Frontiers of Architectural Research

ISSN 2095-2635

ISSN 2095-2643(Online)

CN 10-1024/TU

Postal Subscription Code 80-966

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, Volume 1 Issue 3

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REVIEW
Urban Physics: Effect of the micro-climate on comfort, health and energy demand
Peter Moonen, Thijs Defraeye, Viktor Dorer, Bert Blocken, Jan Carmeliet
Front. Archit. Res.. 2012, 1 (3): 197-228.  
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2012.05.002

Abstract   PDF (3113KB)

The global trend towards urbanisation explains the growing interest in the study of the modification of the urban climate due to the heat island effect and global warming, and its impact on energy use of buildings. Also urban comfort, health and durability, referring respectively to pedestrian wind/ thermal comfort, pollutant dispersion and wind-driven rain are of interest. Urban Physics is a wellestablished discipline, incorporating relevant branches of physics, environmental chemistry, aerodynamics, meteorology and statistics. Therefore, Urban Physics is well positioned to provide keycontributions to the current urban problems and challenges. The present paper addresses the role of Urban Physics in the study of wind comfort, thermal comfort, energy demand, pollutant dispersion and wind-driven rain. Furthermore, the three major research methods applied in Urban Physics, namely field experiments, wind tunnel experiments and numerical simulations are discussed. Case studies illustrate the current challenges and the relevant contributions of Urban Physics.

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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Optimizing energy efficiency and occupant comfort with climate specific design of the building
Christoph Mitterer, Hartwig M.Künzel, Sebastian Herkel, Andreas Holm
Front. Archit. Res.. 2012, 1 (3): 229-235.  
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2012.06.002

Abstract   PDF (758KB)

Designing energy efficient and comfortable buildings requires harmonizing the complex interactions of architecture, construction and building service engineering. The building envelope has a particular importance, since it integrates many functions and has direct influence on indoor climate. Focusing on satisfaction of the user means that the indoor climate is a key for a holistic design approach. Only a satisfied user will not intervene with the designed energy concept or the indoor climate control; dissatisfaction results in multiple system interventions which may cause waste of energy and sometimes even damage to building envelope components. Satisfaction with the indoor environment also increases working productivity or enables effective recreation of residents.

The paper deals with international research activities in the field of climate specific building design. Various comfort and energy monitoring surveys of office buildings as well as residential buildings provide substantial information about the occupants’ behavior and their needs during specific situations under different outdoor climates. This information allows summarizing basic climate dependent design principles which architects should keep in mind during the early stages of the design process. It also helps to develop strategies aiming at reducing building energy demand and at the same time consider comfort aspects. The second part of this paper demonstrates application of the climate dependent design principles in a housing project in Dubai.

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research-article
Post-occupancy evaluation of residential satisfaction in Lagos, Nigeria: Feedback for residential improvement
Adesoji DavidJiboye
Front. Archit. Res.. 2012, 1 (3): 236-243.  
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2012.08.001

Abstract   PDF (360KB)

This study is a post-occupancy evaluation of residential satisfaction in Oniru Estate, Lagos, Nigeria. It conceived residents’ satisfaction as a measure of people’s attitudes towards certain aspects of their residential environment. The very important role of certain physical quality or characteristics of the environment as a dominant predictor of satisfaction is emphasized. Apart from the measurement of residential satisfaction through post-occupancy evaluation, it also utilized respondents’ satisfaction scores as indices for evaluating the performance of residential development in the study area. Analysis was done using Chi-square statistics (ρ = 0.05 with a level of significance of 0.000) to confirm the relationship between the quality of housing physical environment and level of residents’ satisfaction. The results show and confirm that the quality of certain physical characteristics in the housing environment is imperative thereby influencing the level of residents’ housing satisfaction. The need to consider relevant inputs emanating from the end-users or occupants of residential developments in the planning, design and development of satisfactory dwellings is highlighted.

