Abstract: In the contemporary sustainability discourse, the interplay between the aesthetic sensibilities of youth and sustainability presents a fertile ground for innovative exploration, particularly through the lens of experimental design and qualitative research. This study explores the concept of sustainability aesthetics and its application for the assessment and development of hybrid spatial environments, focusing on how this aesthetics is created, perceived, and evaluated by an emerging generation of designers (second-semester design students from Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania)). As this generation of emerging designers will be increasingly responsible for making sustainable and aesthetic decisions in both daily life and creative endeavours, understanding their engagement and empathy towards the environment is crucial. This study addresses a significant research gap by investigating trends in the expression of sustainability aesthetics in design and architectural objects and their interactions with contextual environments as well as youth aesthetic sensibilities in this context. Through qualitative assessments and reflective analysis, the study provides insights into the students’ evolving appreciation for sustainability and their ability to express this through aesthetically pleasing and environmentally conscious designs. This research includes a literature review on the application of experimental design in sustainability aesthetics research, the elaborated research methodology for analyzing and evaluating students’ works and their written reflections and primary research findings from the first stage of research – from the sample of more than 20 student works. PubDate: Wed, 11 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: This paper presents “City-Pixel”, an innovative interactive 3D physical model designed for intelligent and real-time management of the built environment. The system combines modular 3D-printed pixels with a digital platform to enable dynamic assessments of urban indicators such as land use intensity, building density, and mobility patterns. By integrating physical modeling with GIS databases and Urbano software, City-Pixel facilitates collaboration among diverse stakeholders, including urban planners, policymakers, and developers. The system’s architecture emphasizes user interaction, scalability, and real-time feedback, enhancing decision-making processes in urban planning. The Heliopolis case study demonstrated the system’s efficacy in improving spatial awareness and adaptability across various urban scales while visualizing alternative scenarios for sustainable development. Although hardware limitations related to the ESP32 microcontroller and I2C protocol pose scalability challenges, future research will focus on optimizing components, refining user interfaces, and conducting extensive validation testing. City-Pixel represents a novel approach to urban planning by connecting tangible user interfaces with real-time digital analytics, promoting inclusive, data-driven decision-making for sustainable urban development. PubDate: Tue, 20 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: Standardization of Lithuanian interwar public buildings began in the early 1920s and continued throughout the 1930s. This process was mainly driven by the young state’s need for various types of public buildings, especially in the provinces. To speed up the needed construction, certain types of such buildings began to be constructed according to standard design projects. Thus, the article, through the selected examples, aims to present the development of standardization practices in public architecture which were carried out in Lithuania at that time. It is assumed that despite the ambitions to expand the standardization of public architecture, this was not a smooth process. Thus, while a number of standard designs of public buildings were quite successfully used in practice, there were cases when such designs were not even implemented in practice. PubDate: Fri, 18 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: In the context of rapidly changing urban environments, it becomes crucial to understand how, in that process, not to lose values, which are already there, but further improve sustainable, historically and culturally rooted or even personally meaningful urban spaces. Thus, this research examines the residents’ sense of place in the central part of Kaunas City, Lithuania, focusing on its connection with tangible cultural heritage. To achieve this aim, a series of tasks explores the interplay between the city’s tangible heritage and the residents’ demographic and sociocultural characteristics.The literature analysis provides a theoretical framework by reviewing existing research on the sense of place and material cultural heritage. This is followed by a sociological survey designed to clarify the demographic and sociocultural characteristics of the residents living in central Kaunas. The resident’s sense of the place of the entire city and central part of Kaunas is also investigated here.A key aspect of the research is the evaluation of relations between the sense of place and various demographic and sociocultural factors. The survey explores how different groups within the population perceive and react to heritage objects and attach semantic meanings to these structures. Analysis of the Cultural Heritage Inventory (filled by the public) data helps to identify what type of heritage objects residents most wish to preserve, providing valuable insights for urban planners and heritage conservationists.In the context of Kaunas, a city rich in interwar modernist architecture and other significant cultural heritage sites, this research contributes to the ongoing dialogue about the city’s future development. It highlights the need for policies that balance modernisation with the preservation of cultural heritage, ensuring that the city’s unique character and history are maintained. Overall, this research is relevant not only for Kaunas but also for other cities facing similar challenges.The results of this study suggest that effective heritage management in Kaunas requires a nuanced understanding of the resident’s demographic and