Architecture

This systematic review examined the use of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) in high-rise buildings, focusing on early-stage design strategies to enhance energy performance. With limited rooftop space in tall buildings, façades offer a promising alternative for solar energy generation. Using the PRISMA framework, 41 articles were synthesized to identify key parameters influencing the effectiveness of BIPV systems. This included environmental and urban contexts, building form and orientation, façade configuration, and typology-specific characteristics for residential, office, and mixed-use buildings. The findings highlight the importance of integrating BIPV from the earliest stages of the design process. Local climate and latitude guide optimal façade orientation and form, while module efficiency can be improved with ventilation, air gaps, and appropriate spacing. Urban density, site placement, and shading patterns also significantly affect overall energy output. Podiums and multifaceted building forms enhance solar exposure and reduce self-shading, while building height, orientation, and spacing further influence BIPV potential. Different building types require tailored strategies to balance energy generation, daylight, and architectural quality. Finally, the review identified research gaps and proposed future directions to support architects, designers, and urban planners in effectively incorporating photovoltaic systems into high-rise building design. Full article

This article investigates how the application of modular dimensions and disassembly methods can lower energy and material consumption in residential buildings. This study utilizes a non-reactive desk research and applied case study methods. The examination of precedent publications and studies encompassed the following subjects: The first stage defines modularity in housing and the concept of Design for Disassembly (DfD). The second stage of the research involves analyzing the prefabricated and modular Grow Home project that was designed and built by the author and his team, containing DfD principles, to reduce energy consumption and material waste. In the discussion section, the author highlights key barriers to modular homes in the construction industry. The findings demonstrate that by including several design strategies, such as the enhancement of modularity and DfD affordability, reduction in material waste, and increase in the overall sustainability of a given development. Full article

The global temperature increase has posed urgent challenges, with buildings accountable for as much as 40% of CO₂ emissions, and their decarbonization is critical to meet the net-zero target by 2050. Solar photovoltaics present a promising trajectory, especially through building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs), where thin-film technologies can be used to replace traditional building materials. This article critically examined the development of thin-film solar cells for BIPVs, including their working mechanisms, material structures, and efficiency improvements in various generations. The discussion underscored that thin-film technologies, including CdTe and CIGS, had noticeably shorter energy payback times between 0.8 and 1.5 years compared to crystalline silicon modules that took 2 to 3 years, thus promising quicker recovery of energy and higher sustainability values. Whereas certain materials posed toxicity and environmental concerns, these were discovered to be surmountable through sound material selection and manufacturing innovation. The conclusions highlighted that the integration of lower material usage, high efficiency potential, and better energy payback performance placed thin-film BIPVs as an extremely viable option for mitigating lifecycle emissions. In summary, the review emphasized the critical role of thin-film solar technologies in making possible the large-scale implementation of BIPVs to drive the world toward net-zero emissions at a faster pace. Full article

As architectural educators interested in community engagement and learning about everyday practices in the city, we recognize that teaching community engagement in a practical rather than abstract way is key. This paper presents community-engaged architecture and design pedagogy as potential methods for informing the shift in the role of the architect from top-down to ground-up. This paper presents the author’s pedagogical experimentation based on 25 years of teaching live projects in socially engaged architecture and activism. It describes how a pedagogy combining architecture and activism resulted in the development of an interdisciplinary commons curriculum. The curricula aimed to increase the influence of design practitioners in the development of deliberatively democratic neighborhoods by creating new design practices and outputs. Teaching the political role of the architect from the ground-up rather than from the traditional top-down perspective is challenging, as only a few historical case studies can legitimize and inform its development. This paper describes the content of two pedagogical formats. The ‘Architecture and Activism’ postgraduate architecture and design studio and the following ‘Design for Cultural Commons’ interdisciplinary design postgraduate program. They were both designed to have real-world influence. The ‘Design for Cultural Commons’ postgraduate program enabled the development of a curriculum ranging from modules in social science, art and politics to systems thinking, which is required knowledge for complex neighborhood practices. The city was used as a field of study to discover new knowledge through students’ community engagements. Various theoretical frameworks were employed to develop new forms of emancipatory pedagogy, helping the author unlearn the norms of conventional architectural education. The practice of recalibrating architectural canons and values into a common-based curriculum development is discussed through the framing of learning commons. Full article

