Search Results (15)

This study focuses on the nameplate of Vila D. Bosco, a modern building in Macau from the time of Portuguese rule, and looks at the types of metal materials and surface coatings used, as well as how they corrode due to the tropical marine climate affecting the building’s metal parts. The study uses different techniques, such as X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), attenuated total internal reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and cross-sectional microscopic analysis, to carefully look at the metal, corrosion products, and coating of the nameplate. The results show that (1) the nameplate matrix is a resulfurized steel with a high sulfur content (Fe up to 97.3% and S up to 1.98%), and the sulfur element is evenly distributed inside, which is one of the internal factors that induce corrosion. (2) Rust is composed of polycrystalline iron oxides such as goethite (α-FeOOH), hematite (α-Fe₂O₃), and magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and has typical characteristics of atmospheric oxidation. (3) The white and yellow-green coatings on the nameplate are oil-modified alkyd resin paints, and the color pigments are TiO₂, PbCrO₄, etc. The surface layer of the letters is protected by a polyvinyl alcohol layer. The paint application process leads to differences in the thickness of the paint in different regions, which directly affects the anti-rust performance. The study reveals the deterioration mechanism of resulfurized steel components in a subtropical polluted environment and puts forward repair suggestions that consider both material compatibility and reversibility, providing a reference for the protection practice of modern and contemporary architectural metal heritage in Macau and even in similar geographical environments. Full article

Constructing visually appealing public spaces has become an important issue in contemporary urban renewal and design. Existing studies mostly focus on single dimensions (e.g., vegetation ratio), lacking a large-scale integrated analysis of urban color and visual elements. To address this gap, this study employs semantic segmentation and color computation on a massive street-view image dataset encompassing 56 cities worldwide, comparing eight machine learning models in predicting Visual Aesthetic Perception Scores (VAPSs). The results indicate that LightGBM achieves the best overall performance. To unpack this “black-box” prediction, we adopt an interpretable ensemble approach by combining LightGBM with Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAPs). SHAP assigns each feature a quantitative contribution to the model’s output, enabling transparent, post hoc explanations of how individual color metrics and visual elements drive VAPS. Our findings suggest that the vegetation ratio contributes the most to VAPS, but once greening surpasses a certain threshold, a “saturation effect” emerges and can no longer continuously enhance visual appeal. Excessive Sky Visibility Ratio can reduce VAPS. Moderate road visibility may increase spatial layering and vibrancy, whereas overly dense building significantly degrades overall aesthetic quality. While keeping the dominant color focused, moderate color saturation and complexity can increase the attractiveness of street views more effectively than overly uniform color schemes. Our research not only offers a comprehensve quantitative basis for urban visual aesthetics, but also underscores the importance of balancing color composition and visual elements, offering practical recommendations for public space planning, design, and color configuration. Full article

The architecture in the title refers to physical buildings, spaces, and walls. Dominant architectural culture prefers minimalist environments that contradict the information setting needed for the infant brain to develop. Much of world architecture after World War II is therefore unsuitable for raising children. Data collected by technological tools, including those that use AI for processing signals, indicate a basic misfit between cognition and design. Results from the way AI software works in general, together with mobile robotics and neuroscience, back up this conclusion. There exists a critical research gap: the systematic investigation of how the geometry of the built environment influences cognitive development and human neurophysiology. While previous studies have explored environmental effects on health (other than from pathogens and pollutants), they largely focus on factors such as acoustics, color, and light, neglecting the fundamental role of spatial geometry. Geometrical features in the ancestral setting shaped neural circuits that determine human cognition and intelligence. However, the contemporary built environment consisting of raw concrete, plate glass, and exposed steel sharply contrasts with natural geometries. Traditional and vernacular architectures are appropriate for life, whereas new buildings and urban spaces adapt to human biology and are better for raising children only if they follow living geometry, which represents natural patterns such as fractals and nested symmetries. This study provides a novel, evidence-based framework for adaptive and empathetic architectural design. Full article