sociocultural backgrounds. The study contributes to urban planning and heritage conservation by emphasising the need for strategies that align with residents’ perceptions and priorities, ensuring the preservation of the city’s physical and emotional landscapes. PubDate: Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: This article examines the implementation and challenges of the 1778 Master Plan for Rēzekne, a town in modern-day Latvia, over the period from 1778 to 1836. Developed as part of the Russian Empire’s broader urban planning efforts under Catherine the Great, the plan aimed to impose Enlightenment ideals of order and rationality. However, its execution faced significant challenges due to the geographical and social distance between the imperial centre and its peripheral colony. The plan’s failure to account for Rēzekne’s actual topography – particularly its swampy eastern areas – along with resistance from the town’s predominantly Jewish population contributed to its partial and problematic implementation. Despite these obstacles, the 1778 Plan laid the groundwork for future urban development, which culminated in the 1836 Master Plan under Nicholas I. By analysing contemporary maps and visual sources, this article highlights how imperial ambitions clashed with local realities. PubDate: Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: The paper, with a multidisciplinary approach, examines the relationship between land use and nature and the well-being of Sámi youth. We study how the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) pay attention to the circumstances in the global north and bring up examples of typical land use conflicts in the Sámi region in Finland, Sweden, and Norway. This article draws from a diverse range of literature documents and research articles, including the Sámi youth interviews and semi-structural interviews conducted in 2019 during project Mihá. These interviews provide a human perspective and valuable insights into the experiences and perceptions of the Sámi youth, enriching our understanding of the impact of land use and nature on their well-being. Resource-based industries pose a significant threat to the livelihoods in Northern Scandinavia and have a profound impact on the lives of the Sámi youth. These industries have severe negative implications for mental and physical health, including the loss of language and culture, change in living environment, and loss of the local lifestyle. This raises serious concerns about the well-being of the Sámi youth and the social sustainability of their communities. PubDate: Thu, 30 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: The study elucidates the concept of sustainability as an intellectual method, based on laws of human nature, for managing creative anthropogenic impacts. This technique is exemplified through anthropological, architectural, and doctoral dissertation strategies, thereby demonstrating that it is characterized by a universal model for achieving standard, innovative, and unprecedented goals. This study employs a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing an investigation of scientific literature, regulations, traditional Lithuanian architecture, relevant case studies, and the author’s works. Solutions beyond standards, emphasizing individual mission-oriented approaches to tackle the latest sustainability challenges, are identified. This study provides a framework for composing a humanitarian thesis dedicated to inventing a tool for creating and evaluating artistic solutions of sustainable architecture. The foundational structure is suitable for application elsewhere in both scientific and practical discourses. PubDate: Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries are known as the Westernization Period of Ottoman architecture. As in all the various types of structures built in this period, the Western influence is also seen in residential architecture. During this period, the Neo-Baroque, Neo-Gothic, Neo- Classic, Orientalism, Eclecticism, Art Nouveau, Swiss Chalet and English Victorian styles, as well as other European-based architectural movements exerted a definitive effect on Ottoman architecture, producing a rich diversity of styles as a result. One of the styles that was generally implemented by foreign architects was Art Nouveau. The most powerful representative of Art Nouveau in Ottoman architecture was Raimondo D’Aronco. The aim of this article is to discuss the influence on residential architecture of the Art Nouveau style that came to dominate Ottoman architecture from 1893, as seen in the designs of Raimondo D’Aronco. PubDate: Mon, 02 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: This study examines the evolution of contemporary Latvian architecture by analysing the Latvian Architecture Award Grand Prix-winning works from 1995 to 2024. Using the Davos Baukultur Quality System (DBQS) as an analytical framework, the research integrates discourse analysis of jury statements and architects’ narratives with image analysis of architectural drawings and photographs. The study identifies 44 design issues across eight criteria – governance, functionality, environment, economy, diversity, context, sense of place, and beauty – demonstrating the shift in architectural priorities over time. Notably, functionality and aesthetics dominated early discussions, while later projects increasingly emphasized sustainability, cultural identity, and social inclusion. The introduction of the DBQS in 2021 marked a significant period, with projects showing heightened attention to community engagement and environmental challenges. This analysis highlights Latvian architecture’s dynamic engagement with cultural, social, and environmental concerns, offering significant insights into contemporary architecture’s evolving professional and societal role through the lens of the Latvian Architecture Award. PubDate: Mon, 02 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to extract and evaluate the components affecting the level of physical activity of residents of five different neighbourhoods in Urmia city in Iran and compare the impact pattern of these components in these five neighbourhoods with each other. Through literature studies and field surveys, 