Go-Ahead Element of Domestic Architecture:Socio-Economic and Cultural Characteristics of the Residents in Benin

The domestic architecture of a traditional settlement is greatly influenced by the socio-economic and socio-cultural characteristics of its residents.Benin City which is the focus of the paper is a case of a traditional settlement undergoing domestic architectural evolution with the changing times influenced by factors of growth and development.The paper has examined the effect of socio-economic and socio-cultural characteristics as factors that partly determine the design,style,pattern,space use,organization,location and meaning as well as land use of the domestic architecture of Benin.The study employed the use of questionnaire administered to residents across the cross-section of the city.In the end,descriptive frequency tables were used to analyse the data collected from the residential zones in Benin.The research has been able to corroborate the theory that socio-economic and socio-cultural factors are some of the determinants/elements of domestic architecture of a people.

Spatiotemporal landscape pattern changes and their effects on land surface temperature in greenbelt with semi-arid climate:A case study of the Erbil City,Iraq

Urban expansion of cities has caused changes in land use and land cover(LULC)in addition to transformations in the spatial characteristics of landscape structure.These alterations have generated heat islands and rise of land surface temperature(LST),which consequently have caused a variety of environmental issues and threated the sustainable development of urban areas.Greenbelts are employed as an urban planning containment policy to regulate urban expansion,safeguard natural open spaces,and serve adaptation and mitigation functions.And they are regarded as a powerful measure for enhancing urban environmental sustainability.Despite the fact that,the relation between landscape structure change and variation of LST has been examined thoroughly in many studies,but there is a limitation concerning this relation in semi-arid climate and in greenbelts as well,with the lacking of comprehensive research combing both aspects.Accordingly,this study investigated the spatiotemporal changes of landscape pattern of LULC and their relationship with variation of LST within an inner greenbelt in the semi-arid Erbil City of northern Iraq.The study utilized remote sensing data to retrieve LST,classified LULC,and calculated landscape metrics for analyzing spatial changes during the study period.The results indicated that both composition and configuration of LULC had an impact on the variation of LST in the study area.The Pearson's correlation showed the significant effect of Vegetation 1 type(VH),cultivated land(CU),and bare soil(BS)on LST,as increase of LST was related to the decrease of VH and the increases of CU and BS,while,neither Vegetation 2 type(VL)nor built-up(BU)had any effects.Additionally,the spatial distribution of LULC also exhibited significant effects on LST,as LST was strongly correlated with landscape indices for VH,CU,and BS.However,for BU,only aggregation index metric affected LST,while none of VL metrics had a relation.The study provides insights for landscape planners and policymakers to not only develop more green spaces in greenbelt but also optimize the spatial landscape patterns to reduce the influence of LST on the urban environment,and further promote sustainable development and enhance well-being in the cities with semi-arid climate.

Application and Adaptability of Ornamental Grasses in Road Flower Borders in Hefei, Anhui Province

In-depth research was conducted on the types,seasonal patterns,spatial levels,overwintering,summering,drought resistance,and disease and pest resistance of ornamental grasses in the road flower borders of Hefei,Anhui Province.Through field investigations,a total of 36 ornamental grasses were identified,with Liliaceae having the most species and the Lamiaceae the least.The results show that there are more warm season ornamental grasses,of 23 species;Acorus gramineus and Melinis minutiflora have poor overwintering ability;Arrhenatherum elatius,Festuca glauca,and Stipa tenuissima have poor summer tolerance;most ornamental grasses have strong drought resistance and resistance to pests and diseases.The comprehensive investigation shows that ornamental grasses have good application prospects and adaptability in the road flower borders in Hefei city.

Diversity and Application of Herbaceous Flowers in Urban Road Greening in Hefei City

In urban road greening,the planting of ground cover flowers is essential,and herbaceous flowers are an important part.Through the investigation on the diversity of herbaceous flowers in urban road green spaces of Hefei City,the types,colors,application frequency and planting of herbaceous flowers in urban road green spaces were statistically analyzed,and the application forms of herbaceous flowers in the road greening of Hefei City were studied.The characteristics and problems of herbaceous flowers in the road greening of Hefei City were found,and some development suggestions were put forward.

