Connected Histories of the BBC: Opening up the BBC Oral History Archive to the Digital Domain

This article describes the computational and data-related challenges of the “Connected Histories of the BBC” project, an interdisciplinary project aiming to bring into the public realm some of the hidden treasures of the BBC's own Oral History Archive through the creation of an openly accessible, fully searchable and interconnected digital catalogue of this archive. This project stands as an interesting case study on the tensions between “computational” and “archival”, by critically designing and employing computational approaches for an historical, complex Oral History collection of scattered analogue records of various forms with an archival pre-history. From data acquisition, modeling, structuring and enhancement, metadata, data analysis procedures, to web design and legal issues, this paper discusses the various computational challenges, processes and decisions made during this project, while showcasing the principles of (re)usability, accessibility, and collaboration throughout its course.

Zachránce z české obce Kupičov na Volyni – k životním osudům evangelického duchovního Jana Jelínka

The purpose of this text is to map out the vicissitudes in the life of the Evangelical clergyman Jan Jelínek on the basis of the sources available, in a bid to foster awareness of this prominent personage in the public realm and preserve his memory for future generations. Jan Jelínek was born in 1912 in Zelov (present-day Poland) to Czech exiles. Initially he worked as an accountant in the Jan Sláma company in Zelov, later graduating from the Missionary School in Olomouc and becoming a preacher. In the years 1937 – 1944 he served as preacher in the Czech village of Kupičov in Volhynia. During World War II he helped the persecuted, hiding Jews from the Germans, and Ukrainians and Poles from Bandera’s followers. In 1944 he and his wife joined the First Czechoslovak Army Corps in the USSR. In January 1958 he was arrested by the StB (the secret police of the Communist Czechoslovak state), and following three months of detention on remand, was sentenced to two years in prison for sedition and opposition to the establishment of the JZD (a network of Czech collective farms). He was released in 1960. Until his retirement in 1972, he worked as a labourer in the Paints and Varnishes company. Jan Jelínek died in Prague in 2009. On 28 October 2019 president Miloš Zeman posthumously decorated him with the Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, Class I.

Evolution in Approach to Colour in Tall Buildings’ Architecture on the Isle of Dogs, London, UK

Architects’ approach towards colour in architectural design evolved radically in the recent 50 years, and ranges from a modernist aversion to a vernacular appreciation. These changes were linked to the development of culture, technology and scientific knowledge in different areas connected to human functioning. The authors have examined evolution in design of tall buildings in the Isle of Dogs in London (UK) since the 1980s. The area experienced major growth spurs in the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, resulting in the greatest concentration of tall buildings in London today. The Island has been a playground for architects who have developed a range of approaches to the design of towers. The authors observed the evolution of architectural style, analyzed application of colour and made connections between scale, beauty and human behaviour. They concluded that colour in tall buildings’ architecture on the Isle of Dogs is predominantly used to disguise their massing. Colour detail facilitates the domestic feel of a public realm. Therefore, alongside decorative quality, and if considerately applied, colour may positively influence the quality of living and working environments.

Position Statement on Religion and Spirituality in Psychiatry: Seven Recommendations

Background: in December 2015 the Executive Committee of the World Psychiatric Association approved a Position Statement on religion, spirituality in psychiatry. Since then, the World Psychiatric Association Section of Religion, Spirituality and Psychiatry has committed to publicizing the Position Statement worldwide. Aim: to bring this statement, especially the seven recommendations, to the attention of the international psychiatric community, in particular the Russian psychiatric community. Method: a narrative review and the seven recommendations in the Position Statement are explained, thus demonstrating its importance. Conclusion: religion and spirituality in psychiatry are part of daily psychiatric practice, scientific research, residency training and continuous medical education, and the political and public realm. With the publication of the Position Statement, the Executive Committee of the World Psychiatric Association has made a major accomplishment that benefits psychiatry around the world.

