Challenge to Restore the Heritage Buildings Damaged by the 2011 Tsunami Attacks, Kesennuma, Japan

A large number of towns along the Sanriku coastal line were swept away by tsunami attacks on March 11,2011. Although some heritage buildings survived, the damage condition was too severe to carry on repair and restore them to the owners. As the municipal cultural heritage division and local cultural society in Kesennuma City were looking for possibility to save these damaged heritage buildings, the author gave them full assistance. To apply for fund for the repair and restoration work to related foundations, the author made an investigation of the damage conditions, prepared measured drawings, fundamental restoration plans and cost estimates. Domestic and international foundations granted funds to our projects for three years in May 2012, and we formed a restoration body to take responsibility of repair and restoration work. But soon, we were faced with several difficulties. The first is that we had to wait for a long time until the authority fixed the town redevelopment plan, meeting the National Guideline of Tsunami-Free Redevelopment. The second is that the building cost continued to increase during rapid-development periods. Although the author expected to complete the whole work within three years, the progress is really slow, and has not amounted to a quarter.

Evolution of Damage on Historical Heritage Buildings in Presence of Catastrophic Events and Aggressive Natural Phenomena

The feasibility analysis of projects for the preservation of the historical heritage buildings is an important problem concerning the evaluation of ＂the total cost of intervention＂, which includes all the future damage costs. The total cost of intervention represents a suitable measure of the expected deterioration risk and its evolution obviously depends on the damage process which buildings are subjected to. That damage phenomena affecting masonry buildings pleased into an aggressive environment are suitably modelled by renewal processes： this happens both in the case of catastrophic events, or in the case of the so-called ＂natural aging＂, in which damage comes off gradually in time. In the hypothesis ofa Markovian renewal process （Mrp） describing the damage process, the total cost of all the future damage is evaluated taking into account both the damage aspects： damages due to catastrophic aspects and damages due to aggressive environment, supposing different maintenance and/or rehabilitation scenarios. A semi-Markov process （s-Mp） is defined to model the damage rehabilitation history of buildings in presence of seismic events, natural ageing and rehabilitation strategies. The expected rewards connected to the process are defined; they represent a significant measure of the risk.

Green retrofitting of heritage buildings based on(3Ts)framework:An applied case study

Diverse heritage architecture characterizes Port Said in Egypt,reflecting European and Arab influences.Suez Canal heritage villas comprise 25%of the total listed heritage buildings in the city.Thus,it is important to retrofit them,aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).By reviewing the previous literature related to the green retrofitting of heritage buildings,the(3Ts)framework can be considered a holistic framework that covers the latest trends due to its three components:targets,tools,and tasks,which help the success of the process through a holistic vision of supporting building information modeling(BIM)technologies and organizing stakeholders’involvement.This paper aims to apply the(3Ts)framework to Suez Canal heritage villas in Port Said,Egypt.The applied study is based on how stakeholders perceive their input and decision-making,measuring the climate parameters,proposing several green retrofits,and integrating them into green scenarios.Evaluation of scenarios is conducted by utilizing the Design Builder simulation software.Additionally,the Skelion plugin calculates the photovoltaic system’s(PVs)energy generation.The results indicated that the total energy savings could reach approximately 12%e74%and nearly 10%e73%CO₂emissions reduction without affecting heritage values.

Performance evaluation of operational energy use in refurbishment, reuse, and conservation of heritage buildings for optimum sustainability

The operational phase of a building project has increasingly gained importance with their energy performance becoming valuable and determining their operational excellence. In most heritage building projects （HBPs）, the operational energy use aspects are less considered, and a systematic way of analyzing their energy performance following project delivery is often lacking, The aim of this study is to evaluate the operational performance of refurbishment and reuse of UK listed church projects. The objective is to assess the operational energy use with a view to optimizing their sustafnabie performance. The methodology includes eight selected case study buildings refurbished and converted for multipurpose use. The case study approach provided qualitative insights into how the study contributes to a more structured requirements for energy management in HBPs with specific attention to energy-efficient building operations. The findings show the need to focus on fundamental areas of operational management （i.e. by developing and implementing more focused policy on operational energy performance of heritage buildings） to minimize the energy required to operate them. The challenges of implementing changes in operational energy performance improvement of heritage buildings are addressed in the form of recommendations that could Lead to real results. The study concludes that leveraging these areas requires commitment from all heritage building stakeholders because they all have substantial roles in harmonizing the requirement for the project＇s sustainability and not just the building operators. Meanwhile, baseline project planning, periodic updating, monitoring, and managing the energy use pattern are suggested as measures that could greatly facilitate better energy performance to optimizing their sustainable reuse compared with the traditional approach of trying to improve their thermal performance.