Place attachment, or the emotional bond between people and physical settings, is a central concept in urban design and environmental psychology. Although biophilic and restorative environmental frameworks have stressed the value of natural environments, empirical research investigating nature and place attachment often reduces naturalness to simple greenness metrics, leaving the role of aesthetic and visual structural qualities underexplored. This study addresses this gap by drawing on empirical aesthetics and Christopher Alexander’s theory of living structures, which frames aesthetics as an underlying order that gives rise to the experience of visual coherence and beauty. We conducted a multi-method quantitative case study on ten campus open spaces, combining a student survey (n = 447), timed-interval behavioural observations, independent aesthetic ratings, and computational image analysis. The data analysis relied on correlation and regression, as well as data triangulation from multiple sources that encompassed both subjective and objective measurements. Regression and mediation models showed that perceived restorativeness was the strongest predictor of place attachment, complemented by sense of community, perceived wholeness, and naturalness. Indirect pathways revealed that passive interaction enhanced attachment through restorativeness, while active interaction did so through a sense of community. Image-based metrics, particularly fractal dimension and entropy, were closely aligned with perceptions of naturalness and restoration, while behavioural observations confirmed the distinct roles of social hubs, solitary natural retreats, and transitional spaces. The findings demonstrate that both naturalistic structure and social affordances are essential to attachment, and that living structure qualities offer a valuable framework for linking aesthetic order to restorative and emotional bonds. These insights provide both theoretical enrichment and practical guidance for designing restorative and life-enhancing public environments. Full article

The British colonial contact with Nigeria was dotted with diverse paradoxes. In the realm of architecture, it was a period punctuated with the importation of prefabricated buildings into many slave and palm oil trading towns, such as Old Calabar in southern Nigeria. Unfortunately, today, many of these prefabricated colonial architectural heritages have gone into extinction, except for a few which are also on the verge of collapse. One of the remaining few on the verge of collapse is the Egbo Egbo Bassey House built between 1883 and 1886 and declared a National Monument of Nigeria in 1959. Currently, there is no literature on the historical and architectural data of this building, besides those scattered over several files in archival records. Therefore, this paper aims at the holistic documentation of the National Monument. Two categories of data were considered in the documentation processes—namely the building historical data and geometrical data. Historical data were collected through archival research and interviews, while the geometrical data were collected through close-range photogrammetry and manual measurements. The result of this paper contributes to the current geographical dearth of literature on British prefabricated architectural heritage, which punctuated a very important period in the architectural history of the world. Full article

This study aims to detect pathologies in constructions made of sillar, a volcanic material of great historical and cultural value, commonly used in residential and heritage buildings, in the city of Arequipa, Peru. Due to the uniqueness of sillar and the particular characteristics of its pathologies, such as moisture and surface wear, a non-invasive methodology using digital images is proposed, oriented toward the analysis of heritage constructions, with the objective of developing a method that does not alter or modify the heritage or damage the structure, considering that in invasive studies, sample collection may affect the integrity of the material. The proposed strategy combines computer vision techniques, including clustering methods for preliminary segmentation, with the use of deep neural networks for anomaly and deterioration detection. Furthermore, a validation scheme is introduced that integrates standard segmentation metrics with intersection analysis relative to pathology maps, allowing computational analysis to align more closely with the criteria employed in architectural conservation. The results demonstrate good performance in moisture detection, although with lower accuracy in identifying other types of deterioration, highlighting both the feasibility and the challenges of applying deep learning to sillar diagnostics and laying the groundwork for the development of digital tools that support the documentation and preservation of architectural heritage. Full article

