Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Trends in Architecture and Construction

While SDG 11 focuses on making sustainable cities and communities, one of its targets that address urban governance and participatory planning is SDG 11.3 and it talks about enhancing capacity for inclusive, sustainable and integrated participatory planning and management. In this light, the focus goes to the ongoing UN Habitat survey being undertaken towards civic and community participation in the urban planning processes under the title ‘How is civic engagement in your city?’ and focuses on participatory processes of planning from being eliminated from the SDG Global Database due to lack of data. And the questions that figure in the survey are if civil society is allowed and encouraged to participate in the urban planning process regularly and directly; if civil society is allowed to participate democratically with equal representation; whether the governance structure promotes participation of different groups; etc. In this background, the paper tries to locate the localization of SDG 11.3 in India and attempts to explore the potential of urban heritage management, i.e., SDG 11.4 as a tool for the achievement of SDG Target 11.3. The methodology used is three-pillar strategy that ensured a systematic, qualitative as well as quantitative analysis of primary and secondary sources keeping India as a scope of research. This paper is part of an ongoing research and therefore has its limitations. The paper recommends that while the process of public participation needs to be improved, heritage management as a tool for public participation needs to be explored further and an indigenous system of heritage management based on the Indian traditional knowledge system needs to be arrived at.

The most populous and important city in the Republic of Indonesia is Jakarta. However, given the prevalent social and environmental challenges afflicting the metropolis, the Jokowi government resolved, in 2019, to initiate the construction of a new capital entirely anew. The selected site for the Ibu Kota Nusantara (Capital City of Indonesia) is the remote Eastern Kalimatan region, situated in the island of Borneo, a location globally acknowledged for its significance for the environmental stability of the entire region. This research seeks not only to understand the economic and political reasons that stand behind the implementation of this ambitious infrastructural mega-project, scheduled for realization in 2045. It aims also to delve into the realization of the IKN, highlighting the alignment of theoretical expectations with practical outcomes. The analysis concentrates on comprehending the vision of the city articulated in official planning documents, involving an exploration of the significance of terms employed, such as Sustainable City, Green City, Smart City, forest city, and sponge city. Given the peculiar sensitivity of the social and environmental context in which the new capital is situated, is required a deeper examination to establish how these conceptual frameworks are implemented in the construction of Nagara Rimba Nusa (Forest Archipelago City) and to the tangible impact of the novel structural elements on the surrounding environment. Observations and findings underscore the problematic aspects and contradictions within the project concerning the relationship with Nusantara City and its social and environmental background. Consequently is crucial for stakeholders to ponder critically on these challenges and to consider the central role of local advisors, including native communities and ONGs, in a more inclusive decision-making.

The idea that the city, with its overall structure, spaces, infrastructures, and environment, could play an essential role in its inhabitants’ psychological wellbeing and physical health is a relatively recent emerging concept directly connected to the growing awareness on urban health issues. In particular, the green open space of the city has changed perception in this sense due to medical developments on the one hand and social changes on the other. Public open spaces, squares, gardens, and boulevards were mainly created as an element of urban decoration and for certain socialisation functions, but since the nineteenth century, they have started to be thought of as tools to ensure hygiene standards in the modern city. Urban green and health have long gone their separate ways, whereas, since the rise of industrialisation, have increasingly been conceived as interconnected, playing a crucial role in urban policies for the improvement of citizen's wellbeing. Through the critical analysis of medical and urban literature connected to urban green spaces and health, this contribution investigates the rise and growing potential of urban green spaces as crucial elements to improve the psychological and physical wellbeing of citizens, giving compelling proof of the urgent need of an effective contemporary strategy for sustainable and resilient cities and communities.

Owing to the significance of sustainable urban panning the concept of smart cities is relevant for diverse stakeholders. A smart city employs state-of-the-art technologies, data-driven analysis, and networking to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and the quality of life for its residents. This approach promotes creativity and facilitates efficient urban planning. This paper reflects on analytical review of literature on the concept of smart city sustainable urban planning. The methodology includes use of bibliometric review for the period ranging from 2019 to 2024. The present time span is chosen by the researcher as before 2019 the research on the area had a rising trend majorly on the technology-based concept of smart cities but the sustainability agendas surged the market 2019 onwards. For the review, 833 documents have been retrieved from the Scopus database in the specific research field by using the keywords “Smart Cities”, “Urban Planning”, and “Sustainable”. To analyse the global perspective, the data on publication, most relevant sources, authors, countries, keyword co-occurrence, global citation has been assessed using VOS viewer and R-studio [Biblioshiny] software. The paper examines the volume of research carried out on the area of smart cities, sustainable urban planning, and development. The study's findings indicate that the highest level of output was observed in 2021, followed by 2020 and 2023. Furthermore, there is a projected upward trend in production starting from 2023. The Q1 journals have the highest amount of articles. Australia and the Netherlands are the most active countries globally in this field. Therefore, this study will assist academics in comprehending the dynamics of publications about smart city concerns for urban development and sustainable planning. Identifying emerging patterns and proposing future study directions for evaluating innovative approaches to building and governing sustainable smart cities.

Landscape reuse and regeneration are key issues for our cities, which are called upon to adopt sustainable development models capable of ensuring environmental protection and efficient use of resources, as well as a better quality of urban life. Urban regeneration requires different strategies from those of the past and therefore new operational tools to implement them. The new regeneration strategies require the coding and re-coding aspects of today's landscape, where past, present and, in a sense, future are mixed. This paper aims to study the specific characteristics of Arco City, near Lake Garda in Italy, and to analyse the tools that have recently been used to define and manage strategic and systemic planning for landscape regeneration.

In Thailand, many small-scale architectural heritages scattered in local temples are neglected by government agencies and scholars. Their protection and development have become an issue worthy of consideration at present. The study selected Pho Chai temple with an architectural heritage in Khon Kaen Province of Northeast Thailand, as a case study, conducted qualitative research through in-depth interviews and participant observation, tried to examine the historical appearance of the architectural heritage of the temple, combined with the current social issue of the aging society and the health promotion of the monks and villagers, and re-planned and designed the environment around the architectural heritage to renovate its vitality, which not only provides a distinctive exercise space for monks and villagers to keep their health in daily life but also become an iconic cultural space carrying the history and cultural memory of the village. Meanwhile, because of its proximity to the urban area, the study proposed Pho Chai temple could be combined with Chai Sri temple in the same village to form mutual development between architectural space and folk activities, which could greatly enrich the local tourism resources to highlight the outstanding local values, and then be incorporated into the culture tourism circle of Khon Kaen Province. This will lead to complementary advantages and common sustainable development between urban and communities.

Application of vertical green walls (VGW) to address the environmental challenges due to urbanization, energy consumption, and GHG emissions, particularly in tropical regions has vital impact. Experiencing hot days with higher temperatures is increasing. Thus, it is essential to assess how effectively green walls can cool the envelope and built structures. This paper investigates the function of green walls as a strategy toward nature-based solution in moderating the UHI effect and heat-stress related challenges of built environment particularly in tropical climate. An investigation assessing the effect of VGW located in the city of Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India, is done. The study provides a detailed understanding of green wall with elephant bush (P. Afra) plant species and thermal imaging study assessing surface temperature comparison between bare wall and vegetated wall surface. An average reduction of around 6.5 °C in the surface temperature from bare wall to vegetated wall is observed in the results. Also, comparison between ambient air temperature outside and external surface temperature is discussed while focusing onto the cooling and shading effect of the VGW. Overall, the study highlights the potential of VGW to significantly enhance sustainability and urban planning paradigms in tropical regions. The study has also highlighted the constraint of present study and identified the further scope of research in the concerned domain.

Cities are the prime source of urban and economic development. Urbanization and population growth have led the cities into the transitional stage. Urban sprawl, traffic congestion, pollution, declining city infrastructure, and increasing migration are some of the significant challenges Indian cities are facing. Urbanization in India is also evident and at an alarming pace. The change can be witnessed through the extending limits of the cities, followed by tremendous development. Land being the most scarce resource, urban sprawling is an adverse phenomenon. To address this aspect of urbanization and curb its challenges, in the past few years, transit-oriented development (TOD) has been proven to be an effective planning tool that deals with a micro- and macro-level strategy that creates self-sustaining units. The efficient utilization of transit requires efficient catchment areas. Despite the numerous advantages of public transport, increasing the modal share of public transport is a major challenge that Indian cities are facing. To ensure efficient catchment, it is essential to address the transitional spaces that navigate to transit. The spatial planning of the city consists of two significant aspects: built spaces and open spaces. The study focuses on developing the framework through the existing literature and case studies, where public open spaces and transit accessibility integrated with TOD demonstrate efficient implementation. It also focuses on understanding the relationship of the built forms that navigates the movement of the people toward transit. The findings show how built form plays a vital role in improving the efficiency of the transit.

This paper addresses the critical need for enhanced communication and reflection on environmental issues and the intricate relationship between nature and society amid contemporary global challenges. While the Ecosystem Service concept was initially developed to highlight these interconnections, its anthropocentric and techno-economic bias has been criticised for narrowing its effectiveness in participatory processes. Drawing on the rich academic discourse in this field, the paper pivots towards the Nature’s Contributions to People (NCP) concept, which offers a broader and more relational perspective on how nature supports human life. Building on this theoretical framework, we introduce the Collective Ecosystems toolkit, a novel tool designed to facilitate participatory processes concerning environmental concerns. This toolkit, which is currently being tested, includes three components: a board game for interactive learning, an application for subjective input and assessment, and a digital platform for collective analysis and visualisation. The goal is to engage with local communities and foster a more context-related and culturally informed evaluation of nature’s values, by offering a practical approach to understanding and communicating the cascading effects of land use changes. Ultimately, the toolkit seeks to generate local knowledge, enhance democratic mechanisms in environmental governance, and support more informed and inclusive policymaking.

Situated in Tongxiang, Zhejiang Province, Wuzhen boasts a rich history that spans over 7000 years of civilization and more than 1300 years of urban development. In the last two decades, Wuzhen has embraced the principles of sustainable conservation and innovative utilization, successfully preserving its historic allure while transforming into a model for contemporary Chinese ancient town tourism. This article is structured into three main sections: firstly, it categorizes the systematic development and conservation efforts of Wuzhen into three distinct phases, detailing the specific strategies employed in each; secondly, it distills the core elements and rationale underpinning the Wuzhen model; and thirdly, it engages in a critical examination of the model, recognizing its merits and areas of exemplary practice, while also identifying potential risks and limitations. Through this analysis, the study offers targeted strategies and recommendations, providing not only a theoretical framework for guiding Wuzhen’s future planning initiatives but also practical insights for the conservation and development of other ancient towns.

Gurgaon, currently Gurugram city, has seen rapid urbanization in the last two decades and is still expanding owing to an increase in business opportunities. The city’s population grew from 876,969 in 2001 to 1,514,432 in 2011, with the current population being around 1.7 million and projected to be 6.9 million by 2031. The city, being a suburb of the capital, has become an IT hub, luring visitors from all around the nation and beyond, thus engulfing the vegetation. This urban sprawl in the city has exploited the natural resources and done alarming harm to the natural topography, gulping the natural drains and bunds. It has taken a severe toll on the breathing lungs or the forest cover of the city. Using satellite imagery and temporal data, the research attempts to analyze the pattern, extent, and environmental effects of urban sprawl, focusing on four layers: water bodies, built/urban areas, green/agricultural land, and barren/unclassified territory. This research can be used to analyze the growth pattern, the layers of the landscape, natural topography, slopes, drainage patterns, etc., and can eventually be used by town planners, landscape architects and architects for efficient further planning of the city as it currently faces a lot of issues like urban flooding, loss of biodiversity, depleting ground water table, loss of vegetative cover, loss of man-made bunds and drains of the city. In order to learn from this metropolitan city’s fallacies, there is a dire need to study and map the loss in agricultural land, open green areas and surface drains to quantify the urban sprawl impacts. In this study, an attempt has been made to monitor the decadal loss in green/agricultural, water bodies and barren/unclassified lands from 1990 to 2018 by using satellite data of Landsat-6 (1990), Landsat-7 (2000), Landsat-8 (2010) and Landsat-9 (2020), classification of the data into four categories and concluding with change analysis.

