Search Results (37)

Museum lighting has evolved beyond its traditional technical role to become an active architectural element that shapes spatial perception, artifact conservation, and visitor experience. However, research on daylighting, artificial lighting, human perception, and museum conservation remains largely fragmented, limiting the development of integrated design strategies. This study develops a theoretical framework that conceptualizes lighting as a spatial mediator linking architecture, human perception, conservation requirements, and visitor experience within museum interior architecture. The framework is constructed through a critical synthesis of interdisciplinary literature spanning architecture, environmental psychology, lighting design, museum studies, and heritage conservation. It integrates daylighting strategies, perceptual theories, adaptive lighting technologies, and conservation principles into a unified conceptual model that explains how lighting simultaneously influences spatial atmosphere, visitor behavior, and artifact preservation. The study positions lighting as an adaptive design system and proposes design guidelines that balance experiential quality, sustainability, and preventive conservation. The framework offers a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for architects, museum professionals, and lighting designers seeking to create more integrated, engaging, and conservation-sensitive museum environments. Full article

Railway station buildings increasingly operate as civic landmarks, public interiors, and cultural interfaces as well as mobility infrastructure. This study asks how architectural design integrates transport performance, public-space formation, and cultural meaning. A qualitative multiple-case study examines St Pancras International (London, United Kingdom), Rotterdam Centraal (Rotterdam, the Netherlands), Liège-Guillemins Station (Liège, Belgium), and Hong Kong West Kowloon Station (Hong Kong, China). Cases were selected for maximum variation in design logic and documented evidence. Official, heritage, practice, and scholarly sources were triangulated; documented features were deductively coded through a Node–Place–Narrative protocol and then compared across cases. Node captures movement and connectivity, Place captures public use and urban integration, and Narrative captures the meanings attributed to heritage, structure, materiality, landscape, and arrival. The analysis identifies four mechanisms: heritage reactivation, urban legibility, structural symbolism, and landscape-civic integration. Across the cases, transport performance is a necessary enabling condition, whereas cultural distinctiveness emerges when public-space and narrative strategies are spatially integrated. The study extends the node-place model at the building scale, clarifies the boundary between place performance and narrative interpretation, and offers transferable—but context-dependent—principles for culturally responsive transport architecture. Because the evidence is documentary rather than user-based, the framework supports analytical comparison rather than performance scoring. Full article

Digital fabrication technologies increasingly enable designers and researchers to reinterpret historical design languages through contemporary production methods. Within this context, desktop 3D printing offers an accessible yet constrained medium for translating stylistically rich interior design objects into tangible form. This study examines how distinct twentieth-century interior design movements—Art Deco, Bauhaus, and Mid-century Modern—are mediated through desktop additive manufacturing, focusing on the preservation of formal identity rather than manufacturing performance. Representative interior objects were digitally reconstructed from archival and reference material and fabricated under standardized desktop 3D printing conditions. The investigation adopts a style-oriented evaluation framework that examines silhouette continuity, characteristic geometric features, ornamental legibility, and structural–stylistic coherence. To support comparative interpretation, a Style Preservation Index (SPI) is introduced as a structured design evaluation tool that makes stylistic assessment explicit and repeatable without reducing it to purely geometric metrics. The results demonstrate that stylistic legibility is preserved to differing degrees depending on the formal vocabulary of each design movement, with minimal and geometrically rational styles exhibiting higher compatibility with layer-based fabrication than ornamentally dense or materially expressive designs. Rather than framing these differences as technological limitations, the study interprets them as insights into how design languages interact with fabrication constraints. By positioning desktop additive manufacturing as a medium of design translation rather than replication, this work contributes a reproducible framework for design research, heritage interpretation, and education, offering a structured approach for exploring how historical styles can be re-engaged through contemporary digital fabrication. Full article