This paper explores how collective resilience is built and sustained through situated, relational, and reparative approaches to design within conditions of deep spatial inequality. Focusing on Johannesburg’s Slovo Park settlement and the long-standing 15 year collaboration between the Slovo Park Community Development Forum (SPCDF) and 1to1—Agency of Engagement, it examines how participatory tool-making—centred on two keystone tools, the Blue File (a community-held, cloud-based knowledge repository) and the Timeline Tool (a multi-workshop planning and accountability device)—supports iteration, voice change, leadership transitions, and decision-making “with the map in hand.” Grounded in Southern urbanist theory and spatial justice scholarship, the paper re-politicises resilience as ongoing negotiation, repair, and shared authorship. It details how a map-based pointing practice translated situated knowledges into spatial choices; how the Blue File preserved continuity and evidence through leadership turnover; and how the Timeline Tool embedded care and transparency. Alongside benefits, the paper surfaces key tensions—expectation management, idea overload, triage and prioritisation, and legitimacy during leadership changes—and shows the concrete decision protocols used to move from many inputs to buildable design options. It concludes with ethical reflections for practitioners working in postcolonial/post-apartheid contexts and offers transferable lessons for allied urban conditions. Full article

Hospital design greatly influences patient recovery. Evidence indicates that daylight enhances recovery, but hospital designs in Erbil need further optimization of window configurations to provide sufficient daylight. This suboptimal design can result in longer patient stays, negatively affecting recovery outcomes. The study aims to develop a localized daylight optimization model for inpatient hospital rooms in Erbil via integrating window size, shape, and orientation to enhance patient well-being and recovery. This is accomplished through a mixed-method approach: qualitatively, a hypothetical case study has been analyzed using drawings in Revit, and quantitatively, daylighting analysis is conducted using IES-VE 2024 software for a hypothetical inpatient room case study. Results show that orientation has the most significant impact on daylight parameters. Regarding window size and aspect ratio, horizontal window ratios significantly exceeded vertical ratios (p = 0.001), emphasizing the importance of aspect ratio in optimizing daylight distribution. However, window placement did not have a statistically significant effect on illuminance levels (p = 0.182). The study concludes that window orientation and size substantially influence daylighting in hospital patient rooms. It also evaluates alternative configurations—including variations in window size, proportion, orientation, and placement—to explore potential daylighting improvements achievable in similar urban and climatic environments. Full article

This study aims to explore and enhance sustainable design practices for improving indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in residential buildings in Jordan, particularly within government institutions. It focuses on integrating design capabilities, core technologies, and human-centered values to develop a context-specific framework for green IEQ management. A mixed-method approach is employed, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. The study includes a comprehensive literature review, expert interviews, and focus group discussions, followed by a structured survey with 100 residential building occupants. Three key pillars—core technologies and competences, business models, and human values—are identified and analyzed to guide the development of an innovative IEQ framework. The proposed framework is validated by domain experts to ensure alignment with Jordan’s socio-economic and environmental conditions. The findings reveal that integrating technological innovation, adaptable business models, and occupant well-being significantly enhances the implementation of sustainable IEQ strategies. This research offers a novel design-led framework tailored to the Jordanian context, addressing the underexplored intersection between human-centered design and sustainable IEQ practices. Unlike traditional approaches focused primarily on energy efficiency, this study incorporates social and institutional dimensions to enable more holistic and implementable solutions. Full article

Reusing existing buildings is a valid response to the architectural challenge associated with addressing climate change and can aid the regeneration of the historic built environment. This demands sensitive architectural conservation strategies that improve thermal comfort, indoor environmental quality, and energy efficiency. In addition, energy retrofit solutions that balance performance improvements with the conservation of cultural and architectural values are needed to achieve higher performance while preserving cultural heritage, architectural features, and identity. Energy retrofits of post-war, mid-20th-century buildings pose particular challenges, including low ceiling heights, full-height windows, external decorative components, and other structural aspects, as these features hinder thermal upgrades. Concrete buildings from this period are frequently demolished due to limited guidance on effective retrofit methods. This study explores the most effective energy retrofit strategies for balancing energy efficiency with conservation requirements in such buildings, and assesses the risks associated with condensation and thermal bridging arising from internal insulation strategies. This paper examines internal insulation as a retrofit solution, where external insulation is not feasible. Internal wall insulation (IWI) reduces overall heat loss but concentrates thermal transfer at uninsulated junctions, thereby increasing the risk of condensation. In the simulated case, a relatively thin, short strip of slab insulation, combined with wall insulation, significantly reduced condensation and mould risk, suggesting a potential solution for mid-century building types. The analysis shows that applying insulation asymmetrically worsens conditions on the uninsulated side. Full-height window replacement, coupled with internal slab insulation, results in the most significant improvement; however, slab insulation alone can mitigate condensation risks where window replacement is not permitted. Findings highlight that partial insulation at balconies, parapets, and roof junctions is minimally effective, reinforcing the importance of integrated internal strategies for successful retrofits. Full article