AHP-based Landscape Value Evaluation of Perennial Flower Border Application in Hefei City

An analytic hierarchy process(AHP)was employed to establish a landscape value evaluation model for 20 common species of perennial flowers in the flower border of Hefei City.With the overarching objective of determining the application value of the flower border,10 evaluation factors were identified and subsequently classified into 3 distinct grades.Grade I(L>2.5)was defined as perennial flower resources with the highest development and utilization value,including only one species of Salvia farinacea.Grade II(2.0≤L≤2.5)was defined as perennial flower varieties suitable for most areas,encompassing 9 species of plants,such asTaraxacummongolicum.Grade III(L<2.0)was defined as perennial flower varieties with low application value,encompassing 10 species of plants,such asRuellia brittoniana,but lacking the value of further popularization and application.Consequently,the proportion of their application in the flower border should be reduced.The evaluation results can serve as a theoretical foundation for the implementation of perennial flowers in urban flower borders.

Evaluation of Application Value of 30 Introduced Flowering Shrubs in Landscape in Hefei City Based on AHP Method

The application effect of 30 introduced flowering shrubs in landscape in Hefei City was comprehensively evaluated by the analytic hierarchy process(APH).A comprehensive evaluation model was established by using factors such as plant type,resistance and drought tolerance of introduced flowering shrubs.The results show that the application effect of grade-I introduced flowering shrubs(including 12 kinds,e.g.Lantanacamara)was the best(j≥2.6),and that of grade-II introduced flowering shrubs(including 14 kinds,e.g.Abelia×grandiflora‘Francis Mason’)was better(2.2≤j<2.6),while that of grade-III introduced flowering shrubs(including 4 kinds,e.g.Ligustrum×vicaryi)was moderate(j<2.2).The evaluation results can provide reference for the application effect of introduced flowering shrubs in landscape in Hefei City.

Bridge in Slany:A Conjunction of History,Modern Technology and Sensitive Architectural Approach

The revitalization of the historic centre of Slany(Czech Republic)dealt by architects-experts in a historic town focused on their theoretical principles and verified practice.The bridge U Brodu is the first project of the revitalization.

Circular and Adaptive Transformation of the Housing Stock towards a Regenerative Future

The transition from a linear economy to a CE(circular economy)has the potential to reduce resource use,environmental impacts,and waste in the built environment.Creating a CE in the built environment is therefore of fundamental importance to achieve a sustainable society.Through the application of a systemic approach that considers the building as a set of technological subsystems(e.g.vertical closures,roof,furniture,etc.),components(e.g.infill panels),and materials,this paper-starting from a review of the literature on the topic of the CE applied to construction-establishes a framework of circular design strategies and definitions that link the VRPs(value retention processes)framework,based on the R-imperatives,to the Design-for-X strategies.The first research objective is to develop a design tool for circular building components and technological subsystems.

Integration of Environmental and Social Values in Cultural Spaces:Sustainable and Inclusive Wayfinding Materials for Museums

In the context of use of large museum centers,numerous national and international methodological experiments show that the wayfinding project must consider the needs of both habitual users(user-centered design)and local communities(design for communities)and the importance of environmental protection(eco-design)as a priority interest of the community.This“double target”,“user-centered”and“environment-centered”can be applied during the selection process of materials to be used in the project.With respect to these possibilities,this contribution intends to present the results of research focused on material characterization of the reception and distribution spaces of large museum centers.This characterization is based on use of sensory materials and aims to evaluate their impact on the usability and sustainability of wayfinding systems.The paper directed towards a proposal for organization of integrated information on new generation so-called smart materials;within the design of a wayfinding system,these can balance the aesthetic-perceptual and performance and environmental impact,in order to allow designers to make informed decisions oriented towards inclusion and sustainability.The study was addressed by conducting two phases of systematic literature and library review of materials.The investigations conducted led to achievement of a first research result which consists in the identification of a“standard sheet”for the mapping and cataloging of the materials used for wayfinding.The“standard sheet”allows organizing the information on smart,sensorial,and eco-friendly materials,balancing the aesthetic-perceptive component with the performance on the environmental impact along the entire life cycle in a circular perspective.This tool could guide designers towards an environmental communication project oriented towards sustainability and is effective for usability and wayfinding.

