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Sustainable Design in Building and Urban Environment

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A special issue of Designs (ISSN 2411-9660). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering Design".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (2 January 2023) | Viewed by 56435

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Farshid Aram

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor

1. Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Urmia University, Urmia 5756151818, Iran
2. Higher Technical School of Architecture, Technical University of Madrid (UPM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: sustainable urban development; climate change adaptation; urban health; outdoor thermal comfort; urban green spaces; urban heat island; built environment; land use planning; mental map analyzing; social interaction
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable design in construction seeks to reduce adverse impacts on the environment and the health and comfort of people in the building and urban areas, thereby improving the performance of buildings and urban spaces. The basic objectives of sustainability are to reduce the consumption of non-renewable resources, minimize waste, and create healthy, productive environments.

Sustainable design principles include the ability to optimize site potential, minimize non-renewable energy consumption, use environmentally preferable products, protect and conserve water, protect and enhance green resources, enhance the indoor and outdoor environmental quality, and optimize operational and maintenance practices.

Utilizing sustainable design principles encourages decisions at each phase of the design process aiming to reduce adverse impacts on the environment and people’s health without compromising the bottom line. It is the integrated, holistic approach that encourages compromise and tradeoffs, with such an integrated approach positively impacting all phases of an urban environment’s life cycle, including design, construction, operation, and decommissioning.
This Special Issue welcomes novel studies, including research articles, review papers, and technical notes, related to sustainable design in architecture, civil engineering, and urban design in line with achieving sustainable development goals, also including the effects of sustainable design on reducing environmental crises, promoting urban health, comfort, and the wellbeing of people in outdoor and indoor environments.

Dr. Farshid Aram
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Designs is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

sustainable design
sustainable development goals
energy efficiency
water conserving
green infrastructure
sustainable architecture
sustainable urban design
sustainable construction
sustainable solutions
environmentally friendly
environmental quality
outdoor and indoor thermal comfort
urban health

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Published Papers (12 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

4 pages, 183 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Sustainable Design in Building and Urban Environment

by Farshid Aram

Designs 2023, 7(4), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs7040099 - 9 Aug 2023

Viewed by 4219

Abstract

The basic objectives of sustainability are to reduce the consumption of non-renewable resources, minimize waste, and create healthy, productive environments [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Design in Building and Urban Environment)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

21 pages, 2350 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Simulation and Analysis of Thermal Insulators Applied to Post-Disaster Temporary Shelters in Tropical Countries

by Bruno B. F. da Costa, Caio F. P. Silva, Ana Carolina F. Maciel, Herson D. P. Cusi, Gladys Maquera and Assed N. Haddad

Designs 2023, 7(3), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs7030064 - 9 May 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2690

Abstract

Containers are fundamental elements for the development of international trade; however, it is estimated that there are more than 17 million retired containers stacked in ports around the world. Considering the high costs involved in the process of storing, transporting, or destroying these materials, in addition to their non-degradable nature, it is urgent to develop strategies for the sustainable use of these decommissioned containers. In this context, repurposing these containers into permanent structures is becoming a predominant trend. One solution is converting steel shipping structures into habitable spaces. However, due to the urgency with which Container Houses (CHs) are demanded in case of disasters, they are usually planned to be built as quickly as possible, serving as many people as possible, and do not consider the basic principles of energy efficiency. The performance of the CHs is, then, impaired, including risks of overheating, corrosion, and rust, among others, during service, making them an even more stressful experience for their users who are already in a vulnerable situation. Therefore, the objective of this study is to compare the performance of two thermal insulators applied to a temporary shelter container designed to promptly serve vulnerable populations. The model was developed in Building Information Modeling (BIM) software and simulated in Building Energy Simulation (BES) software, aiming to obtain subsidies for its technical and economic viability analysis. The results indicated that thermal insulators are able to generate significant savings in energy consumption, with mineral wool presenting better long-term performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Design in Building and Urban Environment)

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15 pages, 8549 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Microclimate on Older Peoples’ Outdoor Thermal Comfort and Health during Autumn in Two European Cities

by María Teresa Baquero Larriva and Ester Higueras García

Designs 2023, 7(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs7010027 - 1 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2360

