Search Results (352)

In provinces where the dynamics of industrialization and urbanization are intensifying, migration flows from rural settlements to urban centers are transforming the socio-cultural structure and physical fabric of rural spaces, leading to the gradual weakening of the unique rural identity and, consequently, a decline in its sustainability. This study examines the population loss occurring in rural areas as a result of industrialization and urbanization processes, along with the accompanying issue of cultural heritage preservation, using the village of Akkoy in Bilecik as a case study. Akkoy is considered worthy of preservation due to its geographical location and its architectural fabric, which has survived largely intact to the present day. Within the scope of the research, the architectural typology of 134 traditional dwellings in Akkoy was analyzed in detail based on parameters such as plot relationships, number of floors, construction systems, material usage, and facade characteristics. The findings show that the structures in the village are examples of sustainable architecture, built using local materials (adobe, stone, wood) and adapted to the sloping terrain. However, it was determined that due to intense migration, a large portion of the structures are abandoned and at risk of losing their original identities. The study emphasizes that a comprehensive conservation and management plan covering not only the buildings but also socio-economic activities (silkworm farming, agriculture, etc.) must be implemented urgently to preserve Akkoy’s rural heritage. Full article

In the western Hunan region, the fire pit serves as the primary space for heating, receiving guests, and sacrificial ceremonies. However, the prolonged use of wood as the main fuel for the fire pit poses a significant threat to indoor air quality and the health of residents. This study conducts field monitoring and evaluation of indoor air quality in traditional earthen residences in Western Hunan during winter. It employs software simulation to analyze the concentration of indoor pollutants in typical earthen dwellings. Three passive mitigation strategies—adjusting window size, installing interior partitions, and setting up passive smoke exhaust systems—are proposed, and their effectiveness is validated through simulation. The results indicate that the best air circulation performance occurs when the window sill height is between 0.9 and 1.5 m, and the window sill length is between 1.5 and 2.1 m. Installing partitions increases the average concentration of indoor pollutants in the fire pit and master bedroom areas by 2.33 and 3.05 times, respectively. Installing smoke exhaust systems above the fireplace can decrease indoor pollutant concentrations by more than 70%. The findings provide effective strategies for controlling health risks caused by indoor pollutants in winter without affecting local residents’ living habits and traditional customs. Full article

For the low-lying atolls across Pasifika, climate change is neither hoax nor hypothesis but an imminent and lived reality. If theology is always contextual, then this is our context: ecological collapse unfolding in real time, exposing the fragility of some of our most cherished doctrinal frameworks. This paper responds to the growing call to reconsider the nature and function of doctrine under such pressure. Anglican theologian Mike Higton speaks of the “unfinished conversations” and “many voices” addressing the environmental crisis. This study extends that talanoa by bringing the emerging ‘Pasifika Household of God’ tradition into conversation with the Church’s first sustained post-apostolic household theology: Irenaeus of Lyons’ vision of the oikonomia theou. Bringing the Pasifika tradition as developed in the Pasifika Conference of Churches (PCC) declarations into conversation with Irenaeus’ cosmic ktisiology, this paper challenges the dominance of Western doctrinal formulations and calls for repentance through a return to humanity’s true vocation of theosis—divine participation within and as part of what creation itself is becoming in Christ. This vision stands in stark contrast to empire’s apotheosis: the pursuit of false divinity through conquest, neoliberal success, and escapist eschatologies. In the Patristic–Pasifika partnership here proposed, doctrine is not a static catalogue of propositional beliefs but a sacramental indwelling. Doctrine becomes dwelling as depth of tradition meets depth of place. Full article

