bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The New Latin American Network "Habitat at Risk"
Authors: Ferrero Aurelio , Gargantini Daniela
Published: January 2021

Latin America is recurrently affected by natural disasters. It is in the poorest populations where the damage combines disastrously with the vulnerability of these communities, and only few of the experiences developed in Latin America have used efficient performance mechanisms in relation to the management of disaster risk. Focusing on the immediate response, most of these experiences have neglected the perspective of integral development, thus not working successfully. The weakness of the local institutions thus becomes obvious, as well as the lack of technological instruments for risk reduction.

On the other hand, from the point of view of the relationship between science and technology with regard to the problem of risk, more theoretical than actual technological contributions have been made, which no doubt constitutes a vacant area.

In the face of this reality, as from December 2002, a new network called “Habitat at Risk” has been constituted in the Iberian-American Programme of Science and Technology for Development (CYTED), within the sub-programme called “Social Interest Housing”. The purpose of this network is to offer technological contributions for the strengthening of local organisations which work in risk areas, and to enhance their response in the face of disasters directed towards habitat and the different aspects, stages, and dimensions involved.
Farming in Suburbia
Authors: Friedman Avi
Published: January 2021

Once considered the ‘last frontier’, post World War II perception of a limitless North American landscape directed development into country lands. Even an apparently boundless landscape, however, had a limit. This became increasingly clear in the second half of the 20th century as suburban sprawl covered over once-fertile agricultural lands. Ecological, environmental, and social relations were negatively affected by the new residential planning pattern. Yet, positive changes can still be brought about, especially in the suburbs that border cultivated areas. This paper outlines the processes necessary for the development of sustainable suburban agriculture that can be integrated into new communities. The concepts demonstrated here can reunite ecological, economical, and social factors, which are demonstrated in a "real" project design by a team headed by the author that supports farming in a suburban Montreal, Canada, setting.
Social Housing Transformation Practices in Constantine: Lessons from Ali Mendjeli
Authors: Bellal Tahar , Saighi Ouafa
Published: January 2021

This study is addressing the widespread transformation activities made to government-built housing intended for low income urban households. These unauthorised self-help transformation activities indicate not only people's willingness to become actively involved in the housing process but also demonstrate the potential for low income families to invest to improve their living conditions. In this paper we examine the changes made to the internal layouts of multi-story walk-up flats in the recently implemented satellite town of "Ali Mendjeli" in Constantine which is one of the newly adopted solutions to ease Constantine saturated city centre, and also to respond to an acute housing shortage. These transformation activities have an effect on dwelling size, cultural norms, and internal maintenance. A survey has been conducted in selected projects and socio-economic data has been collected from a sample of dwellings. The findings of the study point to the factors, which encourage these transformations, help to understand the motives and means used by the residents in the transformation procedure, find out the characteristics of these transformations, and assess means, which can be used to plan for future transformations in proposed housing schemes. Thus, this paper tends to understand the alterations carried out by the users, and to propose recommendations in order to attenuate this phenomenon.
The Otherness of Cyberspace, Virtual Reality, and Hypertext Vis-À-Vis "The Traditional"
Authors: Ilter Tugrul
Published: January 2021

This article engages with the question of the otherness of cyberspace, VR, and hypertext, and how they are distinguished as "new" from "the traditional." It begins by noting how this "new" present is distinguished by familiar binary oppositions like now vs. past and modern vs. traditional which rely on the notion of a new that is uncontaminated by the old. Both our enthusiasm for the singularly liberating nature of this new future as cybertechnophiles, and our Luddite resistance to its singularly fascistic and panoptic encirclement are similarly informed by this binary opposition. The paper then notes how the other in this opposition is a "domestic other." Thus we always-already know what the other is all about. Arguing that if the other were radically other and not "domesticated," one could not give an account of it in this way, the paper concludes that such alterity requires a rethinking of how one knows the other. The difference between this "wild" other and the "domestic" other is not an external difference but is radical; it is at the root. Therefore, our notions of space, reality, and text need to be complicated and rethought to accommodate what they seem to oppose: cyberspace, virtual reality, and hypertext.
The Future Setting of the Design Studio
Authors: Senyapili Burcu , Karakaya Ahmet Fatih
Published: January 2021