The paper explores the potential of schools to serve as catalysts for a pedagogy of transition, aimed at promoting sustainable practices and greater social equity. It focuses on the improvement of school outdoor spaces, such as courtyards and gardens, which work as physical and public connectors between schools and cities. Schoolyards are seen as opportunities to foster ecological awareness, implement transitional pedagogy, and engage students in participatory design workshops. Simultaneously, these open spaces constitute potential green areas serving the neighbourhood offering potential scenarios for recreational and cultural activities. This exploration stems from a critical analysis of three notable case studies in Italy’s history of open-air school experiments: Casa del Sole at Parco Trotter in Milan, Centro Educativo Italo-Svizzero in Rimini and Scuola-Città Pestalozzi in Florence. The analysis underscores both the similarities and differences among these cases while recognizing their collective significance in reshaping the relationship between schools and cities in Italy. While past avant-garde movements emphasized outdoor school spaces as vital for pedagogy, inclusivity, and civic education, today, these spaces can be strategically utilized to address contemporary challenges, particularly those related to the city of transition. Methodologically, the paper employs a critical analysis of the case studies, drawing on existing literature to understand their impact on the school’s community, neighbourhood, and design. It aims to offer practical insights and steps for implementing school-city projects that promote education, social impact, and sustainability.

Today, Thailand has an economic development policy focusing on a creative economy. The policy aims to revitalize and develop community areas through the creative city concept. One such area is the Srichan Creative District, which is situated on a major road in Khon Kaen City. The Srichan area has been historically significant for the economy of the city, but it has faced stagnation due to socio-economic changes. To address this challenge, the Srichan Creative District Project was started by the Creative Economic Agency (CEA), the government agency responsible for implementing related activities. The project organizes activities in the area through the Isan Creative Festival, an annual event that started in 2021. The festival’s goal is to stimulate and attract creative industries to the Srichan area so that it can regain its economic importance. However, the policy of holding temporary events and exhibitions is insufficient to establish a creative district. The area also needs proper physical components. Based on the concept of urban morphology, this article aims to explore the limitations of the surrounding neighborhood composition of the district by studying the morphological elements of the city from historical data and field surveys along with a review of related literature to study urban morphological elements suitable for being a creative district and suggest ways to improve the physical environment such as walkability, public space, and architecture that represent a unique identity in making the Srichan area a creative district.

This study aims to unravel the complexities associated with the connectivity of the initial and final stages of a journey. It lays the groundwork for an in-depth exploration of challenges in implementing transportation accessibility for individuals with locomotor disabilities in India. The study focuses on understanding issues concerning the built environment of transportation terminals related to first and last-mile connectivity. These findings lay a foundation for a detailed examination of the possibilities of enhancing transportation accessibility for individuals with disabilities in India, emphasizing the significance of aligning with the CRPD. Employing a methodology that includes pilot surveys conducted online, the study gathered responses from ninety participants. The questionnaire was floated through online forms to the known and unknown circles. The findings derived from these surveys contribute valuable insights into the existing scenario, offering a clear understanding of the barriers faced by individuals with disabilities in accessing last-mile transportation services.

A crucial intersection of logistics, sustainability, and urban planning is the last-mile delivery of commodities in urban settings. In order to assess the effectiveness, viability, and effects on urban mobility of last-mile delivery options in urban settings, this paper gives a thorough comparative analysis of these alternatives. This research uses a structured framework to evaluate and compare a variety of delivery solutions, including conventional courier services, micro-fulfillment centers, e-commerce platforms, and cutting-edge technologies like drones and autonomous vehicles. It does this by drawing on case studies from various urban centers. The process includes intensive data gathering in a few selected urban regions, including surveys, interviews, and data analytics. Our research shows that service effectiveness, environmental responsibility, and customer happiness differ significantly between cities and among solutions. Comparative outcomes highlight the benefits and limitations of insights on customer preferences and service dependability, and the implications for urban design are provided for each delivery method. The comparative research reveals policy and urban planning implications, emphasizing how rules, infrastructure spending, and public–private partnerships influence last-mile delivery networks. This research educates politicians and urban planners on maximizing last-mile delivery, less traffic, and improving urban livability as metropolitan areas struggle with expanding e-commerce demands and the need for sustainable mobility. This study contributes to the larger conversation on sustainable urban mobility and the transformation of urban environments in the digital age by addressing the immediate challenges of urban logistics and identifying research gaps and directions for future innovations in last-mile delivery.

Older adults are more susceptible to environmental effects due to functional decline, increased vulnerability and diminishing social networks as compared to other individuals. Therefore, understanding how the built environment influences walking behaviour of the older adults is crucial for creating pedestrian-friendly environments. The aim of the study is to observe the walking behaviour of older adults through observational methods to understand the behavioural pattern of older adults in a high-density neighbourhood to meet their specific needs and create an age-friendly neighbourhood, while benefitting the community. An observational study was carried out in the Volakadu neighbourhood of the Udupi municipal area, which has the highest density of older adults. Field observations, manual counting and camera recordings were performed to analyse the pedestrian older adult behaviour in regular and emergency situations. The information was coded in QGIS 3.22 and represented with a point on the Volakadu base map. The study highlights the significance of aesthetics and attractiveness of the neighbourhood environment, along with the provisions for comfort from weather conditions and terrain of the neighbourhood while walking and safety from injury need to receive more attention. It is important to note that an urban setting that is designed to meet the requirements of older adults is likely to be applicable and advantageous for individuals spanning various age ranges. Thus, an older adult friendly urban environment is an inclusive environment that benefits the entire community.

Progress is an inescapable aspect of both an economy and a nation. India stands as an evolving nation on the global stage. This evolution encompasses urbanisation, economic advancement, literacy improvement, life expectancy increase, and urban expansion, all intertwined with infrastructural growth. Reconfiguring urban environments becomes imperative to ensure the highest quality of life, as the utilisation of urban spaces evolves over time. The user experience of a place hinges on its functionality, visual appeal, accessibility, and overall design. Inconsistent and poorly planned land-use changes can wield adverse social and economic repercussions on a community. When land-use changes are not thoughtfully planned and harmonised, users may find it challenging to navigate and engage with the surroundings. This can trigger frustration, inconvenience, and discontent amongst residents, visitors, and workers. A well-designed location typically boasts a distinct identity that mirrors its purpose, history, and essence. The paper aims at listing down the parameters which can be used to understand the user experience when there is change in land use. The case study area is a busy street of industrial area, Chandigarh. Chandigarh is a planned city and has a very strong image, and therefore, people have strong notion of each place and change in land use may bring discomfort. The paper ends with the conclusion that planners, stakeholder, policy makers have to keep certain principles in mind when such changes are made.

Bangladesh is a small country with a wide variety of ethnic groups, due to its geographical location and historical background. Traditional homesteads in Bangladesh shaped by the climate, craftsmanship, and the evolution of the socioeconomic condition. There are 27 major ethnic groups currently that exist in Bangladesh. Every ethnic community has their own signature in their way of living. The Manipuri tribe is one of the significant indigenous communities that may frequently be found in Bangladesh’s northeastern plains like Sylhet and its adjacent areas. The Manipuris are the most well known because of their distinctive cultural, religious, and historical values. Manipuri settlements in Bangladesh were traced from medieval period and even from the remote past. The Manipuri way of life is predominately influenced by their religion, customs, house patterns, and other intangible elements. Religious beliefs have a significant impact on how their houses and settlement patterns have developed. In Manipuri households, the pattern of homestead development has evolved over time. In addition to boosting their inner traits, it affects how they live. This study mostly based on the qualitative interpretation of historical data by physical survey and user group investigation. The public opinions were compared with survey data, and the design chronology was investigated. In the Manipuri society, several scholars and experts discovered the traditional homestead development pattern. The notion of this study was to check the evaluation of rural Manipuri vernacular dwellings and their overall design language.

The pandemic has revealed the need for citizens to have adequate and safe food, an enriched lifestyle, and more communication. Community garden, as an emerging agricultural model, is in line with current development themes of architecture, ecology, and energy. It enables self-production and marketing of agriculture, guarantees urban food security, enhances the resilience of the urban food supply, and plays a unique role in reducing transport and carbon footprints. Utilizing fragmented spaces between communities to create beautiful community garden can be a great way to experience the joys of farming and improve the air environment. It can also inspire people to participate in course training and enrich the knowledge base of community residents. Not only that, but psychologists believe that community garden is “green” in the sense of balancing the major forces in our lives—social, economic, and ecological. Community garden can provide a way to achieve this balance. Through the research of previous scholars and actual cases, this paper summarizes the development history and current situation of community garden, discusses the social function of community garden from the perspective of service design, and analyses the research on space and human health in community garden, intelligent construction and operation of community garden, and the research on community garden and social equity as possible development trends for community garden.

Global sea-level rise is reshaping coastal geographies, posing a significant threat to the survival of cities worldwide. The rapid urbanisation, coupled with an ongoing housing crisis, compounds environmental challenges, compelling coastal cities to urgently address these adversities. Recently, the notion of floating habitats has reemerged in the arsenal of contemporary planning strategies and architectural practices. Despite the ambitious proposals, little progress has been made in actual construction. A prime example is “Oceanix City,” designed in 2019 as the first prototype of a resilient and sustainable floating community. However, factors such as cost, technology, and politics have impeded its implementation. This delay, combined with a neglect of the architectural heritage and the anthropological capacity for a swift transition to new living environment, exacerbates the situation. This raises concerns about whether floating cities truly represent a sustainable solution for achieving coastal resilience and combating climate change in the coming years. In contrast, traditional floating communities, often referred to as “primitive floating cities,” offer a glimmer of hope. They teach how to balance human needs with the ecosystems that support them without causing harm. Today, these settlements serve as a testament to humanity's ability to live in harmony with water and maintain balance with nature (Rudofsky in Architecture without architects: a short introduction to non-pedigreed architecture. MoMA Press Release, New York, 1964). This paper delves into the principles behind the lastingness of these traditional communities. Its objective is to demonstrate how a vernacular approach can enhance the sustainable goals of contemporary floating visions. The paper emphasises the reflection on the context, the use of local materials, the importance of nurturing nature, and the value of architectural identity in preserving communities. Ultimately, the paper advocates for a reconsideration of traditional building principles in shaping resilient and sustainable contemporary floating habitats.

This paper discusses the project management analysis of the Mumbai Metro Project, a significant component of the Mega City Scheme initiated by the Government of India. The project aims to address transportation challenges in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) caused by population and employment growth. It focuses on the Colaba–Bandra–SEEPZ corridor, connecting financial hubs, educational institutions, recreational facilities, and airport terminals. The project's objectives include mitigating climate change, reducing congestion, improving mobility and access to education and jobs, and increasing labour productivity. The paper summarizes factors contributing to project delays and highlights the role of project management consultants and their encountered challenges. It emphasizes the importance of risk mitigation strategies to reduce exposure and minimize the probability and impact of various risks. The paper concludes with recommendations to mitigate challenges related to land acquisition, planning, third-party liability, regulatory and administrative delays, design and construction risks, scope changes, financial issues, and technology risks, all critical for successful project implementation.