To address the issues of start-up over-temperature and sharp reduction in creep life caused by the lack of droplet evaporation latent heat cooling effect when adapting micro turbojet engines (MTEs) to gaseous fuels (GFs), this study optimized the start-up control strategy based on the heat accumulation effect (HAE). By establishing a 160 kgf-class MTE GF experimental platform, the nonlinear coupling mechanism between the “supply-and-burn” characteristic of GFs and the lag of rotor aero-thermodynamic response was deeply analyzed. The study found that traditional linear fuel supply strategies ignore the closed-loop energy balance under the small volume effect of the combustor, which easily causes the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) to remain above the safety threshold for a prolonged period. Unlike conventional continuous ramping strategies, this study proposes a novel open-loop multi-stage thermal relief start-up strategy. By introducing speed dwell windows in the early ignition and mid-acceleration stages, dynamic thermal relaxation intervals were constructed to achieve a “deep washout” of the accumulated thermal load. Experimental results indicate that although the optimized strategy slightly increases the instantaneous peak temperature due to the adjustment of the acceleration slope, it effectively cuts off the over-temperature time. Specifically, the over-temperature duration is reduced from 17.2 s to 11.4 s (a 33.7% reduction), and the over-temperature severity index decreases from 756.76 °C·s to 451.70 °C·s (a 40.3% reduction). This strategy successfully achieves the smooth start-up of the GF MTE, providing an efficient and reliable start-up control paradigm for the transition of micro power systems to low-carbon/zero-carbon fuels. Full article

The construction sector accounts for approximately 36% of global final energy consumption and close to 40% of total CO₂ emissions, making it a primary target of international climate policy. Despite this growing attention, the indigenous building traditions of the Ecuadorian Andes remain virtually absent from the international scientific literature on vernacular sustainability. This study presents a systematic field documentation and bioclimatic assessment of vernacular bahareque dwellings in the Kichwa-Saraguro community of Ilincho, canton of Saraguro, province of Loja, Ecuador (2700 m a.s.l.). A field survey of 30 dwellings identified five morphological typologies—I-1P, I-2P, 2B, L, and C—with typology C, a compact C-shaped block with a three-sided portal, accounting for 53.3% of the sample. A structured multi-criteria framework of 48 bioclimatic indicators distributed across eight categories, adapted to the cold-temperate mountain climate of the study area, was applied to quantify each typology’s bioclimatic performance. All typologies exceeded 75% overall compliance on the global Bioclimatic Performance Index (BPI), with typology C achieving the highest value (88.5%). Categories F (Materials and construction) and H (Cultural and social aspects) scored 100% across all typologies, reflecting system-level properties of the bahareque constructive system rather than morphological differences between typological variants; a supplementary morphological BPI restricted to Categories A–E and G is reported. An exploratory, uncalibrated energy simulation of typology C provided indicative evidence consistent with the expected thermal behavior of a high-thermal-mass bahareque envelope, with simulated minimum temperatures in the sleeping area within the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 55-2013 comfort range (T-min 18.80 °C). Collectively, these findings contribute quantified bioclimatic documentation of vernacular bahareque architecture in Ilincho, identifying attributes—encompassing solar control, spatial compactness, high-thermal-mass envelope performance, and use of locally sourced low-embodied-energy materials—that may inform sustainable rural housing discussions in the Ecuadorian Andes and comparable high-altitude mountain contexts. Its documentation in the indexed scientific literature constitutes a step toward recognizing this constructive heritage as a practical resource for low-carbon building policy. Full article

As urban rail transit systems evolve within the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), the intelligent recovery of regenerative braking energy becomes critical for energy efficiency. However, the existing train operation optimizations primarily focus on time-domain synchronization, frequently neglecting the spatial impedance constraints of the DC traction network. This oversight creates a discrepancy between theoretical energy matching and actual absorption. To address this, this paper proposes a spatiotemporal synergistic optimization framework integrating the analysis of electrical energy transmission factors and train relative motion. First, a dynamic multi-node circuit model based on Kirchhoff’s laws is established to characterize train fleet operations. By evaluating electrical energy transmission factors, the current distribution ratio and line impedance loss are identified as primary determinants of absorption efficiency. This physically quantifies the coupling among instantaneous energy distribution, transmission loss, and source-load relative distance. Second, a time-domain integration-based gradient analysis framework is formulated to deconstruct the energy gradient into amplitude and directional components. By mapping the relative position and speed of interacting trains, their relative motion states are systematically categorized. Subsequently, an adaptive gradient optimization strategy based on these motion states is introduced, which fine-tunes dwell times to precisely guide train trajectories into a low-impedance “optimal window” for energy absorption. Finally, a case study using operational data from Luoyang Metro Line 1 validates the proposed framework. Results demonstrate that the framework achieves dual spatiotemporal matching of braking and traction trains, outperforming the traditional fixed timetable and improving the regenerative braking energy absorption rate by approximately 13%. Full article