This study explores the impact of virtual classrooms as an emerging classroom typology in comparison to the physical classrooms in the design process. Two case studies were held in order to infer design students' classroom preferences in the project lifecycle. The findings put forth figures that compare two forms of design communication in the two classroom types in terms of their contribution to design development. Although the students acknowledged many advantages of web-based communication in the virtual classroom, they indicated that they are unwilling to let go off face-to-face encounters with the instructors and fellow students in the physical classroom. It is asserted that the future design studio will be an integrated learning environment where both physical and virtual encounters will be presented to the student. Utilizing the positive aspects of both communication techniques, a hybrid setting for the design studio is introduced, comprising the physical classroom as well as the virtual one. The proposed use for the hybrid setting is grouped under 3 phases according to the stage of the design process; as the initial, development and final phases. Within this framework, it is inferred that the design studio of the future will be an integrated form of space, where the physical meets the virtual.
Editorial
Authors: Chica José A. , Elguezabal Peru , Kendall Stephen
Published: January 2021

In accordance with it's commitment to discussion and dissemination of the Open Building principles and methods, the CIB W104 “Open Building Implementation” has been celebrating annual conferences since 1996. The main objective of these meetings held around the world is to promote research by various disciplines related to the improvement of the built environment by application of the Open Building concept, considering different cultures and interests.
Evolutionary Algorithms In Architecture
Authors: Schwehr Peter
Published: January 2021

Change is a reliable constant. Constant change calls for strategies in managing everyday life and a high level of flexibility. Architecture must also rise to this challenge. The architect Richard Buckminster Fuller claimed that “A room should not be fixed, should not create a static mood, but should lend itself to change so that its occupants may play upon it as they would upon a piano (Krausse 2001).” This liberal interpretation in architecture defines the ability of a building to react to (ever-) changing requirements. The aim of the project is to investigate the flexibility of buildings using evolutionary algorithms characterized by Darwin. As a working model for development, the evolutionary algorithm consists of variation, selection and reproduction (VSR algorithm). The result of a VSR algorithm is adaptability (Buskes 2008). If this working model is applied to architecture, it is possible to examine as to what extent the adaptability of buildings – as an expression of a cultural achievement – is subject to evolutionary principles, and in which area the model seems unsuitable for the 'open buildings' criteria. (N. John Habraken). It illustrates the significance of variation, selection and replication in architecture and how evolutionary principles can be transferred to the issues of flexible buildings. What are the consequences for the building if it were to be designed and built with the help of evolutionary principles? How can we react to the growing demand for flexibilization of buildings by using evolutionary principles?
Success and Failure in Flexible Building
Authors: Geraedts Rob
Published: January 2021

In the present demand-driven market, consumers play a key role. Players in the house-building market, as in other sectors, need to listen to the consumer's requirements – and these are continually changing. The real estate sector is rather rigid in its practices, yet those working in it will need to respond to the fluctuating wishes and demands of their consumers. One possible response is to adopt a flexible building strategy. Industrial Flexible Demountable (IFD) building has recently been a subject of debate in the Dutch construction sector. This is a special type of construction involving experimental projects, experimentation being the first step in optimising a renewed production process or product. The building process is currently subject to various construction-related and organisational obstacles. This means that, in some cases, the objectives (which are focused on consumer-oriented building practices) were not being achieved. It was necessary to identify the problem areas and to consider the available opportunities for optimising the building process in future IFD house-building projects. The results of this study have been incorporated into guidelines containing a step-by-step plan. This plan sets out practical recommendations for market actors who wish to initiate an IFD house-building project. This study's conclusions and recommendations form the basis for the seven stages that such parties will need to complete before starting on such a project.
Book Reviews
Authors: Hürol Yonca , Beisi Jia
Published: January 2021

CLIMATE CHANGE ETHICS – navigating the Perfect moral Storm
Housing Cooperatives in the Palestinian Territories: Development and Current Practice
Authors: Ghadban Shadi Sami
Published: January 2021

This study aims to examine the housing cooperative practices employed in the Palestinian territories in the second half of the twentieth century and across diverse socio-political circumstances. This approach has been implemented to fulfil the housing needs of Palestinian society. Tracing this movement reveals an intensification of the housing cooperative approach between the years 1958 and 2008. However, in the years since, this practice has declined considerably.