Construction quality failures impose substantial costs on the industry, with traditional quality assurance (QA) methods operating reactively by detecting problems after they occur rather than preventing them during planning and design phases. Limited research exists on the systematic integration of immersive technologies (IMTs) for proactive quality failure prevention across construction project lifecycles. This study investigates how IMTs can systematically prevent specific quality failure categories through enhanced spatial visualization and virtual verification processes. A qualitative approach was employed, combining scoping literature review, two purposively selected case studies, and autoethnographic analysis to capture both performance metrics and implementation insights. Case Study 1 achieved 8% improvement in solar panel placement efficiency (optimizing from 82 to 90 modules) and 1.7% increase in useful energy production (85.8% vs. 84.1%) through BIM-Unreal Engine integration for shadow analysis and spatial optimization. Case Study 2 demonstrated virtual site mobilization using the Revit–Twinmotion workflow, eliminating spatial conflicts and safety clearance violations during pre-construction planning. Findings revealed that IMT applications systematically address quality failure root causes by preventing design coordination errors, measurement mistakes, and regulatory non-compliance through virtual verification before physical implementation. This paper establishes IMTs as transformative QA platforms that fundamentally shift construction quality management from reactive detection to proactive prevention, offering measurable improvements in project delivery efficiency and quality outcomes. Full article

A major challenge that will confront our society in the coming years is the socioecological transition. This involves a profound, systemic shift in how human societies interact with ecological systems. Beyond merely becoming “greener” or adding new technologies, it is about reorganising economies, lifestyles, institutions and cultural values to align with the planet’s ecological limits. The change also requires transforming the fundamental structure of societies to ensure their deep interconnection and compatibility with natural flows and ecological systems. To this end, it is valuable to explore the small, scattered practices which are currently leading to new organisational solutions or socioecological improvements. These initiatives are often regarded as forms of community resistance, adopting various approaches and strategies, which result in a disparate array of configurations. A comprehensive approach is thus needed to identify common patterns of development. A set of meaningful practices was analysed. The sample actions all took place in the urban context of Seville, a city located in Southwestern Europe and spanned various arenas driven by the transition to sustainability. Following the principles of qualitative research and a case study design, we adopted a qualitative method based on open-ended interviews, emphasising situated knowledge and collective construction of meaning. Moreover, a methodological approach based on interviews and further categorisation was followed to describe and organise ideas, motivations, risks, outcomes, as well as how the experiences evolved. The findings revealed that the core motivation driving the initiative in its initial phases is key. Outcomes nevertheless vary significantly depending on the initiative objectives. Generally, actions focused on specific elements—such as defending precise locations or activities—tend to be more successful and abundant. But the ones based on professional developments end up being somewhat stifled since they depend on the market to succeed. However, most rely somehow on public subsidies or support from public institutions, and their activities tend to diminish when such resources are reduced or withdrawn. The question is therefore how to make these initiatives more resilient in the future. The socioecological transition offers a path to strengthen social cohesion, empower collective action, and generate locally rooted and ecologically sustainable alternatives. Building community resilience—the capacity of local communities to adapt, recover and thrive amid these challenges—is, therefore, essential. Full article

