scholarly journals Expecting the unexpected: Redefining the home to adapt to the lifetime requirements of its occupants

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Sarah Groom

<p>What happens when the home expects the unexpected?  Since the beginning of the current housing price rise in 2012, homeownership in New Zealand has become increasingly difficult. The desire to enter the property market has been impeded by the unsuitability of current housing stock that no longer meets the needs of the modern household.  While it is widely accepted by economists, yet denied by politicians, New Zealand is amid a housing crisis. The government is addressing the issue by introducing a means to allow housing to be produced more quickly. This new housing is expected to mitigate the issues surrounding a shortage of land and population increase, by developing a large proportion of new developments in the classification of medium density housing.  With a shortfall of 10,000 houses per annum, the current situation presents an opportunity to reassess how medium density housing (MDH) is configured in New Zealand. To break the cycle of housing stock rendering itself unsuitable in the future, this thesis aims to investigate how housing could be designed to allow for change over time.  All age groups stand to benefit from a home that is carefully planned and considers their lifetime needs. An established design framework enables the prefabricated modular system to adapt, reflecting the lifetime requirements of its occupants.  The outcome is an innovative, alternate design solution that considers the wellbeing of occupants through a lifetime design approach, offering adaptability and efficient production through prefabrication.   A home that expects the unexpected.</p>

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Sarah Groom

<p>What happens when the home expects the unexpected?  Since the beginning of the current housing price rise in 2012, homeownership in New Zealand has become increasingly difficult. The desire to enter the property market has been impeded by the unsuitability of current housing stock that no longer meets the needs of the modern household.  While it is widely accepted by economists, yet denied by politicians, New Zealand is amid a housing crisis. The government is addressing the issue by introducing a means to allow housing to be produced more quickly. This new housing is expected to mitigate the issues surrounding a shortage of land and population increase, by developing a large proportion of new developments in the classification of medium density housing.  With a shortfall of 10,000 houses per annum, the current situation presents an opportunity to reassess how medium density housing (MDH) is configured in New Zealand. To break the cycle of housing stock rendering itself unsuitable in the future, this thesis aims to investigate how housing could be designed to allow for change over time.  All age groups stand to benefit from a home that is carefully planned and considers their lifetime needs. An established design framework enables the prefabricated modular system to adapt, reflecting the lifetime requirements of its occupants.  The outcome is an innovative, alternate design solution that considers the wellbeing of occupants through a lifetime design approach, offering adaptability and efficient production through prefabrication.   A home that expects the unexpected.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Brittany Irvine

<p>The construction industry accounts for 23% of global CO₂ emissions each year¹. Coupled with contemporary pressures of urbanisation, there is demand for increased density construction². To improve the relationship the industry has with the environment it must reconsider its construction methods and material choices. Engineered timber is a sustainable and structural solution for these issues.  Commonly when building with engineered timber, traditional construction methodologies are applied. The material is simply used as a replacement for steel and concrete and does not explore the tectonic opportunities available. This results in the same monolithic multi-story buildings.  This research portfolio offers a new approach to flexible modular housing using cross-laminated timber (CLT). It is researched through an adaptable urban housing complex. It explores the tectonics of CLT and develops a diverse design language that offsets how the material has been traditionally used.  The design research was conducted through a series of design-led experiments comprised of four key phases; the problem, the exploration, the parts and the test. The problem researched key issues around CLT. This highlighted current deficiencies in the design of timber medium-density housing in New Zealand. The research explores the specific tectonics of CLT as an engineered timber product. Developing a series of components that can be assembled on various urban sites. This process translated into a singular site-specific test in Te Aro, Wellington.  The implications of this research are to provide an alternative approach to urban medium-density housing using engineered timber technology. The result of this process is the design of a modular system of interlocking dwellings that can be optimized to site and that optimise the visual and spatial opportunities of engineered timber. Offsetting the current design language of medium-density timber buildings and proposing visual and spatial improvements to inner-city living in New Zealand.  ¹ (Huang, Krigsvoll, Johansen, Liu, & Zhang, 2018) ² (Wellington City Council, 2015.)</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Brittany Irvine