This study discusses and analyses the housing cooperative practices adopted by the Palestinian community after 1956. It explores the stages, principles and concerns that characterise this practice, whether it is an approach that continues to meet a share of the demand for housing people in Palestine and how this practice can continue and receive wider support and recognition. The results of this study could aid in providing a diagnostic database, which in turn might provide a needed boost to the housing cooperative movement in the Palestinian territories.
Implementation of Open Space: The Need for Uniform Policy?
Authors: Dali Melasutra Md , Yusoff Safiah Muhammad , Ibrahim Puteri Haryati
Published: January 2021

The provision of open spaces within a residential development is often seen as unimportant. The Malaysian Government targeted to provide 2 hectares of open space per 1000 population to be achieved as a developed nation status by the year 2020. This vision can be seen as the Government attempt to ensure the sustainability of open spaces in Malaysia. The Federal Department of Town and Country Planning, Peninsular Malaysia (FDTCP) has produced a planning standard guideline to supervise the implementation of the open space policy in Malaysia. According to FDTCP; until December 2009, Malaysia has achieved a percentage of 1.19 hectares of open space per 1000 population. Achieving the standard requires commitment of local authorities to implement the open space policy. However, the adoption of open spaces policy differs among local authorities, from a simplistic general approach of land ratio techniques to an ergonomics method. The paper examines the local allocation practices using 5 different approaches and it argues that implementation of open space by local planning practices requires the knowledge of and understanding by planning profession towards a long term sustainable green objectives.
Toward 21St-Century Korean Hanoks
Authors: Yun Jieheerah
Published: January 2021

Very recently, the South Korean architectural field has seen a rising trend to reinterpret the traditional hanok, meaning Korean-style house. While this presents an interesting diversion from the housing market dominated by high-rise apartments, there is a lack of consensus in determining the scope and definition of hanoks. This is because of many experiments with the features of the hanok, such as inclusion of new material, construction techniques, and even radically new spatial organizations.

This article explores and analyzes the effectiveness of four different approaches of reinterpreting hanoks: apartment hanoks, urban hanoks, rural experimentations, and contemporary versions. At one end of the spectrum, there is the recent integration of a hanok’s features in high-rise apartments otherwise considered modern. Then I move on to discuss examples of urban hanoks built since the start of the industrialization era in the 1920s and afterwards. Urban hanoks are detached houses, most of which show a stylistic preference toward wooden hanoks of the elite literati. The third approach is rural experimentations that involve the development of an unconventional construction method by both architects and non-architects. Finally, this paper turns to reinterpretations of the hanok by architects trained in contemporary architecture. Although each approach differs in the degree of integrating historical hanok features, some commonalities, such as low floor area ratio and the organic integration of an open courtyard, can be detected among the successful cases.
Housing Poverty in Post-Reform Shanghai: Profiles in 2010 and Decompositions
Authors: Zhang Yina , Chen Jie
Published: January 2021

Using the latest census data (2010), this paper investigates housing poverty conditions in Shanghai, the largest city in China. The data shows that a large fraction of Shanghai households are still living in excessively over-crowded housing. Meanwhile, the incidence ratio of housing poverty among migrants is more than five times than among natives. In particular, 45% of rural migrant households were living in housing poverty. Poverty decomposition analysis shows that approximately 70% of total housing poverty in Shanghai is attributable to rural migrants. Our finding is supported by estimating the multidimensional poverty index (MPI). The findings in this paper have significant implications to general housing policy making in urban China.
The Dilemma of Representation Through Facades
Authors: Koca Duygu
Published: January 2021

The exterior surface of a building -façade- as a communicative ground reflects the burdened meaning of its structure. Besides communicative capacity of façade, its independency, individuality and image dominancy can define exterior surface as an autonomous architectural element in terms of both physical and moral freedom. However, in the twenty-first century, this autonomy has undermined by globalization, technology and communication tools which are among the rapidly increasing activities of the century. Location of architecture in economic transactions and financial market has caused a loss in its internal dynamics and value system. The endeavor of providing the visual appeal only through the façade formation has caused the transformation in the dependency of exterior surface being devoid of content and context. The surfaces have been treated as changeable and renewable advertisement grounds concentrating on the visual appeal of the product, whether the aim is marketing, advertising or commercializing. Thus, the link between architecture and social structures has weakened through the commodification of the end product. In this framework, aim of this paper is (a) to make the description of façade, (b) to define the autonomy of façade through its physical and moral independency by examining cases and (c) to put forward a logical argument on the aspects which make façade an element pursuing only the visual pleasure by oversimplifying its significance in the generation of architectural idea.
Creativity in the Initial Phases of Architectural Design
Authors: Abdelhameed Wael A.
Published: January 2021

Creativity is viewed as vital for all design actions; however, creativity in general with its related cognition processes has no general theory. Creativity used in architectural design is different than creativity in other domains. This research proposes certain activities of the initial phases of architectural design, in which the role of creativity is distinguished. The research proceeds to present a case study of two architectural design studios in which a VR environment is employed in order to in-vestigate the effect of VR use on the creativity in those design phases. A methodol-ogy of qualitative and quantitative analysis has applied. Various architectural design factors are neutralized to overcome the influence generated from human factors variation and design thinking prejudice in architectural design and the associated ac-tivities.
Editorial: Urban Performance Between The Imagined, The Measured, and The Experienced
Authors: Salama Ashraf M. , Grierson David
Published: January 2021