The monitoring and conservation of built heritage is a major challenge for the scientific community, given the continuous degradation caused by natural, anthropogenic and climatic factors. The generation of high-resolution 3D documentation is important in the diagnosis of deterioration in historic buildings and the planning of conservation and restoration efforts. The present study proposes an integrated, multi-source workflow combining terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry, and 3D camera interior scanning. This workflow was employed to document and evaluate the Casa Rusănescu monument in Craiova, Romania. The following processes were incorporated: coordinated acquisition, processing, alignment, evaluation of geometric consistency and deviation-based diagnosis. The diagnosis process include measuring the distance between data clouds and analyzing surface roughness, curvature, planarity and linearity. The workflow was designed to be applicable in real urban conditions, ensuring the coverage of façades, interiors and roof structures. The final, combined dataset contained over 235 million points and includes both interior and exterior geometries. This process helped identify various types of damage, such as cracks, exfoliation, plaster detachment, moisture-related changes, and geometric deformations. An additional AI-assisted validation step (Twinspect) was used to cross-check the degradation indicators derived from point-cloud analyses. The findings suggest that using multiple sensors improves spatial completeness, enhances anomaly detection, and establishes a reliable baseline prior to restoration interventions and long-term monitoring. This methodology facilitates the development of digital twins and GIS-based risk assessments, thereby providing a scalable solution for heritage preservation. Full article

Fire safety in heritage buildings is a major challenge. It is necessary to find effective solutions that minimise damage to the protected building and do not cause damage or diminish the aesthetic value of the building. This requires not only special equipment, but often also specific solutions. The easiest way to increase the fire safety level of a building is to retrofit it with active fire protection systems. The aim of this paper is to review fire detection solutions suitable for historic buildings, with particular emphasis on minimally invasive and visually unobtrusive systems. The study combines a structured review of point, linear, and aspirating smoke detection technologies with a demonstrative parametric sizing assessment of an aspirating smoke detection (ASD) system using a manufacturer-supported sizing software. The sizing analysis investigates how changes in sampling hole diameter and fan settings influence transport time, sensitivity distribution, and system balance under constrained routing conditions typical of heritage interiors. The results highlight key trade-offs between response time and system balance, providing practical guidance for designers and conservation professionals. The findings support the development of fire detection strategies that align with European recommendations for heritage protection while ensuring technical effectiveness. The paper also provides a guideline to professionals, architects, restorers, and heritage experts, who have key roles in the protection of heritage structures. Full article

The color design of architectural interior display spaces directly affects the effectiveness of cultural information communication and the visual cognitive experience of viewers. However, there is currently a lack of combined subjective and objective evaluation regarding how to scientifically translate and apply traditional color systems in modern contexts. This study takes the virtual display space of traditional Chinese floral arrangements as a case, aiming to construct an evaluation framework integrating the Semantic Differential Method and eye-tracking technology, to empirically examine how color schemes based on the translation of traditional aesthetics affect the subjective perception and objective visual attention behavior of modern viewers. Firstly, colors were extracted and translated from Song Dynasty paintings and literature, constructing five sets of culturally representative color combination samples, which were then applied to standardized virtual exhibition booths. Eye tracking data of 49 participants during free viewing were recorded via an eye-tracker, and their subjective ratings on four dimensions—cultural color atmosphere perception, color matching comfort level, artwork form clarity, and explanatory text clarity—were collected. Data analysis comprehensively employed linear mixed models, non-parametric tests, and Spearman’s rank correlation analysis. The results show that, regarding subjective perception, different color schemes exhibited significant differences in traditional feel, comfort, and text clarity, with Sample 4 and Sample 5 performing better on multiple indicators; a moderate-strength, significant positive correlation was found between traditional cultural atmosphere perception and color matching comfort. Regarding objective eye-tracking behavior, color significantly influenced the overall visual engagement duration and the processing depth of the text area. Among them, the color scheme of Sample 5 better promoted sustained reading of auxiliary textual information, while the total fixation duration obtained for Sample 4 was significantly shorter than that of other schemes. No direct correlation was found between subjective ratings and spontaneous eye-tracking behavior under the experimental conditions of this study; the depth of processing textual information was a key factor driving overall visual engagement. The research provides empirical evidence and design insights for the scientific application of color in spaces such as cultural heritage displays to optimize visual experience. Full article