Abstract

Public spaces and green areas have been proven to influence people’s mental and physical health, thermal comfort being one of the main indicators. The growing trend of an ageing population globally led this research to analyse the outdoor thermal comfort of older adults in public spaces from two cities in Europe: Madrid in Spain and Newcastle upon Tyne in the United Kingdom during autumn. A mixed methodology through environmental measurements and surveys was performed in situ. In addition, the UTCI (Universal Thermal Climate Index) and PET (Physiological Equivalent Temperature) outdoor thermal comfort indices were applied. The results highlighted the risk of thermal stress and the vulnerability of this group of the population to the effects of climate on their health. Although most older people had ‘neutral’ thermal sensation, 86.3% of them would be at risk of cold stress in Newcastle, whilst in Madrid 31.5% would be at risk of cold stress and 35.7% of heat stress. Those results could be a starting point for the design of more comfortable and healthy public spaces that improve the quality of life of all citizens within the guidelines of active ageing and healthy cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Design in Building and Urban Environment)

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23 pages, 2074 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Systematic Review of Architectural Design Collaboration in Immersive Virtual Environments

by Rongrong Yu, Ning Gu, Gun Lee and Ayaz Khan

Designs 2022, 6(5), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs6050093 - 11 Oct 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 9054

Abstract

Emerging applications of immersive virtual technologies are providing architects and designers with powerful interactive environments for virtual design collaboration, which has been particularly beneficial since 2020 while the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry has experienced an acceleration of remote working. However, there is currently a lack of critical understanding about both the theoretical and technical development of immersive virtual environments (ImVE) for supporting architectural design collaboration. This paper reviewed recent research (since 2010) relating to the topic in a systematic literature review (SLR). Through the four steps of identification, screening, eligibility check, and inclusion of the eligible articles, in total, 29 journal articles were reviewed and discussed from 3 aspects: ImVE in the AEC industry, ImVE for supporting virtual collaboration, and applications of ImVE to support design collaboration. The results of this review suggest that future research and technology development are needed in the following areas: (1) ImVE support for design collaboration, particularly at the early design stage; (2) cognitive research about design collaboration in ImVE, toward the adoption of more innovative and comprehensive methodologies; (3) further enhancements to ImVE technologies to incorporate more needed advanced design features. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Design in Building and Urban Environment)

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33 pages, 12941 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prospects of Triangular Modular Structures for Roadside Service Buildings

by Konstantin Samoilov, Bolat Kuspangaliyev, Gaukhar Sadvokasova and Nurlytan Kuanyshbekov

Designs 2022, 6(5), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs6050090 - 2 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3770

Abstract

The need for a relatively quick solution to the problem of providing highways with roadside service facilities necessitates the development of a series of appropriate standard projects. To increase the efficiency of these series, it is advisable to carry out the interconnection of space-planning solutions based on a particular module. Taking into account the variety of planning and landscape characteristics of the sites for the placement of objects of the mainline service, it seems advisable to choose as a module not a square or rectangular, but a triangular configuration, which allows in most cases to harmoniously block the modules. The proposed roof module in the form of a “regular” triangle facing the tetrahedron has a structural basis in the form of a single-tier rod spatial plate. The principal space-planning solutions of all four dozen objects from the approved nomenclature of the mainline service performed in the process of analyzing the possibilities show the real possibility of solving the development tasks on the basis of this system. The use of the proposed modular system makes it possible to successfully solve a number of tasks to reduce the harmful impact on the environment and effectively use renewable energy sources. The work is devoted specifically to the field of design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Design in Building and Urban Environment)

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13 pages, 2451 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimating the Buckling Load of Steel Plates with Center Cut-Outs by ANN, GEP and EPR Techniques

by Jagan Jayabalan, Manju Dominic, Ahmed M. Ebid, Atefeh Soleymani, Kennedy C. Onyelowe and Hashem Jahangir

Designs 2022, 6(5), 84; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs6050084 - 22 Sep 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3478

Abstract

Steel plates are used in the construction of various structures in civil engineering, aerospace, and shipbuilding. One of the main failure modes of plate members is buckling. Openings are provided in plates to accommodate various additional facilities and make the structure more serviceable. The present study examined the critical buckling load of rectangular steel plates with centrally placed circular openings and different support conditions. Various datasets were compiled from the literature and integrated into artificial intelligence techniques like Gene Expression Programming (GEP), Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Evolutionary Polynomial Regression (EPR) to predict the critical buckling loads of the steel plates. The comparison of the developed models was conducted by determining various statistical parameters. The assessment revealed that the ANN model, with an R² of 98.6% with an average error of 10.4%, outperformed the other two models showing its superiority in terms of better precision and less error. Thus, artificial intelligence techniques can be adopted as a successful technique for the prediction of the buckling load, and it is a sustainable method that can be used to solve practical problems encountered in the field of civil engineering, especially in steel structures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Design in Building and Urban Environment)