A multitude of diverse attributes is required for effective urban performance at various scales ranging from the immediate context of public buildings to central urban spaces, and from urban corridors to residential neighbourhoods. Following their earlier works (GRIERSON, 2014; MUNRO and GRIERSON, 2016; SALAMA, 2011; SALAMA and WIEDMANN, 2013; and SALAMA et al., 2016) the guest editors frame these qualities under a cycle of three main symbiotic pillars: the imagined, the measured, and the experienced, which contribute to the development of insights that elucidate various parameters for exploring urban performance. These three pillars stem from the Lefebvrian arguments and his theory on the production of space, which postulates a triadic relationship of three different but related types of spaces: the conceived (Imagined), the perceived (measured) and the lived (experienced).
Real-Time Visualization in the Design Context
Authors: Tang Ming , Yang Dihua
Published: January 2021

Having been a promising visualization tool since 1950s, ironically, virtual reality is not widely used in the architectural design and evaluation process due to several constrains, such as the high cost of equipments and advanced programming skills required. This paper described the collaboration between design computing courses and architecture design studios that have been taught at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in 2004 and 2005. These courses explored several practical methods to integrate Low Cost Virtual Reality Aided Design (LC-VRAD) in the architectural design process. As a summary of the collaboration, this paper refers to three main aspects: (1) How to use game engine to design an affordable VR system in the ordinary studio environment. (2) How to integrate VR, into the design process, not only as a visualization tool, but also as a design instrument. (3) How to evaluate different methods of representing architectural models based on the efficiency of workflow, rendering quality and users' feedback.

Support by the Game and Interactive Design Department at SCAD, students in the School of Building Arts implemented two Low Cost VRAD methods in various design phases, starting from site analysis, schematic design, design development to the final presentation. Two popular game engines, Epic Game's Unreal engine and Director MX's Shockwave engine, were introduced to students to visualize their project in real-time. We discussed computer-aided design theories including the application of VR, as well as digital computing and human computer interaction. At the end of each quarter, feedbacks from students and faculties were collected and analyzed. These methods were revised and improved consistently across 2004 and 2005 academic year.
Design Exploration Using A Shape Grammar With A Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Chouchoulas Orestes , Day Alan
Published: January 2021

Although the idea of linking a shape grammar to a genetic algorithm is not new, this paper proposes a novel way of combining these two elements in order to provide a tool that can be used for design exploration. Using a shape grammar for design generation provides a way of creating a range of potential solutions to a design problem which fit with the designer's stylistic agenda. A genetic algorithm can then be used to take these designs and develop them into a much richer set of solutions which can still be recognised as part of the same family. By setting quantifiable targets for design performance, the genetic algorithm can evolve new designs which exhibit the best features of previous generations. The designer is then presented with a wide range of high scoring solutions and can choose which of these to take forward and develop in the conventional manner. The novelty of the proposed approach is in the use of a shape code, which describes the steps that the shape grammar has taken to create each design. The genetic algorithm works on this shape code by applying crossover and mutation in order to create a range of designs that can be tested. The fittest are then selected in order to provide the genetic material for the next generation. A prototype version of such a program, called Shape Evolution, has been developed. In order to test Shape Evolution it has been used to design a range of apartment buildings which are required to meet certain performance criteria.
Book Reviews
Authors: Frankel Bruce W.
Published: January 2021

City Architecture: In Between Past and Future
Jardins Communautaires ET Sécurité Alimentaire Community Gardens and Food Security
Authors: Reid Daniel
Published: January 2021

En 1977, les autorités municipales de Montréal ont décrété que 10% du territoire serait dorénavant zoné espaces verts. La plupart des quartiers avaient suffisamment de terrains disponibles pour respecter cette norme. A la même époque, l′administration municipale a mis en place un programme municipal de jardins communautaires.

Les jardins communautaires offrent l′opportunité aux citadins de cultiver leurs légumes et de fraterniser. À Montréal, 1.5% de la population adulte jardine dans un jardin communautaire municipal. Les jardins sont dispersés sur tout le territoire et sont facilement accessibles, soit 8200 jardinets dans 97 jardins communautaires. Dans les arrondissements les plus peuplés, il faut attendre de 1 à 3 ans sur la liste d′attente avant d′accéder à un jardinet. Le programme comporte un minimum de réglementation afin de simplifier l′activité.

