Advances in the Integration of Technology and the Built Environment

Interfaces in urban spatial structure may be understood as a type of spatial form that establishes relationships between distinctive parts of a whole, characterized by their degree of connectivity and integration and porosity. In order to characterize the way spatial interfaces may be formed between parks and urban fabric, this paper reveals a typology of interface occurring at two different Paris parks, the Bois de Boulogne and Parc Monceau, as set in Baron Haussmann’s redesigned urban fabric of Paris in the mid 19th century. A review of interface in these two parks reveals distinctive transformations through urban development. Figure ground analysis is used to highlight the spatial configuration of interface with intensive study of the 16th Arr. Undertaken using Space syntax methods of axial angular and segment analysis to understand how the urban fabric south of the Bois de Boulogne composes integration and forms centers in the 1865 and 2020 urban plans.

Suzhou classical gardens represent the essence of Chinese classical gardens, characterized by complex spatial structures and rich garden elements. Visitors usually experience diverse spatial perceptions in Suzhou gardens, including the commonly mentioned experience of “view changes with step movements (VCWSM)”. Through the perception survey in the Master-of-Nets Garden, which is one of the most noted classical gardens in China, this study extracted the key factors that affect the generation of “view changes with step movements”, that is, the distance between the viewpoint and the main scene, and their position relationship. Based on it, this research developed a graphic scripting structure of the parametric system authored in Grasshopper. Finally, a pocket park was selected as the design site. Its path network with viewpoints was generated by Grasshopper, and trees were set between each viewpoint and the main scene to create different views, generating the perception of VCWSM. This process demonstrates the application of classical garden spatial structure to modern landscape design through a parametric approach, a methodology that can be adapted for the modern re-interpretation of other classical garden space designs.

The condition of hybridity in architecture has often been traced back to quite recent phenomena and confined to specific geographic contexts. However, it is also possible to find processes of architectural hybridisation in significantly older times and in widespread contexts.Considering the peculiarity of the hybrid object, which involves heterogeneous elements that “relate to one another and begin to share intensities” [1] and expanding the scope of research to previously unexplored themes, the aim of this contribution is to consider the hybrid in a more extensive way and demonstrate the numerous configurations in which it can manifest.This study seeks to examine some of these possible configurations, focusing on a less-explored area such as hybrid infrastructures. Emphasis will be placed on the inhabited bridge, an exceptional declination of infrastructure that left its mark on cities from the Middle Ages to the 17th century, disappearing from the urban landscape but persisting in the imaginations of designers, so much so that it finally reasserted itself from the 19th century onward.The Ponte Vecchio is a pioneer of the inhabited bridge, and the Giovanni da Verrazzano Bridge can be considered a recent descendant of the former. The two can represent the poles of an evolutionary path connected by a subtle common thread: their shared geographical location, Florence.

The integration of digital technology offers new opportunities to design, visualize, and experience physical spaces. Recent research suggest that virtual spaces can stimulate genuine physiological reactions and emotions, creating a sense of embodiment. This paper focuses on the potential to use the “virtual affordance” in real space to stimulate more architecture-body interactions. The challenge lies in establishing meaningful connections between virtual information and the physical environment to enrich the experience of hybrid space in architecture. Hapticity plays a significant role in shaping the architectural experience. Beyond the traditional ascription of the sense of touch, this paper re-examines the expanded understanding of hapticity. Drawing from these new understandings and the interplay of perception and action within the framework of embodied cognition, this study explores how individuals simultaneously perceive and engage in both virtual and physical spaces, enriching the haptic quality of these hybrid environments through the mirror neuron system. It examines relevant architectural cases and various strategies, such as cognitive efforts, bodily movement, situatedness, and shared experiences. The paper explores how the digital layer could be a valid stimulus to evoke a sense of hapticity and bodily movement, thereby better engaging people with the physical space and information.

The built form of cities is a synthesis of various aspects including climate, culture, and economics, presenting a challenge in the analysis of urban morphology. The ‘plot’ has been used as the basic unit of analysis which aggregates formal and relational attributes essential to urban morphological analysis. The recently introduced Morphological Tessellation (MT) method automatically generates morphological units from building profiles, using a Voronoi Tessellation (VT). However, the generation of higher quality tessellation results relies on resource-intensive computing and careful configuration of proper parameter presets. To address this issue, this paper introduces an adaptive tessellation workflow based on the improvement of a specific tessellation pattern near closely aligned buildings. This paper then discusses a method to incorporate linear guides to control the tessellation outcome, allowing for increased control over the shape of the outcome of MT. The workflow is realised in a Grasshopper Assembly developed for Rhinoceros 3D in C#. This workflow proves to generate geometrically desirable outcomes with substantially reduced computational workload.

In high-density urban areas where land is at a premium, Informal Running Environments (IRE) provides opportunities for mixed use, which is conducive to improving the current problem of insufficient and uneven distribution of fitness space. Running environments dominated by linear space are often difficult to study through traditional research methods, while the emergence of the crowdsourcing model enables Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) to provide effective data support.Firstly, text semantic analysis was done based on the recommended route data from mobile fitness APP. The key factors and importance levels that influence people's preference on IRE are identified. Secondly, a supply and demand evaluation for the informal running environment was constructed. Priority areas for renewal in the city were identified. Finally, a strategy toolbox containing visual case patterns was developed to provide decision-makers with directional and easy-to-implement guidance.Key factors such as people, paving, lighting, vehicles, residential areas, transportation facilities, green spaces, waterfront and scenery were found to have a significant impact on running behavior. The research provides a quantitative evaluation and optimization method for urban renewal.

The purpose of this paper is to study the practice of elastic design concepts in the transformation of hybrid spaces in old factory buildings. Through an overview of the theory of elastic design and its application in urban architecture, the principles of elastic hybrid space design in urban architecture are proposed, including the principles of flexibility, openness, ambiguity and growth. Then the application mode of hybrid space transformation in old factory buildings is explored through research methods such as field research and literature case analysis. It is found that the concept of flexible design can provide an effective solution for the transformation of old factory buildings, realizing the flexibility, openness and sustainability of the space. The conclusion shows that the application of elastic design concept in the transformation of old factory buildings can effectively solve the problems of reuse of old factory buildings and urban renewal, which is of great significance to the sustainable development of cities. This study provides a new idea and method for the hybrid space transformation of old factory buildings, which is of practical significance.