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14 pages, 3885 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Strength of Composite Columns Consists of Welded Double CF Sigma-Sections Filled with Concrete—An Experimental Study

by Mohamed A. Reda, Ahmed M. Ebid, Sherif M. Ibrahim and Mohamed A. El-Aghoury

Designs 2022, 6(5), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs6050082 - 21 Sep 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2612

Abstract

In-filled tubes section is a very successful configuration for axially loaded members such as columns and struts. Steel shell tube filled with concrete has many advantages, such as eliminating the need for shuttering, reinforcement bars or ties besides increasing both flexural and axial capacities and enhancing the ductility. The main disadvantage of in-filled tubes is the need for a shell thick enough to prevent the local buckling and hence the local decomposition. Previous studies tried to solve this problem using intermediate stiffeners or shear connectors. This research presents another approach to solve this problem using double cold-formed sigma-sections (face to face) as steel shell tubes. Sixteen specimens with different lengths, cross section dimensions and shell thicknesses were tested under both concentric and eccentric compression loads. Ultimate capacities, lateral deformations and normal strains were recorded. The theoretical capacities were calculated using AISC-LRDF-94, EN-1994-04 and CSI-COL software considering full composite action, and the deviations from the experimental results were 24%, 24% and 13%, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Design in Building and Urban Environment)

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21 pages, 10360 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Simulation Tool for Architectural Design in the Realm of Solar Radiative Transfer

by Joseph Cabeza-Lainez, Jose-Manuel Almodóvar-Melendo, Paula Revenga-Dominguez, Inmaculada Rodríguez-Cunill and Yingying Xu

Designs 2022, 6(5), 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs6050072 - 26 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2622

Abstract

In this paper, we devise a system for architectural simulations that considers the volumetric and three-dimensional properties or the energy sources involved in the energy exchanges within or around edifices and built or urban spaces. The advances are based in optics theory evolving from the assumptions presented in the book The Photic Field by P. H. Moon and D. E. Spencer, with added improvements suggested by D. DiLaura. Such procedure is deftly performed by means of solving complex integral equations, which were unavailable until recently and originate in the research developed by the authors. This experimental software is called DianaX. The advantages of this new system allow for a clearer visualization of the performance of buildings in terms of radiated energy. Reductions in the amounts of used energy can be achieved precisely by means of the design process of the software, which can be considered in some respects as a Design Tool. With this tool, the analysis of heritage building paradigms is feasible as it assesses the potential of new foreseen projects taking into account new artificial lighting devices that deviate from the conventional linear or point approach in the domain. The main finding demonstrated is the feasibility and appropriateness of this method to address the problems posed. As future prospects, we would like to increase the catalogue of designs that can benefit from the conscious use of our tool for scientific design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Design in Building and Urban Environment)

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23 pages, 14827 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A New Look at Excavation Techniques and Design of Rock-Cut Architectures

by Mohammad Mangeli, Farshid Aram, Reza Abouei and Fatemeh Mehdizadeh Saradj

Designs 2022, 6(4), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs6040064 - 8 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3542

Abstract

Rock-cut architecture is an essential yet little-known type of vernacular architecture whose nature is different from what we understand by the term “architecture”. This research seeks to answer the question of which technics, designs and digging procedures have been applied in this type of vernacular architecture. Out of the 300 rock-cut buildings and complexes found in Iran, nearly 70 were functionally assessed. Ten complexes were found to serve residential functions in different climates. Technique, type and the settlement context material were also briefly compared and contrasted, and thus, three general excavation techniques were recognized. The largest rock-cut residential complex in Iran, Meymand, was selected as the main case study. Fifty residential units in the oldest part of the village in two regions on both sides of the main valley were studied in terms of technique and design style. They were also compared and contrasted. The quantitative data obtained in this section were compared and contrasted using the descriptive statistical method. Although the rock-cut buildings are dispersed throughout Iran, three main techniques were employed to excavate them. Most of them were excavated using two or three of the said techniques. Application of the fine technique and the size of the particles constituting the settlement context are the two factors determining the quality of excavation. The findings in the area of special climatic design standards and technologies not only give us a better insight into rock-cut architecture but also contribute to setting some standards for design and construction of rock-cut buildings in the present era. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Design in Building and Urban Environment)

