Search Results (5)

With the development of information technology, the introduction of information technology into architectural modelling and façade design and the systematic definition of historic districts is a problem that the architectural industry continues to explore and pursue. As a shape-based and self-defining generation rule, shape grammar provides significant help in the process of the automatic generation of architectural shapes to obtain design results that meet the requirements of the original historic district. Based on the simple combination of the application of shape grammar in architectural design, combined with the field investigation method, the representative buildings in the “Three Lanes and Seven Alleys” historic district are investigated and understood in detail, and the corresponding shape grammar rules are established. The courtyard types of the historic district are divided into: “” shape, “T” shape, “=” shape, “” shape, “” shape, “” shape, “” shape, “U” shape, “” shape, and garden. In detail, the façade components include the entrance, patio, main seat, wings, cloister, pavilion, etc. The elements of its façade include saddle walls, grey sculptures, carved stones, grey tiles, wooden grilles, wooden railings, wood grain flowers, etc. On this basis, parametric design is introduced to convert the design syntax into parametric programs. Grasshopper in Rhino is mainly used to visualize and simulate the regulation, and finally, achieve the purpose of automatically generating the architectural shape and façade of the “Three Alleys and Seven Alleys” historic district by adjusting its parameters. Full article

Urban parks are the main place for physical activities, generating numerous benefits to enhance human well-being. Many studies have investigated the impacts of landscape features on park visitation but ignored their seasonal and diurnal variations. Taking the Hunan Martyr Park in China as an example, this study aims to assess the seasonal and diurnal variations in the impacts of landscape features on visitation density. We quantified visitation density for 109 activity zones for both daytime and nighttime in summer and winter and investigated the impacts of landscape features of the activity zone and the surrounding environments on visitation density based on 16 quantitative indicators. The results show that: (1) The impacts of ground condition, connection to water, distance to park entrances, and distance to stores were consistent in different periods. Paved activity zones, zones close to water, zones further away from the park entrances, and zones closer to the stores had significantly higher visitation density. (2) Shading degree, connected pathway, and distance to toilets had contrasting impacts between summer and winter. Zones with a higher shading degree attracted more visitors in summer and deterred visitors in winter. Zones with fewer pathways connected and zones farther away from toilets had higher visitation density in summer but not in winter. (3) Shading degree, number of trees, presence of facilities (e.g., benches, tables, pavilion, and light devices), and connected pathway had contrasting impacts between daytime and nighttime. Zones with a high shading degree, zones with benches and pavilions, and zones without trees had higher visitation density in the daytime. Zones with light devices, zones with more connected pathways, and zones without tables had higher visitation density at nighttime. These findings highlighted the seasonal and diurnal variation of the impacts of landscape features on park visitation and can help to improve urban park design, especially for cities with hot summers and cold winters. Full article

The subway is one of urban residents’ main means of public transportation. The design of entrance pavilions to subway stations has shown a diverse development trend over time. Since most of the subway building space is underground, it is very difficult for subway users or the public to view the structure fully. In this instance, the ground-level entrance pavilion becomes the most eye-catching element in the subway system. From the perspective of the urban spatial environment, the external form of entrance pavilions is one of the components of urban architecture. The design of the external form of entrance pavilions has an important impact on the urban spatial form and affects people’s feelings about the urban space. Therefore, it is essential to study the external form of entrance pavilions. This study investigated 42 subway entrance pavilions in 17 cities in China. The following features were studied: exterior contour, façade permeability, cultural characteristics, decorative materials, and the number of exterior colors. The photostimulation method was adopted to evaluate the influence of the physical features of the external form of the entrance pavilions on respondents’ visual impact assessment. The data analysis showed that respondents with different demographic characteristics provided different visual impact assessments of the external form of the entrance pavilions, and all five physical features influenced their assessment. This study offers a valuable reference for constructing entrance pavilions and urban spaces in Chinese cities in the future. Full article

Much affordable housing has poor accessibility to external urban public space facilities because of its suburb location, which makes the residents’ daily life and social activities mainly depend on the internal public space of the community. Such affordable housing needs urgent upgrading of the internal public space based on the thorough understanding of the low-income residents’ demand ranking. The internal spaces’ transformation will significantly improve the living environment and the quality of residents’ life, and it also provides a way to promote social equity and sustainable urban development. By using the multi-source data and the two-step floating catchment area method, this paper selects typical affordable housing, which has poor accessibility to external urban public space, as our case study. After establishing the evaluation index system, IPA (Importance and Performance Analysis) is used to calculate the quadrant value of each index so as to clarify the upgrading urgency indexes from the residents’ demand for internal public space of affordable housing. Studies have shown that tables, chairs and pavilions, pedestrian systems, retail commercial facilities, medical and health facilities, and recreational space have the strongest urgency for upgrading; fitness facilities, exercise space, barrier-free access, guidance signs and parking lot design are the next most urgent indexes; Recreational facilities, entrances/exits of the residential area, green space in front of t residential buildings, and cultural facilities all have general urgency for upgrading. Full article

Taiwan’s cities exhibit high levels of urbanization, which has resulted in limited recreation space in urban areas. In response, government policies have been enacted to promote the large-scale greening of rivers in urban areas and the establishment of aquatic recreation areas that do not interfere with water flow areas, pavilions for recreation purposes, indoor stadiums, and biking lanes alongside riverbanks to provide citizens with recreation space. An expert team was convened to investigate 50 riverside recreation sites, and the Comfortable Water Environment Rest Assessment Form was devised. The investigation results revealed three factors that contribute to the value of riverside recreation sites; the three factors had a total explanatory power of 70.17%. The factors, namely exercising and leisure, overall design plan and entrance image, and environmental maintenance and service, had an explanatory power of 25.52%, 23.32%, and 21.32%, respectively. Finally, this study provides guidance for constructing service systems for riverside recreation sites by referencing practical cases. This study suggests that future designs focus on the characteristics of visitors as the main consideration when investing resources in recreation sites. In addition, more exercise and recreation equipment and facilities should be provided at recreation sites located within highly populated areas. For recreation sites that feature beautiful scenery, greater degrees of overall design planning and entrance image qualities can be integrated into the recreation sites, and environmental teaching materials can be incorporated into the environment. Furthermore, this study suggests that residents who live near recreation sites form and operate volunteer groups to contribute to environmental maintenance and the relevant services; this would greatly enhance the overall experience of comfort of visitors to the recreation sites. Finally, this study provides guidance for low-intensity construction in high riverbank areas. Full article