Enhancing the sustainability and energy conservation in heritage buildings:The case of Nottingham Playhouse

Today,there is a growing interest in developing energy efficient buildings since it is estimated that buildings account for about 40%of the total primary energy consumption in the world.In relation to existing buildings,energy efficiency retrofits have become an important opportunity to upgrade the energy performance of commercial,public and residential buildings that may reduce the energy consumption,demand and cost.In this paper we cover the energy efficiency deep retrofit process that has been carried out for Nottingham Playhouse theatre building for the aim of enhancing its environmental performance and analysing the energy efficiency gained after implementing certain proposed modifications.It is a nationally protected historic building,listed as Grade II*on The National Heritage List for England(NHLE).The building has had insulation enhancement,doors modifications,solar energy installations,energy-saving lights,in addition to improved heating and air conditioning system.The paper presents a novel methodology;and its results indicate significant improvements in the building’s energy performance which is demonstrated using infrared thermographic images and data logger sensors where significant energy savings to the building’s thermal performance are obtained.The energy saving measures have been completed while maintaining the heritage building’s general appearance and architectural features,which have received a Commendation Certificate from The Nottingham Civic Society for this achievement.

Analysing user daylight preferences in heritage buildings using virtual reality

Technology has always been creating effective ways to support human decisions.Immersive virtual reality(IVR)has emerged to engage users in a simulated world,and this has gained the interest of a wide variety of users in the heritage industry.A historical case study built in the early 19th century is considered for an adaptive reuse exhibition.The palace is located in Cairo,Egypt,and named after Prince Omar Tosson.The current palace state incorporates a smashed top-lit zone,which is being studied and analyzed for daylighting adequacy.Three simulated distinct optimum skylight configurations are suggested for the redesign where the selection should not be based solely on simulation data,but should consider real-user preferences.Most daylight design criteria are previously based on simulation data that do not necessarily indicate the users'preferences.But utilizing user interactive tools such as IVR to test daylight redesign options,a whole new dimension is provided.In this study,the VR users’survey data is statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences(SPSS),where results revealed that the assessment attributes succeeded in reflecting the users'preferences;which,motivated designers to consider potential users’daylight preferences in reused spaces.The paper highlights the most significant emotional attributes that provide cost-effective and reliable information concerned with the performance of daylight in IVR before design implementation.This study compares and analyzes the effect of three skylight designs(Cases A,B&C)on the users'perception before design implementation using(IVR)post-survey.Forty-eight participants have contributed to the study,providing their feedback on six attributes namely:Pleasant,Contrasting,Brightness,Uniform Distribution,Visual Comfort,and Satisfaction.Those attributes are evaluated for the three cases in space using five scale rating values to reveal that the"Pleasant"attribute is most reliable in the study to reflect the users'preferences for design Case B.

Achieving the Visual Perception and Gestalt Psychology in Sultan Hassan Mosque Building

The gestalt principles are perception and what is visually communicated by objects. These principles describe the visual language within which we work. Understanding how a designer realizes things visually will help designers communicate better. Many designers use Gestalt principles to have a structure visual stimulus, so as to create interfaces that are easy for users to understand. Because the understanding of visual perception is a critical item in any designer’s toolkit. Islamic heritage buildings also contain many architectural values, especially the Sultan Hassan Mosque in Cairo. Through this paper, we will verify the use of gestalt principles of visual perception in the building design. Because the psychological organization of the design, achieves the understanding and awareness of the current relationships between the elements, depending on the extent of regularity, accuracy, and consistency of the design elements. This makes us recognize the esthetic values of Sultan Hassan’s building and mosque. The visual delight we get from architecture begins with how we perceive it. So, in order to understand how visual delight arises, we must first understand how we perceive and interpret visual stimuli. Especially since the principles of gestalt confirm that the human brain tends to make tricks and illusions. Therefore, we found the mosque designer had exploited this fact during the design process, to exclude any possibility of the resulting misunderstanding. The designer achieved the psychological preparation of the visitor by using some principles of visual perception of the Gestalt theory, such as growth, continuity, and hierarchy.