Architectural heritage and the actions—positive and negative—concerning it, are not only different in each country, but they also change over time. It is widely assumed that this is due to changes in values. However, the more determining factors are education and political systems. These two are intrinsically connected, and affect the making of local and national contexts, which ultimately support, or not, protection and conservation actions. Invariably, in democratic settings with high levels of education, architectural heritage is valued, protected and conserved. Historically—and unlike in other disciplines—in architectural conservation, theory was only defined after successful practice and by the competent professionals who executed it. This is the case of the Venice Charter (1964), still the main reference for practitioners when intervening in architectural heritage. There is a clear relationship between the emergence of literature on the economics of heritage, heritage management and cultural geography, and the recent trends promoting the de-listing of buildings or to allow them to decline to avoid the cost of conservation and maintenance. This literature is used to justify these actions and, ironically, sometimes more funds are spent on digitally documenting buildings and/or talking about them than maintaining them. This is clear evidence of the deviation of the very purpose of conserving architectural heritage, which has been passed to us for our generation to enjoy, and we should do our best to transmit it to future ones. This paper discusses the current situation in Europe concerning architectural conservation, with a particular focus on the Council of Europe Framework Conventions of Granada (1985) and Faro (2005), and the approach and practices in individual countries. It discusses some representative examples, identifying the main theories (and lack of) employed by governments, authorities and professionals and the outcomes. It reflects on the reasons why we have arrived at the current situation of architectural conservation being misunderstood or underrepresented. The paper also defines the need for coordinated policy actions, particularly the formal classification of architectural conservation as a scientific discipline. It presents the need for more research and specialist education in architectural conservation to improve current unregulated and inappropriate practices. Full article

Tunisia’s northwestern region offers a rich and diverse civilization heritage and cultural potential. However, it has been socially and economically marginalised since the 70s. This study explores the link between urban cultural heritage and the construction of collective identity, emphasising the potential of built heritage to foster sustainable community-based development. In addition to physical attributes, the literature highlights the importance of social interactions in shaping territorial identity. Identity, in this context, is not static but a dynamic territorial construction that integrates architectural, urban, and social dimensions. The cities of El Kef and Tabarka serve as case studies of spatially and culturally marginalised areas, facing significant challenges to both tangible and intangible heritage. With a negative population growth rate (−0.36% between 2004 and 2014) and the lowest economic development indicator nationally (0.3% in 2012), these cities reflect the urgent need for an alternative approach. Through spatial diagnosis, interviews, and stakeholder engagement, the research demonstrates that a renewed territorial model—grounded in heritage valorization and local identity—can support inclusive and adaptive development. Key findings reveal a generational gap in the perception and representation of heritage between younger and older residents. This indicates that cultural identity is not a static inheritance but a dynamic process requiring active community investment. Ultimately, the study concludes that urban identity assets critically influence the capacity of a community to build a shared vision for the enhancement of its territorial identity. This reconnection between territory, memory, and planning enables a collective reappropriation of space, proposing a long-term vision for heritage-integrated urban regeneration. Full article

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has established itself as a strategic and indispensable tool for designing and implementing smart buildings within the context of smart cities. This study explores the potentialities and challenges of using BIM across the main stages of the smart building lifecycle: design, construction, and operation and maintenance. We conducted comprehensive, detailed, and interpretative literature research to extract the main concepts and knowledge, enabling us to identify the main potentialities and challenges and classify them by life-cycle phase for smart buildings. Potentialities and challenges were prioritized based on the number of projects that cited them. The inclusion criteria for identifying potentialities and challenges were based on their key attributes: significant impact, information modeling potential, integration capability with other tools and methods, and improved performance in processes and services across all life cycle phases and BIM dimensions. The findings reveal that the main potentials include optimizing information management, reducing operating costs, enhancing environmental sustainability, and enhancing decision-making processes. Furthermore, the study highlights BIM’s role in integrating technologies such as IoT, augmented reality, and energy simulations, contributing to the development of more sustainable and functional buildings. However, challenges to its full adoption persist, including financial constraints, interoperability issues between systems, a lack of specialized technical skills, and organizational resistance to change. The dependence on advanced technological infrastructure and robust connectivity poses an additional challenge, especially in developing countries, where such resources may be scarce or inconsistent. Finally, this study suggests that future research should explore the integration of BIM with emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and digital twins, further expanding its applicability in the smart urban context. Full article