En terme de coût, la contribution moyenne d′un jardinier revient à 10$/jardinet pour un lopin de terre mesurant 3m x 6m. Avant la réorganisation municipale de 2002, suite à laquelle chaque arrondissement gérait ses propres jardins communautaires (Ville de Montréal), l′investissement de la municipalité, il est d′environ 0,2% du budget du Service des sports, des loisirs et du développement social.

Le jardinage communautaire permet l′auto-production d′aliments de qualité sur des terrains gérés par la municipalité. Cette activité populaire favorise l′estime de soi et l′acquisition de nouvelles connaissances pratiques et techniques. A Montréal, les saisons de cultures sont réduites dû aux longs hivers et ne permettent qu′une récolte; ainsi, pendant les mois de récolte, cette initiative municipale allège la problématique de la sécurité alimentaire. Le programme des jardins communautaires de Montréal est considéré comme le programme de jardinage collectif le plus accessible et le mieux organisé en Amérique (Reid, 2006).
Towards Sustainable Urban Renewal in the Netherlands
Authors: Wassenberg Frank
Published: January 2021

Cities and the neighbourhoods within are dynamic and change continuously. Vital neighbourhoods can cope with changing circumstances like outdated use, changing household compositions, consumer preferences and fashions, political turnovers, global trends and economic cycles. Sustainable areas are vital and flexible to changes. Sustainable urban renewal results in sustainable areas. However, what is sustainable urban renewal, and why is quite a lot of renewal policy, as history shows, not very sustainable? European urban renewal policy can be divided into three separate periods, in which different ideas prevailed. This article shows these three periods on four points of view, the contents, the process, the area and a time-focus, and elaborates these on one particular country, the Netherlands.
A Perceptual Approach for Investigating Urban Space Diversity in the City of Doha
Authors: Salama Ashraf M. , Gharib Remah Y.
Published: January 2021

The city of Doha is growing rapidly with emerging urban nodes and centers, housing development. Little attention however has been paid to several growth aspects including the understanding of urban space diversity and the resulting inhabitants' spatial experience, their attitudes toward emerging urbanized spaces. Utilizing a perceptual approach in the form of an attitude survey, this paper explores urban spaces in the city of Doha as perceived and experienced by different groups. An investigation of a number of key urban spaces is undertaken through the identification of key urban nodes that are identified based on parameters that include density, commercial activity, and public accessibility. Spaces are examined from the perspective of Doha's inhabitants using 490 responses to a survey questionnaire. The results delineate that urban spaces lack key conditions amenable to creating urban diversity. Nevertheless, they corroborate the postulation that urban spaces are perceived and experienced differently by different groups based on their gender, age, and cultural background. The paper concludes with suggestions toward a more inclusive approach to the design of the city's urban spaces.
Editorial
Authors: Wilkinson Nicholas
Published: January 2021

Open House International (OHI) has come a long way towards its recent accreditation as one of the leading academic journals in the field of Architecture and Environment. The journal has a focus on decision-making processes, which enable the various disciplines dealing with built environment to understand the dynamics of development and housing and so contribute more effectively to it.
Editorial
Authors: Visscher Henk
Published: January 2021

The existing housing stock has a major energy saving potential and is mostly considered to be the sector in which energy efficiency most cost effectively can be achieved. About 30% of all energy use is consumed in the housing stock. The European union formulates saving targets, policies and regulations that have to be implemented by the member states and a considerable share of the EU budget for research and innovation is dedicated to this challenge. In recent years many policies, investment programmes, technical innovations and process innovations have been developed and been put into practice. However, it appears to be very difficult to realise massive renovation programmes in the existing housing stock and really make a step forward towards the energy efficiency goals. This special issue presents an overview of actual insights of the perspectives of energy efficiency in the housing stock based on several research projects and analyses and discussions about how the current policies will work out and which are the barriers that still have to be taken. We focus on the policies, the processes and the people.
Analysis of Energy-Efficiency Improvements in Single-Family Dwellings in Concepcion, Chile
Authors: Alvarado Rodrigo Garcia , Soto Jaime , Muñoz Cristian , Bobadilla Ariel , Herrera Rodrigo , Bustamante Waldo
Published: January 2021