<p>The construction industry accounts for 23% of global CO₂ emissions each year¹. Coupled with contemporary pressures of urbanisation, there is demand for increased density construction². To improve the relationship the industry has with the environment it must reconsider its construction methods and material choices. Engineered timber is a sustainable and structural solution for these issues.  Commonly when building with engineered timber, traditional construction methodologies are applied. The material is simply used as a replacement for steel and concrete and does not explore the tectonic opportunities available. This results in the same monolithic multi-story buildings.  This research portfolio offers a new approach to flexible modular housing using cross-laminated timber (CLT). It is researched through an adaptable urban housing complex. It explores the tectonics of CLT and develops a diverse design language that offsets how the material has been traditionally used.  The design research was conducted through a series of design-led experiments comprised of four key phases; the problem, the exploration, the parts and the test. The problem researched key issues around CLT. This highlighted current deficiencies in the design of timber medium-density housing in New Zealand. The research explores the specific tectonics of CLT as an engineered timber product. Developing a series of components that can be assembled on various urban sites. This process translated into a singular site-specific test in Te Aro, Wellington.  The implications of this research are to provide an alternative approach to urban medium-density housing using engineered timber technology. The result of this process is the design of a modular system of interlocking dwellings that can be optimized to site and that optimise the visual and spatial opportunities of engineered timber. Offsetting the current design language of medium-density timber buildings and proposing visual and spatial improvements to inner-city living in New Zealand.  ¹ (Huang, Krigsvoll, Johansen, Liu, & Zhang, 2018) ² (Wellington City Council, 2015.)</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeyu Lyu ◽  
Hiroki Takikawa

BACKGROUND The availability of large-scale and fine-grained aggregated mobility data has allowed researchers to observe the dynamic of social distancing behaviors at high spatial and temporal resolutions. Despite the increasing attentions paid to this research agenda, limited studies have focused on the demographic factors related to mobility and the dynamics of social distancing behaviors has not been fully investigated. OBJECTIVE This study aims to assist in the design and implementation of public health policies by exploring the social distancing behaviors among various demographic groups over time. METHODS We combined several data sources, including mobile tracking data and geographical statistics, to estimate visiting population of entertainment venues across demographic groups, which can be considered as the proxy of social distancing behaviors. Then, we employed time series analyze methods to investigate how voluntary and policy-induced social distancing behaviors shift over time across demographic groups. RESULTS Our findings demonstrate distinct patterns of social distancing behaviors and their dynamics across age groups. The population in the entertainment venues comprised mainly of individuals aged 20–40 years, while according to the dynamics of the mobility index and the policy-induced behavior, among the age groups, the extent of reduction of the frequency of visiting entertainment venues during the pandemic was generally the highest among younger individuals. Also, our results indicate the importance of implementing the social distancing policy promptly to limit the spread of the COVID-19 infection. However, it should be noticed that although the policy intervention during the second wave in Japan appeared to increase the awareness of the severity of the pandemic and concerns regarding COVID-19, its direct impact has been largely decreased could only last for a short time. CONCLUSIONS At the time we wrote this paper, in Japan, the number of daily confirmed cases was continuously increasing. Thus, this study provides a timely reference for decision makers about the current situation of policy-induced compliance behaviors. On the one hand, age-dependent disparity requires target mitigation strategies to increase the intention of elderly individuals to adopt mobility restriction behaviors. On the other hand, considering the decreasing impact of self-restriction recommendations, the government should employ policy interventions that limit the resurgence of cases, especially by imposing stronger, stricter social distancing interventions, as they are necessary to promote social distancing behaviors and mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. CLINICALTRIAL None


2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-342
Author(s):  
Laura Hardcastle

Despite medical devices being integral to modern healthcare, New Zealand's regulation of them is decidedly limited, with repeated attempts at reform having been unsuccessful. With the Government now indicating that new therapeutic products legislation may be introduced before the end of the year, the article considers the case for change, including to promote patient safety, before analysing the draft Therapeutic Products Bill previously proposed by the Ministry of Health, and on which any new legislation is expected to be based. It concludes that, while the proposed Bill is a step in the right direction, introducing regulatory oversight where there is currently next to none, there is still significant work to be done. In particular, it identifies a need to clarify whether the regime is indeed to be principles-based and identifies further principles which might be considered for inclusion. It further proposes regulation of cosmetic products which operate similarly to medical devices to promote safety objectives, while finding a need for further analysis around the extent to which New Zealand approval processes should rely on overseas regulators. Finally, it argues that, in an area with such major repercussions for people's health, difficult decisions around how to develop a framework which balances safety with speed to market should not be left almost entirely to an as yet unknown regulator but, rather, more guidance from Parliament is needed.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-172
Author(s):  
David C. Geddis ◽  
Ian C. Appleton

The method of operation of a pilot car seat rental scheme is described. It is unique in that there are sufficient seats to accommodate every newborn infant in the city. Both infant and child seats are available. The pattern of use since the establishment of the scheme in December 1981 is reported. Currently 60% to 70% of parents rent infant seats and 35% to 40% rent child seats. Yearly roadside observations have shown a steady increase in the number of restrained children. In 1981 no infants traveled in approved restraints. In 1984 66% did so. The 1984 results for other age groups were: 6 to 18 months of age, 88%; 18 months to 2½ years of age, 82%; 2½ to 3½ years of age, 66%; 3½ to 4½ years of age, 62%. At this time no legislation applied to children less than 8 years of age. The success of this pilot scheme suggests it should be expanded on a national scale.