Air pollution is a major problem that affects cities’ livability, resilience and long-term viability. It has a direct impact on health and comfort, as well as an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Vehicular traffic is a major source of carbon emissions, which contributes significantly to air pollution. Changes in morphological factors will help to mitigate the negative consequences of poor air quality. As a result, thorough research into the effects of various morphologies on urban ventilation and carbon concentration due to vehicles is critical. In recent decades, computational fluid dynamics models have been frequently employed to examine the impact of urban morphology on urban ventilation. However, most of the studies are concentrated on idealistic building layouts, with little extensive exploration into the effect of actual urban morphologies. In this study, Local Climate Zone (LCZ)—an effective land classification system for urban studies was analyzed for its impact on vehicular carbon concentration and subsequent microclimatic effects. Three LCZs, namely LCZ-2, LCZ-5 and LCZ-9A representing high density, medium density and low density respectively, were analyzed for its microclimate, traffic flow and carbon concentration using calibrated instruments. It is observed that among the three selected LCZs, LCZ 9A has the least CO2 content and LCZ-2 has the maximum. The study throws light into the impact of urban built morphology on vehicular carbon concentration. This type of research can be helpful for practitioners and urban designers, especially during the early stages of planning, to identify places that may be prone to poor air quality owing to motor traffic without having to undertake expensive simulations.

This research paper explores the concept of “placemaking” and its role in strengthening the sense of place in open spaces. Placemaking refers to the collaborative process of designing and transforming public spaces into vibrant, meaningful, and inclusive places that foster a strong connection with the community. By examining case studies, theoretical frameworks, and empirical data, this study seeks to emphasize the value of placemaking in improving open space identity, social cohesiveness, and overall user experience. This study also looks at how placemaking techniques can strengthen a community’s sense of attachment, ownership, and belonging to parks, ultimately helping to create lively and meaningful public spaces. This research analyses 79 articles retrieved from Scopus, Research Gate, Google Scholar, Elsevier, and Lens.org, which were tailored to certain fields of study utilizing the Web of Science Categories offered by the academic database search engine. To identify the main lines of research on the topic of identifying and analysing different components of “Placemaking” to increase the “sense of place” in parks, bibliographic coupling through the VOSviewer software was used. Based on the results of the literature review, a conceptual framework was created, which included a sense of place, cultural inclusion, and human attachment as the dependent variables and sociability, access and linkage, and users and activities identified as independent variables. The research will contribute valuable insights into urban planning and design, providing practical recommendations for creating more engaging and resilient public spaces.

Thermal comfort is necessary for productivity in offices. However, the current standards for the thermal comfort temperature range are inaccurate for monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climatic zones due to seasonal extremes. This research paper aims to determine a thermal comfort range for naturally ventilated public offices in the monsoon season of the monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate of Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh. Three representative public offices were selected and studied in August 2023. The study comprised a comprehensive assessment of physical environmental factors and gathering subjective responses through questionnaires. The analysis of the objective survey revealed the occupants’ dissatisfaction with the thermal environment. The thermal comfort range for monsoon season was found to be 26.1–28.8 °C while the recorded indoor temperature was in the range of 26.6–30.1 °C. The neutral temperature was also calculated to be 27.5 °C. The study investigated the impact of the thermal parameters of the environment on thermal sensation in office buildings. It proposed a temperature range for maintaining optimal thermal conditions for offices in the monsoon season of the monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climatic zone.

Nature has directly influenced the evolution of human settlements, culture, knowledge systems, social structure and services. Culture in turn has shaped and reinterpreted nature based on their physical perceptions into cities. In the realm of architecture, urban design and planning, culture has been acknowledged as a fundamental driver for sustainable development. This paper addresses the gap between the practical spatial planning and the citizens’ perspectives of spaces, i.e. the cultural values. The paper aims to spatially assess cultural values in urban nature, i.e. urban green open spaces thereby enhancing the interrelationships between eco-centric and anthropocentric approaches to development. Through a mixed methodology that spans disciplinary boundaries, the research identifies 220 indicators as variables affecting the cultural value of public open space with green qualities. Indicators, which were selected from various papers on cultural ecosystem services, perception mapping, sense of place, place identity related to urban green and open spaces, were analysed using Principal Component Analyses (PCAs). Results reveal key factors and variables in formulating a cultural value assessment index that can promote human-centric developments and minimize the negative impacts of development on socio-economic and environmental facets of urban green open spaces. The index framework developed offers an empirical grounding for employing comprehensive cultural plans that promote sustainable development, aligning with UNESCO’s Agenda 21 for Culture, Culture for Development, which is imperative with the increasing consequences of globalization, urbanization and population growth.

Tourism in India plays a crucial role in generating income and employment opportunities. While it contributes positively to economic growth in certain sectors, it also poses challenges to the environmental, economic and social fabric of host communities. Consequently, the concept of sustainable tourism development has gained prominence. While environmental aspects of sustainable tourism have received considerable attention from researchers, there remains a need for more studies on the socio-economic impacts and aspects of sustainable tourism. This paper aims to investigate the synergies between the needs of the urban community and the aspirations of the local community in the seaside hamlet of Manori, Mumbai. By examining the socio-economic and cultural characteristics of both the urban and indigenous communities, the study aims to identify their specific needs and preferences for the region which is earmarked as a Recreation and Tourism Development Zone (RTDZ). Furthermore, by analysing the current state of infrastructure, social dynamics, and socio-cultural aspects within the selected region, the study intends to address deficiencies in recreational infrastructure and incorporate the preferences and priorities of the local community. Moreover, the study postulates that implementing community participatory approaches is essential to ensure the sustainability of recreation and tourism planning projects.

Urban sprawl poses a significant global and national challenge, characterized by the unplanned, rapid expansion of urban areas into surrounding rural landscapes. This phenomenon has been particularly pronounced in India, with cities experiencing exponential growth driven by population increase, rural-to-urban migration, and economic development. Like many other cities in India, Yamunanagar city grapples with the consequences of urban sprawl, including environmental degradation, loss of agricultural land, and strained infrastructure. Understanding the dynamics of urban sprawl is crucial for effective urban planning and sustainable development. This study focuses on exploring the patterns of urban sprawl in Yamunanagar city, utilizing Landsat satellite data spanning from 1994 to 2024. Zone and direction-wise built-up area analyses are conducted to discern patterns of urban expansion. Furthermore, the FRAGSTATS 4.2 software was employed to identify and quantify various landscape metrics, shedding light on landscape fragmentation and spatial patterns of urbanization. The findings reveal significant increases in built-up areas, particularly in certain zones and directions, indicative of urban sprawl. Landscape metrics provide insights into the fragmentation and configuration of metropolitan regions. This research contributes to understanding urbanization dynamics in Yamunanagar and offers valuable insights for sustainable urban planning and management in rapidly developing regions.

Indoor illuminance has developed into a crucial strategy for lowering the need for lighting energy in buildings while also giving the occupants optimum indoor visual comfort. Today, indoor visual comfort is reliant on artificial means. However, in early times, design strategies were brought up to bring in light and ventilation inside the building. In times of an energy crisis, it is necessary to develop traditional measures for creating a comfortable environment at a lower price. For this, it is necessary to evaluate the solutions in vernacular architecture and adopt or modify them for modern requirements. Zone B, the hot arid zone experiences a higher rate of solar radiation, hence the opening sizes and the number of openings were kept minimum. This affects the indoor illuminance. Thus, a hot semi-arid region in India was selected to analyze indoor visual comfort. The luminous environment of the courtyard houses of Rajasthan (haveli) is studied, and the efficiency of the passive lighting strategies is analyzed using the simulation method. The haveli was documented, and the modeling and simulation were done using Autodesk Revit (student version). The findings demonstrate that passive design strategies in the haveli provide a limited amount of optimum satisfaction in achieving adequate lighting in many spaces throughout the year. The simulation findings make it quite evident how the courtyard affects how much light enters the interiors.

Waste management solutions are one of the most debated and problem-creating decisions taken by Urban Local Bodies and governments. The social sustainability of any waste management facility is greatly dependent on the public acceptance of that particular facility. Questionnaire surveys alone cannot address issues like ‘Not In My Backyard’ syndrome which is prevalent in most developing countries like India. This paper explores how a fuzzy logic inference system can be developed to consider overlapping factors like the opinion, knowledge, and willingness to participate expressed by the public. Also, the difference between organic and inorganic waste management needs has been explored. Akkulam region in Trivandrum district of Kerala was taken to test the developed Fuzzy inference system. Based on results from a pilot questionnaire survey conducted among the public of the Akkulam region, the input for the fuzzy system was obtained, using which the level of public acceptance was calculated and compared. It was found that composting was the most accepted organic waste management facility with 72.9% public acceptance as compared to landfill or incineration which were at 17.8% and 23.8% public acceptance respectively. In the case of inorganic waste management, recycling facility was the most accepted with 73.2% acceptance. Waste-to-energy was also comparatively more acceptable than incineration technique with 67.1% public acceptance indicating a lack of awareness about techniques like incineration. Effective use of this system will give authorities a better understanding of public perceptions on a particular system before it is introduced.

The escalating global waste crisis, surpassing 2 billion tons annually and projected to surge by 70% by 2050, poses a severe risk to community health and the ecosphere. Embracing the “Zero Waste” paradigm, this paper focuses on two Indian cities that have successfully developed the model of sustainable waste management in Indian jurisdiction transformation into a Zero-Waste City (ZWC), pioneering a circular economy approach. Amid India’s Solid Waste Management (SWM) challenges, including rapid urbanization, insufficient infrastructure, and elevated labor costs, this study addresses gaps and formulates strategies for achieving Zero Waste. Acknowledging limited awareness, technology integration, and funding, a holistic approach involving community engagement, technology infusion, and policy reforms is proposed. The research methodology for this paper encompasses three phases, starting with a comprehensive literature review on global Zero-Waste city concepts, followed by data collection of two Indian cities’ (Surat and Indore Cities) waste management scenarios. The study analyzes waste generation and associated factors, highlighting the city’s potential and challenges. A gap analysis forms the basis for innovative proposals tailored to two Indian cities’ unique contexts. Despite limitations in funding and resources, the study aims to explore Indian SWM strategies, emphasizing the identification of sustainable technologies. Ultimately, the paper seeks to provide a comprehensive framework for other Indian cities ZWC, offering a replicable model for other regions.

Ludhiana, the first metropolitan center in Punjab, is experiencing rapid growth of slums and large-scale migration, creating physical, demographic, and environmental imbalances. This has led to a demand for urban infrastructure and civic services. With 209 slums, mostly located in industrial areas, these unplanned rural habitations have limited municipal facilities and are not always synonymous with poverty. The migrant workforce needs proper living spaces and environments for harmonious growth. This study intends to evaluate the housing options that PMAY-eligible slum dwellers in Ludhiana city have access to, as well as the obstacles that they must overcome in order to receive and make use of these benefits. The slum population in Ludhiana, which constitutes 22% of the city population, is disproportionately high due to the informal sector's inability to accommodate all workforces. This leads to poor migrants staying in slums due to high housing costs. To address this issue, recommendations are made at the city, policy, program, and organization levels. The strategy is to reach low-income communities, utilizing local resources and forming community organizations to promote physical upgrading and integration. A mixed-methods’ approach will be used for the study, consisting of qualitative interviews with primary stakeholders and a quantitative survey of slum dwellers. The purpose of the quantitative survey is to gather information on the housing needs and preferences of slum dwellers, as well as their knowledge of PMAY and their experiences using the program's advantages. The purpose of the qualitative interviews is to investigate the obstacles that impoverished people have when trying to get and make use of PMAY benefits, in addition to the viewpoints of important stakeholders regarding the scheme's execution. The results of this study will shed important light on the housing requirements and preferences of slum residents in Ludhiana, as well as the difficulties they have in obtaining and making use of PMAY subsidies. This study will provide valuable insights to develop targeted interventions aimed at enhancing slum residents’ use of PMAY benefits and guaranteeing their access to reasonably priced and suitable homes.