The current depletion of fossil fuels and environmental degradation are requiring greater energy efficiency in buildings, particularly in the residential sector. However, environmental improvement actions for dwellings are usually based on general considerations, without identifying the most appropriate measurements to be taken in each case, or reviewing their application with stakeholders. This article puts forward a strategy to propose effective and feasible modifications in the design or refurbishment of single-family homes to reduce energy use while maintaining indoor comfort. The improvements proposed are based on dynamic energy simulations of individual models adapted to local realities that can be carried out by regular professionals. The process includes the review of studies and information on the geographic area, and compilation of the constructive features and occupancy data of each house to create a proper energy behaviour model. Possible improvements to the building are then simulated separately in each model and the results recorded. Subsequently, a budgetary analysis of these alternatives according to construction costs and financial projections is carried out in order to identify retrofit packages and consult the opinions of residents and builders. The application of this strategy is demonstrated in the study of several houses in Concepción, Chile, where different sets of measures have been identified to achieve high reductions in energy demand while having low cost and being highly appreciated by the participants. This provides a methodology for developing and validating effective solutions for the environmental improvement of existing dwellings and new housing projects.
Wounded Spaces: When Planning Degraded Cairo’s Urban Memory
Authors: Selim Gehan
Published: January 2021

This paper examines the position of planning practices operated under precise guidelines for displaying modernity. Cultivating the spatial qualities of Cairo since the 1970s has unveiled centralised ideologies and systems of governance and economic incentives. I present a discussion of the wounds that result from the inadequate upgrading ventures in Cairo, which I argue, created scars as enduring evidence of unattainable planning methods and processes that undermined its locales. In this process, the paper focuses on the consequences of eviction rather than the planning methods in one of the city’s traditional districts. Empirical work is based on interdisciplinary research, public media reports and archival maps that document actions and procedures put in place to alter the visual, urban, and demographic characteristics of Cairo’s older neighbourhoods against a backdrop of decay to shift towards a global spectacular. The paper builds a conversation about the power and fate these spaces were subject to during hostile transformations that ended with their being disused. Their existence became associated with sores on the souls of its ex-inhabitants, as outward signs of inward scars showcasing a lack of equality and social justice in a context where it was much needed.
Measuring the Potential for Ecological Citizenship Among Residents in Famagusta, North Cyprus
Authors: Asilsoy Buket , Oktay Derya
Published: January 2021

The significance of ecological citizenship for the sustainable urbanism discourse has been highly recognised in recent years. Targeting to adopt ecological citizenship as a lifestyle among urban residents appears potentially significant and urgent for the city of Famagusta, North Cyprus. As a result of unsustainable urban development, Famagusta dictates a new way of living to its inhabitants that is not familiar to them in terms of local sociocultural characteristics and environmental values. Therefore, a user survey was carried out among local people, within a random sample of 165 residents, in order to obtain scientific data that may be used for the needed planning policies. Within the survey, environmental attitudes of the residents were measured with the help of Dunlop and Van Liere’s New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) scale. The aim was to understand the level of their existing environmental worldview, one of the basic aspects of ecological citizenship. The results of the survey reveal that Famagusta residents’ existing environmental attitudes cannot achieve an adequate level in order to be one of the dynamics shaping their lifestyles. However, residents have slightly more than a medium level of environmental worldview.
A Contextual Framework for the Development of a Building Sustainability Assessment Method for Iran
Authors: Malek Shahrzad , Grierson David
Published: January 2021

As one of the fastest growing countries in the Middle East, and the one most vulnerable to climate change, the main challenge now facing Iran today is how to house its growing population in a socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable way. However, in the absence of a national framework to guide the sustainable development of the built environment, responding to this challenge is problematic. The articulation of a comprehensive assessment method that would enable issues of sustainability to be addressed and incorporated within building construction projects is urgently required. The research that underpins this paper takes account of current tools in aiming to support the development of a national building sustainability assessment method (BSAM) for use in Iran that involves the identification of sources of impact, specific benchmarks, and priorities for a weighting system for assessment criteria. This paper profiles the basis of a contextual framework that will inform the development of such a regional-based tool, taking account of Iran’s current climate change adaptation policies and priorities, its environmental conditions and socio-economic challenges, building typologies, standards and benchmarks.
Sustainable Housing: A Conceptual Approach
Authors: Çeliker Afet
Published: January 2021

