An RL-Based Approach for IEQ Optimization in Reorganizing Interior Spaces for Home-Working

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) is a very important aspect in the design of spaces. It depends on fundamental requirements, and it aims to improve living quality and ensure high well-being for the occupants. Poor IEQ has significant health consequences as people spend a considerable portion of their time indoors. The restrictions imposed by the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have worsened this situation by requiring people to spend more time at home and adopt home-working as a primary work model. Such a situation requires individuals to reconfigure their interior home spaces for adapting to new emerging needs. This paper proposes an approach based on reinforcement learning to support the rearrangement of indoor spaces by maximizing the indoor environmental quality index in terms of thermal, acoustic and visual comfort in the new furniture layout scheme.

The effect of opening windows on the airflow distribution inside naturally ventilated residential bedrooms with ceiling fans

Ceiling fans are the most common equipment in any household with electricity to induce a higher air movement since the potential of natural ventilation is limited. However, the higher airflow region is generally limited to the zone below the fan. The non-uniform distribution of airflow is also affected by the furniture layout and airflow from window openings. This study attempts to evaluate the effect of the different window-opening patterns on the airflow inside naturally ventilated bedrooms, having a ceiling fan for air movement with numerical simulations and on-site measurements. The airflow pattern created by a ceiling fan in a room with furniture is modelled and simulated with ANSYS Fluent 2019 R3. The results were validated with on-site measurements and compared with the literature. The air velocity was measured in bedrooms of three different sizes. It was observed that the opening of windows created a better distribution of air irrespective of room size. The non-uniformity of the air velocity is reduced from 76% to 39% with the opening of windows in the larger-sized room. The reduction in non-uniformity is influenced by the location of windows also. The practice of opening windows along with the induced air movement by ceiling fans results in a better distribution of air in the space. Practical application: People tend to depend mainly on ceiling fans even if windows are open in naturally ventilated rooms. A study of patterns of non-uniform distribution of airflow can help designers to improve comfort conditions by specifying the number and location of fans and windows while designing room furniture layout. This aids the building services engineers to provide thermal comfort without always depending on alternative active ventilation strategies.

Reading Spaces

This paper will explore briefly what research tells us about library design and, more specifically, the design of reading spaces for the provision of pleasure reading in school libraries. Acoustics, lighting and temperature levels, amongst other factors, all have an impact upon the learning experience that takes place in any school space. How we approach the creation of library reading spaces will be discussed with a particular focus on student views and opinions. Furniture, layout, colour, display and ambience will all be considered in light of how they affect comfort and learning opportunities. A number of illustrative examples of school library reading spaces and the views of students will be shared with the audience during the formal presentation.

Memanfaatkan Potensi dan Keindahan Bangunan Kolonial melalui Alih Fungsi Bangunan Studi Kasus: Heritage the Factory Outlet di Jl Riau Bandung

ABSTRAKBangunan peninggalan kolonial merupakan warisan budaya yang saat ini banyak dialih fungsikan terutama untuk fungsi komersial. Bangunan ini mempunyai gaya arsitektur yang unik dan beradaptasi terhadap iklim tropis dengan penerapan bukaan lebar, plafond tinggi dan atap bersudut tajam. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengeksplorasi bagaimana memanfaatkan potensi bangunan peninggalan kolonial. Dengan melakukan observasi diperoleh data bahwa keindahan gaya arsitektur menjadi daya tarik pengunjung dan dengan tata letak furniture yang tepat akan diperoleh kenyamanan termal dan pencahayaan alami yang optimal. Heritage the Factory Outlet dipilih sebagai kasus studi karena alih fungsi terbilang sukses, tidak menghilangkan keaslian gaya arsitekturnya bahkan menjadikannya daya tarik tersendiri. Bangunan tambahan di bangun tidak lebih menonjol dari bangunan utama sehingga keberhasilan alih fungsi ini diharapkan dapat diterapkan pada bangunan cagar budaya lainnya. Diperlukan dukungan Pemerintah Daerah dalam pengawasan pelaksanaan perubahan agar tidak melanggar aturan konservasi dan menindak tegas segala bentuk pelanggaran yang dapat merusak bangunan sebagai warisan budaya.Kata kunci: bangunan peninggalan kolonial, alih fungsi, adaptasi gaya arsitektur, bangunan cagar budaya, adaptive reuseABSTRACTColonial heritage buildings are cultural heritages that nowadays many of them are undergoing functional shift, mainly into commercial function. These buildings have an architectural style that adapt to tropical climate by applying wide openings, high ceilings with sharp angeled roof. This research goal is to explore how to benefit the potential of colonial heritage buildings. Observation results showed that beauty of the architectural style is the attraction for visitors together with the right furniture layout, thermal comfort and optimal natural lighting. “Heritage” Factory Outlet was selected as a case study because of the function shift was successful, does not eliminate the beauty of the architectural style and in fact it becomes its unique attraction. The additional building does not become more prominent of the main building so that the succes of function shift is expected to be applied to other cultural heritage building. Local Government support is required in monitoring the implementation of changes that do not violate the rules of conservation and take firm action against any violation that may damage the building as a cultural heritage.Keywords: Colonial heritage building, building function shift, architecture style addaptation, cultural heritage building, adaptive reuse

Mapping the Motion Space of Children in Autism Treatment Center of Malang City with TEACCH Approach (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children)

The Autism Treatment Center in Malang City applies structured teaching-learning methods, namely the TEACCH approach (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children) with four essential components: physical structure, schedule, work system, and visual structure. The four components are interrelated with each other so that the goal of helping the development of autistic children can be achieved. The physical structure is the first step to encourage the interest of autistic children. An excellent physical arrangement of space can minimize the tantrum effect of autistic children. Thus, this paper aims to research the space for autistic children with the TEACCH approach. This study used behavioral mapping in the form of person-centered mapping, place centered mapping, and physical trace that aims to determine the pattern of activity, furniture layout, and trace activities of autistic children during therapy activities. The results show the motion space mapping of autistic children.