Architecture, Volume 5, Issue 3 (September 2025) – 10 articles

Climate change is becoming one of humanity’s major concerns. Remarkable steps are being implemented to reduce global emissions in all economic sectors, including the built environment. Historical buildings use a considerable amount of energy and produce emissions; therefore, retrofitting these buildings will enhance the global path towards zero-emissions targets. This paper applies a systematic literature review methodology to identify the research around energy efficiency retrofit in historical buildings, then analyzes this data to find out the common scopes of these studies. After that, the study focuses on the research that covered the life cycle assessment. Lastly, the paper identifies where the research in this field stands, what is accomplished, and what needs to be done. The study used two databases, ScienceDirect and the Web of Science. The output of this study that evaluated 362 publications showed that research in historical building energy efficiency has increased significantly in the last ten years. A few studies cover the topic of whole life cycle assessments and mainly focus on specific processes: energy/emissions, or specific suggested interventions. The suggested future plans for research in this area are to consider the whole life energy and emissions in retrofitted historical buildings. Full article

High unemployment rates, inaccessible housing markets, and funding challenges create barriers to finding suitable housing for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who have less obvious support needs, also known as autistic adults. While public and community housing services in Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ) may be an option, a lack of accessible designs leaves families uncertain about future care options. This paper, part of the MBIE-funded Public Housing and Urban Regeneration: Maximising Wellbeing research programme in partnership with registered Community Housing Provider, Te Toi Mahana (TTM), takes an exploratory approach to ask how public and community housing can support and help enable semi-independent living for autistic adults. It investigates how design elements—such as dwelling layouts, material choices, colour schemes, lighting, acoustics, shared and community spaces, and external environments—impact the wellbeing of autistic adults. By extension, insights may also inform private housing design. The study focuses on autistic adults who may be considered ‘mid-to-high’ functioning or those who have been previously diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, whose housing needs are often overlooked. It develops guiding principles and detailed guidance points for public and community housing, informed by the literature, case studies, and data from a photo elicitation study and interviews undertaken with autistic adults in AoNZ. These guiding principles are tested through the speculative redesign of a large TTM site in Newtown, Wellington, AoNZ. Findings should be of interest to government agencies, housing providers, architects, stakeholders, and others involved in shaping the built environment, as well as autistic adults and their supporters, both in AoNZ and internationally. Full article

Housing retrofit plays a pivotal role in achieving sustainability goals. The fragmented nature of the retrofit industry has been identified as a barrier to driving retrofit at scale. The study aims to analyse how to strategically improve the concept of the one-stop-shop model to drive housing retrofit at scale with the help of existing literature. The concept of a one-stop-shop model provides all the retrofit services with a single contact to the client. A systematic literature review approach was used. Only peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and conference articles published from 2016 to 2025 in English were selected. There are 12 shortlisted journal and conference proceedings articles critically evaluated under three themes: delivery method, ownership structure and level of responsibility. The findings highlight the different characteristics of the one-stop-shop model under these themes. Considering the existing case studies, starting a one-stop shop under a hybrid delivery method and a medium level of responsibility is recommended for retrofit at scale. The ownership structure shall be context-specific. Limitations could be given as the researcher bias and the missed articles in databases not considered for this review. Further research is suggested on how the characteristics of a one-stop shop can be customised, considering the context-specific resources and purposes. Full article

Design studios generally concentrate on some critical concerns of urban life to overcome, and housing is one of those. Rapid development and advanced technology increase the need for and problems with housing. Such concerns should be addressed in theory, practice, and pedagogy. This study assesses the sophomores’ design output and their understanding of housing typologies based on real-world project sites to contribute to pedagogical aspects. Our study results show that students’ villa typologies generally focus on specific social groups with central themes, including health and recreation, while apartment complex designs converge on community life, urban identity, and tranquility. Based on the survey, students were part of it; they had difficulty with the scale and site-related grading problems, while most wished to work on the other typology theme. This study eventually calls attention to housing problems based on the design students’ perspectives on different residential typologies. Full article

Climate change, urbanization, and socio-economic inequality are increasing the severity of urban challenges, emphasizing the imperative for a resilient built environment. Yet, architectural education has lagged in adopting resilience principles into its central curricula. This paper critiques dominant pedagogical paradigms and identifies shortcomings in interdisciplinary collaboration, digital tool adoption, and practical problem-solving. Moving its focus from local to international best practices for resilience, the study extracts key dimensions for learning architecture and explores case studies in leading schools that reflect pioneering, resilience-centric pedagogies. The findings highlight the importance of scenario-based learning, participatory design, and the use of technologies like AI, GIS, and digital twins to strengthen resilience. The article also explores how policy reformulation, accreditation mandates, and cross-sector collaborations can enforce the institutionalization of resilience education. It demands a pedagogical shift toward climate adaptation design studios, inter/transdisciplinary methods, and technological skills. The study ends with action guidelines for teachers, policymakers, and industry professionals who want to ensure that architectural education becomes responsive to resilient urban futures. Full article