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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Architectural vanguard stone
Grazia Lombardo
Front. Archit. Res.. 2012, 1 (3): 244-252.  
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2012.05.001

Abstract   PDF (1636KB)

The modern and updated use of traditional materials in the building industry often proves to improve the performance of the buildings through the economy of management, duration, conditions of comfort and safety, appearance and shelf life. Within this problem a search has allowed us to verify a new building procedure based on the use of reinforced masonry with blocks of natural stone and steel bars and mortar. Then a new phase of research has defined the building procedure of prestressed reinforced masonry with dry-assembled blocks of natural stone. This paper reports the results from a test phase of the research relating to the execution of a full-scale prototype of a panel, with a curved shape, called ‘‘stone sail’’. This testing allows us to verify the real feasibility of the new building procedure.

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Phenomenology of rhythm in design
Chiu-Shui Chan
Front. Archit. Res.. 2012, 1 (3): 253-258.  
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2012.06.003

Abstract   PDF (1523KB)

Rhythm in design, as explored in this research, is proposed to be the result of cognitive performance generated stylistically by creators and recognized consciously by beholders. This study describes the phenomenon of rhythm; how it is created; the factors that comprise rhythm; the types of rhythms created by human cognition of repetition, and why repetition is recognized as a part of human cognition. Images of seven buildings designed by Alvar Aalto are used to demonstrate the creation and expression of rhythm in building compositions. Evidence gathered in this research explains that rhythm in design is a result of the design method consciously applied by human cognition of repetition. Rules of generating the phenomena of rhythm are also summarized. Designers could apply these rules to generate harmonious patterns through the effective usage of repetition. In sum, rhythm is ingrained in the human conscience and therefore should be a key component of design applied universally.

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Interactive morphologies: An investigation into integrated nodal networks and embedded computation processes for developing real-time responsive spatial systems
Nimish Biloria
Front. Archit. Res.. 2012, 1 (3): 259-271.  
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2012.07.003

Abstract   PDF (2216KB)

The design-research illustrated in this research article focus on the emerging field of interactive architecture focusing on developing real-time information exchanging architectural bodies. These interactive bodies demonstrate a fusion between the material, the electronic and the digital domains. This fusion is explicitly attained through a synergistic merger between the fields of ambient sensing, control systems, ubiquitous computing, architectural design, pneumatic systems and computation. The resultant spatial bodies are thus visualised as complex adaptive systems, continually engaged in activities of data-exchange resulting in physical and ambient adaptations of their constituting components in response to contextual variations. Interdependent nodal networks, where every node/junction of a spatial prototype becomes a potential information hub by means of its ability to collect, process and communicate contextual data apart from working as an actuated detail owing to its ability to kinetically re-position itself in three-dimensional space is thus a critical outcome of this inter-disciplinary way of working. A strategy apt for binding material logistics with the digital to materialize dynamic spatial behaviours owing to real time data exchange between the prototypes and their context is thus embarked upon via three research and design projects, namely: Electronic Media Augmented Spatial Skins, The InteractiveWall and the Muscle Re-configured.

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Reyner Banham and modern design culture
Bagoes Wiryomartono
Front. Archit. Res.. 2012, 1 (3): 272-279.  
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2012.07.004

Abstract   PDF (1773KB)

What is modernity in architecture? In English speaking world, the question is likely impossible to answer without considering the works of Peter Reyner Banham (1922-1988). Regardless of his polemist and disparaging style in his critical writings, this study argues that Banham offers a constructive renewal for the body of knowledge on history and theory of modernity in architectural design. Accordingly, he posits and disposes architectural profession with scientific and technological vision in the front line of struggle for environmental betterment. For him modernity in architecture comprises triad components: function, technology, and aesthetics by which historical milestones come into being. A study on Banham’s engagement with modernity is considerably necessary regarding his conviction that history of architecture happens as the consequence of interactions of technological innovations and design creativities, and in response to socioeconomic circumstances as well.