A suburban village (城郊村) is a type of urban village located on the fringes of urbanization in China, and where rural life and rural settlements are being jeopardized by real estate speculation. Suburban villages epitomize the cur-rent status of transitional Chinese contemporary vernacular landscapes Our paper focuses on the case of Wangzhai village, located in Wenzhou’s out-skirts, and which has been the object of a series of contradictive plans over the last ten years. Wangzhai village also has the peculiarity of being located within the expansion plan of a major Sino-American university campus, which strongly impacted the urban development of the area. Our study looks at this phenomenon to understand the current practices for urban fringe planning and design in China.

Night running is becoming an important physical activity during nighttime hours. However, the formal running spaces available in cities are often insufficient to meet the daily fitness needs of urban populations. Consequently, street spaces are frequently incorporated into the choices of night runners. Artificial lighting is an indispensable factor in the street running environment, however, the research on how artificial lighting in urban streets affects the comfort of night running spaces remains unclear. This study selected three classic night running routes in Suzhou City for evaluation using a fitness app for running route recommendations and conducted on-site photography using a panoramic camera. Subsequently, individuals experienced in night running were recruited to conduct a questionnaire survey on the artificial lighting factors depicted in the photographs. The results indicate that the brightness of environmental lighting in streets has the greatest impact on the comfort of night runners, followed by lighting coverage and color, while the type of environmental lighting has the least impact on the comfort of night runners. The final results can provide a theoretical basis for optimizing the lighting conditions of urban night running spaces, thereby contributing to the creation of a more comfortable urban night running environment.

This work advances previous research [anonymized] into the application of spectral analysis to urban morphology in two ways. First, it refines cluster selection process and second, it utilizes weighted aggregation of cluster boundaries to more subtly reflect the porosity of neighborhood borders and the multi-scalar formations that characterize urban space, rather than searching for a single optimal solution.The primary case study is that of Beirut, a city fragmented not only by a history of sectarian conflict but equally by piecemeal development and lack of a clear planning directive. The contradictions and multiplicity of the city’s contrasting regions provides a robust, compelling, and challenging object of study.Finally, the paper concludes with comparisons between the outcomes calculated and previous studies that approached the definition of neighborhood boundaries and connections empirically from the perspective of bottom-up resident accounts [1] and computationally with regard to pedestrian traffic and walkability [2].

This paper attends to the boundary between the human and the non-human in urban space. It considers the role that light plays in choreographing human and non-human behaviours and how this can be used to situate individuals in spatiotemporal imaginaries that extend from the local to the planetary. The research designed and installed environmental light sensors and Internet of Things infrastructure in two sites—one rural and one urban—to capture the temporal patterns of natural and artificial light. The observations collected were used to create timepieces that reflect diurnal, circalunar, and seasonal cycles. This hybrid approach to timekeeping harmonizes human time standards with ecological and planetary rhythms and promotes an awareness of the environmental impact of artificial light at night and a broader environmental consciousness. Interdisciplinary methods were used, drawing from the geohumanities, time studies, night studies, design, electronic engineering, and creative practices to foster a connection between people and their surroundings and encourage stewardship toward urban and natural environments. Participatory workshops demonstrated how localized, sensor-driven art installations can influence public perceptions and behaviours regarding artificial light and its ecological consequences.

Virtual tour systems have become an integral aspect of modern technology, revolutionizing the way individuals interact with physical spaces. In the context of the built environment, virtual tour systems offer applications ranging from architectural visualization and urban planning to educational simulations and interactive tourism experiences. The design and development of these systems involve intricate considerations, such as path planning, data collection, tour design, and the integration of multimedia, to create a cohesive and engaging virtual experience of the built environments. In this paper, we present the development of a virtual tour system and discuss the practical constraints. Our work has practical implications for employing digital approaches to present the built environment, shaping the way we interact with and experience physical spaces.

Heritage digitalization has garnered considerable attention in academic research, yet a discernible gap exists in comprehensive studies exploring large-scale commercial Augmented Reality (AR) projects. This research seeks to distil key insights and build a preliminary framework to look at both academic and commercial on-site AR heritage experiences to better understand the pragmatic implementations witnessed in the latest AR-driven heritage apps. The paper navigates the use of immersive technologies at heritage sites and uses the AR Continuum to categorize various types of in-situ AR heritage experiences. The goal is to understand the current trends and look for new research directions that will be able to support the rapidly evolving commercialisation of digital heritage.

The increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in architecture is facilitating innovative design approaches and building forms. Such a trend may stimulate the rise of post-human architects and require collaborative human-machine efforts to materialize design intents. This paper discusses an AI-aided design, robotic and mixed reality (MR)-aided construction workflow in a student’s project of a non-standard timber pavilion. It first describes an expanded formal repertoire empowered by AI-generated content and machine learning design algorithms. It describes paperless in-situ construction procedures involving MR and industrial robots. The paper concludes by arguing that the new generation of architectural designers must learn to master the latest techniques in design-to-build processes so that they are capable of confronting future industrial shifts and challenges.

The design of chairs not only considers aesthetics but also emphasizes ergonomics to ensure users’ comfort during prolonged sitting. Due to the diverse characteristics and sitting habits of different users, traditional mass-produced chairs struggle to meet all users’ needs. To overcome this challenge, this study proposes a design method that integrates ergonomics with parametric design, achieving personalized customization of chairs based on data-driven approaches. This method utilizes tools such as Kinect, Grasshopper, Arduino, and pressure sensors to dynamically generate chair forms adapted to users’ body characteristics in real-time, providing a more comfortable sitting experience. By capturing users’ skeletal joint positions and pressure parameters, the study achieves real-time adjustment of chair shape, facilitating seamless information exchange between the physical and digital worlds.

Design for Disassembly (DfD) aims to enhance the recyclability and reusability of building materials by considering their ease of disassembly at the end of their lifecycle. This paper explores the innovative integration of holographic construction technology within the DfD context. The six DfD principles are evaluated by integrating Fologram© and physical modelling, which has yet to be explored in previous studies. The research question the authors seek to answer is, “How can holographic construction methods facilitate the DfD approach of no-glue, no-nail timber structure?”. The research is carried out by conducting a prototyping experiment with three participants to assemble and disassemble a structure using Fologram©. The mobile app simplifies viewing and editing Rhinoceros© 3D models in real-time through a live link with the device, enabling easy visualization and modifications. Six DfD principles are analysed, and from this preliminary study, it is observed that the Fologram© as a holographic construction method can facilitate disassembly processes if it is improved in some steps. The future design options will be more organized using discrete layers in the defined mixed-reality fabrication steps.

