Architecture, Volume 3, Issue 2 (June 2023) – 9 articles

This article has aimed to analyze the intellectual structure associated with the contributions made by academics and practitioners of architecture in the association between housing and COVID-19 in the years 2019–2021. The main results reveal the possibility of establishing a classification, by topics that suggest the necessary interdisciplinary collaboration for housing, to meet the needs and desires of its users in the wake of this pandemic. The network analysis has allowed the identification of overlapping communities through interconnection concepts to other groups or clusters. Thus, it has been possible to explore the multidimensionality of the housing–COVID connection and the interrelationships for future research and its possible extension. In this sense, the importance of the specific concepts associated with very detailed elements, sensations and spaces in buildings has been identified, including concepts such as the air quality and the need for green spaces, the presence or not of balconies, the need for natural light, the existence of cross ventilation or the possibility of incorporating technology or home automation to facilitate and save resources in daily life. Full article

Green roofs are becoming popular in urban areas due to their potential benefits, including energy efficiency, urban heat island mitigation, and stormwater management. However, their water consumption can negatively impact water resources. Therefore, carefully managing the water consumption of green roofs is crucial to ensure they do not exacerbate existing water scarcity issues. This review explores the influencing factors and innovative solutions that increase the sustainability of water management on green roofs. A systematic quantitative review was conducted on published studies on green roofs. The review highlighted that while small-scale experimental studies are almost saturated, large-scale monitoring studies are still lacking. Modelling and assessing green roof settings based on climatic conditions and water availability and consumption are essential for successful water management. Using integrated technologies and sensing systems can increase water management efficiency and sustainability. Rainwater may be sufficient as a water source for green roofs in wet climates, while irrigation is still needed in other climates. Phytoremediation and biosorption can potentially increase runoff water quality. Improving hydrological performance by increasing rainwater retention and reducing water consumption capacity can reduce demand for other water resources and effectively manage small storms, mitigating pressure on city infrastructure and increasing water quality. Seeking non-potable sources, such as greywater, or harvesting enough rainwater to be used for irrigation during dry weather periods is highly advantageous for improving the sustainability of green roofs. Full article

Moving to a new country is often combined with issues such as stress and a sense of loss that affect the overall well-being of immigrants. Furthermore, immigrants have not yet developed strong attachments to the country and, more specifically, to the places in which they will settle. Researchers have already discussed the role of the built environment for well-being and the sense of belonging and attachment it can provide, specifically through public open spaces, such as parks, squares, etc. These problems are worldwide, and the World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends creating public places that improve human health, well-being, and social inclusion. Moreover, at local levels, designers and urbanists must understand how to evaluate the relationship between immigrants’ place attachment and public places in order to improve the design of these places. Consequently, this study reviewed methods used to understand the effects of public open spaces on immigrants’ attachment. A systematic quantitative literature review was conducted, and a total of 26 articles were extracted relating to immigrants’ place attachment and public open spaces. Research locations, participants’ nationalities, the types of public open spaces, the methods applied, and place attachment evaluations were retrieved from the articles and analysed. The results show that evaluating immigrants’ place attachment presents many challenges, and there is no consensus on what approaches are best practices. However, qualitative methods were most applied in human–environment interactions, and immigrants’ place attachments were primarily assessed based on their social bonds in public open spaces. To conclude, a framework was designed to understand how immigrants’ place attachment was evaluated in the reviewed literature, and the dimensions of place attachment were defined. Full article

Artificial intelligence and machine learning, in particular, have made rapid advances in image processing. However, their incorporation into architectural design is still in its early stages compared to other disciplines. Therefore, this paper addresses the development of an integrated bottom–up digital design approach and describes a research framework for incorporating the deep convolutional generative adversarial network (GAN) for early stage design exploration and the generation of intricate and complex alternative facade designs for urban interiors. In this paper, a novel facade design is proposed using the architectural style, size, scale, and openings of two adjacent buildings as references to create a new building design in the same neighborhood for urban infill. This newly created building contains the outline, style and shape of the two main buildings. A 2D building design is generated as an image, where (1) neighboring buildings are imported as a reference using the cell phone and (2) iFACADE decodes their spatial neighborhood. It is illustrated that iFACADE will be useful for designers in the early design phase to create new facades in relation to existing buildings in a short time, saving time and energy. Moreover, building owners can use iFACADE to show their preferred architectural facade to their architects by mixing two building styles and creating a new building. Therefore, it is presented that iFACADE can become a communication platform in the early design phases between architects and builders. The initial results define a heuristic function for generating abstract facade elements and sufficiently illustrate the desired functionality of the prototype we developed. Full article