Reconstruction of the lost colonial architecture in the context of heritage tourism:Dutch Trading Post in Taiwan,China

To strengthen brand identity,enrich tourist experiences,and promote heritage education,Taijiang National Park proposed to reconstruct Taiwan,China’s Dutch Trading Post in a different location from where it was initially erected in the 17th century.This paper is a case study of the reconstruction proposal for a lost colonial architectural complex in the context of heritage tourism.It discusses the practical and academic issues of rebuilding long-lost colonial heritage sites.The author provided a first-hand account of the technical and practical reasoning for reconstructing a bygone complex erected by Dutch settlers.Historical development phases of the Dutch Trading Post of Taiwan,China were first introduced,and then a reconstruction strategy was proposed to resolve conflicts with legal constraints.Additionally,a site selection process using GIS,a conceptually driven plan for reconstruction,and a 3D simulation were provided.Three specific issues in heritage rebuilding were further discussed,including the decision to reconstruct a heritage building(complex),the authenticity of the reconstructed building if done in a different location from where it was initially situated,and the need to discover more archaeological facts.

Pest Management in Museum Collections and Storage Areas （New ApproachmOnline Sensors for Pest Detection）

Common denominator and one of the goals in the ＂storage＂ of many, even different, commodities （agricultural, etc.） is their protection against invasion by biological pests; protection of objects of cultural heritage deposited in museums, galleries, archives and other institutions of a similar type is one of the specific case. The present article is an overview of basic （potential） biological pests of some ＂storage＂ commodities （with emphasis on the protection of objects of cultural heritage） as well as methods used for their detection. In the final section, a modular system of the ongoing assessment of the environmental characteristics of depositaries and exhibitions （including ＂biological＂） is briefly presented; its advantage is the possibility of on-line monitoring of the evaluated parameters （temperature, humidity, lighting, etc.） including the detection of presence of crawling and airborne insects.

Preservation and management of a World Heritage site Tajima Yahei Sericulture Farm and its buffer zone

Tajima Yahei Sericulture Farm,one of the four components of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Sites inscribed in 2014,was the starting point for advancements in sericulture farmhouses,emphasizing the importance of ventilation.Through Yahei’s experimentation surrounding the ideal space to breed silkworms,a new sericulture theory was invented,and a sericulture farmhouse architecture was formed.For the purpose of preserving this cultural heritage for future generations,it is important to understand the idea that led to the cultural and industrial advancement of the village of Shimamura and to revise the preservation plans prepared by stakeholders.This paper will discuss the development of the sericulture theory,seiryō-iku theory,and the formation of a sericulture farmhouse architecture;describe the adaptation of former sericulture farmhouses and the surrounding landscapes in terms of the industry and environment;outline the plans and efforts for the preservation and revitalization of Tajima Yahei Sericulture Farm,its surrounding area and its underlying issues;and propose a direction for future preservation plans.

Cross validation of hygrothermal properties of historical Chinese blue bricks with isothermal sorption experiments

The historical,cultural,and social value of heritage buildings mandates special protection of these structures.Blue brick is one kind of the main construction materials of heritage buildings,which is porous material and easily subject to deterioration due to environmental factors such as humidity.Therefore,determining the dynamic moisture content rule of materials under fluctuant ambient humidity is necessary for preventative conservation.This study measured the equilibrium moisture content of eight types of Chinese blue bricks under isothermal conditions with varying humidity levels.The results show that when ambient humidity increased from 10%to 90%,the moisture sorption of historical Chinese blue bricks tripled,which is 3 times greater than that of modern Chinese blue bricks and 10(at low humidity)to 20 times(at high humidity)greater than that of clay bricks in the international handbook.The results contribute to the improvement of the international building material database and research related to hygrothermal performance of heritage buildings in East Asia.©2021 Higher Education Press Limited Company.Publishing services by Elsevier B.V.on behalf of KeAi Communications Co.Ltd.This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license(http://creativecommons.Org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).