A Survey of Bulgarian(National)Planning and Regulation Acts and Documents Concerning Urban Sprawl

In the last 20 years,the built-up areas of Europe have increased by 20%,while the population increased by 6% only.Given the fact that urban sprawl occurs when the rate of land-use conversion exceeds the rate of population growth,we can now talk about the existence of urban sprawl in Europe.In Bulgaria,during the period 2004-2012,the developers’interest in agricultural and forest lands located outside the development zones of different settlements increased in parallel with the construction development of urban areas,mainly around larger towns,resort and holiday areas.The low price of agricultural lands can be seen as one of the main reasons in this regard.The issues of the utilization of agricultural lands,their conversion into urban(construction)lands,and zoning have been defined by a number of national and local legal acts,which were passed and subsequently renewed/modified in a more recent period.The main act regulating the spatial planning and construction on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria is the SPA(Spatial Planning Act).The ALPA(Agricultural Land Protection Act)and its corresponding regulations provide an appropriate legal basis for the protection of agricultural lands and their yield.Overall,as different acts and regulations concerning issues related to the conversion of agricultural,forest,and protected areas are not in conflict,they may be said to have been harmonized.There are,however,some points which leave possibilities for uncontrolled urban growth.

Optimization Methodology of ESGB on Weights,Evaluation Rating,and Calculation of Carbon Emissions

To cope with climate change,the Chinese government took the lead in advocating the aim of a Carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060.In China,the total carbon emission of the whole construction process in 2020 was about 5.08 billion tons of carbon dioxide(CO_(2)),accounting for about 50.90%of the national carbon emission.Consequently,researchers come up with a series of standard assessments for green building optimization measures.Through analysis and comparison of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design(LEED),WELL Building Standard(WELL),Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method(BREEAM),and Evaluation Standard for Green Building(ESGB)standards,this study will draw conclusions on optimizing ESGB in terms of weighting,evaluation rating,and carbon emission calculations.

Effect of Lateritic Stone Aggregate and Coconut Husk Fiber on the Properties of Concrete

Natural stone aggregate forms the bulk volume of concrete and has contributed to the increased cost of concrete production. This has led to the search for alternate aggregates such as lateritic stone for concrete production. This paper investigates the engineering properties of concrete produced with lateritic aggregate (LA) as the coarse aggregate replacement and coconut husk fibre (CHF) as reinforcement. Natural stone aggregate was replaced by LA at 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%, with 0.25% constant CHF by weight. A mix proportion of 1:1.5:3 with a water-cement ratio of 0.6 was used for producing concrete. A total of 162 specimens (90 cubes and 72 beams) were prepared and tested at the 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of curing. The highest compressive strength was 43.36 N/mm2 (10% LA replacement) as compared to the control of 41.51 N/mm2. The 10% LA replacement obtained the highest flexural strength of 5.35 N/mm2 as compared with the 5.29 N/mm2 for the control. The water absorption of the concrete increased from 2.8% (control) to 3.57% (50% replacement LA). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed micro gaps between CHF and LA concrete. The study, therefore, concludes that the use of LA and CHF positively influenced the strength properties of concrete. 10% LA replacement of coarse aggregate and 0.25% CHF is recommended to practitioners for use.

Light and color therapy: the role of light and color in architecture from the perspective of traditional Persian medicine

Some of the most important elements of healing architecture are light and color,which have been considered in diverse studies of environmental design for treatment and an effect on health.However,there is a lack of research in the field of the proportion of light and color with human differences.The goal of the present research is to provide a new perspective regarding the correlation between humans and the environment based on the philosophy of natural sciences in Iranian traditional medicine,with a focus on color and light to contrive an all-out balance of humans.The present article establishes a connection between traditional and modern medicine;it also indicates medical and health activists to draw their attention to the need for basic researches in traditional Iranian medicine to improve it based on scientific evidence as well as change the attitude of architects to design places based on people’s temperament(in traditional Persian medicine,temperament implies the same and new quality that results from the combination of the four elements(fire,air,water,and earth are four essential constituents of human and non-human beings)with each other and with their interaction in a composite body).This article is a descriptive method in a qualitative study that discuss elements of light and color from the perspective of traditional Persian medicine,after reviewing the history of color and light therapy.From the perspective of modern research,the study additionally discusses the effect of light and color on humans,the relationship of light and color with the temperament of people,and the effect of environmental color and light on people’s temperament.Notably,humans differ with regard to their characteristics and thus have different temperaments,which causes them to have different tendencies toward environmental factors.Qualitative data indicate the difference in the propensity of individuals to color and light according to a physical and psychological condition,and the effect of color and light on human temperament.Thus,the recommendations of traditional medicine can help present a proper pattern of design.