18 indicators were identified as architectural (physical) factors affecting the number of days that neighbourhood residents engage in physical activity during a month in a case study. Then, a researcher-made questionnaire was prepared and the data were analyzed in SPSS 26 software by the Poisson regression method. The results showed that, in different parts of a city, different factors affect the physical activity of residents. This is a challenge that warns urban planners that the same approach cannot be used for different neighbourhoods. PubDate: Mon, 02 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: There has been growing recognition of the significant role played by the term “third space” in the overall development of urban contemporary society. It has been a subject of critical analysis across multiple disciplines and intellectual traditions. The objective of this research is to enhance understanding of the formation of an urban third space in daily urban life by investigating people’s perceptions of it. This study establishes the essential requirement for a third space by using a coffeehouse as an example to show how these spaces fulfil contemporary societal needs. It concludes by demonstrating the importance of socio-spatial characteristics in the development of urban third spaces based on inferential statistics. This study offers a new understanding of the complexities associated with the formation of a third space, emphasising the importance of interdependence between society and space in the context of contemporary environments. PubDate: Thu, 07 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: Land is the most important asset used by humans for existence and has been exploited since the dawn of civilization. Due to the unprecedently high rate of population expansion that has resulted in chaotic urban development, the land use pattern in most metropolitan areas has changed significantly in the recent past. The unplanned development and rapid urbanization are also occurring in India’s hill cities, and thus land use planning is becoming increasingly important. Moreover, due to geography, terrain, slope, climate, susceptibility to natural disasters, and other factors, planning in the hills is very difficult. This has led to several problems in hill towns, all of which require a well-thought-out framework for systematic urban development.The prime objective of the study is to get fully acquainted with the current processes of land use planning in India and abroad by examining a variety of instances, as well as analysing the efficacy of such processes in their respective hill cities. A comparative study of best land use practices being followed in hill towns in India and abroad is also carried out to identify any gaps and issues in the land use planning techniques being used in Indian hill towns. PubDate: Sat, 26 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: In this study, three different mosques built after the modern period in Türkiye are analysed from an architectural point of view. The aim of the research is to make sense of the messages intended to be conveyed through worship structures and to read the messages conveyed through these structures within the framework of semiotic theory. Using the semiotic method, each building is analysed in terms of context and environment analysis, design principles and style, function, plan scheme, spatial analysis, structure, facade character and symbolic forms. In addition, the buildings are analysed in terms of Günther Fischer’s value criteria (location, size-measure, material, form, arrangement) and Ferdinand de Saussure’s semiotics. The method will help us understand the multidimensional meanings of architectural structures, and the importance of the study is emphasised by the fact that it provides a better understanding of the place of these structures in the cultural and social context. This research makes an important contribution to the understanding of the approaches followed in modern mosque designs and shows how the messages conveyed through architectural structures can be interpreted using semiotic theory. By shedding light on the design processes of modern mosques, it reveals the decisive role of context in this process. As a result of the evaluation, it is concluded that context is the most influential factor in modern mosque design, while other elements are shaped based on context. PubDate: Sat, 26 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: As the city advances on its hinterland, new concepts emerge to highlight the urban-rural relations that take place in the areas where the urban and the rural systems are articulated. This paper takes up different concepts and their characteristics as well as a comprehensive individualization of the Buenos Aires urban-rural interface (UR-I). The paper aims to characterize the UR-I of Buenos Aires through a qualitative methodology. The paper analyses some preliminary discussions that allow us to establish the emergence of new logics of localization and shaping of the industries and logistics centres, large leisure and consumption facilities and the new ways of living, as well as the issue of the productive Buenos Aires UR- I, and invites us to review the territorial processes, the actors and the underlying factors in Buenos Aires. PubDate: Sat, 26 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: Following the port explosion in 2020, Beirut witnessed an unprecedented crisis, revealing the incompetence of its development plans and promoting the emergence of new approaches to improve liveability in damaged areas. Currently, urban planning has shifted from the traditional focus on large-scale interventions to the focus on flexible and adaptive small-scale interventions, especially in financially weak areas. Inspired by traditional Chinese medicine, urban acupuncture (UA) exemplifies this shift through localized interventions aimed at revitalizing cities by simulating their energy. This paper aims to investigate the potential of implementing UA as a recovery approach in Rmeil neighbourhood, heavily impacted by the explosion, to improve its liveability. By analysing and comparing two international examples, the paper highlights the interventions used to activate