This article contends that Western philosophical traditions and Abrahamic spiritualities, while different, are entangled in the sense that together they represent distinct discursive performative epistemologies regarding how individuals inhabit the world. More specifically, what they share are social imaginaries that are founded on epistemologies of deficiency that radically separate human beings from other species and the Earth. It is argued further that these epistemologies are implicated in Western subjects’ instrumental, reifying, and exploitative dispositions and behaviors toward other species and the Earth, which the climate crisis makes apparent. Psychoanalysis can provide reasons for the emergence of these social imaginaries and their attendant resistance to changing how we dwell with other species and the Earth. In psychoanalytic parlance, epistemologies of deficiency entail projecting onto other species existential impermanence, which accompanies weak dissociation that assuages anxiety and fear regarding the impermanence of ourselves and our significations. Once persons become aware of this, they are ideally faced with deciding whether to take accountability and to change. Quantum physics/philosophy can provide a corrective lens for both psychoanalysis and Western spiritualities—a lens that accompanies more capacious epistemologies that invite ecologically inclusive, caring, and ethical ways of inhabiting a biodiverse world upon which matter–life–consciousness depend. Full article

As a key convergence zone between the Circum-Bohai Sea cultural circle and the land–sea interface of Northeast Asia, the Liaoning coastal area has been shaped by multicultural integration, endowing its dwellings with distinctive cultural hybridity and geographic adaptability. This study takes 160 traditional dwellings as samples and integrates field surveys, historical documents, and multi-source geographic data to construct a multi-dimensional feature identification system. Quantitative classification is conducted using principal component analysis and systematic clustering, and external validity is verified through historical document comparison and spatial overlay analysis. The results indicate that five dwelling pedigrees are identified: the Coastal Quadrangle Courtyard Type, the Coastal Flat-Roofed Middle Courtyard Type, the Coastal Gabled-Roof Small Courtyard Type, the Mountainous Gabled-Roof Small Courtyard Type, and the Plain Flat-Roofed Long Courtyard Type. Regarding the formation mechanism, geographic detectors reveal that the coupling effect of migration culture and topographical conditions is the dominant mechanism shaping pedigree differentiation. This study verifies the applicability of integrating quantitative and qualitative methods in dwelling research within multicultural convergence zones, constructs a pedigree framework for traditional dwellings in coastal Liaoning, and provides a theoretical basis for the systematic understanding and sustainable conservation of vernacular architectural heritage in the Circum-Bohai Sea region. Full article

Low-lying and riverine areas of Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia are increasingly exposed to compound flood hazards driven by intensified monsoon rainfall, sea-level rise, and land-use change. Recent projections indicate stronger extreme rainfall, fewer dry days, but more high-intensity events, and significant increases in annual rainfall and sea level, all of which elevate fluvial, pluvial, and coastal flood risk. In this study, climate-responsive vernacular architecture is investigated as a passive, low-carbon strategy for enhancing residential flood resilience in East Malaysia. Traditional stilted Malay kampung houses, Bornean longhouses, and coastal stilt settlements were explored since they have historically evolved to cope with seasonal inundation, high humidity, and tropical thermal loads. In this study, the following was conducted: (1) historical flood and climate analysis for key basins (Rajang, Sarawak, Kinabatangan); (2) morphological and typological analysis of vernacular dwellings; (3) parametric physical and hydrodynamic simulation of elevated and amphibious configurations; and (4) multi-criteria performance assessment based on structural robustness, flood safety, thermal comfort, cultural acceptability, and embodied carbon. Results from scenario-based simulations show that well-configured stilted typologies, with optimized floor elevation, breakaway panels, and porous undercroft zones, can reduce flood damage depth by 60–80% and expected annual loss by 30–55%. By translating these findings into a design guideline and decision matrix for climate-responsive housing in East Malaysia, contemporary reinterpretations of vernacular strategies were embedded into Malaysian building codes, state-level planning policies, and community-led upgrading programmes. Full article