Majapahit was one of Indonesia’s most prominent and last Hindu kingdoms in the 12–15th centuries. During this time, there was a process of changing religious beliefs among the Javanese population, who then embraced Hinduism to eventually become Muslim. In the 14th and 15th centuries, according to estimates, Islam began to spread throughout the Majapahit Empire. There was also a cultural shift in the Majapahit Kingdom’s society, from how they dressed to the shape of their houses. This study aims to determine how structures from that time were interpreted using a 3D model based on field surveys and previous studies. This documentation’s findings are divided into typology, spatial distribution, and architectural elements. Each of these three groups was further defined through Islamic law to determine the extent of Islam’s Influence on dwellings throughout the Majapahit Era. The impact of Islam on Majapahit architecture during that time was characterised by openness in terms of building typology, compactness in the internal layout of buildings, and the employment of ornamental architectural features based on plant and abstract patterns. Full article

As most people spend their days indoors, it is indeed important that buildings provide residents with a higher standard of health, convenience, and safety. As a result, many practices are implemented into buildings to improve the comfort of occupants, particularly thermal comfort; nevertheless, the energy required to run and maintain these applications is a significant constraint. Renewable energy sources offer alternative solutions to energy demand problems, and selecting the best renewable energy sources is crucial. In this article, we examine the health and well-being advantages to the occupants, as well as the surrounding environment, of a variety of novel strategies that may be integrated into buildings to increase occupants’ thermal comfort for conventional practices using solar power. The key discoveries explored in this article include daylighting, passive ventilation, thermal applications, cooling applications, and power generation. For this, the information was gathered by a systematic review of the relevant prior literature. In addition, the detrimental effects of existing practices on the health and well-being of residents and the environment are included. While there are still some practical obstacles to overcome in the extraction of solar energy, the technology exists. Potential future obstacles to the broad acceptance and usage of solar energy systems in buildings are highlighted, as well as possible solutions. Full article

Local parks are widely used to mitigate urban heat islands. However, the increase of dry weather periods in subtropical climates has caused natural grass failure, leading some city councils to replace it with artificial grass. Therefore, this study investigates various local park settings to assess the performance of different ground covers (i.e., irrigated and non-irrigated natural grass, bare soil, and artificial grass) and the influence that tree proximity has on them, as well as the total thermal performance of the investigated local parks. This study finds that non-irrigated parks could harm park users’ health due to the high concentration of mean radiant temperature (MRT) around trees. Although the surface temperature of the artificial grass was higher (2.60 °C) than that of asphalt during periods of peak temperature, the parks using artificial grass performed better at reducing air temperature and enhancing thermal comfort than the ones with dry grass or bare soil, where both tree proximity and soil water content played significant roles. However, artificial grass negatively affected night cooling, resulting in a poorer daily performance. This study discusses the influence of various park settings on air temperature, MRT, thermal comfort, surface temperature, soil temperature, and water content. In addition, various recommendations and settings are offered to direct decision makers and future studies. Full article

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) in 2019 and the 2022 war in Ukraine have had profound global impacts on travel and logistics, disrupted the material supply chain, significantly influenced the cost and progress of construction projects, and further impacted the operational effectiveness of firms. Despite some existing studies providing valuable insights into the impact of COVID-19 on the construction industry, there remain research gaps that need to be addressed. Prior studies have mainly focused on the immediate impact factors of the pandemic, such as supply chain disruptions and workforce shortages, and strategies for effectively reducing or eliminating these risks. However, there is a need for research that delves into the long-term implications of these disruptions. So far, no relevant research has quantified the broader impact of the epidemic. Thus, this study aims to analyze the effects of the pandemic and the war on 136 construction industry professionals, their projects, and firms through literature review, questionnaire surveys, and expert interviews. The study compiles a list of significant risk factors for construction projects between 2019–2022, including their probability of occurrence, impact over time, and overall cost. The study also analyzes and discusses the impact of these high-risk factors as of 2022. To quantify the impact, cost, and level of exposure to these risks suffered by actual construction projects over this period, the Monte Carlo simulation method is introduced. This approach provides contractors with early prediction of risks and appropriate responses to mitigate risks. Full article

Although voxel models have been applied to address diverse problems in computer-aided design processes, their role in multi-domain data integration in digital architecture and planning has not been extensively studied. The primary objective of this study is to map the current state of the art and to identify open questions concerning data structuring, integration, and modeling and design of multi-scale objects and systems in architecture. Focus is placed on types of voxel models that are linked with computer-aided design models. This study utilizes a semi-systematic literature review methodology that combines scoping and narrative methodology to examine different types and uses of voxel models. This is done across a range of disciplines, including architecture, spatial planning, computer vision, geomatics, geosciences, manufacturing, and mechanical and civil engineering. Voxel-model applications can be found in studies addressing generative design, geomatics, material science and computational morphogenesis. A targeted convergence of these approaches can lead to integrative, holistic, data-driven design approaches. We present (1) a summary and systematization of the research results reported in the literature in a novel manner, (2) the identification of research gaps concerning voxel-based data structures for multi-domain and trans-scalar data integration in architectural design and urban planning, and (3) any further research questions. Full article