Adaptive reuse of heritage buildings is a vital strategy for balancing cultural preservation with modern functionality needs. This study provides a post-adaptive reuse evaluation of Dar Al Saraya in Madaba, Jordan, a significant Ottoman-era landmark, to examine how adaptive reuse strategies influence interior environments and heritage value. The analysis employs Zhang and Zhang’s evaluation framework focusing on existing fabric, special character, and policy and value, operationalized through 15 factors. A qualitative methodology was adopted, integrating site observations, photographic documentation, and semi-structured interviews with heritage experts, municipal representatives, residents, visitors, and site staff. Fieldwork was conducted in two phases (November 2024 and October 2025) to capture evolving conditions and perceptions. Findings indicate that challenges in spatial reconstruction were few and well addressed, but gaps in adaptation and reuse function strategies created significant issues. These included a lack of coordinated policies and the failure of municipal authorities and property owners to sustain the building’s reuse and involve the local community in reuse decisions. Despite various initiatives, from a museum, hotel, cultural center and gallery to its recent adaptation into a café, these efforts lacked sustainability and inclusive strategic planning. Consequently, the café has faced difficulties since opening, leaving its future uncertain. These findings highlight the importance of post-adaptive reuse evaluation and of integrating policy, planning, and community participation into adaptive reuse strategies to promote sustainable, community-centred conservation. Full article

Recent text to image systems can synthesize Islamic heritage elements with high visual fidelity, but their outputs rarely translate into fabricable geometry or integrate into interiors without substantial redrawing. We present an end-to-end workflow that links historically grounded precedent retrieval, controllable tileable generation, semantic segmentation and vectorization, and geometry-aware mapping into Computer-Aided Design (CAD) environments. Contributions include the following: (i) a license-audited dataset schema and a retrieval classifier for common Islamic motif families and architectural elements; (ii) precedent retrieval via a ResNet 50 and Vision Transformer (ViT) embedding pipeline; (iii) a Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) tuned diffusion model that generates tileable motifs with motif/region controls; (iv) a raster-to-vector pipeline that enforces curve closure and minimum feature widths for CNC/laser fabrication; and (v) a rubric and domain metrics (symmetry coherence, seam/tileability error, spline closure and junction valence, UV distortion, feature width compliance) that quantify “depth of integration” beyond surface texture. Quantitative metrics and blinded expert ratings compare the workflow against strong parametric baselines, while scripts translate images to fabrication-ready vectors/solids across walls, ceilings, partitions, floors, and furniture. Cultural safeguards cover calligraphy handling, regional balance audits, and provenance/credit. The workflow advances heritage-aware generative design by carrying imagery across the last mile into buildable detail and by providing practical checklists for adoption in interior architecture and conservation. Full article

Street art increasingly reshapes aesthetic hierarchies by introducing previously marginalised media into the public sphere. A compelling example is the artistic practice of the Polish artist NeSpoon (Elżbieta Dymna), whose work merges the visual language of traditional lace with the communicative strategies of contemporary urban art. Active since the late 2000s, NeSpoon combines stencils, ceramic lace imprints, and large-scale murals to translate the intimacy of handcraft into the visibility of public space. Her works function as both aesthetic interventions and acts of civic pedagogy. This study employs a qualitative visual research design combining multi-site digital inquiry, iconological and semiotic analysis, and mini focus group (N = 22). Three purposefully selected cases: Łódź, Belorado, and Fundão, were examined to capture the site-specific and cultural variability of lace murals across Europe. The analysis demonstrates that lace functions as an agent of cultural negotiation and a medium of heritage literacy, understood here as embodied and place-based learning. In Łódź, it monumentalises textile memory and women’s labour embedded in the city’s industrial palimpsest. In Belorado, micro-scale responsiveness operates, strengthening the local semiosphere. In Fundão, lace enters an intermedial dialogue with azulejos, negotiating the boundary between craft and art while expanding local visual grammars. The study introduces the conceptualisation of the monumentalisation of intimacy in public art and frames heritage literacy as an embodied, dialogic, and community-oriented educational practice. Its implications extend to feminist art history, place-based pedagogy, urban cultural policy, and the preventive conservation of murals. The research elucidates how domestic craft once confined to the private interior operates in public space as a medium of memory, care, and inclusive aesthetics. Full article