Stone curtain walls are widely used in contemporary architectures; however, their regular inspection is always labor-intensive, time-consuming, and hazardous due to the complex and enclosed spatial structure of these high-rise building enclosures. To address this issue, this study proposes an automated and novel inspection method, which is composed of the following three steps: First, we utilize 3D laser scanning technology to capture colored point cloud data of the stone curtain wall system; subsequently, by extracting and processing the integration of color and depth information, the stone panels and end sealants are precisely segmented; finally, various defects, such as cracks, unevenness, and irregularities, are automatically identified through artificial intelligence algorithms in a timely manner. To validate the proposed method, an on-site experiment was carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness in detecting multiple defects concurrently on stone curtain walls. The experimental results showed that our proposed method could provide a non-contact and automated inspection alternative for all the stone curtain walls with a high accuracy of anomaly detection, facilitating rational maintenance plans and strategies to ensure the safety and performance of these modern building enclosures. Full article

The main goal of this article is to summarize and present the most important facts concerning the use of the pink color in the built environment of the 20th and 21st centuries, considering its symbolic, functional, and decorative aspects, with particular emphasis on Western cultures. This monograph of color is aimed to contribute to a better understanding of the place and meaning of pink in the contemporary architectural space and to allow architects to use this color with greater awareness of its characteristic features. The results of the analysis of over 100 pink buildings and spaces, collected by the authors since 2016, are grouped into seven main thematic sections, which express different ways of applying pink in the built environment: as a traditional color, a stereotypic feminine and girlish color, a contrast color in public spaces, an extravagant color, a symbol of peace, hope, tolerance, and solidarity, a trendy color, and finally an “Instagramable” and fictional color. The main conclusion is that the pink color usage in contemporary architecture is very diverse and reflects the various associations and symbolisms of the color itself, which can only be understood in its socio-cultural contexts. Currently, two opposing tendencies are especially compelling—the first related to the kitschy and plastic aesthetic of “Barbie pink”, and the second associated with more neutral and universal “Millennial pink”. Full article

Colored glass in the form of stained-glass windows has been used to decorate buildings for over a thousand years. Due to various late-twentieth-century technological achievements, this material allows for a broad spectrum of design solutions. Glass can be used both in contemporary and historical buildings. This paper presents an analysis of the work of Tomasz Urbanowicz, an artist who works with glass, and its objective is to present not only the body of work of this artist but also the means of using colored glass in creating new values in architecture. The work is based on a study of the literature that covers the contemporary application of colored glass, on-site analysis of projects, and a series of interviews with the artist before, during, and after project completion, as well as the authors’ personal experience in the matter. One of the main research methods used was an analysis of the artist’s stance, as to him, the very process of pursuing creative inspiration is a fundamental procedure. Glassworks by Urbanowicz were displayed at the EXPO 2000 in Hanover (Germany), the EXPO 2005 in Aichi (Japan), and the EXPO 2008 in Saragossa (Spain). The United Earth glass sphere has been decorating the agora of the European Parliament building in Strasbourg (France) since 2004. In the paper, the artist’s projects are presented in two groups: The first includes solutions that employ monochromatic color schemes, whereas in the second, color has been used to create a strong contrast. The analysis presented includes interventions in historical buildings under heritage conservation, but also compositions from architectural glass in newly built buildings and that reference place-based history. Both the initial vision and the final effect of the glass architectural compositions are site-specific. The analysis of these differences and how the artist works allowed us to formulate a scheme of how he operates. Urbanowicz’s glass interventions affect the quality of the spaces they create and highlight their existing or expected features. The influence of the works can either play a primary and dominant role in relation with the surrounding space or be a secondary and delicate addition. Applied color may have different functions, from highlighting specific aspects of a building to introducing symbolic or direct reference. In many projects, color works as a source of a building interior’s atmosphere. The artistic interventions in historic spaces emphasize their features without disrupting pre-existing authenticity, whereas contemporary projects with no historic reference offer a wide variety of color applications that focus on the function and form of architecture, landscape, or surroundings. Full article

Techinantitla building complex, in the Amanalco neighborhood of the ancient city of Teotihuacan, is famous for the iconography and quality of the mural paintings found in this site. A significant part of this heritage has been lost due to looting. In recent years, an interdisciplinary research project was developed to study the limited patrimony that was left. As part of this study, we first employed geophysical techniques to reconstruct the architectural pattern of the compound’s remaining walls, where other paintings may still be found. Then, we applied a non-invasive methodology to characterize a large set of fragments recovered in the 1980s and to gain information on their pigments and manufacturing techniques. This methodology included False Color Infrared Imaging, X-ray Fluorescence and Fiber-Optics Reflectance Spectroscopy, and led to the identification of hematite, calcite, malachite, azurite and an unidentified blue pigment. The results were compared with a previous study performed on a set of Techinantitla mural paintings looted in the 1960s. A broader comparison with contemporary mural paintings from other Teotihuacan complexes shows good agreement in the materials used. These results may suggest a standardization in the making of Teotihuacan mural painting during the Xolapan period (350 to 550 AD). Full article