The paper examines Doxiadis Associates’ masterplan for FESTAC town, a federal housing estate located along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway in Lagos State, Nigeria. FESTAC town was built to host the visitors of the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture in Lagos in 1977 or FESTAC 77. The paper investigates the connections between Constantinos A. Doxiadis’s understanding of the role of infrastructure in this project and his concept of “Ecumenopolis”, and relates Doxiadis’s vision for “Ecumenopolis” to the idea of Eurafrica, referring to the political project that emerged in the 1920s based on the idea that Europe’s future survival was bound up with Europe’s successful merger with Africa. Doxiadis’s concept of ‘Ecumenopolis’ departed from the hypothesis that urbanization, the growth of population, and the development of means of transport and human networks would lead to a fusion of the urban areas and megalopolises that would form a single continuous planet wide city. Doxiadis’s “Towards Ecumenopolis”—a confidential report that focused on how to devise a “different approach” to the “City of the Future”—treated infrastructure as a skeleton of a body covering the entire globe and resulting from the balance between settlements, production, and nature.

User experience is a critical aspect for every designer. It is a struggle to understand user’s experience because there is no universal method for analysing architectural experience yet. From Lived world Syntax to Neuroarchitecture, methods have been developed, but with realized limitations. Hence, this research identifies the gap and develops options for user friendly and universally applicable architectural experience analysis tool. Through grounded theory, the research explored tool development at various stages of its study. In the process, five tool ideas were developed. Each one was evaluated for pros and cons by conducting pilot study. This paper documents the issues and learnings of each tool as it was improved and implemented in the next one. The research hence provides four tools at their nascent stage of exploration and each one of them have the potential of being developed into a universally applicable experience analysis method. The fifth tool is the final product of this research. Next research can start from any of the four nascent tools and lead into a completely new direction of exploration.

Vernacular architecture can be defined as unique built-form of a particular region, which is evolved through ages using indigenous construction techniques, locally available materials and with respect to local climate and cultural practices of the community. This paper attempts to present a comprehensive understanding of vernacular architecture using bibliometric analysis. The purpose of this study is to develop a knowledge base about the evolution of research in vernacular architecture globally since last 10 years. This article adopts bibliometric research method to quantify the quality and performance of the existing literature and to visualize the research themes and trends in the field. The study presents a three-stage analysis framework containing retrieval of bibliometric data from Web of Science database, data cleaning and bibliometric analysis using R-Biblioshiny and VOSviewer software. To conduct the bibliometric analysis, the Web of Science database was chosen, considering it the highest and largest scientific database for data retrieval. From the initial search, 8245 documents were found, which were further cleaned and processed for final retrieval on the basis of certain inclusion and exclusion criteria. After screening, a total of 486 documents were used for analysis purpose. The analysis was conducted with respect to documents, journals, citations, authors and their affiliations and countries, collaborations, keywords and thematic areas. The analysis presents a rising trend of research in the field with major emphasis on sustainability, thermal comfort and traditional architecture. It is also found that countries like China, United Kingdom and Spain are the most contributing nations in this area of research with high impact academic publications. However, the collaborative research in the field is significantly less. It is also revealed that climate, management, architecture, design, thermal comfort, behavior, natural ventilation and cultural heritage is much discussed in the past research, whereas the trend is toward efficiency and performance assessment of vernacular buildings. The paper concludes that studies on vernacular architecture are still relevant, and there is still lot to discover and learn from the past. Moreover, the article can be a reference for researchers in the field of vernacular architecture, and further research can be done on the emerging themes in a collaborative manner.

Architecture has evolved continuously, aligning itself with the evolving needs and desires of society. The idea of interactive architecture emerged with the development of technologies and increment in environmental, functional, and human problems. Interactive architecture refers to the architecture which can change, adapt, and reconfigure to the needs of users and the environment in real time. A Space’s Interaction, flexibility, and integration both with the environment and individuals can be done with the help of IoT, artificial intelligence, sensors, actuators, etc. This research paper aims to explore diverse ways and potential in interactive architecture in responding to user needs and environmental dynamics. In the Indian context, the application of interactive architecture is limited, and embracing it will ensure innovation, efficiency, and enhanced user experience. We shouldn’t lag in the global evolution of design, adopting these advancements aligns with progress and enriches our built environment. To understand the user-centric perspective, a questionnaire survey (primary) was conducted involving 204 participants along with interviews (secondary). The study encompasses respondents of multiple disciplines, ranging from architects, architecture students, data science students, educators, and others to provide comprehensive insights. The finding of the paper presents that interactive architecture has the potential to revolutionize the way we live and work. Also, there are challenges like high cost, complex technology, and lack of understanding and awareness among the public. In conclusion, this research advances the existing theoretical discourse on interactive architecture and offers more practical insights for architects and other stakeholders in shaping the built environment.

The form of the building plays a significant role in the amount of heat transferred through its various components. This study investigates the impact of different components of a building form in enhancing the energy efficiency of residential buildings in composite climate. The Energy Conservation Building Code-Residential (ECBC-R) compliance check tool has been used as a quick software mechanism to understand and evaluate the code compliance and further assess the results by manipulating the building form in terms of orientation, construction layers and material specifications. The project information was collected from primary sources through field surveys, photographs, interviews with government officials and procuring architectural drawings. It has been found that buildings of similar dimensions and form with different orientations, construction assemblies, material specifications and different building envelope characteristics produce different results, which in turn affect the building's performance. While comparing the results using Eco-Niwas Samhita: compliance check tool, the building envelope was considered as the principal heat exchange medium of the building form. The study highlights the importance of building form in the design process and out of all the building form factors, the building envelope has the greatest impact, according to the collected data and result analysis.

Over the last two centuries, India has experienced numerous natural calamities and disasters, including floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and cyclones, resulting in huge loss of lives and destruction of habitable spaces. In such cases, the efficiently built structures play a pivotal role in monitoring the resilience toward disaster through minimizing the causalities associated. In recent times, there are diverse innovations toward prefabricated structures as a desirable strategy to overcome the post-disaster damages. The paper discusses the efficiency of post-disaster prefabricated modular and mobile (P2M2) structures, providing an earthquake and cyclone-resistant post-disaster housing in lesser budget and time. Having a life span of approximately 20 years, P2M2 structures are sufficient enough to sustain the inhabitants physically and economically. The study focuses on the various cases of disaster resilience structures implemented in various parts of India. Further the study evaluates the features of modular construction and material system, user experiences and technological advancements that provide time-efficient and economically feasible solutions. Similarly, the designed P2M2 structure offers cost-effective and resilient housing solutions for post-disaster populations and can also be utilized to generate revenue by its implementation in commercialized zones due to their portability, collapsibility, and ease of management. Utilizing locally sourced materials including industrial waste, plastics, fiber waste, and electronic waste, these structures can be constructed easily without the need for skilled labor. Through the analysis, it is concluded that the utilization of P2M2 structures would reduce time constraints and its design is formulated to be adaptive and universal to various disaster-prone regions of India. Additionally the utilization of local materials, plastic and other pollutants in an effective way for the structure enables recyclable and sustainable urban development for tomorrow.

Innovative design alternatives known as building-integrated living systems (BILS) integrate green infrastructure like roofs and walls into structures to enhance ecological advantages and sustainability. The advantages include the preservation of resources, the mitigation of the consequences of the climate change, reduction of the urban heat island (UHI) effect, and carbon sequestration. Sustainability is further improved by implementing rainwater harvesting, water recycling, and energy generation. Urban re-purposing for fresh produce boosts regional economic growth, and with high-tech indoor farming methods like hydroponics and aquaponics which have shown 80% better crop yields, the water usage is further reduced by 80% and shown to have lesser environmental impacts than conventional farming methods. The study aims to integrate modern agricultural methods such as aquaponics and hydroponics onto green facades, so contributing to a healthier and more sustainable urban environment. The research is based on a thorough review of the literature. Vertical farming and vertical green walls systems have been researched in several studies, but there is a gap in the investigation of their integration, which is addressed in this paper. The study finishes with a discussion of the promising integration of vertical farming and living wall technologies with hydroponics and aquaponics systems, as well as a few instances of such integration and studies demonstrating their effective impact on building thermal comfort. The studies show that the indoor temperatures are enhanced by 0.15 °C during summer and up to 10.63 °C during cooler seasons in cold climate for hydroponic green wall and 47% energy savings with aquaponic green wall through simulation studies.

The foundation of the Nordic punitive system lies in its treatment philosophy. To prevent recidivism and foster social recovery, the Nordic approach intends to reduce prison sentences to a minimum. Such principles, adhering to the commitment to social recovery and normality, maintain that prison life should closely resemble outside life, with the conviction that deprivation of liberty serves as the inherent punishment. From the perspective of responsibility, the Finnish open system grants the possibility of working and studying outside the prison perimeter to promote social reintegration and prevent side effects resulting from imprisonment. Different from Finland, rethinking prison spaces has not yet been achieved in Italy. This paper explores the evolution of the prison landscape in a period of significant social changes, seeking an overcoming of current punitive perspectives. Promoting a transformative approach, the paper underscores the importance of investing in knowledge and design experimentations. It highlights the potential of participatory planning to enhance the prison space system while proposing innovative strategies for improving prisoner welfare and fostering social integration.

Nowadays, adaptive architecture is not only of research but also of practical interest due to global changes in the world, including climatic changes. The standard approach to static architecture is no longer the only possible design option, there is a demand for buildings that respond to external changes and human needs. The purpose of this study is to describe the existing directions of adaptive architecture development, as well as to develop a new classification of objects. The task of the study is to analyze adaptive architecture as a multitasking field. Its study includes the analysis of development vectors such as green adaptability, modular adaptability and operational adaptability The research is based on the study of a wide range of objects in which advanced technological solutions have been applied, the results obtained allow us to categorize them as adaptive objects, spaces or environments. As a result of theoretical research, the authors have identified the concept of “dynamic adaptability” and defined it. Approbation of the application of this principle was carried out on the basis of two design solutions of objects, with different ecological and natural factors. The application of the appropriate solution contributed to ensuring the comfort of life, and as a result of dynamic changeability, enriching the palette of design solutions.

This article considers the possibility of mutual transformation of internal and external space on the example of the architectural unit (model) of glamping. The secondary analysis of analogues in the field of world adaptive architecture is carried out, the necessity of the previously developed classification, the justification and formation of which were described and formulated in the first article “ADAPTIVE ARCHITECTURE. OBJECT ANALYSIS AND CLASSIFICATION”. A number of examples with certain characteristics for each group of classification, namely developed concepts and already constructed adaptive buildings, are also selected. The aim of the research is to create an object, the transformation of which will be able to provide flexibility and mobility of the environment depending on human needs, as well as to identify architectural, planning and structural solutions of the object to ensure a strong relationship between the optimally functional filling scheme and the configuration of the surrounding area. This project proposal was created within the framework of the All-Russian architectural competition “Green tourist shelter on a natural territory”. The basic aspect of the concept and the design task was the simultaneous combination of all characteristics of the groups in one object. In order to achieve maximum results in this direction, the principles of efficiency and simplicity of the architectural structure as a whole were brought to the forefront.