Sustainable architecture is a well-known and studied subject for severeal decades. The environmental awareness of professionals has put sustainability in the center of the profession of architecture and has resulted in introducing and implementing ecological designs both in the scale of buildings and cities. This article presents sustainable architecture criteria, reckons regional aspects, interprets vernacular architecture and, proposes sustainable housing unit models for Mediterranean region, specifically Cyprus. The article intends to study existing researches regarding the subject, reveals and updates key aspects on sustainable housing by focusing on the passive solar systems through proposals. The article contains proposals of an experimental and conceptual approach of a group of graduate studio course students who are architects and interior designers. The conceptual approaches of design proposals are sustainable through the usage of local materials, orientation, usage of passive solar systems, natural ventilation and lighting, hence these proposals are intended to create a diversity. In that sense, this article presents possibilities of ideal plan layouts and facades for sustainable architectural housing units in Mediterranean region, Cyprus, based on the revealed key aspects on sustainability. The originality of the article is on the design proposals that take inspiration from the characteristics of vernacular architecture, but show a contemporary approach of design.
A Diagnosis of Urban Poor Housing in Vietnam
Authors: Ahmed Iftekhar
Published: January 2021

This paper presents concepts important for understanding urban poor housing in Vietnam, with a focus on key environmental, socio-economic, and cultural dimensions that bear on the housing sector. The paper draws on extensive field studies and presents a diagnosis of the context of and prospects for housing of the urban poor in Vietnam's two main cities: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. While the literature on this theme is scanty, it points to the market-orientated economic reforms initiated in the 1980s as a key factor in creating imbalance in the housing supply. Recognising the current challenges in balancing affordability and sustainability, the study explores Vietnam's lack of adequate and affordable housing and the problems faced by the urban poor in accessing adequate housing.
Architectural Examination on Feng Shui Bedroom
Authors: Wang Chen , Hong Wan Thing , Abdul-Rahman Hamzah
Published: January 2021

Bedroom Feng Shui practices have been criticized as myth over the years but in fact having its scientific origin that is not purely superstitious. This paper aims to examine whether the architects' design practice for bedroom interior arrangement is concurring with the recommended bedroom Feng Shui practices. The study has successfully interviewed 16 architects from diverse backgrounds to avoid bias, seeking their design perspectives in bedroom interior configuration. Subsequently, the interviewees submitted sketches of ideal bedroom layout based on their expertise, with pre-set requirements. Data from semi-structured interviews were analyzed using mixed method approach. In agreement with our expectations, majority of the interviewees have matching thoughts that “bed arrangement” is the primary consideration in bedroom interior configuration. Most of the design outputs were highly attached to favorable Feng Shui conditions. The overall findings implied that bedroom Feng Shui is not merely superstitious but most components are practical design references for architects from diverse backgrounds.
Transformations in Design Education: The Paperless Studio and the Virtual Design Studio
Authors: Al-Qawasmi Jamal
Published: January 2021

Traditional architectural curricula have been based on the design studio model, which emphasizes learning by doing. Under this model, a typical architectural curriculum offers a sequence of design studios in which students learn to design by actually engaging in designing. Until very recently the design studio culture remained largely unchanged. The introduction of the virtual design studio and the paperless studio in early 1990s has resulted in fundamental changes in design studio pedagogy. The paper examines the impact of computers and information technology, as applied in the paperless studio and the virtual design studio, on design studio education. Based on literature reviews on paperless studio and virtual design studio and examination of architectural studio instruction, including several experiences in conducting paperless studios, the author considers the pedagogical shift occurring in design studio instruction as a result of integrating digital media in the design studio. The paper considers two types of transformations in studio instruction: pedagogical transformations related to using digital media as a design tool and pedagogical transformations related to distributing the design studio with some or all participants in remote locations.
Smart Home Systems - Accessibility and Trust
Authors: Sandström Greger , Keijer Ulf
Published: January 2021

This article explores the residents' attitudes to and acceptance of Smart Homes. The results are based on surveys of two residential units fit with advanced smart home systems. The systems offered functionalities of different kinds as alarms, energy measurement, booking of common facilities, broadband connections and electronic keys. The buildings were first occupied in mid 2001 and early 2002, respectively. The original smart home systems were in operation until end of 2005, when they ultimately were replaced by simpler ones, based on the web, a change not foreseen from the beginning. The extended period of time offered the possibility to study the residents' long term attitudes, expectations and demands on smart homes with their installed and perceived functionality.

The questionnaire surveys focused on the residents experiences and included questions of their actual use of the smart home systems and opinions regarding accessibility and easy of use. Albeit functionality related to current demand is a basic requirement, two other concepts, viz. accessibility and trust, have appeared to be fundamental for a positive attitude and acceptance of various functions that constitute a smart home. Related issues are developed and further discussed in the article.
The Housing Triangulation: A Discourse on Quality, Affordability and Lifestyles in India
Authors: Sengupta Urmi
Published: January 2021