Informal settlements, urban areas with substandard housing conditions and inadequate infrastructure, are increasing in Africa’s sub-Saharan cities, fueled by rapid urbanization, economic challenges, and high housing prices. However, developers often ignore the green building (GB) concept when upgrading housing conditions for these communities. This study aims to investigate GB design strategies specifically for residential structures in Akabahizi to identify and propose practical strategies suitable for informal settlements such as Akabahizi and to develop sustainable housing solutions that enhance environmental quality and meet the needs of residents. Simulation software and combined qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques, including field surveys, interviews, and assessments of existing building conditions, constitute the methodology used in this study. The focus was on the influence of climatic factors, including temperature, precipitation, and wind, on design choices, particularly GB design and current residential buildings in Akabahizi. Based on the survey, 82.5% of residents support the GB concept, 87.4% recognize the importance of GB for community well-being, and 97.1% recognize the benefits of integrating energy-efficient technology for residents’ well-being. Questionnaire findings were considered in decision-making for the design of the new proposed structure to address challenges in the area. Optimized energy efficiency, daylight access, and thermal comfort resulting from courtyard design support GB design incorporating a courtyard as a robust and culturally relevant sustainable design framework tailored for Akabahizi. The courtyard provides green space that promotes social interaction, improves air quality, and delivers natural cooling elements that are essential for residential housing. The proposed new design, with green roof and renewable energy devices, improved material usage, and natural ventilation elements, outperformed the existing one in terms of lower levels of carbon emission for environmental protection. In conclusion, a collaborative effort is needed among various stakeholders, including architects, urban planners, and educational institutions, to promote and implement sustainable building practices. The study suggests that enhancing awareness, offering training opportunities, and empowering local professionals and residents alike can pave the way for improved living conditions and sustainable urban development in Akabahizi and similar informal settlements. Full article

Literature on community resilience has argued that it is (re)produced through sustained collective practices, and cautioned against neoliberal ‘resiliences’ which serve to justify state withdrawal and disinvestment. A critical and progressive understanding of resilience accounts for this by politicizing everyday practices and foregrounding community agency. More research is needed to show how these concerns are spatialized in different social, political, and economic contexts. This paper investigates the self-managed ‘buurthuiskamer’ (neighborhood living room) as a site of everyday practices of community resilience in the Netherlands. These spaces represent a historical form of social infrastructure being reinterpreted in the post-welfare-state, post-austerity urban context. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and interviews in four such spaces, we use buurthuiskamers to illustrate a critical and plural understanding of community resilience based on cultivating agency. We show how communities ‘survive’ by defending and enhancing everyday urban livability in the present; how they move beyond mere survival towards communal ‘thriving’; and how participants are empowered to take collective action and decisions to ‘transform’ towards more just and inclusive futures. Finally, we highlight the structural precarity underpinning these spaces; the tension between the roles of meeting spaces as neutral social infrastructure and as spaces of belonging and appropriation; and the ambivalent mediating position they occupy between neoliberal local government and local communities. Full article

Windows play a crucial role in maintaining indoor thermal comfort, influenced by occupant behavior, passive design strategies, and advanced technologies that contribute to sustainable building practices. Despite advancements in adaptive and occupant-centric design, critical gaps remain unresolved in understanding of multi-climate adaptability, the complex interrelation between window operation and occupant behavior, and the integration of occupant roles into energy-related strategies under emerging technologies. This scoping review synthesizes peer-reviewed studies to assess the importance of window design (geometry, glazing, shading), operational strategies (manual control to AI-driven systems), and technological approaches (passive to smart systems) on thermal comfort, energy performance, and occupant behavior. Using bibliometric and scientometric analyses, the review focuses on four primary research clusters: thermal comfort and occupant behavior, window operation strategies, their impact on energy performance, and sustainability, with an emphasis on emerging trends. The findings highlight that glazing technologies, shading systems, and operational choices have a significant impact on both comfort and energy efficiency. The study develops a framework linking thermal comfort to window operation, occupant behavior, and climate context while conceptualizing a comprehensive design matrix and outlining future research directions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3: health and well-being, SDG 7: clean energy, and SDG 11: sustainable cities and communities). Full article