Modern Society is facing design problems with increasing complexities and their resolution requires specific knowledge, thus cross-disciplinary collaboration has become more frequent. Collaboration entails communication, interaction and idea-sharing between the participants and it tends to be more time-consuming and does not guarantee successful results. The origin can be found in conflictual situations during the collaboration, which include different progress statuses, antagonist objectives, overlapping activities, and difficulties in reaching an agreement between the parties. Consequences of a poor design process management include contradictory file versions, bringing efforts in clash detection and synchronisation, project delay and lower design quality.The present paper proposes the design process optimisation that deals with interdisciplinary collaborations. In particular, it investigates an infrastructure that supports the actors’ communication, their impacts on the design product and their involvement during the decision-making process. It relies on the digitalisation of design intents, expressing them as a set of relationships and parameters while a Business Process Management Notation (BPMN) platform provides the communication infrastructure. A prototype has been experimented, showing the feasibility of cross-disciplinary participation. It has proved the possibility of involving actors from different professional backgrounds, breaking down boundaries in the Design disciplines. In addition, the design process digitalisation allows its automation, bringing benefits in terms of time, conflicts, human resource reduction and therefore the overall design quality. The exploration that concerns how to create conditions for good results to emerge, rather than on a fixed design product, is known as metadesign.

The introduction of text-to-image diffusion models poses the question whether design processes could be accelerated: Can rapid intuitive image generation replace traditional representational methods? This paper studies the results of an accelerated design process, conducted by 68 master students of architecture divided into groups of 4. The students are presented with a design brief and asked to use Midjourney during the sketch design phase. The produced images would represent their architectural translation of the brief that should lead to a realistic ‘buildable’ project. This paper studies the design decisions and design criteria through the collected text prompts, images and questions into the used vocabulary, experiences and decision-making process, leading to the definition of textual and visual interpretation moments. Furthermore, the relationship between the textual and visual interpretation moments and their respective challenges are identified as a basis for further research into sketch design support and automation with diffusion models. Our paper provides insights into the potential of accelerated workflows in architectural design, identifying key inflection points in the process. This is significant as it provides part of the basis for understanding the role diffusion models might have in a 4th industrial revolution workflow of architectural design.

Boundaries are spaces of contestation and encounter. When considering contemporary architecture in the global South, particularly in Africa, these spaces of encounter are especially pronounced. There is a body of architectural work in Africa produced by architects who are crossing physical boundaries between the global North and the global South, and the boundaries between global and local ways of making; some of them have also begun to blur the boundaries between the digital and the analogue. Drawing on previous empirical research in Africa, and building on literature about deborderisation, hybridisation, and tectonics, the space of encounter is positioned as a necessary and productive one. Analysis of representative building case studies in three African countries shows how architects are combining global and local tectonics in an effort to engage with social, economic, and environmental limitations. This can be read as a conscientious objection to reckless technological production that is, at times, ignorant of both local conditions and the planetary resource limitations that the world is facing. This paper will argue that the shift towards the tectonic hybridisation of computational design and digital fabrication with the use of local materials, traditions, and skills can further contribute towards this engagement. It emphasises the importance of tectonic ethics as a prerequisite for more equitable forms of exchange and encounter when working across boundaries, and it demonstrates how hybrid tectonics is a potentially useful and transferable strategy to begin to address some of these limitations.

This research aims to find the most suitable immersive technologies that can be applied in architectural design education, particularly for timber frame and joint design, through a critical review of contemporary AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction) literature that refers to immersive technological research and applications. This research serves as a foundational investigation towards a significant contribution to a deeper exploration of integrating immersive technologies with other digital technologies for applications in architectural research domains and educational contexts.

Solar Decathlon establishes a platform for students to demonstrate their study and research outcomes. This paper discusses a project of SDC2021, Aurora, to illustrate the adoption of design strategies for Permanent Modular Construction (PMC) oriented to rapid construction. Through the off-site prefabrication and on-site assembly procedures, this work investigates the feasibility of deploying rapid construction and simultaneous collaboration of multi-participants to realize a modular volumetric house.Through systematic empirical research and data analysis, the paper also explores the potential contributions of PMC in enhancing industrialization levels in construction, reducing on-site waste, and promoting environmentally friendly architectural design. Finally, it provides insights into future research directions and trends in the PMC field to innovate further and apply rapid construction technologies.

This study discusses the theory to practice of bamboo and tectonic thinking in architectural education. The primary objective is to discuss the utilisation of bamboo as an adaptable and sustainable material in architectural education, facilitating an understanding of the interplay between design principles and structural considerations. A review of existing literature is conducted to understand the theories and practices for integrating bamboo and tectonic thinking in architectural design education. Addressing the challenges and opportunities of merging design and structure in architectural education, the study discusses aspects such as knowledge retention and transfer, experiential learning, teamwork, and developing critical thinking skills. The research aims to offer insights into alternative teaching strategies and curricular frameworks that facilitate the integration of bamboo and tectonic thinking in architectural education. In conclusion, this research discussion explores integrating design and structure by applying tectonic thinking with bamboo in architecture education. Such an approach holds the potential to cultivate a comprehensive alternative understanding of architectural design principles, sustainability, and material integration, thereby equipping students with the challenges and opportunities in meaningful and contemporary architectural practice.

The abrupt shift at the beginning of pandemic in 2019 highlighted the rise of the adoption of flexible learning (especially online) into mainstream education. The study develops an argument on a dual continua of student preferences constructed from learners’ cognitive and social learning and teaching (L&T, henceforth) styles, within the context of architecture pedagogy. This research aims to build considerations of incorporating hybrid and online L&T techniques to support offline L&T post-pandemic, which is also informed by the collected data. The research data was collected through an online questionnaire, deployed during the time when learners were already back in a completely offline setting, having experienced online and hybrid L&T for three years. The study is concluded with a cognitive-social dual continuum, mapped against 3M (Media, Method and Methodology) framework. This study contributes to the view of equity of learning where various tasks are available to cater to different demographies of cognitive styles; rather than putting learners to ‘boxes’ of learning styles.

