Journal of Design and Built Environment

Impacts of Culture on Traditional Housing Architecture of Ethnic Minority in the Vietnamese Northern Mountains

Quoc Tran Bao — 2024-08-31

Under the impact of urbanization as well as the influence of cultural exchanges between ethnic groups and the need to develop housing in the modernity direction of the northern mountainous people, the construction of buildings with traditional housing architecture characteristics is gradually decreased. It is highly possible that the traditional heritage of ethnic communities will gradually be forgotten if the mutual influence relationship between traditional culture and architectural housing is not being paid sufficient attention. In order to provide insight into traditional housing architecture and guide the preservation and development of residential architecture, the research aims to identify the influences of traditional culture on residential architectural space. The article employs a variety of techniques, including field surveys, analysis and evaluation of real-world scenarios, overviews of related studies, and the inheritance of secondary data from earlier research endeavors to accomplish the suggested research goals. The study focuses on analysing the following five categories of traditional housing architecture, which are: 1) The influence of living culture; 2) The influence of costume culture; 3) The influence of labor and production culture; 4) The influence of culture, lifestyle, local customs and practices; and 5) The influence of religious culture.

Assessment of Acoustic Conditions in Worship Spaces Adjacent to Urban Noise: A Simulation Case Study of St. Thomas Garrison Church, Chennai

Beryl Raja Divya Mahimairaj — 2024-08-31

According to its cultural and spiritual importance, church acoustics are intensively investigated. These architectural marvels serve religious worship, community events, and cultural preservation. Preserving these sites' historical importance and acoustic comfort requires understanding their complex sound transmission dynamics. However, urban noise severely reduces sacred sites acoustically. In view of their proximity to airports, highways, and Metro, this study explores the acoustics of Chennai's medieval St Thomas Garrison Church. Reverberation times (RT) at 500 and 1000 Hz exceed the optimum value, especially for speech purposes. Day and night background noises over 60 dBA affect speech transmission index (STI) and sound pressure level (SPL) distribution. These findings are also examined in relation to potential service interventions, such as amplification systems, in places of worship. This study suggests that urban planners, architects, and others can help preserve and improve religious experiences by addressing urban noise and improving church acoustics.

Expression of Architectural Form of Buoyant Montessori School Kupang

Reginaldo Christophori Lake — 2024-08-31

This study aims to reveal the application of the relationship between architectural form and the expression of the Buoyant Montessori School (BMS) Kupang building. Developing a philosophy of architectural anatomy using the fundamentals of architectural design is the initial step in the study. The study's foundation is architectural anatomy and the design principles discovered in the observation unit of the two- and three-dimensional redesigned Buoyant Montessori School (BMS) Kupang building. After investigation, an interpretation of the Buoyant Montessori School (BMS) Kupang buildings was developed. This interpretation incorporated an ideology of universal educational value as well as a monumental, formal, local expression. For stakeholders, particularly the regional government and architectural practitioners, the study's findings can be used as a reference source and enhance the architectural concept of school buildings.

Managing Campus Real Estate in Malaysian Public Universities: The Plausible Role of the CREM Department

AZMAH BAKHIR — 2024-08-31

Aside from the real estate sector, all businesses including universities-tend to incorporate CREM knowledge into managing their resources to increase revenues and support their primary business functions. An ideal CREM department in an organisation strives to assist core business operations by aligning its physical resources with its strategic goals and fostering organisational success. The roles of the CREM Department include maximising shareholder wealth through cost minimisation initiatives and leveraging real estate as a competitive enabler to capitalise on setbacks and turn them into opportunities for organisational advantages. This study investigated the existence of CREM portfolios in Malaysian public universities and their current job functions, considering the ideal CREM department from the literature. The study adopts a qualitative approach that involves thematic extraction and analysis of secondary data from the official websites of all 20 public universities. In addition, the investigation was supported by the results from an online survey. The findings suggest that few universities have established an adequate structure for strategically managing campus real estate. Most universities have separate departments responsible for each role, making up an ideal CREM portfolio. Despite being viewed as crucial to the digital revolution of teaching and learning in higher education, the ICT Division is not included in the CREM portfolio. This paper concludes that the CREM Department must be seen as indispensable to the institution and function as a stand-alone business unit that plays a pivotal role in real estate decision-making. A better understanding of CREM knowledge has proven beneficial to organisational success and aids in empowering higher education institutions. Therefore, findings could be significant in directing public universities and government officials to manage campus real estate towards maximising the higher education sector’s overall efficacy.