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20 pages, 2837 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Sustainability-Related Information Affects the Evaluation of Designs: A Case Study of a Locally Manufactured Mobile Tiny House

by Chiara Nezzi, Laura Ruiz-Pastor, Stefania Altavilla, Aurora Berni and Yuri Borgianni

Designs 2022, 6(3), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs6030057 - 16 Jun 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3034

Abstract

Sustainability-related information affects people’s choices and evaluation. The literature has made significant efforts to understand the best ways of delivering this kind of information to shape consumer behavior. However, while most studies have focused on packaged products and direct information provided through eco-labels, preferences could be formed differently in other design domains. The paper investigates the effect of the perceived amount of indirect information on the evaluation of an architectural artefact. A sample of 172 participants visited a locally produced mobile tiny house, made with a considerable amount of sustainable materials. The same participants answered a questionnaire about their perceived knowledge, quality, appropriateness and sustainability of the tiny house. The general level of knowledge of the tiny house was used as a proxy of the amount of indirect information received. Although the knowledge of the tiny house was generally low, ratings regarding the other dimensions were overall extremely positive. In particular, no evident relation was found between knowledge of the tiny house and sustainability, while the latter is significantly linked to quality aspects. These outcomes deviate from the evidence from other studies; this might be due to indirect vs. direct information and the peculiarity of the study carried out in the field of buildings. The gathered demographic and background data of the participants make it possible to highlight the role played by gender and age in affecting the evaluations, but the absence of a significant impact of experience in the field, education and origin. The results are compared with findings related to the evaluation of sustainable products and green buildings in particular. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Design in Building and Urban Environment)

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25 pages, 13497 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards a Better Interior Design for the Academic Library at College of Education—King Faisal University

by Amira Abouelela

Designs 2022, 6(3), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs6030047 - 18 May 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 6566

Abstract

Academic libraries include college and university libraries. Interior design is an important way to bring about the required change in transforming academic libraries from a repository of books into places for research and communication. While interior design plays a major role in providing an innovative functional design in academic libraries within universities, the problem of the study lies in the importance of academic libraries and their main role in university education institutions in encouraging and supporting scientific research among students and faculty members. According to the role of interior design in designing academic libraries, the researcher finds that there are problems with interior design in the academic library at the College of Education. It needs to be re-designed to improve functionality and aesthetics and enhance the internal space for users to achieve effective use of the internal library space. The study aims to create a better design of interior environments in academic libraries in order to feature creativity and innovation. The research method is descriptive–analytical to describe and analyze the current interior design of the academic library at the College of Education at King Faisal University and collect real information about the library and the problems of interior design. Then, it was presented through the opinion poll tool to the beneficiaries to know their opinions about the current design of the library and to benefit from them in the design proposal of the academic library according to the correct design considerations. Then, the opinion poll tool was displayed again according to the design proposal to know the views of the beneficiaries again to contribute to providing an appropriate research environment for students and faculty members. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Design in Building and Urban Environment)

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20 pages, 14818 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effectiveness of the Role of Interior Design in Creating Functional and Institutional Happiness for Work Environments: King Faisal University as a Model

by Amira Abouelela

Designs 2022, 6(3), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs6030045 - 16 May 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 10103

Abstract

Happiness is a natural human right that all seek to achieve. The quality of people’s lives may be directly affected by the quality of their working life, which is affected by the quality of their work environment. This has become the focus of attention of work institutions in society due to its great importance and strong impact on success. The purpose of this study was to investigate the institutional work environment at King Faisal University by surveying faculty and staff members regarding their opinions on meeting their environmental and functional needs at work by improving the interior design of workspaces to create happiness in the work environment. The aim of this study was to reveal the relationship between employees’ performance levels and their work environment, in addition to making happiness and quality of life major priorities and creating a stimulating work environment. The researcher used descriptive analysis to analyze the relationship between aspects of work and the levels of job satisfaction and happiness among employees of King Faisal University. The researcher used a five-point Likert scale to measure the responses to the questionnaire items, and reached several conclusions, including that the level of job happiness at King Faisal University is not affected by the variables of gender, social status, or the nature of the job, and that the university provides a work environment that helps achieve job happiness and allows for job innovation and creativity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Design in Building and Urban Environment)

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