Since the 1960s, Singapore’s Housing and Development Board (HDB) has gradually established a comprehensive, hierarchical planning system for housing and public space in high-density residential areas. In the late 1990s, Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) began to draw on Singapore’s planning experience, absorbed certain planning concepts, and attempted to build up its urban model in China. The spatial practice and conceptual translation from Singapore to the SIP warrants reflection on the differences and issues in the two planning and urban management contexts. This article first investigates the issues in that translation when the planning concepts in Singapore (e.g. neighbourhood and precinct) were translated into Chinese planning contexts, in which some translations were made based on literal meanings without intricate mapping from one context to the other. Through fieldwork and policy mapping between the two places, the research further highlights the precincts and gated communities that have been neglected in comparing the two systems as an essential urban unit in making the spatial ductility and urban connectivity of public spaces in the hierarchy of Singapore difficult to achieve in the SIP. The investigation into the neighbourhood centres and void deck spaces in the SIP as transferable concepts from Singapore also found that more large-scale, multifunctional, centralised small shopping malls have been increasingly planned in recent years, such that everyday public spaces close to ordinary life are in danger of shrinkage. This article points out the trend for constructing centralised neighbourhood centres should be revisited, and the priority should be made to create a fluid urban system with public spaces connecting to each other.

This paper investigates the ongoing journey as an architect and educator in various countries and institutions throughout the African continent. An architect is, first, a human being who shares the acquired knowledge aiming, among other goals, to enhance, in the case of our profession, the life conditions and, when vesting the role of the lecturer, to make visible the path towards a consciousness of each own potentiality. Adaptation has become the keyword depicting the journey in Africa and how to deal with different contexts: adapting eyes trained to a diverse background and environment while fostering a mindset that recalibrates itself according to the local conditions. One main subject was raised predominantly from more than a decade of learning in teaching in the “cradle of humankind”: the need to re-discover the past in terms of knowing the peculiar architectural heritage without losing sight of the future by adopting a sustainable approach. The research studies academic experiences in DR Congo and Rwanda as an employee civil servant at ISAU (Higher Institute of Architecture and Urbanism) in Kinshasa and the UR (University of Rwanda) in Kigali. Two design studios have tried to make students more aware of the renewed challenges the profession requires. As said, the awareness of the memory for sustainable development is projected across boundaries, and an adapted inclusive pedagogy has been applied. The research is guided by an autoethnographic methodology based on personal experiences, observations, and literature reviews strictly intertwined with the academic outcomes achieved.

The rapid urban development in China has led to the erosion of intangible cultural heritage, distancing it from the collective memory of its citizens. This issue is particularly pronounced in Suzhou, which is known for its historic canal waterfronts. This research explores innovative approaches to revitalising Suzhou’s canals, focusing on rediscovering regional cultures, examining the impact of historic places on community well-being, and preserving cultural and historical significance. The “Flow with Me” art and design community workshop series allows participants to engage in vernacular and contemporary activities influenced by the water canal heritage. This research aims to create a comprehensive cultural narrative that informs policy by employing diverse methodologies, including experimental studies. The workshops, grounded in Sophia Psarra’s architectural narrative theory, illustrate the importance of active community involvement in preserving and revitalising cultural heritage sites. Participants engaged in traditional crafts, storytelling, and visual collages, fostering self-expression, social interaction, and a greater connection to their cultural heritage. The findings highlight the potential of participatory art and design workshops to enhance community well-being, social cohesion, and cultural continuity. This interdisciplinary approach offers valuable insights for future heritage preservation projects, advocating for integrating narrative and participatory design methods in urban planning and architectural practices. By doing so, cultural heritage can remain a vibrant and integral part of community life, ensuring its relevance and vitality in modern urban development.

While many architectural design curricula have been framed within real-life hypothetical contexts, there has been an emerging trend towards design-build projects within or outside of the formal curriculum. This paper presents a longitudinal case study of a design-build project undertaken by Year 1 architecture students in a Malaysian private university which started from 2022. Framed within the purpose learning educational philosophy, this project is an Urban Placemaking project for suburban community farms involving the local council, communities, and approximately 100 students from Year 1 architecture design studio. As new students of architecture, the students were involved in designing and building 5–6 real life bamboo structures within suburban community farms. Placemaking is not a single-disciplined approach. In the My Bamboo project, architecture students collaborated with students from mass communication, events, and marketing. The project targets neighborhoods and places in need of improvement and works with them to create or re-create “places”. Supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG) to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, this urban placemaking project advocates for socially inclusive and accessible urban spaces to build a strong sense of belonging and community spirit, and to improve neighbours’ wellbeing. Adopting survey and reflective practice, the findings suggest the changing role of the educator in curating an urban placemaking project within the curricular. Despite myriad of challenges, students were found to be highly engaged in impact-driven community-based projects realizing that even a year 1 student can play an active role in place creation. In addition, the multidisciplinary approach to placemaking reinforces the blurring of boundaries between disciplines, emphasizing that the creation of places is a collaborative act.

The Third Front construction (1964–1980), emerging as a significant national strategic decision tailored to the geographical landscape of China during the Cold War period, represents the interplay of strategy and spatial positioning under the influence of strategic preparedness factors. The influence of the military principle of ‘dispersal and concealment in the mountains’ has necessitated a specialized consideration in the planning and construction of Third Front factories and mining bases on how to closely integrate with complex terrain. During this period, it ushered in new architectural paradigms and technological explorations and profoundly influenced the design methods, architectural standards, and architectural education of modern Chinese architecture at that time. Using Architectural Journal (建筑学报) and relevant archives from the 1960s to the 1980s, this paper examines early China’s exploration of mountain architecture and other areas of Chinese architectural engineering and technical scientific networks. This paper illuminates the development of Chinese modern architecture from a new and hitherto underexplored perspective, enriching the historical narrative and theoretical understanding of China in Cold War architectural history. It also provides practical insights into the current ‘new Cold War’ situation.