Evidence-Based Design: A Sustainable Approach for Planning and Designing Pediatric Healthcare Environments

Abdul Halim Babbu — 2024-08-31

Designing pediatric healthcare facilities requires a thorough understanding of the unique needs of children, which differ from those of adults in terms of physical, emotional, and developmental requirements. Addressing these needs ensures that pediatric patients receive specialised care for their well-being and recovery. Little evidence is available regarding the design variables of pediatric healthcare facilities. Evidence-based design (EBD) has emerged as a sustainable approach that integrates research, empirical evidence, and best practices into the healthcare design process. This paper identifies the design variables of pediatric healthcare facilities impacting the outcomes of patients, families, and staff and develops a conceptual framework for the pediatric healthcare-built environment. A literature review were conducted to identify the design variables of pediatric healthcare environments and the opinion of experts was gathered to finalise the design variables. A conceptual framework for pediatric healthcare environments was developed consisting of 96 design variables under eight therapeutic goals namely: child-friendly environment; nature and outdoors; privacy; positive distraction; therapeutic play; peer and family support; safety and security; and comfort that have the potential to impact the outcomes of patient, families, and staff. Incorporating these variables into the design would contribute to improved patient outcomes.

The Influence of Library Building Features on Indoor Daylight Quality of Reading Spaces Under Overcast Sky Conditions

Chiamaka Christiana Okwuosa — 2024-08-31

Building design features contribute to the performance of indoor daylight quality. Reading spaces in library buildings require effective daylighting for good learning processes and energy savings. This study investigated the indoor daylight quality of the six reading spaces labelled Esut-Hall A, Esut-Hall B, Esut-Hall C, Esut-Hall D, Esut-Hall E, and Esut-Hall F. It determined the influence of individual building design features on daylight quality. The study adopted case study research, combined with an HS1010 light metre experiment. The first result identified twenty-five building design features that influenced the daylight quality. The second result indicated that the illuminance values of Esut Hall A, Esut-Hall B, Esut-Hall D, Esut-Hall E, and Esut Hall F are within the recommended range of 300 lux and 500 lux. Only Esut-Hall C is below the range. The identified design features showed that some of the windows in Esut-Hall C were ineffective due to some internal wall obstructions. Therefore, it was recommended that the effective windows' area be increased, and top-light windows be introduced.

Embracing Biophilic Design in Primary School’s Learning Environment to Improve Children’s Well-Being

Nor Diyana Mustapa — 2024-08-31

Nature experiences, both direct and indirect, significantly impact children’s psychological well-being. However, restrictions on children’s ability to spontaneously explore nearby nature at home have been reduced. Hence, it is vital to reconnect children with nature through biophilic design at school to improve their psychological well-being since they spend most of their time there. This study aims to investigate children’s preferences towards biophilic elements and the impact of the elements on their well-being. This study involved twelve children aged 10 to 11 from two primary schools (sustainable schools) in the Northern Region of Malaysia, particularly in Kedah and Perlis. A qualitative approach, specifically phenomenology, using observation, focus groups, and projection methods, was used for data collection. The findings indicate that children preferred the implementation of biophilic elements in both indoor and outdoor learning spaces. All biophilic design elements have contributed to children’s positive emotions. However, few children exhibited negative affiliations towards water elements and plants. Overall, this study highlights the importance of embracing and implementing biophilic elements through direct and indirect experiences in indoor and outdoor learning spaces at school to improve children’s psychological well-being, subsequently contributing to their attention to learning.

Revitalization in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, an Adaptive Architectural Conservation Strategies for Courtyard Houses in Palestine

Mumen Abuarkub — 2024-08-31

This research delves into the architectural nuances of traditional Palestinian courtyard houses, unveiling their varied typologies and significant contributions to cultural identity. Research methodology involves meticulously examining their design (case studies), emphasizing strategic planning, utilization of local materials, and adherence to traditional construction methods. The core of this study centers on the assessment of heritage conservation and adaptation strategies, advocating for the modernization of these historical buildings to meet contemporary demands while safeguarding their cultural heritage. A novel aspect of the research is the application of AI-generated designs, which are utilized to ensure that modifications uphold the architectural integrity of these structures and are sensitive to both historical and modern requirements. This approach fosters a synthesis of local and global conservation practices. The research results present a detailed analysis of adaptive reuse strategies through case studies of the Al Nimr House and Ibrahim Touqan House, demonstrating their successful transformation that incorporates modern enhancements while preserving historical elements. The findings advocate for adaptive reuse as a viable strategy to revitalize historic structures, ensuring their functionality in contemporary society without compromising their historical essence. The study provides a sustainable framework for culturally sensitive urban development and sets a precedent for future conservation projects, highlighting the importance of a balanced approach to integrating modern innovations within traditional contexts.