This study provides an in-depth structural analysis of UNESCO World Heritage Apulian trulli, considering the three-layer dry-stone structure of their characteristic conical roofs. An integrated approach involving laser scanning, ground-penetrating radar, endoscopic investigation, and laboratory materials testing is used to identify and characterize the multi-wythe masonry system. A detailed finite element model is created in ANSYS to analyze seismic performance on Italian building codes. The model is validated through ambient vibration testing using accelerometric measurements. The diagnostic survey identified a three-layer system including exterior stone wythe, interior wythe, and rubble core, with compressive strength of stone averaging 2.5 MPa and mortar strength of 0.8 MPa. The seismic assessment will allow the examination of displacement patterns and stress distribution under design load conditions (ag = 0.15 g). The structural analysis demonstrates adequate performance under design loading conditions, with maximum stress levels remaining within acceptable limits for historic masonry construction. The experimental validation confirmed the finite element model predictions, with good correlation between numerical and experimental frequencies. The improvement of the overall seismic performance with the multi-wythe configuration and the role of wall thickness and geometric proportions will be taken into account. The methodology aims to provide technical evidence supporting the continued use of vernacular buildings while contributing to scientifically informed conservation practices throughout the region. Full article

Traditional Chinese Kang heating systems have been used for over two millennia in northern China, yet their thermal efficiency and optimal design parameters lack scientific validation. This study aims to establish evidence-based guidelines for Kang-to-room area ratios to enhance thermal comfort and energy efficiency in rural architecture. We conducted direct measurements in a controlled experimental house (24 m²) in Huludao City, collecting temperature and humidity data from Kang surfaces and interior spaces over five-day periods. A benchmark curve for heat flux density was developed based on specific fuelwood consumption rates (1 kg/m²). TRNSYS simulations were employed to validate experimental data and analyze thermal performance in the historical Qingning Palace (352 m²) at Shenyang Imperial Palace. The benchmark curve demonstrated high accuracy with a Mean Absolute Error of 0.46 °C and Root Mean Square Error of 0.53 °C when compared to measured temperatures over the 48 h validation period; these values are well within acceptable ranges for calibrated thermal models. Simulations revealed optimal thermal comfort conditions when heat dissipation parameters were scaled appropriately for building size. The optimal Kang-to-room area ratio ranges from 0.28 to 0.69, with the existing Qingning Palace ratio (0.34) falling within this range, validating traditional design wisdom. This research provides a scientific foundation for sustainable architectural practices, bridging traditional knowledge with contemporary thermal engineering principles for both heritage preservation and modern rural construction applications. Full article

In recent decades, sustainability and biophilic design have gained significant attention as revived concepts in architecture, offering innovative pathways to reconnect the built environment with nature. Can these principles be characterized and assessed in vernacular architectural contexts so as to be incorporated into contemporary sustainable practices? This research seeks to answer this question by examining the vernacular architecture of Kasbahs and Ksour in southern Morocco through the lens of biophilic design. The link between the two remains underexplored, specifically in the context of southern Morocco—a gap this article seeks to address. This research analyzes these heritage architectures by combining a theoretical exploration of sustainability, biophilic design (BD), and operational BD frameworks with a practical evaluation using a Biophilic Interior Design Matrix. This analysis is particularly pertinent as the contemporary society spends roughly 90% of its time indoors and is considered to be an “indoor generation”. After examining eleven vernacular buildings spread over key areas of Ouarzazate Province in southern Morocco against 54 biophilic design attributes, the findings reveal that Kasbahs and Ksour showcase sustainability and biophilic qualities. This demonstrates that Moroccan traditional architectural values can enable heritage preservation through biophilic principles to deliver culturally contextual and sustainable architectural solutions for contemporary practice. Full article