“Mo Lum” is a culture of the performing arts in the northeastern region of Thailand. “Mo Lum” means a person who is skilled at telling stories or literature by singing. Mo Lum can be divided into two main types: Mo Lum Klon and Mo Lum Mu. Currently, Mo Lum Mu (a group of Northeastern-style singers and actors) is the most popular in Thailand, and Mo Lum Mu has still progressed and been contemporary in their performances. About 70 years ago, there were 5–8 members in the troupe, but now some groups have more than 300 members. Mo Lum Mu currently has both beautiful and spectacular musical performances, and there will probably be traditional performances as well. It is interesting to note that during a Mo Lum Mu performance, space must be divided into three main areas: an area for viewers of the performance, a stage area for performances, and a backstage area for performers. As a result, the objective of this paper is to study the development of spatial management in Mo Lum Mu performances and to study the use of space by performers and audiences while performing. This research has chosen to study Mo Lum among the Ratanasil Inta Thaiyarat group. Mo Lum Mu has the longest history and is still active, after 76 years. This study has researched information from related documents and went to the area to conduct field surveys. Both participant and non-participant observations. There were interviews to develop a compilation of photographs from each period and present them with drawings, plans, and other things about the architectural space of Mo Lum Mu. This research reveals that from the past to the present, free space management systems have been complex in front of the stage, on the stage, and especially behind the stage. The arrangements were noticeably more complicated. Some are related to the function of each part, and some are related to social status and psychological value, such as the Buddha shelf zone, singer and actor zones, space for collecting props and musical instruments, as well as the kitchen zone.

The urbanization trend in India has led to unequal access to public spaces, transportation, and employment opportunities for women, alongside heightened risks of harassment and violence. This case study examines how gender-sensitive urban planning in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi addresses these challenges to create inclusive and safe urban spaces for women. Through qualitative and quantitative methods, including stakeholder interviews, surveys, and policy analysis, the study evaluates Delhi's initiatives in inclusive infrastructure, policy frameworks, community engagement, and safety measures. Key findings highlight the positive impact of gender-segregated facilities, clear policy directives, and community involvement on women's mobility and safety. Additionally, innovative safety measures, such as technology-based solutions, are explored. Challenges, including data collection limitations and the need for sustainability, are identified. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of prioritizing women's needs in urban development, offering insights applicable to rapidly urbanizing regions globally.

Cities, widely acknowledged as catalysts for development in the physical, social, and economic domains, are seen as crucial for the future of both communities and humanity for the following reasons: holding a high proportion of national population by cities; generating large employment; making major contribution to the economy; with quality infrastructure besides supporting, and innovating state-of-the-art technologies for development. Housing more than 50% of the global population generate global GDP of 80%, consuming global energy of more than two-third and emitting more than 70% of annual global carbon, cities are known for their dualities. Cities have to be at the forefront to address the climate change and global warming. Globally recognized as large amounts of energy consumers, natural resources and large amounts of waste generators, cities have emerged as the major cause of numerous adversities that are being faced by humanity and planet Earth and is an ideal breeding ground for disasters. Taking a comprehensive approach, planning, management, and governance practices in cities have a significant impact on issues pertaining to bio-diversity, the environment, global warming and increasing carbon footprints, and climate change. People are being made to travel; buildings are being designed, constructed, and operated; the urban heat islands effects; however, the green spaces are eluding the majority of residents. The cities have to get grips with these natural and manmade disasters and make planet earth more qualitative, livable, and sustainable. The cities need to be planned, designed, developed, and managed rationally and innovatively to counter the challenges posed by climate change and global warming. In the pursuit of searching suitable solutions, this paper will look at the options of promoting planned development, making cities compact; promoting a circular economy to make cities more sustainable and carbon neutral.

Hospital ward layout is greatly influenced by energy performance and daylighting studies, which also has an impact on staff well-being, patient outcomes, operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and environmental stewardship. This study delves into the intricate relationship between space layout design variables and their effects on both daylight provision and energy performance of government hospital general wards situated in warm-humid climates of India. The investigation employs a comprehensive methodology encompassing simulation-based analysis using the EnergyPlus simulation engine and DesignBuilder software to evaluate the various design parameters of a calibrated simulation model of the reference hospital. Key variables such as orientation, window configurations as well as shading devices are systematically examined to determine their individual and collective impacts. Findings from this research not only clarify the complex relationship between space layout design variables and energy performance but also offer actionable insights for architects, designers, and healthcare practitioners. By identifying optimal design solutions that balance daylighting requirements with energy efficiency goals, this study endeavors to enhance the quality of healthcare environments while promoting sustainable building practices tailored to the specific climatic challenges of warm-humid regions. Ultimately, the outcomes of this study contribute to the advancement of evidence-based design principles for hospital wards, fostering environments that prioritize patient comfort, staff well-being, and operational sustainability.

This paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the literature on theories, models, and perspectives in environmental psychology, with a focus on their implications for healthcare design. The review was conducted using the PubMed and Scopus databases, with articles ranging from January 2010 to September 2022. Boolean operators were used to search for terms such as “physical environment”, “staff outcomes”, “hospital”, “theory”, and related terms, with searches limited to titles and abstracts. Peer-reviewed journal papers, electronic database articles, healthcare setting research, English language publications, and full-text availability were among the inclusion criteria. Exclusions included review papers, questionnaire creation tools, and non-healthcare sector studies. Following the initial title screening and abstract inspection, 16 papers were selected for full-text study. The review identified thirteen pre-existing theories and three in the analyzed publications. The transdisciplinary approach investigated human behavioral responses and motivations. The result of the review adds to a better understanding of ideas that influence healthcare design and organizational dynamics within healthcare settings. Integrating empirical research and theoretical views provides significant direction for architects, healthcare planners, designers, and stakeholders who want to build supportive and therapeutic environments that improve healing and wellness outcomes in healthcare settings.

Tourism is central to the world’s economy. Heritage Eco-Resorts across the globe have become important cultural and historical venues with the primary goal to showcase distinct ethnic heritage environments. Global travel growth showcases heritage and hospitality architecture, furthering branding of resorts through marketing, to the extent of being referred to now as a ‘contemporary epidemic’. Documentation of heritage lodging is limited, lacking in good quality evidence. Tourism is a ‘double-edged sword’, serving to preserve heritage, but at the same time, leading to its commercialization and potential destruction. This, now popular heritage hotel industry, promises to provide an ideal atmosphere to experience the cultural authenticity of the destination. This study analyzes the prevalence and need of heritage symbolism. It aims to better understand the role of Heritage Eco-Resorts through the lens of its customers’ perception and experience, in translating Heritage Symbolism.

With the global demographic shift towards an ageing population, focusing on architectural designs and space planning in retirement communities is necessary. This research explores the significance of architectural designs and space planning in retirement communities, specifically focusing on the elderly population in Bangalore, India. This study aims to achieve two objectives: providing a basis for developing spaces that promote active ageing and ensuring the peculiar requirements of senior citizens are always considered. The aim of this study is first to elicit from primary sources the dependability of the quantity of safety, comfort, accessibility, and social engagement used to actively promote ageing in contemporary times. The second aim is to analyse and assess the reference experiences of the elderly to determine the extent of architectural planning on retirement communities and the active ageing process of older individuals. Descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analysis, and SPSS software reliability testing were performed. Subsequently, the paper accounts for the proposed guidelines on which the architecture that builds old-age accommodation will be based and the key components of the housing structures that will be designed and constructed. The discussion sets a goal for the existing trends and atypical designs in several retirement communities. Recommendations are offered, ensuring that accessibility is considered, communal spaces are planned, natural light is accounted for, and safety features are considered in the design to promote active ageing in retirement communities.

This study explores the preservation of cultural heritage in traditional houses of Mangalore, India, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Using the Urwa House as a case example, it delves beyond mere restoration, offering insights into local architectural practices that foster communal identity. Investigating the layout, design, and aesthetics of traditional Mangalorean houses, this research sheds light on historical approaches, guiding present architects toward embracing various techniques. By integrating lessons from the past, future architecture can preserve cultural heritage while embracing environmentally friendly solutions. This study aims to bridge the gap between cultural preservation and sustainable community development in Mangalore, fostering a coherent future while honoring the region’s rich cultural legacy. With a multidisciplinary approach, it contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable development while safeguarding Mangalore’s cultural heritage.

This article investigates mainly on architectural studies, housing and community spaces, architectural design strategies and synergies, energy-efficient practices, and the role of technology in architecture and construction. A dataset drawing on a varied variety of sources from the Web of Science Core Collection Database between the years 2014–2024. The articles are inspected using R software. This research reveals crucial insights about trends, patterns, and focus points on modern architectural discourse. Furthermore, the findings indicate the rise of new techniques and collaborative frameworks for solving difficult issues in architectural design and construction. This study also offers insights into performance analysis, journal and author citation, authorship, network, and burst detection analysis of authors, references, sources, nations, and institutions. The theme analysis results from the niche and classical themes utilized by the various researchers. The research identified key topics like sustainability, renewable energy integration, community-centric design, and technology innovation as driving factors in architectural practice. This article, which focuses on stimulating multidisciplinary conversation and innovation, provides significant insights for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers, allowing them to get a better grasp of the changing environment of architectural research and practice in the twenty-first century.

In India, museums face several problems such as a lack of visitors who particularly belong to the current generation. Some infrastructures require a huge amount of funding and often utilise land on a large scale. The primary aim of the research is to study the visitor’s perception related to museums and to find out how a link can be established between the current generation and their cultural heritage through the elements of interior design according to the Indian cultural perspective. The study includes a literature review, surveying the target audience between the age group of 15 and 30 years of age, and conducting case studies of the prominent cultural museums of the country—each specialising in conveying a different storyline and themes. The research focuses on improving the quality of the museums by taking feedback from the target groups through the elements of interior design along with the aspects of user experience design. The research will be based on trying to find what elements of interior design can be considered to make the museums more interactive. The paper highlights the points that should be considered while designing the interior spaces and technological elements that can be incorporated to create a better experience for visitors.

With a focus on the use of semiotic analysis as a critical tool for improvement, this study examines the dynamic interactions between interior design, user experience, and brand expression. In today's competitive market, interior spaces play a significant role in conveying a brand's identity, values, and messaging. The importance of semiotic analysis as a technique to improve the alignment between design choices and brand expression is highlighted by research, which benefits the disciplines of interior design and branding. It highlights the potential for user-centric design methods to increase brand engagement. The study provides an overview of importance and value of such design concepts to be included in the design. The semiotic application of such productive forms is proved to enrich the aspect of design in commercial design. Furthermore, to complement the theoretical insights, the data was gathered through a user survey, with a diverse sample size of 100 participants. The user survey aimed to capture the various perspectives on how interior design elements, infused with semiotic cues, impact user experiences and influence consumer behaviours within commercial spaces. The data analyses revealed compelling insights into the profound influence of semiotic cues on brand recognition, emotional engagement, and user satisfaction.

This study delves into the intricacies of vernacular architecture in Himachal Pradesh, India, and Cappadocia, Turkey, unravelling the complex interplay of cultural, environmental, and societal factors shaping their built environments. Through an extensive literature review and physical surveys, the study examines architectural features, lifestyle characteristics, and the adaptive responses of residential structures to their respective contexts. Methodologically, the study employs comparative analysis, drawing parallels, and distinctions between the two regions, ultimately aiming to promote transcultural architecture for sustainable development and cultural preservation. The findings underscore the significance of spatial organization, building materials, cultural influences, climate responsiveness, resilience strategies, and adaptability in both regions. Himachal Pradesh’s use of locally sourced stone and wood, coupled with its earthquake-resistant design principles, and Cappadocia’s utilization of volcanic tuff stone and rock-hewn structures are detailed in this study. Moreover, cultural contexts significantly influence architectural practices, with Himachal Pradesh reflecting Hindu Brahmin influences and Cappadocia showcasing Anatolian and Islamic traditions. The study also highlights opportunities for mutual enrichment through the exchange of architectural practices between the two regions. From Himachal Pradesh to Cappadocia, insights into wooden structural systems and sloping roof designs can enhance seismic resilience, while Cappadocia's expertise in rock-hewn architecture and passive design strategies offers valuable lessons for Himachal Pradesh. By embracing collaborative approaches to architectural innovation and cultural preservation, both regions can foster inclusive, resilient, and culturally vibrant built environments, ensuring a sustainable legacy for future generations.