The higher education landscape has transformed significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, encouraging a rapid transition to online and hybrid education modes via digital technologies. Game-based learning, particularly educational escape rooms, has emerged as a valuable tool in STEM subjects, positively impacting student motivation, learning outcomes, and engagement. In architecture education, the use of gamification and serious gaming presents unique challenges in bridging theoretical knowledge and professional practice. This study explores the potential of digital educational escape rooms (DEERs) in architecture education and collaborative practice, aiming to enhance students’ engagement, motivation, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.The research seeks to address two main questions: what methods are used to evaluate the outcomes of DEERs in architecture education, and how DEERs impact students’ motivation, collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving to link theoretical knowledge with professional practice? A qualitative thematic analysis of 20 articles published from 2016 to 2023 reveals DEERs’ growing popularity as a learning tool in architecture education. It underscores the importance of further research to explore how DEERs can better prepare students for professional practice and address global challenges.

Incorporating research into teaching empowers students to engage with and generate new knowledge. Integrating service learning enhances students’ experience, providing opportunities to apply learned knowledge in real-world scenarios and foster civic responsibility. Bamboo architecture has gained popularity due to its sustainability and versatility. However, despite recent advancement in bamboo construction, architectural education has given it limited attention compared to other conventional materials. Recognizing bamboo’s significance in architectural design is crucial. To address this gap, incorporating bamboo-related coursework, research projects, and community service in architectural curricula can deepen students’ understanding of bamboo applications. This study introduces a framework for Tectonic Bamboo Education (TBE), implemented in a course focusing on kinetic bamboo structures. The paper aims to assess the framework’s potential and challenges through surveys and semi structured interviews, utilizing mixed method analysis, including descriptive analysis and thematic coding, to provide insight into its advantages and challenges.

This paper explores the tension between global design practices and local construction challenges in transnational architectural projects, with a focus on Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) developments in selected countries. Over the past two decades, research on “nomadic expertise” and “global experts” has expanded contemporary architectural theory, emphasizing the growing separation of architectural design from its construction due to industrialization and globalization. In this context, managing the design and construction process throughout collaborative practices poses multifaceted challenges. Limited transferability of skills, especially in resource-limited environments, arises from the scale and complexity of contemporary construction projects and the non-site-specific nature of global supply chains. In addressing this complexity, the study employs in-depth case studies investigation of construction projects within the frame of the BRI. It investigates how the global circulation of technologies, expertise, and standards, along-side the evaluation of local conditions, influences design choices in collaborative practices between Chinese architectural and construction firms and their foreign counterparts. In this manner, the study challenges discussions on technological universalism, offering insights into how design firms can navigate the construction of the built environment with pragmatic design and construction practices in complex transnational projects.

In recent years, digital analysis has been widely practiced in the architecture design industry and architectural education, representing a primary technical focus in the teaching practice and methodological innovation of architectural education. Advances in digital analysis have stimulated interdisciplinary knowledge associations and technical integrations with medicine, geospatial science, and traditional design analysis methods. This study selected the Gusu District of Suzhou City, China, as the practical analysis site. Based on the health environment, it combines the green space evaluation framework of the architectural environment with aging health data to establish an integrative digital system for age-friendly community green space evaluation and analysis. Application in the preliminary analysis of design research has created a more multidimensional analysis foundation through interdisciplinary research analysis and provided more diverse guidance for urban renewal planning and policy recommendations.

This paper explores the boundaries between art, drawing, and architecture, viewing them as parts of an interconnected system rather than isolated disciplines. It examines how the authors’ practices in exhibition-making and speculative drawing reveal an undisciplined approach, described as a transdisciplinary method that problematises issues that professional architects encounter, broadening their ecology of practice. Here, drawings and buildings are part of a dynamic ontology that challenges linear progress from drawing to building and questions the static nature of both. The author’s full-scale inhabitable drawings are investigated as an example of undisciplining where drawings are in space, rather than of spaces. The paper examines an afterlife of speculative drawing through Encountering Drawing and how these drawings transition into Pac Studio’s professional architectural projects. The research demonstrates the significance of interpretive translation and the amplified design loop between drawings and buildings, showing that the journey from drawing to building is not linear. The conclusion posits that speculative drawings and undisciplined practices allow for the constant pushing of practice boundaries.

The cultural landscape generates from the interference of tangible and intangible components, and is transformed by human civilisations with the stratification of memory and knowledge evolution. Working on the cultural landscape, we can interpret its stratified topography as an intricate overlapping of signs that can be decoded, thus identifying the territory's quality and revealing the significance of a place. The identity of a place lies in the cultural traces and consists of the process. Observing the landscape through the lens of our culture is inevitable, and the landscape reflects ourselves, our traditions, and our memories. At a different scale, by observing the detail of any architectural artefact surface, we discover a micro-landscape with signs and memories of the process defining its identity. As in a cultural landscape, the micro-landscape becomes a system of permanences and mutations. Through its materiality, the evolutionary and metamorphic stratification of the micro-landscape embraces and protects the sense of memory of the cultural landscape. This study and understanding of materiality's micro-landscapes originate from the recent technological development of 3D-printed concrete (3DPC). The research investigates the potential of innovative architectural language by exploring the textures and patterns as the foundation for building a future memory. By encompassing the entire design-to-production process, the research explores the articulated micro-landscape of 3DPC residing in technological and material-related innovations as well as fabrication process redefinition. A new meaning of landscape makes its way, revealing a new integral approach to design production that gives architectural and cultural value to technological development.

Some 15 years ago, the world’s urban population surpassed the global rural population, an unprecedented shift in how and where we live. It is believed that by 2050 more than two thirds of the world’s population will be living in urban settings. How can, and should we integrate such a population into the project methodology, aiming at their participation? There has been a growing interest in increasing user commitment in conception design processes for built space, moving against fully top-down approaches. In turn, Research Centres have become increasingly interested in the potential of computational technologies of AI, as well as digital fabrication, in design research projects. However, it should be noted that such research is limited in its social impact and influence over decision-making processes, namely in social, environmental, and urban settings. Furthermore, lack of more systematic information on emerging digital technologies, generating new forms of social innovation, is an obstacle to developing more conscious design strategies. In this context, this paper sets out to develop a set of European pilot projects produced in laboratories of technology and architecture, focusing on two guidelines: i) conscious innovation ii) inclusive participation. From this revision, a set of insights will result, which call for driving forces towards social cohesion, by implementing solutions based on digital technologies.Therefore, this research will contribute to endow architects with theoretical and methodological references that drive conscious innovation and inclusive participation, in the name of a digital architecture that is more active, both politically and socially, and committed to greater spacial social justice.