This research investigates how historical architectural practices offer valuable solutions for contemporary climate adaptation challenges. Through systematic documentary analysis, we examine how European builders across centuries developed sophisticated construction techniques to address climate variability—techniques that remain relevant as we face increasingly extreme climate conditions. Our study focuses mainly on La Aljafería Palace in Zaragoza, Spain, a remarkable 11th-century Islamic structure that exemplifies bioclimatic design principles. We analyze its ingenious architectural elements—strategic courtyards, thermal mass management, passive ventilation systems, and innovative water features—that collectively create comfortable interior environments despite the region’s harsh summer climate. Similar analyses were conducted on historical structures in Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Cyprus as part of the ClimAid European project. Our findings reveal that these ancestral building practices utilized locally available materials and passive design strategies that required minimal energy inputs while providing effective climate regulation. We conclude that modern architects, conservationists, and policymakers face a dual challenge: developing strategies to reduce the vulnerability of historical structures to current climate impacts while also learning from and adapting these time-tested techniques to contemporary sustainable design. This research demonstrates how cultural heritage can serve not merely as an object of preservation but as a valuable knowledge repository for addressing present-day environmental challenges. Full article

Virtual reality (VR) offers immersive and interactive experiences that enable users to explore and understand heritage sites beyond the constraints of physical preservation. This study examines the integration of VR in historical architecture, focusing on its potential to enhance education, engagement, and preservation efforts. Perspectives from professionals in architectural history, interior design, architecture, and digital humanities are analysed to assess the fidelity, challenges, and opportunities of the utilisation of VR in preserving historical sites. A quantitative methodology was employed through an online survey distributed to 60 experts, in which 57 responses were recorded. The survey examined VR reconstruction accuracy, integration challenges and opportunities for enhancing educational engagement and site preservation. The findings indicate a strong positive perception of VR’s potential, emphasising accuracy and expert collaboration. Challenges include hardware limitations and insufficient historical data, while balancing fidelity with usability emerged as a key concern. The study concludes that VR holds significant potential to enrich historical preservation through interactive learning, contributing valuable insights into effective and engaging VR applications in heritage conservation. Full article

Rural tourism is closely linked to a local’s tradition, identity, and cultural heritage. When staying in a specific tourist destination, a modern tourist expects a complete experience of the destination. Experience is necessary in rural tourist accommodation where guests can feel the local culture, nature, gastronomy, environment, and heritage. However, what about the interior design of the accommodation facility and the furniture design that will provide a rural and at the same time modern atmosphere? The paper aims to explore the traditional heritage, culture, indigenous elements, and ornamentation of rural artifacts of Istria, a region in Croatia, to propose a conceptual design of functional contemporary furniture for furnishing the living room in tourist accommodation. The furniture collection, with visual and artistic elements, surface treatment, construction, and selected sustainable materials and ornamentation, aims to brand the indigenous rural Istrian heritage, while at the same time combines an innovative contemporary expression. The research is divided into two stages: the first stage was conducted during field research using photography, observation, and interview methods, and the collected data from this stage served as inspiration for designing a furniture collection in the second stage. The second stage uses the cyclical method of the creative process to design new sustainable furniture concept, consisting of a table, stool, chest of drawers, and coffee table, which form a collection in the tourist interior environment. This furniture design model that uses original heritage to brand the rural environment and increase the attractiveness of accommodation in rural areas could be applied to other locations so tourists can fully experience the rural area they visit and achieve experiential, relaxed holidays and amenities, thus supporting the sustainable development of rural tourist destinations. The practical implications of this research have yet to be confirmed. It is desirable to investigate the impact and satisfaction of users in such designed interiors and confirm such a concept. This will require the engagement of architects and designers and hotel accommodation owners, as well as and the support of economic entities, local authorities, and the government, who need to systematically change the ways of branding rural values to achieve a holistic approach to the tourism offer. Full article