The comfort condition of the classroom users has a direct impact on their productivity level. And thus, it has become a major concern of the designers to enhance the visual and thermal comfort conditions of classroom spaces. This study presents a case of multi-objective optimization of classroom design for enhanced visual and thermal comfort. A representative classroom layout (the Indian Standard Recommendations for Basic Requirements of School Buildings in 1978) in warm humid climatic conditions was chosen for the analysis. Four design variables such as building orientation, window-to-wall ratio (WWR), glazing material type, and shading device were considered, and a parametric analysis of the same using response surface method (RSM) was carried out. The visual and thermal performance of the developed cases in the parametric setup was assessed with the help of Simulation Tool-Rhino and plug-in such as Honeybee and Grasshopper. The results obtained from the parametric analysis were considered for the optimization computation with the objectives, (1) thermal comfort—in predicted mean vote (PMV) scale, the value tends to 5 for comfort (2) Visual comfort—in useful daylight illuminance (UDI) scale with value in range 70–100% and tending to 100% for comfort. The optimized output for the considered case was observed to be (6.38 mm clear laminated glass, 65 cm horizontal shading device, 40% WWR, N-S orientation). This study put forward a methodology for design optimization projects for architects and designers. The study needs further refinements with the inclusion of more design variables.

The impact of daylight within indoor spaces is intricately linked to the architectural features of buildings, including their surroundings, and overall envelope design, including shading elements like balconies. However, a notable gap exists in the literature concerning comprehensive investigations into the daylight performance and indoor temperature modulation attributed to balconies within apartment structures. This study aims to address this void by examining the impacts of balcony design on the living room of an apartment concerning the indoor thermal environment and daylight performance in warm and humid climate. A case study apartment is chosen at Kotturpuram Chennai to analyze the impacts of balconies in the living space through field measurement and compare the effects of single-glazed and double-glazed balconies through simulation. This research will also explore the balcony design impacts between lower and upper floors to improve occupants’ comfort levels. This study mainly focuses on uniform daylight illuminance (UDI), spatial daylight autonomy (sDA), annual sunlight exposure (ASE), and predicted mean vote (PMV) for accessing indoor environment quality. The findings indicate that the baseline scenario achieves satisfactory daylighting levels, but experiences elevated indoor thermal conditions. However, through simulation analysis, introducing a double-glazed balcony demonstrates a favorable influence on the indoor thermal comfort range. As a result, both visual and thermal comfort levels are effectively attained.

This paper explores the effects of tourism on the quality of life (QOL) for people living in the walled city of Shahjahanabad in Delhi, India. Shahjahanabad is renowned for its glorious past which has drawn tourists and became a famous heritage tourist hot spot. The rising popularity of this area as a tourist destination has provoked concerns regarding its impact, on the lives and overall happiness of its residents. This study uses a structured survey to collect data on residents’ perceptions of tourist impacts. The key factors studied include are socioeconomic factors, environmental conditions, and cultural identity. The study highlights the multifaceted impact of tourism on residents, encompassing both positive and negative aspects. Residents acknowledge economic opportunities, such as improved employment and business prospects, enhanced social interactions, and upgraded infrastructure, as benefits which is specific to tourists’ places such as markets neglecting residential areas. The findings underscore the importance of striking a delicate balance between heritage preservation and tourism development in the evolving urban landscape of Shahjahanabad. This study contributes to the discourse on sustainable tourism development by shedding light on the intricate relationship between tourism and residents’ well-being. It offers valuable insights that can inform strategies to prioritize residents’ well-being and maintain the unique cultural heritage that defines Shahjahanabad as a distinctive and vibrant tourist destination. It suggests that considering local community needs can lead to a balanced and sustainable relationship between tourism growth and residents’ welfare.

Leisure participation is an essential component in student life. Studies reveal that it relieves stress and aids to focus more on academics and everyday activities. This literature study looks into the relevance of leisure activities in student life. The main contribution through this paper is to list down the various preferred leisure activities of students and its effects and the contributing factors of leisure satisfaction among the students. The leisure activities of students may happen indoors or outdoors during their free time anywhere around or inside the educational campuses. These can be structured leisure activities, i.e., those which are restricted to time and effort, or can be unstructured type which do not follow any prescribed time or requirement of skill. According to World Mental Health surveys carried out by WHO, 12–46% of the student population are affected by mental health disorders in a given year. According to the latest statistical record of India’s National Crimes Record Bureau, in the year 2022, above 2000 suicides have taken place in India, due to failures in examinations. These reports emphasize the requirement of leisure spaces inside the educational campuses which enable the students to overcome stress and experience avenues to elevate academic motivation. The paper concludes with various benefits of leisure spaces for students in educational institutes as investigated by many researchers and then highlighted the effect of different leisure environment on their overall performance.

The traditional knowledge of the tribe is an invaluable resource of vernacular art, craft, and design. Representative of established values and beliefs, it is an outcome of survival habits and wisdom carried through generations. Home to world’s second largest tribal population, India patrons a rich repository of vernacular architecture and their construction techniques. Inhabiting south-eastern districts of the state of Gujarat, Dhodia community is the third largest tribal group in the state. Progenies to milieu of Gujarat and Maharashtra natives, these agrarian settlers have an evolved lifestyle, beliefs, customs, and rituals. Their built form and spatial settlements, response to environmental conditions, and indigenous material usage are sustainable and exemplary. The mud craft practised for generations by the womenfolk of this community is unique to their culture and responds to their lived spaces. With the growing homogeneity of architecture around the world, the perpetuation of this craft is endangered. The methodology for research consists of observation of tribals’ routine and daily activities, photographic surveys of spaces of dwelling, interviews with people of the community, and documentation of construction techniques and mud craft finishes. The study time on site also overlapped with their celebratory rituals of harvest season. Thematic analysis on definition of culture by Kroeber and Kluckhohn and Rapoport on the significant role of sociocultural factors and its influence on the built environments is examined. The literature study ascertains the craft culture in contextualization within vernacular architecture. The study concludes that the understanding of Dhodia tribal narratives is represented through behavioural and cultural principles in the vernacular dwellings and their building crafts. Besides the language of architectural expression, the functional craft application is a reasoned and characterized. The work is an attempt in safeguarding the relevance of this valuable built culture.

Industrialization revolutionized production and consumption, replacing hand-crafted goods with mass-produced items. While this shift offered benefits like affordability and efficiency, it severed the connection between objects and their cultural context. Traditional crafts, representing a vital form of cultural heritage, continue to transmit knowledge and stories despite facing challenges from industrialization. This paper argues that studying traditional Indian crafts, like wooden boat building, offers a valuable model for creating sustainable, culturally rich practices and even ‘re-make’ the way we make things. Through the analysis of diverse boat types, including Kettuvallam, Chundan Vallam, Uru, and Shikara, the paper explores the interplay of form, materiality and techniques of making. The study also discusses the craftsperson’s expertise in material selection, their understanding of material behaviour, and how their individual approaches and traditional knowledge shape the final product. In conclusion, the paper emphasizes the importance of studying traditional crafts. By embracing the holistic approach of these crafts, we can move beyond mere functionality and rediscover the power of expression in design. Reimagining these techniques can pave the way for innovative and sustainable designs, a testament to the enduring value of human ingenuity.

The aim of this research is to investigate the compressive strength of porous concrete made using Alccofine, bagasse ash, and coconut fiber. Alccofine, a widely used cementitious material in the construction industry, offers the advantage of reducing the water/binder ratio, particularly beneficial for producing high-performance and high-strength concrete. Porous concrete with flexible permeability can be advantageous for groundwater discharge. In this study, fine aggregate typically used in M80 grade concrete is eliminated to create porous concrete of M30 grade. Bagasse ash, owing to its pozzolanic properties, is beneficial when incorporated, although its usage is somewhat restricted by its water absorption capacity. Additionally, coconut fiber contributes to the formation of a matrix structure in porous concrete, enhancing its strength.

This paper is related to the design of the urban water distribution network of a metropolitan city. The current water distribution system in MCG (Gurugram) is called centralized integrated water management system (CIWMS). This water delivery system at MCG might or might not be dependable in the next few years. This paper is all about analyzing the current water network and designing and improving it for the next 30 years. The network should be designed, so that the minimum head at a point is 21 m H2O and the head-loss is less than 10 m/km. Modified Hazen–Williams Cr (0.9) is used to design the water network. A software development firm with its headquarters in USA, Bentley Systems, Inc., creates, produces, licenses, markets, and provides support for computer software and services used in the planning, development, and maintenance of infrastructure. Large physical assets, including highways, railroads, bridges, buildings, factories, power plants, and other networks, are designed, engineered, constructed, and operated using their software solutions. The designing of water distribution network is done on Bentley WaterGEMS CONNECT Edition Update 2 software.

Despite a widespread understanding of whole life costing within the Tanzanian building construction industry, practical implementation remains limited. A significant hindrance to the adoption of this approach is the absence of dependable cost data. To address the challenge, this paper introduces a robust cost data management framework designed to facilitate the integration of whole life costing practices in the industry. The framework, evaluated by 34 building construction professionals in Tanzania through a mixed-method research approach embracing a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews with 11 participants, is recognised for its clarity, comprehensiveness, and relevance to the industry. It provides a strategic roadmap for leveraging technology to establish a readily accessible and efficient system for managing cost data. Despite positive feedback, challenges to the proposed framework include reluctance to change, technological limitations, and financial constraints. Nevertheless, the potential benefits of the framework, such as the provision of reliable cost data, expedited access to information, and overall improvement in cost data management, are acknowledged. This research underscores the critical role of overcoming the lack of dependable cost data as a pivotal step towards promoting the adoption of whole life costing practices in the Tanzanian building construction sector, emphasising the need for a technologically driven approach to enhance the accessibility and reliability of cost data.

Mud mortar is very common for the construction of buildings on a binding material from centuries in the region. Unreinforced masonry construction, either in brick or stone, is one of the popular forms of construction. In most of the buildings in hilly and plain areas of Nepal, mud mortar is commonly used to bind the brick or stone units. In this experimental investigation, different samples of mud were taken throughout Nepal, which represents the typical geographical region of Nepal. To study the performance of mud mortar, different binding materials like commercially available cement, hydrated lime and fibres were added, and also cow dung used in the mud mortar and tested in the laboratory as per code. Lime surkhi and cement mortar were also tested in the laboratory. From the investigation, mud mortar exhibits compressive strength above 0.5 MPa for all mortar composition. The compressive strength of mud mortar depends on clay content. Cement and lime, with and without fibres, have significant effects on the compressive strength of mortar. Cow dung in mortar shows greater strength than other compositions. Lime surkhi mortar has sufficient strength. An increase in specific gravity decreases water absorption. An increase in clay and silt content increases water absorption. The use of fibres with cement and lime decreases the linear shrinkage value.