the urban context. It finally proposes six strategic interventions and ten key actions tailored to achieve social, economic, and environmental results in Rmeil with less effort. This paper represents the foundation for implementing urban acupuncture on a broader level in Beirut and other spots in Lebanon. PubDate: Sun, 06 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: Outdoor lighting design is the process of planning and implementing lighting in outdoor areas. This design usually focuses on factors such as aesthetics, safety and functionality. A correct outdoor lighting design ensures the safety of the space and improves the atmosphere by increasing night use. The placement of lighting fixtures is a critical factor for the success of this design. This study aims to provide inspiration for similar housing projects by analysing the successful principles of outdoor lighting design of Istanbul Lounge housing estate and suggesting inappropriate principles. Within the scope of the study, international sources on the subject were reviewed, and it was determined that the lighting design principles cover the lighting of space, comfort, emergency, security, landscape, plant materials, sculpture, architectural structures, signboards, walkways, stairs and water elements. These principles are discussed in the example of Istanbul Lounge, and their effects on the general atmosphere of the site, user experience and visual comfort are analysed. Outdoor lighting design has been handled in a holistic manner covering the roads, gardens, playgrounds and common areas throughout the site. The applied examples of all lighting design principles were identified, and a checklist based on their equivalents in the literature was created and evaluated on a five-point Likert scale and suggestions were made for the inappropriate sections. As a result, it is seen that outdoor lighting design criteria are handled in a wide range, and these principles are successfully applied in the example of Istanbul Lounge housing estate. PubDate: Sun, 06 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: A marketplace encompasses more than commerce. Due to its tangible and intangible characteristics, it becomes a vibrant and engaging public space for the local community and tourists. Marketplaces face challenges in both restructuring and preserving their rich attributes. A systematic literature analysis of recent architectural research has identified the challenges of markets as dynamic urban elements. Four main themes of the research have been identified – Built Environment, Economic, Social, and Cultural, as well as four intermediary themes – Local Trade, Branding, Local Identity and Sense of Place. The multidimensionality of the market has been explained. The systematic literature analysis has revealed the significant potential of the market both as a built environment element and as an economic, social, and cultural phenomenon in urban transformation processes. PubDate: Thu, 03 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: The paper focuses on the heterogeneity of the Lithuanian architects’ community across different fields of practice, including building design, building design and other projects, urban design, interior design, and other underrepresented design or non-design activities. It is based on a sociological survey involving 450 practising architects in Lithuania. The study identifies the distinct attitudes of each activity group towards architecture, architectural practice, and professional paths, generalises the profiles of these activity groups, and detects shared similarities or discrepancies among them.Architects involved in building design and those working on building design and other projects tend to share similar attitudes, forming the foundational worldview of the architectural community due to their quantitative prevalence. Interior designers and architects engaged in underrepresented design or non-design activities demonstrate relatively autonomous approaches. The latter group may either stand-alone or cluster with urban designers. The divergences in attitudes may lead to miscommunication within the professional community. PubDate: Sat, 07 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: During the period of Lithuanian independence, which lasted from 1918 to 1940, various institutions operating in the country needed modern and suitable buildings. Thus, during the period of more than twenty years, numerous new public buildings were built for schools, hospitals, banks, and cultural institutions. In addition, there was a need to build new administrative buildings for the newly established county, city and township municipalities of the country, as there was a lack of suitable premises for them. Therefore, this article, presenting the most characteristic and typical examples, analyses the architectural evolution of the administrative buildings built for the Lithuanian municipalities during the period of independence. PubDate: Thu, 05 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: Due to the increasing scale of urbanisation, the topic of natural landscape perception is receiving more and more attention. Children who live in the city experience significantly less contact with nature and, due to that, lose connection with it. Therefore, this study aims to determine how the landscape perception of children who live in urban areas differs from that of children who live in rural places. The main findings were obtained using a systematic analysis of the literature. The results of this study show that in rural areas, children often have more space, freedom, and opportunities to experience and get to know the natural landscape and understand its processes, while in cities, children lose their close connection with nature and are constantly exposed to adverse environmental factors. This deterioration of environmental conditions, pollution, and constant noise is already becoming a common phenomenon for children. There is a need to conduct deeper research to understand better how children perceive the natural environment and how it can help preserve a child’s connection with nature in the cities. PubDate: Thu, 05 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Open Access journal
