affordable housing in Guangzhou, addressing a paucity of global housing studies that explore experimental and contextual policy approaches in China. It also addresses the lack of Chinese housing studies recognizing the impact of housing design governance, including regulatory controls and design standards, on housing preferences, supply and lifestyles. Since 1995, the supply of affordable housing has surged, now surpassing that of market housing for the first time. This response to failures in the private housing market and a lack of equitable access to housing signifies a significant shift, acknowledging the need to re-establish a state-led and long-term public housing supply after decades of housing marketization. Employing an architectural design research perspective, this paper investigates the interplay between affordable housing supply and the emergence of housing standards, examining resulting housing design outcomes. It poses the question: What changes in housing policy and interventions in housing markets are necessary to increase public rental housing supply, and how do these changes affect housing outcomes? The paper explores these questions through a discussion of the key moments in affordable housing policy and housing estate development in Guangzhou that facilitated the creation of widely accessible public housing and long-term housing assets. This provides new insights into China’s unique approach to translating central government social welfare and housing policy through contextual design experimentation and pilot housing projects, departing from the conventional top-down policy implementation found in most other countries.
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The Theory of Value and the Understanding of Authenticity: Keys to Intervening in Heritage Spaces: Results in the Case of San Telmo Palace (Seville 17th–21st Century, Spain)
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José-Luis Gómez-Villa, Marta García-Casasola and Eduardo Mosquera-Adell
Architecture 2023, 3(4), 681-691; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/architecture3040037 - 13 Nov 2023
Abstract
The cultural theory of heritage assets that was consolidated throughout the 20th century, and is still in force today, lies in the modulation of the concept of authenticity. It is a nomadic, controversial concept that has adapted to the spirit of the times.
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The cultural theory of heritage assets that was consolidated throughout the 20th century, and is still in force today, lies in the modulation of the concept of authenticity. It is a nomadic, controversial concept that has adapted to the spirit of the times. This review of the concept, drawing on international reference texts and charters in the field of heritage, allows us to specify a working process that facilitates its consideration in characterisation processes. To do so, case studies of significant cultural assets in terms of scale and complexity will be presented as resources. Through the implementation of the Theory of Value, the keys will be provided: criteria and methodology for intervening in heritage. This journey will be reflected more slowly in the study of the Palace of San Telmo (Seville, 17th–21st century). This is a building with a controversial material history, in which a series of attributions of value have been transmitted that correlate both with the theory of the conservation of cultural assets and with social appreciation and the criteria. This is the way to materially undertake a reflection on the authenticity of this heritage. This study provides the keys to intervening, conserving the values identified, and recognising authenticity as a reality that is constructed through the process and through the passage of time. A methodology that allows us to consider the capacity to continue and replace heritage as a project strategy in which what is yet to come can take place.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation of Architectural Heritage. New Urban Perspectives: Conceptual, Methodological, Technical and Management Advances)
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Open AccessOpinion
The Architecture of Expectation
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Kevin Nute
Architecture 2023, 3(4), 671-680; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/architecture3040036 - 03 Nov 2023
Abstract
Humans have been described as a “forward-looking” species in more than simply physiological terms. We are, it seems, unusually concerned with the future. This essay explores how built environments can be designed to evoke positive anticipation of future events. It suggests that there
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Humans have been described as a “forward-looking” species in more than simply physiological terms. We are, it seems, unusually concerned with the future. This essay explores how built environments can be designed to evoke positive anticipation of future events. It suggests that there are three primary means of achieving this: (1) the visible display of valued resources, (2) signs of readiness, and (3) views that encourage mental exploration. It is observed that while resources tend to elicit hope of their future use, readiness and visual prospects seem to evoke a more general sense of optimism. Given the large proportion of our lives that most of us now spend in buildings, it is suggested that these design strategies might be helpful in maintaining and improving occupant morale in the indoor spaces where we live and work, and even more so for those who, for one reason or another, are unable to venture out.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Time in Built Spaces)
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Collaborative Mapping as a Tool for Citizen Participation: A Case of Cultural Heritage Management in Rural Areas
by
Blanca Del Espino Hidalgo and Virginia Rodríguez Díaz
Architecture 2023, 3(4), 658-670; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/architecture3040035 - 24 Oct 2023
Abstract
The role of citizens in the construction of knowledge is undergoing a clear transformation from a passive position, as mere observers and/or receivers, to an increasingly participatory role. This issue, which is directly related to governance policies as well as to the ICT
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The role of citizens in the construction of knowledge is undergoing a clear transformation from a passive position, as mere observers and/or receivers, to an increasingly participatory role. This issue, which is directly related to governance policies as well as to the ICT revolution, can be seen in the field of cultural heritage and particularly architectural heritage management. The present paper aims to generate methodologies to involve citizens as active agents who must be involved in a real way in decision making concerning the protection and enhancement of cultural heritage. The results present the creation of a rural heritage interactive cartographic viewer as a collaborative mapping tool. The conclusions drawn position the citizens of rural, dispersed, or vulnerable areas as informers and builders of knowledge about the cultural and architectural heritage of their environment in terms of citizen science. At the same time, it strengthens the development of innovation strategies in the intervention, management, and communication of the existing dispersed heritage in rural areas.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation of Architectural Heritage. New Urban Perspectives: Conceptual, Methodological, Technical and Management Advances)
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(De)Linking with the Past through Memorials
by
Tamara Zaninović, Nerma Omićević and Bojana Bojanić Obad Šćitaroci
Architecture 2023, 3(4), 627-657; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/architecture3040034 - 09 Oct 2023
Abstract
Numerous examples of urban, architectural, and landscape projects indicate global and continuous interest in memorial design without a comparative study of their contextual similarities and differences. There is no clear terminological and conceptual framework of how memorials are designed nor if they are
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Numerous examples of urban, architectural, and landscape projects indicate global and continuous interest in memorial design without a comparative study of their contextual similarities and differences. There is no clear terminological and conceptual framework of how memorials are designed nor if they are perceived as diverse types of public places. This research combines multiple results of extensive and on-going research on memorials as places for people to reconnect with past events, circumstances, or persons, with the aim of building a theoretical and conceptual framework within the domain of architectural and urban design. The main question is how the design of memorials achieves remembrance as well as healing of both places and communities through conciliation, mediation, forgetting, learning, and planning new concepts for future urban development. The term (de)linking with the past is proposed for describing the importance of achieving these various memorial functions. The resulting dualistic conceptual framework of memorials includes eleven design principles based on models and methods of spatial interventions which can enable communities to move forward from traumatic events and negative emotions towards building a basis for a better future by learning from the past.
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