The Influence of the Concepts of Biophilia and Biomimicry in Contemporary Architecture

The contemporary demand for reducing carbon emission is changing the way architects design buildings, thus influencing a wide range of new solutions. In this paper, the author presents a method that intends to contribute for the discussion of recent strategies that lower the buildings＇ consumption of energy. The study establishes three priority parameters to analyze the faqades based on the materials, the practices and the thermal behavior. Each parameter is measured separately scaled from artificial to natural building materials, local to distant practices and insulation to inertia. The design of facades has been evolving to follow complex regulations that aim to increase the required sustainable performance of buildings. Scientific data is measurable individually by each parameter, though the cross influence between parameters raise the level of complexity. Shading systems, solar passive energy influence the measurement but the growing use of renewable energies affects the measurements of energy consumption. Each design responds differently to climatic conditions, and requires complex analyses considering the specificity of the natural environment and cultural context. The discussion makes use of scientific data that influences architectural design, the research requires a broader perception thus including cultural aspects. Recent high tech insulating systems have an effect on design solutions that characterize biophilia （human love of nature）. The wisdom of traditional local solutions tested over generations holds cultural aspects of biomimicry （nature as model）. The aim is to discuss whether the framework based on biophilia and biomimicry is useful for the research.

The Risk of Flooding to Architecture and Infrastructure amidst a Changing Climate in Lake Baringo, Kenya

Climate change has grown more apparent in recent years with people becoming more aware of its potentially disastrous consequences. Flooding is one of the many consequences of a changing climate in Kenya known to cause immense devastation resulting in the loss of lives and property. This paper discusses the risk of flooding in Kenya as one of the many outcomes of climate change in the face of urgency to adapt Kenya’s built environment to flooding which is likely to continue to prevail in the decades as a result of the looming climate change. It also sought to evaluate the physical, traumatic, and psychological effects on communities affected by flood events. This cross-sectional survey, both qualitative and quantitative in nature, executed between 13th January 2021 and 14th July 2021 with 132 respondents along the western shoreline of Lake Baringo, near Marigat Town focused on the flood levels, structures, their materials, and quantities. Results show that the area covered by Lake Baringo increased by 18% from 236 km2 to 278 km2. The depth of floods ranged from 0.3 m to 1.2 m and exceeded 1.6 m during heavy rainfall up to 3.2 m with homes completely submerged by the lake. Flooding was experienced more by residents living in low areas nearer to the shoreline of the lake as compared to those living on higher grounds. 100% of the structures didn’t have the architectural technology to withstand the impacts of flooding with 59% of housing made of corrugated iron sheets both on wall and roofing, 22% of mud houses roofed with either corrugated iron sheets, 10% being timber with thatch and only 8% stoned walled houses. This predisposed all the residents to the harmful impacts of flooding. Piled sandbags by locals as a mitigating measure proved inadequate to withstand the forces of the rising waters. Flood walls were built around local lodges near the lake but the rising water level quickly breached these defences. The study recommends that county and national governing authorities develop flood adaptation strategies for resilience. These include long-term land-use planning, the establishment of early warning systems, evacuation plans, identification of vulnerable or high-risk populations, measures to ensure water quality, sanitation, and hygiene. Flood-resilient architecture including stilt and floating houses that mechanically rise and fall with respect to the highest water mark are recommended during flood events. Bridges on swollen rivers and resilient construction materials like reinforced concrete are to be used for sustainable development for flood risk adaptation.

Design between Architecture and Structure: Case Studies of Pilot Interventions on Italian Monumental Buildings

Two case studies,referring to historic Italian buildings housing city halls,provide an opportunity to investigate the design of non-standard elements aimed at protecting masonry vaults,with particular reference to the preliminary works prior to the actual structural restoration work.There is in fact a phase in which it is a priority to secure the vault to avert possible risks to the users of that portion of the building.This phase is temporarily intermediate between the detection and aggravation of injuries and the renovation and consolidation project.Although these are provisional works,they are intended for buildings that are often public and therefore intended for a wide range of users,such as schools,offices or monumental buildings.In analyzing traditional techniques and systems used in similar cases,the possibility of developing evolutionary aspects with respect to,above all,simple shoring techniques emerged.In these areas,hybrids between a structural and architectural project,it is possible to reconcile static requirements with architectural techniques of space management,attentive to the quality of the interior and the integration of the provisional work with the reference context.