As the era of development advances, so does the advancement in industrialization, which further led to the generation of waste material. Such material are causing harm to the environment by degrading the land due to waste dumping and harming the local population, so to solve this problem these material have been reused in various construction. In this review paper, solid waste produced in the process of steel manufacturing, which is known as steel slag, has been studied as a road construction material. Steel slag being in a large quantity in solid waste led the attention of various researchers due to its distinctive chemical properties, physical properties, and sustainable to use. The aim of this review paper is to show the summary of the recent advances done by researchers in utilization of steel slag in road construction. This review paper also shows the effect of steel slag on the engineering properties of the soil. The influence of steel slag on plasticity index, compaction, California bearing ratio, and unconfined compressive strength were also studied. After observing the overall result, this study shows that using of steel slag has significantly improved the engineering properties and it also depicts that steel slag can be used for sustainable soil stabilization.

In the realm of health care, spatial design plays a crucial role in shaping the patients’ journey within hospitals. The arrangement of spaces, use of color schemes, lighting techniques, and integration of natural elements all contribute to creating an atmosphere that can either enhance or hinder healing processes. As researchers increasingly recognize the significance of environmental factors on patient outcomes, understanding how spatial design shapes these journeys becomes paramount for improving health-care delivery and overall patient satisfaction. This paper aims to investigate the potential role of the emergency department (ED) layout in influencing the patient’s movement. Understanding the influential spaces of layout and flow on patient experience within hospital is important for creating environments that promote healing and well-being. To achieve this aim, the methodology consisted of comprehensive literature review and primary case study. The literature study focused on types of disasters along with their impact on hospitals. Numerous codes, standards and guidelines were considered for Disaster Management and Hospital Safety. Primary case study involved observation method and Focused Group Discussion Method to extract the condensed information from the stakeholders. The assessing characteristics such as patient movement, connectivity, privacy, perceptibility, duration, and circulation were considered. The outcome of the study highlighted important indicators at site, building and unit level which played a crucial role in the movement and circulation of the patients. The results of the study are an excellent source of information for health designers, which play a vital role in ensuring that patients have a safe and healthy environment.

The necessity for accurate and dependable concrete compressive strength projections is critical to the structural integrity and longevity of building projects. Unlike traditional methods, this work looks into using machine learning algorithms to predict concrete’s compressive strength in an effort to effort to increase efficiency and accuracy. The goal of the project is to apply mean squared error (MSE) techniques to optimize the prediction models. We go over the value of accurate predictions of compressive strength in the construction industry as well as the limitations of utilizing conventional methods. The study investigates how successfully these algorithms detect complex patterns in the data and adapt to different mix ratios, curing times compositions of concrete. We discover that the mean squared error is a trustworthy statistic to gauge prediction accuracy, which aids in solving the issue statistic of assessing model efficiency. The study emphasizes how important mean square error reduction is to achieving optimal prediction performance. Machine learning model optimization techniques that are to like feature engineering and hyperparameter tuning are discussed in order to decrease the mean square error (MSE).

Graphene-reinforced concrete (GRC) is a novel composite material that incorporates graphene, a two-dimensional nanomaterial with exceptional properties, into the cementitious matrix. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanical behavior of GRC under different loading conditions and to explore the effects of graphene particle sizes on the performance of GRC. A series of experiments were conducted to measure the compressive strength, flexural strength, fracture toughness, and fatigue life of a total of 78 GRC specimens with different graphene particle sizes and addition rate. After group analysis and comparative analysis, the results showed that GRC exhibited superior compression and bending resistance properties compared to conventional concrete, and that the graphene fine particles are optimal, the compressive strength of the specimens with 10 and 30% graphite fine aggregate substitution increased by 11.18% and 3.06%, respectively, compared to the control group. Similarly, the flexural strength of the same specimens rose by 52.07 and 33.46%. The enhancement of GRC was attributed to the improved interfacial bonding, reduced porosity and microcracks, and increased crack resistance of the matrix. The study also discussed the challenges and opportunities of GRC as a sustainable and innovative construction material.

This study introduces Gum Arabic (GA), a natural polysaccharide, as an innovative bio-modifier for AP-5 asphalt cement, marking a step toward sustainable civil engineering materials. We investigated the effects of GA at varying concentrations (e.g., 5, 10, and 15 wt.%) using advanced analytical techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thin-layer chromatography-flame ionization detection (TLC-FID), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FT-IR analysis revealed GA's interaction with asphalt as primarily physical, suggesting its role as a stabilizing agent. TLC-FID results indicated a chemical shift in the asphalt composition, with a notable increase in saturates and resins and a decrease in aromatics, enhancing the asphalt’s thermodynamic stability. SEM analysis demonstrated excellent miscibility of GA with the asphalt binder, crucial for consistent material performance. Rheological tests revealed changes in the mechanical properties of the asphalt, including reduced penetration and ductility but increased softening point and viscosity. Dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) testing indicated improved rutting resistance, enhancing the asphalt's high-temperature performance. Our findings suggest that GA is an effective, environmentally friendly additive, offering significant improvements in asphalt mixture performance.

This research investigates the optimization of high-strength concrete (HSC) by incorporating innovative additives, specifically Alccofine 1203, debris, marble powder and coconut fiber, to enhance its mechanical properties. This experimental investigation aims to determine the mechanical attributes of Alccofine 1203, debris, and coconut fiber substituted for high-strength concrete. Findings from tests conducted on compressive strength, split tensile strength, and flexural strength demonstrate that when the requirement for maximum cement must be satisfied, marble powder might be used as a substitute substance. Experimental findings suggest that Alccofine 1203 effectively enhances paste packing density, reduces water requirement, and accelerates internal hydration, leading to increased concrete strength and longevity. Additionally, coconut fiber, known for its natural strength properties, is explored for its potential to reinforce HSC. Through systematic replacement of cement with Alccofine, compressive strengths ranging from 87.90 to 90.58 N/mm2 were attained, with 10% Alccofine replacement showing the highest strength. Subsequent replacement of sand and aggregates with debris further enhanced compressive strengths, reaching levels from 90.58 to 91.53 N/mm2, underscoring the environmental advantages of waste material recycling. Additionally, the incorporation of coconut fiber improved flexural strength and crack resistance, with compressive strengths ranging from 83 to 91.53 N/mm2, promoting sustainability and eco-conscious construction practices. The research sheds light on the optimal dosage and effectiveness of these additives in HSC, contributing valuable insights for sustainable and resilient construction practices.

Buildings facades are like the human skin. Just like our skin, it protects us from harmful external environment and preserves our internal organs, similarly adaptive facades shield the building from the various forces of nature and regulates the internal environment so that users attain maximum comfort, and the building also saves up on its heating or cooling costs. This study delves into adaptive facades in corporate offices within India's humid and hot climates. The primary objective is to identify barriers hindering their growth in India compared to global contexts and propose viable solutions. Extensive case studies were examined to understand global trends, technological advancements, and climate-specific features of adaptive facades. A survey involving architects, engineers, and corporate office owners revealed a notable lack of awareness and uncertainty regarding the long-term benefits of such facades. Acknowledging the challenges of maintaining kinetic facades in India's dusty environment, this research suggests electrochromic glass as a potential remedy, offering a static adaptive facade solution more suitable for the region. Additionally, a daylighting analysis using Revit Insight software was conducted to compare lux levels between standard glass facades and electrochromic facades, highlighting the latter's efficacy in India's climate. Through this research, we aim to enhance understanding and promote the adoption of adaptive facades tailored to India's climatic conditions, thereby improving building sustainability and occupant comfort.

Informal urbanization in Colombia, closely tied to political instability and internal conflict, is a widespread phenomenon. This includes the so-called barrios de invasión, informal settlements resulting from illegal occupations and self-managed transformations of the territory. These urban fabrics escape regular planning and regulatory control, characterized by the absence of basic services and small living spaces constructed with readily available and economical materials. This research focuses on the case of Nueva Esperanza, an example of a Colombian informal neighbourhood in the rural area of the city of Manizales. It stands out for its high level of community organization and the adoption of a single natural material for construction: local bamboo, known as guadua. The research work began with six months of fieldwork in Colombia, conducting an analysis of existing urbanisation and housing solutions through topographical and architectural surveys, photo campaigns, focus group sessions with residents and interviews to collect qualitative and quantitative data. Research activities continued with proposals for technological improvements to some houses and led to the design of a self-built construction system using guadua as the main material. This specific and contextual choice, highlighted by the case study itself, aims to counteract the stigma associated with this material, often linked to backwardness, and reclaim the nearly disappeared vernacular construction culture: the Bahareque technique. Bamboo as a building material is a precious resource with many potentials not only from a technological and mechanical standpoint but also environmentally. The approach emphasizes the importance of directly involving communities, leveraging local resources, and promoting long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability in resolving the housing crisis.

The pushover analysis approach was used in this work to assess the seismic capacity of a high-rise RCC building. In this evaluation method, a 20-story building bearing continuous gravity loads and gradually increasing lateral forces is investigated until a target displacement is reached through ETAB software. After that, a number of streamlined nonlinear techniques based on pushover analysis were used to evaluate how well they could anticipate seismic demand. In the case of nonlinear static evaluation, the loads are taken into account incrementally rather than once. After the analysis of structure this model was evaluated in terms of story drift, story displacement, base shear, and pattern of formation of plastic hinge. Finally, a thorough parametric analysis is used to assess the accuracy of the suggested methodology. This indicates that it offers a practical design tool overall. It has been found that the structural frame results in both directions and the resultant capacity curves fall within the life safety performance standard. “Pushover (nonlinear static) analysis is used to figure out structure damage vulnerability and an acceptable level of safety.” To address such issues, a number of scientific studies have been performed to evaluate the better performance of a structure. From our research study, it enabled us to study the sequential creation of plastic hinges in the many structural parts. It provides sensitivity information on the effects of changing the strength and stiffness. In order to maximize cost efficiency, we may decide to reinforce just the necessary components when remodeling a structure. So as an outcome, the pushover testing approach is now an excellent computer tool for investigating the seismic strength of structures subjected to seismic pressures.

The transmission tower is developed in response to the demand for altitude from ground level while dealing with high-voltage transmitting wires and insulators. Transmission line towers are a superior alternative for transmitting power from one location to another with strong electrical conductors at a satisfactory and secured distance from the base. Transmission line towers account for around 28–42% of the transmission network’s overall cost. Transmission line towers nowadays are most generally four-legged lattice towers. Three-footed lattice towers are just utilised for telecommunications, micro-waves, radio-waves, and towers supported with guy ropes; they are not engaged as transmission line towers in the power sector. They also have to withstand all natural factors, like as high winds, in addition to their weight. The major motive of this work is to perceive the most cost-effective and efficient bracing from X, V, and W. Further, the purpose of this research is to determine which bracing is the most cost-effective and efficient in the study and designing of four-legged self-standing electricity towers. Also, to economise the design, different base widths were taken viz., 8, 6.5, and 5 m with the same tower height with each bracing system. As per wind zone IV, all loads specified in IS 802 Part-1 (2015) were taken into consideration. The model under consideration is with a height of 32 m; a square bottom size of 8 m, 6.5 m, 5 m, respectively. Towers are modelled considering factors like specific height, different bracing arrangements, L-sections, and varying factors such as bottom size and wind intensity region. A comparison study is carried out in terms of displacement, moment, and steel take-off for various tower bracings. It is stated that the tower with W-bracing is a cost-effective and competent bracing option when compared to other types of bracing.

