A language-driven reverse-engineering tool for the analysis of architectural precedents: A Palladian case study

The analysis of precedents represents a significant point of departure for design processing. By applying a language/ design analogy, this research introduces a reverse-engineering tool that helps guide the systematic analysis of architectural precedents. The visual tool consists of four main layers: the morphological, the semantic, the semiotic, and the pragmatic. To test the tool?s applicability, a prominent precedent from the Palladian designs is analyzed as a case study. By developing the tool and demonstrating its applicability for the analysis of the underlying regulatory and formative principles of the Palladian design, this paper aims to contribute to the knowledge of architectural design by introducing an analytical tool for decoding and externalizing the design language. This tool can be added to the existing toolbox of designers, and it can help reveal new insights into the multi-layered compositional language of precedents and their underlying architectonics. The findings related to the tool?s applicability and the compositional language of the Palladian design and its associative meanings and connotations are explained, discussed and illustrated by diagrams.

Urban transport in world metropolises: A comparative analysis and key features of energy consumption

Most theoretical and empirical research on the subject of urban transport energy consumption has addressed the role of urban form and urban spatial structure (primarily population density and degree of centralisation), city size (population and/or area), the level of economic development, transport patterns, and transportation infrastructure. Our analysis encompasses a wide range of socio-economic, spatial, transport and infrastructure indicators, as well as energy efficiency and energy consumption indicators in a sample of 35 world cities, covering the period from 1960 to 2005. Comparative analysis indicates there are significant differences regarding the determinants of urban transport energy consumption, especially between the US and Australian automobile-dependent cities, on the one hand, and the wealthy Asian metropolises, on the other. Despite some recent positive trends (a decline in automobile vehiclekilometres and reduction in urban transport energy consumption), a large number of cities in the developed world still rely predominantly on cars, while sustainable modes of urban transport play an almost negligible role. Due to trends of urbanization, demographic growth and a rise in living standards, the main focus of attention has shifted to metropolises in developing countries. In the long run, the urban form itself is particularly significant, not only because it critically influences transport demand, but also because of its inertness.

The role of aesthetics in building sustainability assessment

This theoretical study examines the role of aesthetics in the assessment frameworks of sustainable architecture. The article is organized into two main sections: a general literature review and the results. The results section encompasses an analysis of the place of aesthetic quality in the understanding of sustainable architecture, and an overview and discussion of the general sustainable building assessment frameworks and the main sustainable buildings certification systems (LEED, BREEAM, WELL, Living Building Challenge), identifying the existing and potential place of cultural sustainability and aesthetics in them. Finally, four architectural theories holding the potential for balancing human and environmental criteria in the assessment of sustainable architecture are presented. These theories are: sustainability aesthetics, genius loci, biophilia, and a regenerative approach. The conclusion was made that these approaches hold the potential for the breakthrough of aesthetic quality and uniqueness of sustainable architecture.

City tourism branding resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

The New Normal Era needs future adaptation, in order to ensure cities still have competitiveness and resilience in the tourism sector during the pandemic. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the implementation of the Smart Tourism Branding concept in Bantul city, Indonesia, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a quantitative study, using the random sampling method to obtain data from 230 respondents through a questionnaire, which was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). During the initial stage, a statistical test on each question?s validity and reliability in the questionnaire was conducted, after which data analysis was carried out. Before performing multiple linear regression analysis, several assumptions were fulfilled, including data normality and multicollinearity. The results showed that the evaluation of smart tourism branding provides an overview of people?s understanding and satisfaction level with regard to tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Jelajah Bantul application, which is a smart tourism branding instrument, supports Bantul City?s ability to compete in attracting tourists and investment globally. In addition, the city?s tourism management and branding identity can be facilitated and strengthened when the synergy strategy of the community and city stakeholders is appropriately regulated.

Changing socio-spatialities in Kadiköy, Istanbul: A case study

This study aims to reveal the relationship between the social structure and urban pattern in a specified urban area by means of the socio-spatial dialectic. To understand the circumstances behind this dichotomy, analyses were conducted on two intertwined subjects - social structure and morphology - as part of a case study of the historical core of the Kad?k?y district in Istanbul, Turkey. Based on the findings, some inferences, depending on the predefined social and morphological components, are made about changing socio-spatialities in the given place by means of time-spacesociety relations. The results show that each socio-cultural group brought their own culture and adapted their physical environment according to their basic needs, and that culture has a restrictive and explanatory effect on the formation of space. In addition, population growth and the adaptive capacity of society to external forces demanding change in the urban space also turn out to unavoidably affect the development scheme of the morphological character of the area.