Author(s):  
Liam Edwards

The Horotiu Paa Bridge, also known as the Karapiro Gully Bridge is the largest weathering steel bridge in New Zealand. Construction of the bridge was recently completed in November 2015. The bridge is part of the Cambridge section of the Waikato Expressway in New Zealand. The Waikato Expressway is one of the seven state highways, named the Roads of National Significance, identified by the government as essential to New Zealand's economic prosperity. The bridge spans over the Karapiro Gully with a total length of 200m, consisting of four 50m long equal spans and is 24m wide, servicing 4 lanes of traffic.<p> This paper discusses the design development, key design aspects, innovations and technical challenges for the design of the Horotiu Paa Bridge.


1998 ◽  
Vol 162 ◽  
pp. 267-272
Author(s):  
K. Leather ◽  
F. Andrews ◽  
R. Hall ◽  
W. Orchiston

Carter Observatory is the National Observatory of New Zealand and was opened in 1941. For more than ten years the Observatory has maintained an active education program for visiting school groups (see Andrews, 1991), and education now forms one of its four functions. The others relate to astronomical research; public astronomy; and the preservation of New Zealands astronomical heritage (see Orchiston and Dodd, 1995).Since the acquisition of a small Zeiss planetarium and associated visitor centre in 1992, the public astronomy and education programs at the Carter Observatory have witnessed a major expansion (see Orchiston, 1995; Orchiston and Dodd, 1996). A significant contributing factor was the introduction by the government of a new science curriculum into New Zealand schools in 1995 (Science in the New Zealand Curriculum, 1995). “Making Sense of Planet Earth and Beyond” comprises one quarter of this curriculum, and the “Beyond” component is astronomy.


2019 ◽  
pp. 12-20
Author(s):  
I. A. Kostiuk

The problem of accessibility for socially significant goods for the population, among which the most important place occupy medicines in Ukraine, is very acute today. In this regard, the need for specific state interference through regulatory processes becomes relevant. One of the priority directions for increasing the availability of medicines is the Government of Ukraine has recognized reimbursement. The mechanism of full or partial payment of the cost of medicines used to counteract most socially significant diseases. One of these diseases is bronchial asthma (BA), since it affects all age groups of the population, and with ineffective control of the disease, the quality of life of patients is significantly reduced. The aim of the work is to study the range of medicines for the treatment of BA, included in the Government program «Accessible medicines» for the period 2017–2019 years. From April 1, 2017 to July 1, 2019, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine issued five orders, which approved the Register of medicines, the cost of which is subject to reimbursement. In the study analyzed all editions of the Register and found that with each update, the number of trade names (TN) of the medicines increased: for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases – by 56%, diabetes – by 92%, and BA – by 133%. During the 2017–2019 years, the number of international non-proprietary names (INNs) for the treatment of BA also increased: 3 times Beclomethasone, Budesonide 3.5 times, and Salbutamol is almost 2 times. Also, found that 87% of TN are imported and only 13% – domestic. Total of medicines for the treatment of asthma, the value of which is refundable imports 6 countries, the main segment of which is formed by Spain (31%) and Sweden (23%). The analysis of the size and amount of rejection and the amount of the surcharge for packaging allows us to establish that the percentage of medicines without an additional payment is approximately up to 50%. At 75% of the medicines for the treatment of BA, the amount of packing surcharge with each edition of the Register of medicines subject to reimbursement was increased by 2 medicines (Beckhazon-eco 100 mcg/dose and 250 mcg/dose) and 1 medicine (Budesonide-inteli 200 mcg/dose) – decreased 1 medicine (Budesonide-inteli 200 mcg/dose) subject to partial compensation only once. The conducted studies allow us to conclude that there is a need to improve the assortment policy in order to provide the pharmaceutical market with the available and necessary domestic medicines, in accordance with the needs of the population and the standards for the treatment of BA.


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