Numerous studies have been carried out to explore the response of a structure featuring an innovative structural design, with particular emphasis on investigating the performance of shear walls and bracings with modifying their arrangements and material characteristics. In earthquake design guidelines for both concrete and steel buildings, compliance with life safety (LS) and performance level (PL) requirements is imperative. However, it has been observed that the existing lateral load-resisting system, while effective, may not sufficiently withstand strong ground motion accelerations. To address this challenge, a novel lateral load-resisting system has been developed by integrating two established methods—shear walls and bracings. This structural arrangement combines a gravity load-resisting technology (a classical moment resisting frame) with two lateral load-resisting schemes (shear walls and bracings). Analytical finite element analysis, employing a nonlinear dynamic approach, has been conducted to explore the behavior of structures amid tremor conditions. A wide range of parameters have been considered for comparative research, focusing on the El-Centro and Alaska earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.1 and 7.9, respectively. Various damping percentages, including 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10%, have been examined concerning base shear, story drift, spectral displacement, and spectral acceleration.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an innovative practice of the human mind that plays its role at different levels either in education or profession nowadays. Authors are keen to study the role of AI in education, especially architecture education. Professional education is undergoing transformations in India in a broader way after implementation of NEP 2020. More emphasis toward skilled outcomes involves many software’s, co-curricular activities and reframing of scheme and syllabi w.r.t. futuristic scopes like artificial intelligence. “Involvement of AI in architecture needs to be practiced in respect to data usage (may be impossible to process without the contribution of computational technologies), indexing and classification of information and processing like emotional connect with client, Legal codes, physical environment analysis, user’s needs, functional requirements, previous cases, etc., other than different educational and professional basic software requirements ( https://imotions.com/blog/insights/research-insights/how-architecture-affects-human-behavior/ , 2023, [1]). Opinions claiming that AI can fully replace architects are similarly present as opinions claiming the exact opposite. Currently, it is not possible to replace all local architectural tasks” [2]. Study on the ‘Future of Employment’ (2013) concludes that “various professions are being replaced by artificial intelligence using a digitalized world while professions in architecture have the least risk with only 1.8% ( https://parametric-architecture.com/does-ai-allow-architects-to-return-to-the-heart-of-their-profession/ , 2023, [3]). Architecture placed on negligible risk is due to the number of diverse tasks involved which may get transformed in future as technology will be more advanced and widespread (Clark in J Archit Psychol 7(4):250–265, 2022, [4])” (Benedikt and Osborne in The future of employment: how susceptible are jobs to computerisation?, 2013, [5]). COVID pandemic has raised the need for artificial intelligence (image, video, speech-to-text, etc.) exponentially for better and effective outcomes eliminating demerits of prevailing online education systems. Architecture education is an important component in experiential learning by using different online MOOC platforms like EDX, NPTEL, COURSERA, LINKEDIN, etc. This paper identifies behavioral impact parameters of artificial intelligence in architecture education.

The discipline of architecture is situated at the convergence of creative manifestation, technological advancement, and the endeavour to achieve practical design resolutions. Within this setting, the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) into the realm of architecture design education arises as a crucial and revolutionary undertaking. Conceptual design is the initial phase of the design process. The designer’s capacity to modify, interpret, and transform the concepts at this juncture is what determines their originality. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as MidJourney and comparable platforms, within the realm of architectural education holds the potential to significantly transform the way students conceive, create, and revise architectural thoughts. The focus of this study is to analyse the impact of AI-based concept development tools on creativity in the architectural design studio of B.Arch 3rd Year, Jamia Millia Islamia. The perceptions of students and the faculty about the use and inclusion of AI-based concept development tools will be taken and analysed. The role of AI-based concept development tools as facilitators of creativity will be examined by a creativity test conducted on the samples of 3D forms developed by students and 3D forms generated using the students’ narrative by the AI tool. The observations and the results of the test will then be used to create recommendations on the inclusion of AI in architecture design education. This study possesses the capacity to cultivate originality and creativity in aspiring architects. The findings of this research have the potential to facilitate the connection between the academic community and the industrial sector.

Architectural design is widely recognized as a fundamental component in understanding the design process, which endeavors to influence the abilities, sensibilities, and knowledge of students while fostering collaborative problem-solving and lateral thinking. This paper addresses the issue of conventional architectural education’s inadequacy in preparing students for the collaborative, interdisciplinary nature of modern architectural practice. Conventional design studios (CDS) have been criticized for emphasizing individual achievement and neglecting the importance of collaboration, communication, and integration of multidisciplinary perspectives. To investigate this issue, the study implemented a multidisciplinary collaborative design studio (MCDS) model into architectural education as per Sustainable Developing Goals fostering Innovation and Sustainability in Architecture at the School of Architecture and Interior Design, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, involving students from M. Arch (General Architecture), M. Tech (Structural Engineering), and M. Tech (Solar Energy) disciplines. The research employed a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative observations with quantitative data from questionnaire surveys administered to students, studio mentors, and reviewers, focusing on parameters such as collaboration, interdisciplinary learning, and design quality. The findings reveal that MCDS significantly enhances student engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and knowledge transfer, leading to higher-quality design outcomes compared to CDS. Students in MCDS demonstrated improved design thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to integrate diverse knowledge areas into their design process. Furthermore, the collaborative learning environment of MCDS closely mirrors the real-world architectural practice, preparing students for professional demands more effectively. The study advocates for a shift in architectural education toward the MCDS model, emphasizing the need for fostering collaborative, interdisciplinary learning environments. This approach not only prepares students more effectively for the complexities of contemporary architectural practice but also promotes innovation and sustainability in high-rise design. The study highlights the potential of collaborative pedagogies in revolutionizing architectural education as per SDG’s and suggests areas for further research to optimize these educational models.

Nowadays, health and human well-being are increasingly becoming core issues in the fields of design and architecture. Designers should focus not only on the beauty and functionality of space but also on its impact on people’s health and happiness. This study explores the importance of introducing Human-Centered Design concepts and considerations of human health and well-being into teaching human living environment design. The workshop’s primary objectives were to define and design home environments to maintain and promote health and well-being. To this end, an initial research phase based on trend research, personas, scenario-based design, and task analysis led to the definition of user needs and the context of use. Subsequently, each group discussed the results with the tutors to outline inputs and generate ideas. The article presents some case studies of home environments aimed at maintaining and promoting health and well-being. To conclude, results indicate that this teaching method significantly improves participants’ design thinking and problem-solving skills, especially when dealing with complex issues related to health and well-being. In summary, integrating health and human well-being considerations and Human-Centered Design concepts into residential environment design education can effectively improve professional skills and innovation capabilities while providing new directions for the future development of the interior design field.

Drawings are how an instructor communicates with students of architecture and engineering. Engineering drawing is taught to all undergraduate students of all faculties of engineering and architecture in Kathmandu University (KU) because that is how ideas can be exchanged, understood and enhanced. An instructor needs to know where to use which kind of drawing so that students can understand what is being conveyed. These drawings could be drawn by hand (free hand) or using a set of tools or using computer software. An instructor needs to be aware of these various tools. An in-depth qualitative study, in the form of questionnaire and in-person interviews, was carried out in KU among faculties who are currently teaching or has experience teaching engineering or architectural/working drawings (as in case of architecture students) to understand how prepared the faculties are, how the subject is taught and how the students are assessed. All 15 faculties agreed that drawings are the best communication tool, computer software help to create more accurate drawings but the students must be able to visualize what they want to create to be able to make drawings. Continuous assessment is done during the semester, and at the end of the course, each student is given a set of questions to make various drawings based on what has been done during the semester. Analytical rubrics are created to mark the answers. The reliability coefficient for the assessment is calculated to test the applicability of the assessment done for engineering drawings.

The study aims to understand the evolving connection between user experience (UX) and built environment, highlighting the key concepts, comparisons, and opportunities that arise from their integration. The study discusses the origins of UX design and its focus on digital products and services. It explores how ‘UX’ expands beyond its original scope and can be applied to physical spaces, architecture, and urban planning. The focus of this research is to relate the principles of UX design and their importance in the context of a public open space, to establish a new perspective on the key elements that compose it. It explores how the open spaces’ design can be viewed through the lens of the UX design honeycomb (usable, useful, findable, credible, accessible, desirable, and valuable) by forming a connection between the two through a review of existing literature and data, drawing similarities from both spheres. It also discusses the value and level of importance each factor contributes to a space which were inferred from data collected through online user surveys. This study also goes on to highlight the areas of improvement and recommends further study based on the findings and inferences gathered.

This study examines the effectiveness of Transnational Education (TNE) in the field of architectural education, with a focus on the Sino-British collaboration between Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). It explores how advanced digital design and visualization tools, AI, and digital fabrication have been integrated into the curriculum and the opportunities and challenges that TNE presents in creating a global educational setting. The study uses the UK Professional Standard Framework (UKPSF) and analyzes three case studies of digital-supported projects to understand how TNE manages the complexities of cross-cultural and geographical education delivery. The findings suggest that while TNE at XJTLU provides access to global architectural practices and innovations, it also faces challenges related to cultural integration and pedagogical adaptation. The research provides a framework to understand the role of digital technology in TNE architectural programs and suggests strategies for cross-border educational partnerships, contributing to the dialogue on enhancing TNE for worldwide architectural education.

Fundamentally consisting of mere appropriations of space and adaptations or alterations of natural conditions, the primigenial architectural manifestations of humankind did not substantially differ from those created by what we know as “animal architects.” In those early days, the scope and purpose of architecture were limited to satisfying basic needs. However, especially after the cognitive revolution, humankind began to operate at higher technical and socio-cultural levels creating and developing new materials, techniques, and technologies as well as incorporating cultural, spiritual, and symbolic layers as fundamental components of our existence. The scope and purposes of architecture expanded in parallel, integrating and disseminating those higher manifestations. Architecture thus became a vehicle of cultural transmission and aspired to reach a transcendental and poetic dimension. This paper claims that a civic and responsible understanding of the role of architecture in contemporary society requires aspiring for a transcendental architecture at all levels, going beyond the elusive and intangible to embrace a tangible and objective poetics in which materials, techniques, and technology play a relevant and significant role.

The sustainable development goals are projected to be fulfilled by the year 2030. SDG 7 ensures access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all, in conjunction with SDG 4 quality education, in specific, education for sustainable development and global citizenship, drives schools of architecture and design to integrate energy theory as part of the coursework at the undergraduate level. The mid-stage architectural study is the level at which students start analysing and synthesising principles and theories learnt from year 1 and start applying them at a practical level in their design solutions. This paper will discuss introducing energy efficiency in Year 3 and integrating climatology and energy-efficient strategies of both passive and active means through different exercises. It will also discuss the teaching methodology and document the analytical work of studies regarding energy efficiency comprehension and interpretation in design. One of the objectives is to push students to understand personal responsibility as individuals and designers towards SDGs and at a broader scale sustainability. The exercises are given starting in the form of questionnaires and surveys, leading to discussions. Then the students are encouraged to analyse the strategies that are given, and the problems and issues of climate-responsive design are inferred. The final step is to understand students’ comprehension by evaluating their ability to problem solve and implement in their respective design projects. The main strategy to help in connecting the theoretical to practical is by horizontally integrating the energy-efficient architecture subject with the studio that aims at having the design project of mixed-use building at two different sites which helps in understanding energy-efficient features at the macro- and micro-level while also intervening at the site and built-up level.

Academicians play a pivotal role in the growth of students and their potential as future professionals. Design pedagogy is a field of intangible equations overpowering the tangible elements of learning outcomes. The precedent set for the design studio pedagogies is insubstantial compared to the theoretical domains of a fully rounded architecture education. This study delves deep into understanding the gap between what academicians know and the gap that is observed before they start their careers in academia. Stakeholders in the architecture education system and resources providing information for academicians were first collected and collated to understand the various parameters required to successfully teach a course. The parameters mentioned were all carefully curated to categorically understand the gap. Surveys, interviews, and data collection on existing literature helped in the development of this particular research. Round table sessions with early career academicians were conducted, and the findings were discussed with experienced educators in the architecture field to help identify the gap and learnings. The findings will help in bridging the particular gap between stakeholders, available literature and the academicians. This will provide solutions to induct or orient novel academicians and prepare them as they start their careers, helping to bring about better learning and behavioral outcomes among design students.