Humanising Te Papa: Transforming what Te Papa does to the public life of the city

<p>When a large public building is constructed within any landscape it is often found to create adverse affects on the public life surrounding it. This investigation focuses on Te Papa in Wellington, New Zealand. It employs design strategies that emerge from site observation, analysis and exploration of design and behaviour literature. Site observations are undertaken at various scales to determine the behaviours that occur in and around the site, and analysis of this provides an understanding of why such actions can happen and why others cannot. Exploration of the literature is employed to understand past approaches to this design problem and to inform the analysis process. Design testing allows ideas to be played out in hypothetical scenarios and the outcomes of which will be compared to past approaches. There is a strong focus on pedestrian movement as a catalyst of public life, in relation to the movement itself and the interactions people have with the surrounding environment when influenced by the movement flow. The overall goal of this thesis is to observe and analyse a large building in the public realm that, although is surrounded by movement, limits engagement in ways that results in a decrease of public life. The research leads to the exploration of how flows can be coordinated to generate eddies of interaction and pause and ways to activate and open up particular edges of this building in order to create new opportunities for the public to engage with the landscape. It finally attempts to find ways to not only create new public life, but also intensify the public life in this challenging situation.</p>

Humanising Te Papa: Transforming what Te Papa does to the public life of the city

<p>When a large public building is constructed within any landscape it is often found to create adverse affects on the public life surrounding it. This investigation focuses on Te Papa in Wellington, New Zealand. It employs design strategies that emerge from site observation, analysis and exploration of design and behaviour literature. Site observations are undertaken at various scales to determine the behaviours that occur in and around the site, and analysis of this provides an understanding of why such actions can happen and why others cannot. Exploration of the literature is employed to understand past approaches to this design problem and to inform the analysis process. Design testing allows ideas to be played out in hypothetical scenarios and the outcomes of which will be compared to past approaches. There is a strong focus on pedestrian movement as a catalyst of public life, in relation to the movement itself and the interactions people have with the surrounding environment when influenced by the movement flow. The overall goal of this thesis is to observe and analyse a large building in the public realm that, although is surrounded by movement, limits engagement in ways that results in a decrease of public life. The research leads to the exploration of how flows can be coordinated to generate eddies of interaction and pause and ways to activate and open up particular edges of this building in order to create new opportunities for the public to engage with the landscape. It finally attempts to find ways to not only create new public life, but also intensify the public life in this challenging situation.</p>

Patterns of Consolidation

<p>This thesis uses design based research to meet the challenge of urban densification. It proposes an approach for higher density housing development that enhances livability, achieves compactness and responds to a city’s unique landscape. To accommodate an increasing amount of people within the city, strategies and experimentation into the density of built form contributing to the urban fabric must be explored. The design based research addresses how improvements can be made upon an existing site through the reconfiguration of built form with an analysis into density, topography, existing natural ecologies and the key components fundamental to a successful urban and public realm.</p>

Patterns of Consolidation

<p>This thesis uses design based research to meet the challenge of urban densification. It proposes an approach for higher density housing development that enhances livability, achieves compactness and responds to a city’s unique landscape. To accommodate an increasing amount of people within the city, strategies and experimentation into the density of built form contributing to the urban fabric must be explored. The design based research addresses how improvements can be made upon an existing site through the reconfiguration of built form with an analysis into density, topography, existing natural ecologies and the key components fundamental to a successful urban and public realm.</p>

Suburban to Urban: Wellington High Density Family Housing

<p>‘Suburban to Urban’ explores a family-focused high-density residential model as an inner-city alternative to the suburban detached home. The research responds to two key criteria; first how to meet the needs and desires of families in an inner city high-density environment, second the spatial qualities that encourage a sense of community in a high-density mixed demographic environment to enable the creation of a positive public realm. Located in Te Aro, Wellington, this thesis identifies through research a criterion of qualities intrinsic to suburban living in New Zealand and defines a methodology that enables the translation of this criterion into the spatial design of a family-focused high-density development in Wellington’s inner city.</p>