Standards of Classical Architecture Criticism: Between Mathematics and Philosophy

Criticism is an intellectual process that primarily searches for beauty aspects in the works of art,including architecture.This article explores the mathematical and philosophical principles of classical architectural criticism.It is hypothesized that design criteria during the Classic period were clear and specific.The research presents theories of classical art that focus on the process of beauty interpretation.It also assesses the mathematical evaluation of architectural art and beauty through“The Golden Ratio”and“The Fibonacci Sequence.”Classical philosophy,and its perception of beauty,is discussed as an essential basis in any artistic critical activity.The research asserts that the science of aesthetics is both objective and subjective,which explains the difference in aesthetic evaluation across eras.Objectivity stems from conditions of proportionality that must be met for an architectural art to be aesthetically judged as beautiful.Subjectivity lies in the time and place of the architectural work,whereby tendencies,tastes,and needs related to the human and geographical environment can affect the standards of beauty.This makes the evaluation of beauty in classical architecture a delicate and complex process in which many aspects must be considered to have an objective,fair,and correct judgment.

Change in Adaptability of Residential Architecture:Spatial Analysis on Traditional and Contemporary Houses of Bangladesh

This study focused on spatial analysis to identify the changes in adaptability over the last five decades.The features influencing adaptability were selected from the reference study.An appropriate method was used to analyse these features through spatial analysis.Six distinctive typologies of rural houses were selected from six regions.Unlike the traditional houses,the contemporary houses in the same area reflected a different character.Urban houses built since the early and mid-20th century were compared with contemporary houses.After analysing the openness,generality,flexibility,depth,typicality,construction technique,involvement of end-users,and the feedback from the inhabitants,the study identified a significant decrease in contemporary houses'adaptability.Spatial analysis was used to quantify the different features and comparison between traditional and contemporary houses.Though the adaptability had been reduced over time,the latest houses started to achieve better flexibility in some features due to government policy and implementation of statutory building regulations.Further recommendations were provided to enhance the residential architecture's adaptability in future.The study samples were selected from different regions of Bangladesh.Still,the result and policy recommendations can be helpful for other countries,especially with high population density and a developing economy.

Effects of binder strength and aggregate size on the compressive strength and void ratio of porous concrete

To test the influence of binder strength, porous concretes with 4 binder strengths between 30.0-135.0 MPa and 5 void ratios between 15%-35% were tested. The results indicated that for the same aggregate, the rates of strength reduction due to the increases in void ratio were the same for binders with different strengths. To study the influence of aggregate size, 3 single size aggregates with nominal sizes of 5.0, 13.0 and 20.0 mm （Nos. 7, 6 and 5 according to JIS A 5001） were used to make porous concrete. The strengths of porous concrete are found to be dependent on aggregate size. The rate of strength reduction of porous concrete with small aggregate size is found to be higher than that with larger aggregate size. At the same void ratio, the strength of porous concrete with large aggregate is larger than that with small aggregate. The general equations for porous concrete are related to compressive strength and void ratio for different binder strengths and aggregate sizes.

Influence of explosion parameters on wavelet packet frequency band energy distribution of blast vibration

Blast vibration analysis is one of the important foundations for studying the control technology of blast vibration damage. According to blast vibration live data that have been collected and the characteristics of short-time non-stationary random signals, the wavelet packet energy spectrum analysis for blast vibration signal has made by wavelet packet analysis technology and the signals were measured under different explosion parameters （the maximal section dose, the distance of blast source to measuring point and the section number of millisecond detonator）. The results show that more than 95% frequency band energy of the signals sl-s8 concentrates at 0-200 Hz and the main vibration frequency bands of the signals sl-s8 are 70.313-125, 46.875-93.75, 15.625-93.75, 0-62.5, 42.969-125, 15.625-82.031, 7.813-62.5 and 0-62.5 Hz. Energy distributions for different frequency bands of blast vibration signal are obtained and the characteristics of energy distributions for blast vibration signal measured under different explosion parameters are analyzed. From blast vibration signal energy, the decreasing law of blast seismic waves measured under different explosion parameters was studied and the wavelet packet analysis is an effective means for studying seismic effect induced by blast.