This paper revisits the notion of porosity, exploring its terminology, history, and meaning in architecture, positioning it as a transformative design strategy to address the escalating challenges of the climate crisis and challenge the binary notion of habitability. Porosity is examined as a fundamental architectural language, fostering interpenetration and collaboration with inconstant environment. The distinction between porosity and transparency is explored, with a focus on the former’s spatial extension and adaptability to environmental forces. Case studies of the Mountain Pavilion by Peter Salter and the Public Condenser by Muoto illustrate porosity in practise, showcasing a porous structure as a climate-responsive approach in real-life scenario. These cases exemplify responsive architecture that adapts to natural forces and occupancy. Porosity challenges traditional façade roles, proposing an interiority that intricately connects architecture with its context. Informed by Object-Oriented Ontology, the paper envisions architecture as a mediator between human and non-human elements. Emphasising the underestimated potential of a porous architectural language, this study advocates for transformative design methods, fostering a dialogue between environmental shifts, biodiversity, and human habitation. The discussion prompts vital considerations for inclusive approaches, inviting non-human agencies into architectural practises.

With the surge of modern studies of the concept of yijing (意境, artistic conception) in China and the introduction of Western debates on ‘the poetic’ since the 1980s, the term shiyi (诗意), generally translated as poetic, has been frequently employed by contemporary Chinese architects. Atelier Deshaus (AD), an acclaimed contemporary private architectural design studio, is known for the integration of the Chinese shiyi tradition with modern rationality. Yet, AD’s interpretation of shiyi is entangled with Western discussions of ‘the poetic,’ such as Martin Heidegger’s idea that all dwelling is poetic and Kenneth Frampton’s notion of the poetics of construction. This complexity makes it challenging to discern what it is precisely that situates AD’s work in a Chinese cultural shiyi tradition. In this context, this paper aims to explore the distinctive influences of the Chinese shiyi tradition on architectural design, with a particular focus on the case study of AD’s Riverside Passage project, built in 2019 in Shanghai. The research demonstrates that the integration of the shiyi tradition assists AD in countering the increasing homogeneity of urban environments and in reviving a poetic approach to architectural design. This approach can be considered an ecological and systemic approach to architectural design, as shiyi, characterised by openness and suggestiveness, places focus on dynamic relations and the coexistence of architecture, individuals, and their living surroundings.

In this paper, we outline a method for examining the merits of cross-disciplinary theory appropriations in architecture. We then apply this method to examine the merits of the appropriation of autopoiesis theory in Patrik Schumacher’s two-volume treatise on The Autopoiesis of Architecture. The theory of autopoiesis was originally developed by Chilean neuro-biologists Humberto Maturana, Francisco Varela, and Ricardo Uribe in the early 1970s to describe the organisation of living systems. Since its inception, this theory has been adopted in sociology by Niklas Luhmann to describe social processes of communication and, based on that, in architecture by Schumacher to describe the architectural profession. To examine the merits of the latter appropriation, we develop and apply a text analysis method drawing on discourse analysis, close reading, visual interpretation, and inference to the best explanation. We use this method to analyse a set of pertinent samples from The Autopoiesis of Architecture, focusing, within the limited space of this paper, on a single, representative sample. Our analysis uses previously established categorisations of language use and merits of theory appropriation. We thereby determine how Schumacher’s theory relates “architecture” to prior (i.e. Luhmann’s or Maturana et al.’s) instances of autopoiesis theory, the degree of literality of these references, and the likely beneficiaries. We hope the proposed method will be of value to others who wish to contextualise, evaluate, and appreciate other instances of theory appropriation in architecture from a rigorous research perspective.

This paper presents a method for enquiring into a distinction between two kinds of purposeful human action in design: pragmatic and epistemic actions. Although frequently mentioned in the literature, this distinction has not been empirically tested in the design context. To test the distinction, we conducted an empirical lab study with designers thinking-aloud during digital design processes. This study allowed us to collect and subsequently transcribe, parse, and code a set of design process protocols. Based on this protocol set, we tested the distinction between pragmatic and epistemic actions using protocol analysis and a linkographic notation that we extended for this purpose. Through this analysis, we found that pragmatic and epistemic actions are neither all-encompassing nor necessarily mutually exclusive. We thereby arrive at a more nuanced categorisation of purposeful human actions in design as well as an extended linkographic notation, with a potential for more general utility in empirical design research.

In the realm of complex challenges commonly referred to as “wicked problems,” the intricate interplay between social and ecological factors renders conventional scientific methodologies insufficient for resolution (Rittel and Webber, 1973). Focusing on the declining Satoyama landscape as a case study, this paper delves into the inherent limitations of contemporary scientific approaches in addressing wicked problems specifically in landscape recovery, rooted in the dichotomy of environmentalism and professionalism. This paper confronts the conventional division between the roles of the architect and the carer. It proposes an empathetic approach that expands further the significance of human emotions, sensibility, and the ethos of care, employing a blend of empathetic imagination and emotive engagement.

Systemic approaches to design provide insights into understanding the intertwined nature of activities, objects and environments, accentuating a shift in conceptualising design from dealing with objects to dealing with dynamic relations. Drawing upon the philosophies of Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari, as well as insights from the cyberneticians Herbert Brün and Larry Richards, this paper explores the concepts of assemblage and anticommunication as a basis for systemic design. In the work of Deleuze and Guattari, assemblage emerges as a strategic resistance against modernity’s tendency to replace genuine relations with illusions of meaning (i.e., ‘the spectacle’). By harnessing assemblage, traditional confines and structures are disrupted, echoing Deleuze and Guattari’s notion of deterritorialization. Anti-communication, introduced by Herbert Brün and explored by Larry Richards as ‘composing asynchronicity’, transcends one-dimensional communicative interactions, advocating for a vibrant, multidimensional conversation that forms in deterritorialized space. It challenges system stability; stimulates the vitality, complexity, and diversity of relational domains; and thereby fosters novel conversations that can counter the homogenising effects of the media spectacle. The above-mentioned theoretical paradigms have inspired ‘The Order of Things, Rivers and Mountains,’ a public art project created for Wolong village in Yunnan, China. They assisted us in integrating intricate relationships between the local environment, a village’s history, and human interaction. Presenting approaches to design that break free from conventional constraints, weaving a fabric where relationships burgeon, enriched by systemic thinking, this paper focusses on the multidimensional nature of assemblage and anticommunication and the interactions, flows and interconnections they afford.

