Development of a “Space-Saving Model” for a One-Family Dwelling Case Study of Japanese Architecture with Space Limitations

The rapid globalization of building standards and codes in regards of contemporary housing and the growth of populations during this century demands an immediate response from designers in terms of space rationalizing to fulfill the forthcoming lack of architectural habitat on earth. The differences in culture imply a difference in the way of living, and the way of living indicates a contrast in the way of designing houses. A western house does not need an extra room covered with tatami mats for relaxation as a modern Japanese home would most likely do, as a separate living-like space. Organizations, among others, like CABO (Council of American Building Officials) and, in our specific case study, BCJ (Building Center of Japan) together with BRI (Building Research Institute) try to overcome these differences to provide better housing conditions to the world through the formulation of global designing and building standards. International publications like UBC (Uniform Building Code), IBC (International Building Code), OTFDC (One and Two Family Dwelling Code) and BSLJ (Building Standard Law of Japan) have also played an important role to globalize safety and design codes to better understand global housing under normal conditions. However, space limitations and concentration of human masses in mega cities result in a crucial new consideration: the urgent need of investigating the possibilities of rationally living within less space. Minimums provided by most codes do not take into account the space issue and overpopulation of large cities. Providing with some design recommendations for one-family dwellings has been the departure point and main motivation to carry out this case study based on actual buildings with the lack of space conditioning in a country where these conditions turn into reality.

A space-saving steering method for underwater gliders in lake monitoring

An increasing number of underwater gliders have been applied to lake monitoring. Lakes have a limited vertical space. Therefore, good space-saving capacity is required for underwater gliders to enlarge the spacing between monitoring waypoints. This paper presents a space-saving steering method under a small pitch angle （SPA） for appearance-fixed underwater gliders. Steering under an SPA increases the steering angle in per unit vertical space. An amended hydrodynamic model for both small and large attack angles is presented to help analyze the steering process. Analysis is conducted to find the optimal parameters of net buoyancy and roll angle for steering under an SPA. A lake trial with a prototype tiny underwater glider （TUG） is conducted to inspect the applicability of the presented model. The trial results show that steering under an SPA saves vertical space, unlike that under a large pitch angle. Simulation results of steering are consistent with the trial results. In addition, multiple-waypoint trial shows that monitoring with steering under an SPA covers a larger horizontal displacement than that without steering.

Venetian Buildings Are“of”and Not“on”the Lagoon

This paper demonstrates that Venetian architecture was the result of specifically conceived structural mechanics and construction techniques,which allowed structural design to take full advantage of materials.Venice witnessed the creation of “structural art” that drastically reduced the incidences of failure caused by extremely soft soils and aggressive environment,which extended the operating horizons of masonry and timber structural materials to the extent that very bold structures were obtained also before the preeminent materials of modern structures.While normal masonry constructions can be governed by Euclidean geometry,Venetian buildings are far more complex and elusive in form.Venice and its architecture can be interpreted and comprehended only in the remit of structural engineering,which played a central role in enabling the construction of the city.The fundamental determinants of Venetian building morphology—the underlying logic of form in architecture,entailed a tectonic form midway between the masonry construction and the skeletal structure.