As a typical representative of traditional architecture in western Sichuan, the construction techniques of traditional Tibetan dwellings carry profound cultural significance. However, with the continuous advancement of urbanization, these dwellings face multiple challenges, including the loss of traditional construction methods, functional obsolescence, and stylistic deviation. In response, the systematic study of the architectural genealogy of traditional Tibetan dwellings and their modernization has become an urgent academic issue. This study focuses on Ganzi and Aba, the two major Tibetan settlement areas in western Sichuan, conducting field surveys across 21 counties, 31 typical villages, and 161 traditional Tibetan dwellings. It systematically analyzes the building techniques of these dwellings and identifies recurrent typological features. On this basis, the paper interprets three principal regionalized constructive patterns through a genealogy-oriented analytical framework. The resulting framework provides an evidence-based foundation for conservation planning and context-sensitive contemporary translation. This research not only offers operational methods and theoretical support for the preservation of Tibetan architecture, but also proposes principles and strategies. Full article

The sustainability of traditional vernacular dwelling heritage has become an important academic concern. This study takes the traditional vernacular dwellings of the Ancient City of Pingyao as its research object and develops a macro–meso–micro multi-scale analytical framework. Drawing on four dimensions—environment, layout, architecture, and culture—it systematically investigates the geographical environment, spatial pattern, and architectural forms of Pingyao’s traditional vernacular dwellings using GIS spatial analysis, UAV oblique photogrammetry, and 3D laser scanning technologies. On this basis, an AHP–FCE comprehensive evaluation model is introduced to assess their sustainability. The results indicate that the formation and persistence of these dwellings are closely associated with favourable natural environmental conditions, a clear and orderly spatial pattern, and well-structured courtyard and architectural forms. The comprehensive evaluation yields a score of F = 3.23, indicating a moderately high level of sustainability. The four criterion layers are ranked as follows: architecture, layout, environment, and culture. The key determinants are structural safety, material authenticity, spatial integrity, and the continuity of traditional character. By combining multi-scale analysis with comprehensive evaluation, this study aims to clarify the priority directions for the conservation of traditional vernacular dwelling heritage in the Ancient City of Pingyao, thereby providing a scientific basis for its sustainable development. Full article

Background: Albania has undergone a rapid demographic transition characterized by pronounced population aging. Comprehensive geriatric assessment—functional performance, validated nutritional screening tools, and systematic evaluation of morbidities—is essential for accurately characterizing frailty and identifying the risk of malnutrition in its early stages. The objective of the present study was to improve the assessment of the health status of Albanian older adults, both community-dwelling and residing in long-term care facilities, by addressing both functional and nutritional components. Methods: This observational study included Albanian older adults aged ≥ 65 years, both institutionalized and community-dwelling. Frailty and nutritional status were assessed using validated questionnaires (Grauer Geriatric Functional Evaluation and Mini Nutritional Assessment—MNA), alongside body composition analysis performed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Results: Data for 123 older adults were analyzed (56.9% female; mean age 71.3 ± 7.4 years; 54.5% institutionalized vs. 45.5% community-dwelling). A high prevalence of frailty and multimorbidity was observed, particularly among institutionalized older adults. With regard to nutritional status, marked age-related differences were identified among females, with a pronounced deterioration in those aged over 75 years. Body-composition-derived parameters identified a substantially higher proportion of individuals at risk of malnutrition compared with other conventional anthropometric measures. Low body cell mass index (BCMI) and institutionalization were the factors with the strongest independent associations with frailty (AOR 5.02, 95% CI 1.69–14.87, p = 0.004, and AOR 5.71, 95% CI 1.76–18.54, p = 0.004, respectively), while low BCMI was the only variable associated with an increased risk of malnutrition (AOR 4.88, 95% CI 1.78–13.40, p = 0.002). Conclusions: These exploratory findings suggest that incorporating body composition parameters into geriatric assessment may provide complementary information alongside traditional screening tools to support the development of targeted preventive and therapeutic strategies. Full article