This study concentrates on the architectural design and reportages in the Chinese architectural academic publication Architectural Journal in late 1957 to 1958. It seeks to elucidate that within the political context advocating technological revolution both internationally and domestically, building industrialization, characterized by the utilization of new materials and technologies with an emphasis on rapid, efficient, and cost-effective construction, has become the focal point of the Chinese architectural society. The “Scientific” architectural design approach supplanted the traditional paradigm of “Big roof” and classical decorations, emerging as a novel representation of the superiority of Chinese socialism.

The focus of this paper is the exploration through the lens of a metabolic urbanism of the complex reciprocities between processes of territorial transformation and “techno-dynamics” which affect/ are affected by the global strategies of economic and political power. These transformations renew the scale and vocabulary of architecture, involving integrated and simultaneously diverse built, cultural, social and natural environments, part of the post-industrial era. These environments, considered within the continuous development of advanced technologies that move permeably across real and virtual, require new coordinated holistic strategies in approaching urbanized metropolitan areas as part of a complex metabolic system, exploring and decoding processes of action/ reaction within the space of flows. In these several operational fields are involved, differently affecting the life of each individual and promoting a detachment/delocalization between place and action, space and feeling of it. Encompassing multiple dimensional scales, and including infrastructure, urbanism, natural resources, production and consumption, technologies define renewed proactive and challenging relationships capable to guarantee recognition and a sense of belonging, spatializing and visualizing our complex and often ephemeral “data-scapes.”New methodologies and tools for performative and networked operational procedures need to be experimented and coordinated through a critical approach merging technologies capable of landing in strategically located and adaptive designs proposals which can promote and support more sustainable and integrated processes of territorial transformation, especially when acting in highly vulnerable localities which challenge entire regions. New urban morphologies and building trans-typologies affecting quality of spaces and life, are then creatively integrated as “techno-scapes” defining our complex “territorial metabolism.”

“Mutant cities” are ones that function as living organisms, constantly mutating, and requiring tailored approaches for the management of the conditions and needs of their inhabitants. This concept fits well with “Exponential technologies” which refer to advanced and continuously evolving technologies, enabling rapid and radical changes in the world of industrial production and society. When combined, these concepts make up the Smart City 3.0, which underlines the ability of all individuals to share their opinions and help decision-makers find reliable and practical solutions for addressing social, environmental, and governance challenges of cities. This also applies to minor cultural heritage; thanks to participatory engagement mediated by digital technologies, it can experience new modalities of enjoyment and with it new resources and energies to be valorised. Today’s cultural heritage policies foster active citizen involvement, both to increase awareness and civic sense and to create new opportunities for cultural heritage, citizens themselves, and public administrations. This contribution highlights the opportunities of modern digital technologies in the process of minor cultural heritage valorisation. The result of this analysis is a project methodology that facilitates engagement between experts and non-experts as a mechanism for promoting the production of new values and meanings for heritage use. It focuses on the research activities of the “Fabbrica del Carnevale” project, which realizes a co-design model to revive the carnival tradition of San Giovanni in Persiceto (Italy) and the “Safely-connected” project, which adopts a phygital logic to create an open-air urban market in Saint-Germain-en-Leye (France) during the pandemic.

Inspired by Françoise Choay’s analysis of infrastructural prosthesis, our study perceives the city as a dynamic organism in which technology acts as an essential component, generating an ‘alien’ space or a ‘non-place’. This perspective redefines the traditional urban role and time as an ‘extended present’. The analysis draws on Ernesto Nathan Rogers and Dipesh Chakrabarty’s works, exploring the connection between time, space, and a possible ‘future without us’ and calling for a critical reflection on past urban practices. Technology emerges as an agent of social transformation, highlighting the evolution of ethics over time and the importance of maintaining a link between the past and the future. The investigation focuses on ‘situated knowledge’, a key to understanding body-environment interaction, implying an analysis of material and immaterial interactions in urban evolution. The need to develop concepts related to the scale and multifunctionality of urban infrastructures is emphasised, as well as the importance of preserving the sensory and cultural aspects of the urban environment during green and digital transitions (Twin Transition).The conclusion emphasises the need for a change in the relationship between technology, nature, and society for a successful ecological and social transition, proposing a proactive view of technology as a tool to preserve, adapt and transform, embracing the idea of a sustainable metropolitan future.

The dynamic evolution of European gardens and their profound influence on contemporary urban landscapes have significantly impacted the conceptualisation of modern virtual and hybrid spaces. This study delves into the rich history of gardens, from ancient kepos to the Romantic era’s emotionally charged landscapes and further to contemporary virtual realities (Venturi Ferriolo et al., 1999), where transcendency is crucial in reshaping urban experiences.The Romantic era is a key focus, redefining the interaction between urban spaces and the human body (Venturi Ferriolo, 1998). This period provided insights into contemporary urban landscapes, where material and immaterial realms are blended. Gardens in this era transcended traditional formality, evolving into landscapes that evoke deep emotions and a strong connection to nature. This shift, driven by the Romantic movement, transformed the city from a physical space to a dynamic environment where technology, nature, and human experience intertwine. The era reinterpreted urban spaces as emotional scenes, conceptualising urbanscapes as a mise en scène. In an age of hyper-technological prostheses, the city transforms into a multiscalar entity with individuals as interconnected nodes within global networks. This shift heralds the emergence of new hybrid space-time categories, transcending traditional physical confines of urban space. The paper also integrates contemporary case studies, including projects like Re: Wild Royal Docks, Taiwan Tower, and Architecture of Shades, showcasing how modern gardens and urban landscapes embody this evolution from Romantic aesthetics to hyper-technological environments. These examples highlight the ongoing relevance of historical garden concepts in contemporary urban design and the transformative potential of integrating technology and nature, leading to evolving urban temporalities within a landscape of unlimited possibilities.