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The development of residential space in the old town of Nanjing since 1978
Kun Liu, Jianguo Wang, Peng Tang
Front. Archit. Res.. 2012, 1 (3): 280-286.  
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2012.05.003

Abstract   PDF (2226KB)

Since the 1990s, with people’s living requirements getting more and more advanced, the speed of the residential commercialization gets higher and higher, which promotes the residential construction deeply. To some extent, the construction of residential area has accelerated the urbanization and impacted the progress of urban renewal. It has already happened in most Chinese major cities and is progressing right now. But it has not been shown clearly in existing researches how and how deeply it impacts the development of urban construction.

This article discussed how the development of urban residential space impacted the progress of urban renewal, based on the theoretic researches of urban renewal, taking the old town of Nanjing for example, and using the methods of quantitative evidence method and kernel density estimation.

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research-article
Cell-space model of Xi-di spatial evolution
Rong Du
Front. Archit. Res.. 2012, 1 (3): 287-294.  
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2012.06.001

Abstract   PDF (2497KB)

Spatial evolution in ancient Chinese villages is always one of the most interesting research topics in the field of architectural design, urban planning and history of architecture. Xi-di village exemplifies traditional settlements in ancient China. For many years, numerous researchers have explored its built form, origin and evolution process from different perspectives. This paper attempts to position the spatial evolution process of this village in the context of complex system theory, which views the process of space self-organization as a form of disequilibrium and non- linear development process. Through analyzing the mechanism of village space changes, we develop the dynamic evolution modeling based on the theory of cellular automata. The purpose of the paper is to provide a new perspective for the conventional architectural research of space self-organization.

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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Study on semantic structure of cultural and creative industry park based on internet literature
Lu Shen, Zao Li, Jun Zeng, Jin Li
Front. Archit. Res.. 2012, 1 (3): 295-304.  
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2012.07.002

Abstract   PDF (2833KB)

According to the information of 231 cultural and creative industry parks on the Internet literature, this research classified and studied the park elements from the text using the method of semantic Ontology analysis. The paper analyzes the cultural and creative industry park in the performance of type, constitution elements of geographical attributes, character- istics, etc. Through analysis, we found that ‘‘location’’, ‘‘form’’ and ‘‘rhetoric’’ are frequently mentioned in the park names. As the parks prefer to combine cultural relics with their own characters for highlighting influence and specialties, the park locations also have certain restrictions (e.g., ‘‘historic sites’’, ‘‘ancient cities’’). Furthermore, cultural and creative industry parks cover a wide range of contents (e.g., ‘‘digital industry’’, ‘‘ecological land- scape’’). The boundaries of the park type and content are not very clear in present China. And, the parks lack of overall planning and often have an imperfect industrial chain and other issues. Therefore, on developing cultural and creative industry parks, the overall planning and perfect industrial chain need to be focused on.

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Landscape characteristic aesthetic structure: Construction of urban landscape characteristic time-spatial pattern based on aesthetic subjects
Min Wang, Bochun Yu
Front. Archit. Res.. 2012, 1 (3): 305-315.  
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2012.07.001

Abstract   PDF (1981KB)

The paper presents means and models of city-landscape characteristic structure construction on the aspect of landscape aesthetics subjects, which is called the landscape characteristic aesthetic structure and in short as LCAS. In this paper, the steps of LCAS research are as follows: Describes the concepts of the landscape characteristic aesthetic structure (LCAS), and expounds the LCAS properties: systematic quality, temporal and spatial quality, and virtual existence.

Learns from typology research methods, discusses the elements and types needed in a landscape characteristic aesthetic system, and constructs research method for LCAS pattern. As for the temporal dimension, the dynamic evolution and interaction expressed in LCAS between the ‘‘tradition’’ and ‘‘modernity’’ landscapes conflict. As for the spatial dimension, this paper explores the LCAS patterns in macroscopic scope of city group, the middle scope of single cities and the microcosmic scope of urban spaces with questionnaires and examples research.

Uses pattern language to express different LCAS types in the temporal and spatial system.

We develop the patterns of various LCAS types with graphical patterned representation, as well as construct the LCAS research method and theory which is based on the general people’s aesthetic standards and sensibilities to build city characteristics and urban landscapes as a guidance.

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11 articles