Since 1991 with the advent of globalization and economic liberalisation, basic conceptual and discursive changes are taking place in housing sector in India. The new changes suggest how housing affordability, quality and lifestyles reality is shifting for various segments of the population. Such shift not only reflects structural patterns but also stimulates an ongoing transition process. The paper highlights a twin impetus that continue to shape the ongoing transition: expanding middle class and their wealth - a category with distinctive lifestyles, desires and habits and corresponding ‘market defining’ of affordable housing standards - to articulate function of housing as a conceptualization of social reality in modern India. The paper highlights the contradictions and paradoxes, and the manner in which the concept of affordability, quality and lifestyles are embedded in both discourse and practice in India. The housing ‘dream’ currently being packaged and fed through to the middle class population has an upper middle class bias and is set to alienate those at the lower end of the middle-and low-income population. In the context of growing agreement and inevitability of market provision of ‘affordable housing’, the unbridled ‘market-defining’ of housing quality and lifestyles must be checked.
Minimum Energy - Maximum Space: Higher-Density Attached Family Housing
Authors: Burford N. K. , Thurrot J. , Pearson A.D.
Published: January 2021

In 2016 all new houses in England and Wales must be zero carbon. To date most work in zero carbon housing has been carried out on detached family housing typologies. Practice has shown that one of the overriding factors in the struggle to achieve zero carbon status (Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6) is the projected significant increase in construction cost. While grant funding can offset some of this increase, further costs savings will be required to allow developers to deliver affordable homes within reasonable profit margins. One result of this will be a reduction in design quality; which will impact on the quality of the spaces provided and the robustness and longevity of the construction and finishes. In order to deliver better design standards, higher density attached family housing models should be considered to ensure that a proportion of the projected increase in cost of the building fabric can be transferred to the internal volume of the house, thus achieving better quality living spaces. The following paper reviews the context for future housing provision in the UK and examines two existing medium density terraced housing developments. The existing examples reflect two contrasting approaches: one derived from low-energy principles utilising minimum space standards, the other reflecting the need for high quality spaces but at premium cost. A new medium density terrace model is proposed that deals with these conflicting demands to demonstrate that it is possible to provide affordable, high quality, higher density, family housing whilst meeting low energy targets.
Lifestyle and Affordability Choices in Traditional Housing of Old Dhaka
Authors: Ahmed Iftekhar
Published: January 2021

Affordability and lifestyle choices in housing are critical to meet basic human needs for shelter, security and wellbeing. The meaning of a house for a particular group of people and what is ‘affordable’ for a particular community is the critical issue. Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, has greater population density and rate of expansion compared to almost any other mega cities of Asia. The historic core of the city known as old Dhaka is a combination of several traditional neighborhoods. Houses in these traditional neighborhoods are not only places to live, rather an integral unit of a social system, having a good mix of place of work and individual expression in living. They also show flexibility and adaptability (with more scope for personalization and individual life style choices) compared to the contemporary housing stock. One of the success factors in these traditional houses is the healthy mix of the income ranges to avoid a ghetto effect of low cost housing. The recent rapid urbanization has led to a discontinuity of the traditional housing form of old Dhaka, leading to a disintegration of the mix of lifestyle choices and affordability. Following popular market trends, they are often replaced by housing blocks in a higher density ignoring the need for a diverse mix. This paper studies the traditional housing of old Dhaka with two case study neighborhoods. Several elements of housing like the common price, materials and construction, space layout, scale, social space, facades, street interface, etc are selected for a qualitative study. Local residents interview, archival records, maps, Plans, figure-ground, aerial images are used to analyze, identify and demonstrate the elements that made them socio-culturally sustainable and affordable for the community. With the analysis, lessons from the traditional housing form that may contribute to the new housing in Dhaka are identified.
Towards Affordability: Maximising Use Value in Low-Income Housing
Authors: Shehayeb Dina , Kellett Peter
Published: January 2021

Much research into housing concentrates on the dwelling as a place of shelter for the household, as a unit to accommodate basic domestic activities or as an asset to secure and facilitate social reproduction. However, the dwelling is more than an enclosed private space; it involves a diversity of indoor and outdoor spaces that house a multitude of activities to fulfil latent functions and meanings. The scarcer the resources of the residents, the more critical it is to maximize the use-value of the home environment, and key ways to add value is for the dwelling to become a place to house income generating activities, a place to produce one's food or a place to accommodate changes in household structure over time. In such cases, public and private space use within the home range is intensified through multiple usage, often changing diurnally or seasonally to afford the occupants increased adaptability and maximum use value. Drawing upon empirical data from Egypt, Colombia and Indonesia, this paper proposes a conceptual framework to analyse the diverse manifestations of this phenomena and to identify lessons for designers and policy makers concerned with making housing more appropriate and affordable.