External demand plays a guiding role in the revitalization strategy of historical districts. In the past, the renewal process of historical districts often failed to accurately establish the supply-demand relationship between the internal and external environments due to the lack of a systematic diagnosis of the demand for the surrounding environment, leading to issues such as poor functional adaptability and inappropriate positioning after the renovation of the district. This study takes the Dalian Liansuo Street historical district as the research object. Based on open-source internet data combined with ArcGIS kernel density and network analysis tools, it establishes an external demand determination system for historical districts from both macro and micro perspectives. The aim is to provide references for clarifying the developmental positioning of historical district renewal, optimizing the allocation of public resources, and promoting vitality regeneration.

The innovation economy is a crucial industry type currently valued highly by cities worldwide. In the suburb of Hangzhou in coastal area of China, driven by the leading enterprise Alibaba Corporation, a cluster of technology and innovation companies has gradually emerged. Since 2011, the local government has planned this area (covering an area of approximately 113 square kilometers) as an innovation district and provided tax and policy support. This article focuses on walkability, which refers to measuring how friendly an area is for walking. Although this concept is adopted by academics, it has not been easy to implement in the real world. For innovation districts, walkability is crucial for fostering public space vitality and catering to the lifestyle of young talents. However, according to a large-scale behavioural survey organized by the authors in spring 2023, the proportion of pedestrians is not high. Under the dual influence of “super blocks in the suburb and segregation by river network”, the current walkability of Hangzhou Chengxi Sci-tech Corridor is relatively lower than that of other famous innovation districts in the western world. This study also evaluates the walkability and density of daily service in this area with a new tool NRA (based on Space Syntax theory). A downtown innovation districts in the same city is chosen as a benchmark for understanding the quantitative results. The research shows the potential of this new method for evaluating walkability. The visualization of quantitative data can help the decision-makers and designers to identify weak spots, and compare different scenarios of regeneration plans.

The text investigates the possible evolution of the historic city toward the contents of today’s smart cities, reporting on a research and comparison work that examined the city of Genova, indicating its identity characteristics and paths of “smart transformation”, considering as a reference the data provided by the Index Reports prepared by Ernst & Young as a reference. Data from the predetermined assessment models, again drawn up by the E&Y group, for identifying and ranking the most advanced cities in terms of urban management and planning are analised. Discussion proceed arguing technological and sustainable evolution as well as analysing and describing (highlighting the response of citizens) through a comparison with early cases of smart cities as Amsterdam, which represents an early innovative model in Europe.The general framework is that Smart Cities, which is oriented through a process of innovation and change, widespreads in much of Europe. Evaluating and comparing the Genova theme with the first cases of smart cities in Italy, such as Bologna, Torino and Trento. We discuss data with the aim of delving into the progress, as well as the past, of Genova in the years 2016/2020, processing and comparing the data with those provided by the 2016 and 2018 Smart City Index. The work aimed to integrate, by means of a specific survey of Genova, values and disvalues, trying to schematize in a conceptual way the interventions that led to an increase in Smartness indices in the time frame considered.

Cities are the background and setting for science fiction works on and off future Earth. The city setting assumes an active role within the narrative, as its attributes are crucial to the contests and conflicts that transpire within it. Sometimes, cities undertake the role of actors, intervening, shaping, and framing the action. The futuristic techno cities depicted in contemporary Chinese science fiction exhibit distinct ways of conceiving a vibrant and resilient urban future and understanding the problems of China’s large-scale and rapid urbanization. Science fiction works can reimagine urban environments by manipulating spatial and temporal elements, generating new visions of urban landscapes. The fragmentation of urban space has been further intensified by the utilization of technological methods to regulate the allocation of time and space. This article discusses two representative works, “The Fish of Lijiang” (丽江的鱼儿们, 2006) by Chen Qiufan and “Folding Beijing” (北京折叠, 2014) by Hao Jingfang, which creates a unique chronotope that allows for a close examination of a variety of social issues and problems. Within such imaginative contexts, cities assume the nature of an incomprehensible entity that is irresistible. Through textual analysis, this paper aims to argue that technological modifications to urban form prioritize the resilience of affluent and influential people, further exacerbating disparities and differences in urban morphology.

There has been a significant spread in the construction of university student residences in recent years. The necessity for the spread of student residential facilities has been fuelled by several factors, including the increase in the number of university students, the proliferation of university campuses, the expansion of educational offerings to accommodate a wide range of interests, and the increasing mobility of students, researchers, and lecturers. This latter factor plays a crucial role in the definition of these buildings. The temporary character of collective residences is today at the center of numerous debates on the forms in which the function of living is generally evolving. Student residences are closely linked to temporariness, reflecting the changing needs of a constantly moving population. A large part of the new housing demand is represented by those who express a need for temporary housing in response to social transformations, demographic dynamics, and the flexibility required by the world of work.

The conceptualization of ‘techne’ (Foucault, 1984) offers an alternative perspective on technology, shifting the focus from technology’s functional rationale to human capacities for intervention. Spatially, a ‘threshold’ typically acts as a physical demarcation signifying transitions and interior-exterior passage. Etymologically, the conception of ‘threshold’ evolves and reveals that it encapsulates a shift between interiority and exteriority, necessitating the human mind and body to actively experience and engage in certain spatial conditions. This habitually produces and expresses temporal specificity in societal-cultural means. For instance, the western meaning of ‘threshold’ refers to ‘to treat and to thresh’ in ancient practice, while the Chinese perspective couples an object of ‘door’ [門] and the potential activity of ‘crossing’ [檻]. Drawing from an empirical study on the public Tsuen Wan Footbridge Network, this research problematizes its operation as negotiating techne – a multiplicity of potentialities for individuals to interact and experience tactical interventions beyond walking. This paper positions the footbridge network as the ‘morphogenesis of thresholds’, uncovering the living operation of volumetric hybridity as an assemblage of negotiating societal-cultural techne – a multiplicity of liminal habitual genres that constitute a totality of ‘identity-less’ lifestyles in a ‘scaleless’ volumetric city. Initial conclusions will highlight the importance of reinventing thresholds, viewing them as portals to human potentialities, rather than solely as markers of spatial usefulness to connect fragmented components or facilitate movements. Thereby, to consider the negotiation between individuals and the shared environment as a creative genesis of ‘tactical techne’ that generates sequence of liminal conditions.