Visually impaired visitors experience many limitations when visiting museum exhibits, such as a lack of cognitive and sensory access to exhibits or replicas. Contemporary art is evolving in the direction of appreciation beyond simply looking at works, and the development of various sensory technologies has had a great influence on culture and art. Thus, opportunities for people with visual impairments to appreciate visual artworks through various senses such as hearing, touch, and smell are expanding. However, it is uncommon to provide a multi-sensory interactive interface for color recognition, such as integrating patterns, sounds, temperature, and scents. This paper attempts to convey a color cognition to the visually impaired, taking advantage of multisensory coding color. In our previous works, musical melodies with different combinations of pitch, timbre, velocity, and tempo were used to distinguish vivid (i.e., saturated), light, and dark colors. However, it was rather difficult to distinguish among warm/cool/light/dark colors with using sound cues only. Therefore, in this paper, we aim to build a multisensory color-coding system with combining sound and poem such that poem leads to represent more color dimensions, such as including warm and cool colors for red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. To do this, we first performed an implicit association test to identify the most suitable poem among the candidate poems to represent colors in artwork by finding the common semantic directivity between the given candidate poem with voice modulation and the artwork in terms of light/dark/warm/color dimensions. Finally, we conducted a system usability test on the proposed color-coding system, confirming that poem will be an effective supplement for distinguishing between vivid, light, and dark colors with different color appearance dimensions, such as warm and cold colors. The user experience score of 15 college students was 75.1%, that was comparable with the color-music coding system that received a user experience rating of 74.1%. with proven usability. Full article

Clay has a low environmental impact and can develop into many different products. The research presents two different case studies. In the first, the clay is the binder of raw earth doughs in order to produce clay-bricks. We investigate the effects of natural fibrous reinforcements (rice straws and basalt fibers) in four different mixtures. From the comparison with a mix without reinforcements, it is possible to affirm that the 0.40% of basalt fibers reduce the shrinkage by about 25% and increase the compressive strength by about 30%. Future studies will focus on identifying the fibrous effects on tensile strength and elastic modulus, as well as the optimal percentage of fibers. In the second study, the clay, in form of brick powder (“cocciopesto”), gives high alkaline resistance and breathability performance, as well as rendering and color to the plaster. The latter does not have artificial additives. The plaster respects the cultural instance of the original building. The research underlines how the use of a local (and traditional) material such as clay can be a promoter of sustainability in the contemporary building sector. Future studies must investigate further possible uses of clay as well as a proper regulatory framework. Full article

Contemporary solar power engineering enables the conceptual interlocking of the shape of a building object with its location, structural design, and external envelope, as well as applied materials. Suitably selected solutions involving the structure, shape, construction, and location of a building can significantly improve the thermal balance of rooms in a building. Particularly valuable and warranted are studies involving various solutions for building partitions contributing to a considerable improvement in the thermal balance of a building. This article presents the results of research on temperature changes on the surface of the external part of a partition coated with layers of different colors. For the lightest coating (white), both the average temperature obtained on the and the maximum temperature obtained on the surface were the lowest. With the darker coatings, these temperatures were both higher. The back analyses that were performed indicated lower and higher absorption coefficients, respectively, for the coating compared with the base value for the red coating. Additionally, it was demonstrated that the average surface roughness (Ra) after tests in a natural environment decreased by 12.1% for the base (red) coating. For the grey and white samples, a more than two-fold increase in roughness was reported, of 198.6% and 202.0%, respectively. The SEM analysis indicated material loss and discoloration on the sample surfaces. Full article

