Like the hard surfaces of streets and sidewalks in an urban environment, the vertical and horizontal surface area on the outside of urban buildings contributes to the constant heating of large cities around the world....Like the hard surfaces of streets and sidewalks in an urban environment, the vertical and horizontal surface area on the outside of urban buildings contributes to the constant heating of large cities around the world. However, little is done to design this surface to benefit the public sphere. Instead, the facade of a building performs either as a component that focuses only on the quality of comfort for interior occupants, while ignoring effects on the exterior of the building, or as an identifiable aesthetic for the building＇s owners, This essay proposes the rethinking of the building facade as a steward of outdoor pedestrian welfare, and the conception of public health as an added function of the building envelope- a concept that may fall into the jurisdiction of public works. If the huge total surface area of a city＇s buildings is thought of as part of the city＇s infrastructure, then its public contribution may not only make outdoor areas comfortable, clean, and enjoyable, but also help to alleviate the bigger problem of rising temperatures in cities.展开更多
The paper examines the situation and causes of recent big earthquake and tsunami disasters especially in the case of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, and analyzes the damage to extract lessons on safety of bui...The paper examines the situation and causes of recent big earthquake and tsunami disasters especially in the case of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, and analyzes the damage to extract lessons on safety of buildings and recovery of cities from the view point of building regulations such as the Article 39 of the Building Standard Law. In addition, the Article 8 of the Ordinance of City Planning Law resulted in not so effective against tsunami in March 2011. Control mechanisms of building construction should be integrated into socio-economic, institutional, technical and other policy tools. In order to mitigate earthquake risk, all stages of building construction, from location, planning and construction to maintenance are important. Awareness creation is instrumental for building culture of safety and demands for intervention in disaster mitigation. The demands ultimately help in creating conducive environment for policy intervention, in realizing institutional mechanism of building code enforcement and land use control for the municipal authorities and in creating demand for competent professionals.展开更多
As one type of the highly sought after housing facilities in Indonesia, Kosts have formed unique heterogeneous living environment while also been a part of fast growing urban settlement developments in Indonesia＇s ca...As one type of the highly sought after housing facilities in Indonesia, Kosts have formed unique heterogeneous living environment while also been a part of fast growing urban settlement developments in Indonesia＇s capital, Jakarta. This paper investigates the nature and operation of Kost private rental housing developed with various conditions and arrangements, as well as its position among other dwelling types, based on on-site investigations, literature reviews and statistical analyses. It is necessary to understand the development of Kost as it shows potentials to overcome the lack of affordable and adequate housing in the country. An accurate checking process during the application of building permit may early identify Kosts. Undefined standard of operation and arrangement may hinder improvement opportunities to its quality of services. Efforts to educate the community and easy access to related regulations are necessary for improvement and compliance awareness. Moreover, increased collaborative design and public education may improve the knowledge of self-builders on building design, planning and construction. Associations of self-organized housing and platforms offering affordable design services that meet the guidelines and standards are promising ootions.展开更多
The paper analyzes different turbine design suitable for the urban environment. The author discusses various options for setting up wind turbines in relation to the building. In order to gain insight into the real ind...The paper analyzes different turbine design suitable for the urban environment. The author discusses various options for setting up wind turbines in relation to the building. In order to gain insight into the real indicators, considered are actual examples of wind turbines mounted on buildings, sports facilities, roads, etc. However, these turbines have relatively low efficiency and a long payback period, and the problem may be the noise they produce. Therefore, the wind turbines installed in buildings are still more a matter of prestige of individual investors and architects than profitable investment.展开更多
文摘Like the hard surfaces of streets and sidewalks in an urban environment, the vertical and horizontal surface area on the outside of urban buildings contributes to the constant heating of large cities around the world. However, little is done to design this surface to benefit the public sphere. Instead, the facade of a building performs either as a component that focuses only on the quality of comfort for interior occupants, while ignoring effects on the exterior of the building, or as an identifiable aesthetic for the building＇s owners, This essay proposes the rethinking of the building facade as a steward of outdoor pedestrian welfare, and the conception of public health as an added function of the building envelope- a concept that may fall into the jurisdiction of public works. If the huge total surface area of a city＇s buildings is thought of as part of the city＇s infrastructure, then its public contribution may not only make outdoor areas comfortable, clean, and enjoyable, but also help to alleviate the bigger problem of rising temperatures in cities.
文摘The paper examines the situation and causes of recent big earthquake and tsunami disasters especially in the case of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, and analyzes the damage to extract lessons on safety of buildings and recovery of cities from the view point of building regulations such as the Article 39 of the Building Standard Law. In addition, the Article 8 of the Ordinance of City Planning Law resulted in not so effective against tsunami in March 2011. Control mechanisms of building construction should be integrated into socio-economic, institutional, technical and other policy tools. In order to mitigate earthquake risk, all stages of building construction, from location, planning and construction to maintenance are important. Awareness creation is instrumental for building culture of safety and demands for intervention in disaster mitigation. The demands ultimately help in creating conducive environment for policy intervention, in realizing institutional mechanism of building code enforcement and land use control for the municipal authorities and in creating demand for competent professionals.
文摘As one type of the highly sought after housing facilities in Indonesia, Kosts have formed unique heterogeneous living environment while also been a part of fast growing urban settlement developments in Indonesia＇s capital, Jakarta. This paper investigates the nature and operation of Kost private rental housing developed with various conditions and arrangements, as well as its position among other dwelling types, based on on-site investigations, literature reviews and statistical analyses. It is necessary to understand the development of Kost as it shows potentials to overcome the lack of affordable and adequate housing in the country. An accurate checking process during the application of building permit may early identify Kosts. Undefined standard of operation and arrangement may hinder improvement opportunities to its quality of services. Efforts to educate the community and easy access to related regulations are necessary for improvement and compliance awareness. Moreover, increased collaborative design and public education may improve the knowledge of self-builders on building design, planning and construction. Associations of self-organized housing and platforms offering affordable design services that meet the guidelines and standards are promising ootions.
文摘The paper analyzes different turbine design suitable for the urban environment. The author discusses various options for setting up wind turbines in relation to the building. In order to gain insight into the real indicators, considered are actual examples of wind turbines mounted on buildings, sports facilities, roads, etc. However, these turbines have relatively low efficiency and a long payback period, and the problem may be the noise they produce. Therefore, the wind turbines installed in buildings are still more a matter of prestige of individual investors and architects than profitable investment.