Impact of overtourism on urban life

The unrestrained and constant inflow of tourists to some cities can provoke the discomfort of residents. The term ?overtourism? describes a condition in which the limits are exceeded to the point that regular everyday urban life suffers. The quantity of visitors and resulting crowds create burdens on the functioning of some city services, and they simultaneously result in a deterioration in the quality of sightseeing. This paper gives a review of the academic literature concerning this issue, especially studies concentrating on cruising and alternative short-term renting. Major complaints raised by locals on the negative impact of tourism are not only about overcrowding, but also include the serious social and economic questions of the endangerment of rights. In order to regulate and mitigate conflicts, preserve identity and allow decent urban life in all its aspects, city governments are forced to introduce some limitations and rules in the sphere of tourism, and also with regard to the real-estate market and urban planning. The level of measures and policies required depend on the type of problem, size of the city and dispersion of the attractions.

Spatial configuration of traditional houses and apartment unit plans in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: A comparative study

The study aims to investigate the effects of the spatial configuration of traditional Vietnamese houses on the design of apartment buildings in Ho Chi Minh (HCM) City, Vietnam. To achieve the objective, the following approaches were implemented. Firstly, the transformation of the socio-economic structure in HCM City, which is a primary factor affecting the development of apartment buildings was examined. Secondly, the well-known space syntax method for analyzing the spatial structure plan was outlined. Thirdly, a survey of traditional houses and apartment buildings from 1960 to 2010 was conducted. Among the various traditional house styles, the Hue traditional garden house, which has primary effects on the modern housing design in HCM City, was selected as a representative sample to compare with apartment units. Lastly, the space syntax method was employed to analyze the spatial structure of the sample of traditional houses and apartment units. The effects of the Hue traditional house?s spatial configuration on apartment buildings were analyzed. The result shows that the spatial configuration of modern apartment buildings and traditional houses have similar characteristics, including having an adaptable natural environment, and they both reflect Vietnamese culture and society. The findings can be applied when predicting development trends for the unit plans of modern apartments in HCM City, Vietnam.

The architectural experience of the Kasbah of Algiers: Insights from le Corbusier’s experience and neuroarchitecture

This paper contributes to a deepening of the knowledge about how architectural experience can be described in neuro-phenomenological terms, through the development of a cognitive-phenomenological approach to examining architectural experience through text-based analysis. It aims to develop an assessment tool to produce knowledge about one?s personal experience and perception of the built environment by exploring the impact of its spatial properties on an individual, taking as a case study Le Corbusier?s experience of the Kasbah of Algiers. The results demonstrate that this city has the power to stir emotional engagement that arises from: a high cognitive-affective reaction towards the dynamic interactions between the curved contours of its streets; the harmony of its colours; the magnitude and vastness generated by its panoramic views towards the sea; its proportions in relation to the dimensions of the human body in different postures; the contrasts of the height, light, dimensions and ambiances; and the spatial navigation that favours the act of walking to discover the Kasbah and unveil its mysteries. These properties exist as complex networks of interconnected physical and atmospheric elements, and they involve integrated perception under the influence of previous knowledge, beliefs and aspirations to shape Le Corbusier?s architectural experience of the Kasbah.

Paths of the urban regeneration process in Central and Eastern Europe after EU enlargement - Poland and Bulgaria as comparative case studies

The enlargement of the EU towards Central-Eastern Europe in the years 2004 and 2007 and the related EU funds provided new opportunities and created new challenges to both big metropolitan cities and smaller settlements. One of the particularly important challenges was to define appropriate national and local policies for the urban regeneration of neglected areas, which were abundant in this part of Europe. The objective of the paper is to analyze and evaluate actions taken in Bulgaria and Poland at the national and local level in the field of urban regeneration after the countries? accession to the EU. The paper compares the general national and local planning approaches and capacity building for urban regeneration in the context of regulative and procedural issues. The local case studies represent two types of urban areas under regeneration: the metropolitan core cities Pozna? and Sofia and medium-sized non-core towns of Pi?a and Gabrovo. The results are in the form of a concurrent evaluation of both the achievements and negative effects resulting from the national and local processes in the envisaged and the recently implemented activities with regard to the regeneration of deprived urban neighborhoods and areas.

Achieving use value of a living space

Use value is one of the key terms related to architectural functionality. The term itself denotes the level of usefulness of a living space for its user, i.e., to what extent the space can meet specific human needs. The paper analyzes the relations between characteristic human needs and the possibilities for their fulfillment in a living space. Various studies examining different aspects of use value have often identified it with the quality of a living space. This is why one of the main aims of this paper is to reexamine the thesis claiming that use value is just one part which defines the quality of a living space and that these two terms are not equivalents. On the other hand, the paper presents a systematization of cause-and-effect relations between human needs and the basic principles and parameters for achieving use value within a living space. Although the term has not lost its importance since it was first used, the criteria for achieving a higher level of use value of a living space have not been sufficiently researched. Along with a comparative analysis of the terms value, use value and the quality of a living space, as well as an examination of the characteristic human needs present in each living space and ways of meeting them, the key contribution of the paper lies in defining the principles for achieving use value.