In a context marked by the Anthropocene, the climate crisis, and the contemporary blockage of political and projective imagination, utopias and dystopias re-emerge as fundamental critical instruments for architecture. Far from constituting evasive or unrealizable exercises, these constructions operate as epistemological and projective devices capable of exploring possible futures, revealing latent tensions, and questioning the ideological frameworks that shape the built environment. This article examines speculative design as a contemporary updating of the utopian and dystopian tradition in architecture, understood not as a normative model but as a critical method for imagining radical transformations of dwelling in response to the current ecological, social, and geopolitical urgencies. Drawing on a series of projects developed within the university context, it analyses how architectural speculation, enhanced by artificial intelligence tools, enables the exploration of alternative scenarios of urbanization, adaptive habitats, and new relationships between architecture, territory, and nature. The cases analysed show that the combination of utopia, dystopia, and emerging technologies fosters an understanding of architecture as an open, dynamic, and relational system capable of responding to contexts of high uncertainty. The article argues that the return of utopian imagination, now mediated by speculative practices and digital tools, constitutes a relevant contribution to the contemporary debate on new forms of urbanization, flexible megastructures, and sustainable architectural futures. Full article

Population aging requires residential environments that go beyond basic accessibility. This study theorizes and validates the Accessibility Gap (the divergence between regulatory compliance and the functional lived experience of older adults) using a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) tool. The research uses a weighted linear aggregation model based on user-centered design and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF). Thirty dwellings—apartments, single-story, and two-story houses—were evaluated in Chile’s Metropolitan Region. The model applies 40 indicators, normalized on a 0–100% scale across six dimensions, and weighted by older adults and caregivers. Results reveal fragmented accessibility gap: basic features often meet standards; yet important deficits remain in highly prioritized areas—autonomy, safety, and communication. The Global Performance Index (GPI) identifies “accessibility gaps” that traditional assessments miss. By combining objective metrics with subjective experiences, this study delivers a replicable, evidence-based framework. It shows that specific design choices, rather than architectural configuration, better support functional independence. The MCDA approach provides a robust tool for guiding housing rehabilitation and public policies that support aging in place and ensure homes meet the needs of an aging population. Full article

This study addresses the critical challenge of translating the profound social, spatial, and cultural dynamics of the traditional introverted Persian house into more tangible design metrics for contemporary Iranian housing. Relying on qualitative data from twenty-four diverse expert interviews across architecture, urban planning, and policy, the research demonstrates a broad consensus that the notion of replicating historical form is unsustainable. Instead, it indicates that the introverted configuration is likely a context-specific ontological imperative—viewed here as a fundamental socio-spatial requirement—rooted in measurable performance, serving simultaneous social, cultural, psychological, and environmental paradigms. The main findings show that preserving cultural continuity requires a shift from aesthetic conservation to prescriptive configuration. This logic is synthesised into a consolidated socio-spatial framework, whose originality lies in introducing three regulatory design instruments: (1) the sequenced depth and filtration protocol for spatial arrangement; (2) the controlled visual and environmental parameters for façade performance; and (3) the cultural adaptability and resilience requirement for functional programming. The framework’s prescriptive metrics, such as minimum space syntax values and the visual filtering coefficient, provide regulatory bodies with the precise technical tools necessary to enforce cultural protocols like privacy and dignity in high-density urban developments. While these metrics serve as an operationally promising model, they represent a theoretical framework that requires further empirical validation in diverse contemporary residential settings before mandatory regulatory adoption. This framework offers a pragmatic pathway for safeguarding Iranian housing’s cultural identity, ensuring future developments are certified not only for safety and structure, but for their adherence to the fundamental socio-spatial contract of the Persian dwelling. Full article