This study investigates the spatiotemporal distribution and evolution of traditional villages in southern Jiangsu Province, China. By integrating historical documents, remote sensing images, and socio-economic statistics, we have applied standard geographic information system (GIS) methods, including kernel density estimation, nearest neighbor analysis, and standard deviation ellipse analysis, to examine the patterns and driving forces behind village formation and transformation. The findings are as follows: (1) The spatial distribution of the villages exhibits a spatial pattern of “peripheral agglomeration and central decline,” with a nearest neighbor index value of 0.84 (z = −2.52, p < 0.05), indicating a significantly clustered distribution. Kernel density analysis revealed high-density zones along the southwestern coast of Taihu Lake and southeastern Dianshan Lake. (2) From the Song to the Qing Dynasty, village migration followed three sequential phases, “stabilizing near water → avoiding risks around water → adapting inland,” showing strong spatiotemporal linkages to climate change and warfare. (3) The density of the villages showed a significant negative correlation with the per capita GDP (Moran’s I = −0.69, p < 0.05; 0.69, p < 0.01) and was positively correlated with the proportion of primary industry. These findings highlight the spatial resilience characteristics of traditional villages under combined natural and socio-economic pressures and provide a theoretical foundation for regional heritage conservation and rural revitalization strategies. Full article

Inclusive campus design is increasingly being recognised as a key component of sustainable and equitable higher education environments. However, limited research has been carried out on this topic, particularly examining university campuses in Australia. Hence, this paper examines how principles of inclusion are embedded in the spatial planning and architectural design of Australian university campuses. Focusing on a comparative analysis of six Melbourne-based institutions, Victoria University, the University of Melbourne, Deakin University, RMIT University, La Trobe University, and Monash University, this study explores how each campus addresses accessibility, cultural diversity, social equity, and environmental comfort to achieve inclusivity. Drawing on site observations, planning documents, and design frameworks, this paper assesses the extent to which these universities operationalise inclusive design within their built environments. The analysis is guided by a theoretical framework combining universal design, spatial justice, and climate-responsive planning. The findings reveal diverse approaches across institutions, with some campuses demonstrating holistic and integrated strategies, while others exhibit more fragmented or symbolic applications. This paper concludes by outlining best practices and key design enablers that can inform more inclusive and sustainable campus development in Australia and beyond. Full article

Schools can play a vital role in supporting children’s health and well-being, considering the time they spend in these environments. There is an increasing recognition of the role of nature in school design as many studies acknowledge that children have a critical need to be connected to nature. Therefore, the application of biophilia can be a design resolution appropriate for schools because of its impact on children’s health and well-being; however, it remains relatively unexplored in school design around the world, including in the UK. Biophilic design patterns can be used in school buildings and grounds for greater connectivity between spaces and nature. This study focuses on biophilic design patterns related to direct and indirect experience of nature in the school environment. This paper discusses the findings of an empirical study with 88 children in a primary school and the application of biophilic design features and patterns related to happiness for primary school design. Finally, this paper suggests that the evaluation of biophilic design patterns in schools could be a co-design process with children and young people, essential for creating a healthy and happy school environment. Full article

This study examines culture-led urban regeneration as a strategy for revitalizing Meezan Chowk, a historically significant yet deteriorating public space in Quetta, Pakistan. Once a central site of social and commercial exchange, the area suffered from infrastructural decline, overcrowding, and the erosion of its architectural identity. The research proposes a design intervention to restore the site’s heritage value while enhancing its functional and social relevance. A qualitative approach is adopted, incorporating surveys, focus group discussions, and site observations to assess user needs and spatial dynamics. A SWOT analysis serves as the analytical framework to identify the site’s internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats. By utilizing the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and OpenStreetMap data, further information can enhance understanding of the site’s urban morphology. The proposed design integrates vernacular elements, such as arched facades, shaded corridors, and communal courtyards, with contemporary features, including cafes, local artisan shops, and accessible public amenities. Full article

Retrofitting the existing housing stock to a high level of energy efficiency will not be limited to achieving the decarbonisation of 80.3 MtCO2e residential emissions and reducing fuel poverty in 4.16 million households, but also improving the health and well-being of UK residents and their overall quality of life. The current progress of housing retrofitting is poor, at less than 1%. The UK expects to achieve net zero by 2050, and the challenge is immense as there are more than 30 million houses. The challenge is similar in other global contexts. Even if the required technology, supply chain, skilled labour, and finance could have been provided, the retrofitting would not move forward without positive engagement from the clients. Proper strategies are required to retrofit at scale. Focusing on the challenges of stakeholder engagement in housing retrofitting, this study focused on developing a hybrid one-stop shop solution through design science research. A theoretical artefact and an empirical system requirement specification document were developed to propose a one-stop shop solution. This was tested through retrofit industry stakeholders. Findings reveal that the one-stop shop model will be a good answer to retrofitting at scale, providing the resident engagement of 30.1 million households. The model can support residents with or without computer literacy due to its hybrid approach. The proposed theoretical and industrial models can be used as base models for developing one-stop shops for housing retrofitting by adapting them for context-specific requirements. Full article