Windows with various colors are important design elements used widely ranging from traditional architecture to contemporary buildings to express the architectural façade, the interior atmosphere, and so on. Recently, there is a possibility that solar cells can be used to replace windows with various colors. In particular, attempts to manufacture windows using Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) are actively underway. Accordingly, there is a need to determine physical and environmental performances of DSSCs. This study attempted a methodological approach to evaluate indoor environmental performance of windows and DSSCs. The concept of color gamut overage normally used in the field of displays was utilized to evaluate color expressions. In addition, a standard visual inspection table suggested by the International Ophthalmological Society was used to evaluate the recognition of shapes. This study compared performances between RGB color windows and DSSCs using the two above previous concepts. Measurement data showed that most DSSCs performed poorly in comparison with architectural color windows. However, some DSSCs showed good enough performances that could be used as alternatives of architectural color windows. Green DSSCs with VLT 18% had a color gamut similar to clear glasses. Blue DSSCs with VLT 18% were found to have similar or better shape recognition than current architectural color windows. Based on these results, limitations of DSSCs as alternatives of architectural color windows and their future development directions are suggested. Full article

Environmental injustice occurs when marginalized groups face disproportionate environmental impacts from a range of threats. Environmental racism is a particular form of environmental injustice and frequently includes the implementation of policies, regulations, or institutional practices that target communities of color for undesirable waste sites, zoning, and industry. One example of how the United States federal and state governments are currently practicing environmental racism is in the form of building and maintaining toxic prisons and immigrant detention prisons, where people of color and undocumented persons are the majority of inmates and detainees who suffer disproportionate health risk and harms. This article discusses the historical and contemporary conditions that have shaped the present political landscape of racial and immigration conflicts and considers those dynamics in the context of the literature on environmental justice. Case studies are then presented to highlight specific locations and instances that exemplify environmental injustice and racism in the carceral sector. The article concludes with an analysis of the current political drivers and motivations contributing to these risks and injustices, and ends with a discussion of the scale and depth of analysis required to alleviate these impacts in the future, which might contribute to greater sustainability among the communities affected. Full article

Nowadays, top-rated tourist attractions in Greece are ancient archaeological places and islands with blue-and-white esthetics. The country’s projected impression is greatly based on these two distinguished representations, chosen for their distinctive architecture scattered in the Greek landscape. Both imageries seem to be officially promoted in order to configure today’s national identity. The classical antiquities are related to the birthplace of European civilization, whereas the notion of the unspoilt archipelago with the whitewashed Cycladic houses works as a symbol of purity and eternity. The present article focuses on the analysis of these two Greek heritage scenarios and, subsequently, on their deconstruction. It aims to investigate the interaction between myth and reality and their role in forming the perception of contemporary Greece. The article argues that there is not a unique architectural history to come to light and, therefore, the highlighting of specific periods of it probably conceals intentions concerning patrimony management: selective excavation among the layers of history, historic preservation of selected buildings, and laws which impose the maintenance of certain findings or specific colors are some indicative signs. It also investigates the ways in which national heritage is directed and affected according to certain policies—local or foreign—that aim at a cultural investment in the world history. Full article

Long before the hashtag #BlackGirlMagic was popularized on social network sites Black women in Detroit have been employing art in their processes of self-articulation and efforts to deal with the complexities and challenges of life in the city. The scripts of African American women that dominate the commercial hip hop industry and their impacts on girls and women have received thorough analysis in academia; yet, the practices, representations, and discursive articulations of independent, Black women hip hop artists remain underexplored. In particular, this essay draws on Deidre “D.S. Sense” Smith’s spoken word poem “On My Detroit Everything” to illuminate the counter-narratives and scripts that Black women have been creating to document, validate, and voice their experiences at a critical point in Detroit’s history as it underwent and continues to deal with the after effects of bankruptcy. Hip hop artists who use cultural production to accomplish grass roots community-building offer alternative visions of what it means to do political work. More than a strategy, we argue that such practices serve as the foundation for a movement that is significant and worthy of documentation in the contemporary neoliberal moment where in policies are accelerating the continued disenfranchisement of people of color in cities such as Detroit. Full article

Marble envelopes represent a relatively common architectural solution used in variety of historic, modern and contemporary building facades. White marble envelopes have been shown to reduce solar heat gains, while improving indoor thermal comfort and energy efficiency in summer time. While marble is useful in this context, the urban atmosphere accelerates the degradation of marble elements. This leads to changes in optical characteristics, hence the aesthetics, and affects the energy efficiency benefits offered by white marble facades. These issues are investigated in order to predict the impact of degradation on energy performance and to the aesthetic value, such as change of color and luminosity. In this study, surface degradation of white marble is analyzed by means of accelerated weathering in the laboratory while examining changes to the optical characteristics of the materials. A dynamic simulation is carried out to assess the energy performance of a building as a case study. Full article