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“Context” knowledge in architecture: A systematic literature review
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In architecture, context term refers to the surrounding area in which the building is situated. Context is crucial in architectural theory and practice when developing architectural vocabulary. Creating harmony with historic context amidst expanding development has been a primary concern and focus of designers since the mid-twentieth century. Contextualism theory refers to the interaction between new buildings and their surroundings, as well as the challenge of integrating new and existing structures to establish congruence and continuity. When using a contextual design method, an analysis of traditional architectural style has a considerable impact on a designer’s decision-making process (Lambe and Dongre, 2019). In this study, a general framework is proposed, which integrates shape grammar-based procedural modeling and augmented reality technology to create a harmonious environment through the generation of new designs based on the grammar of the existing architectural style of the residential buildings in Amman city without limiting the designer’s creativity of order to address the issue of Western architectural movements influencing the architectural style in Amman, which is incompatible with the city’s identity and it’s context. This approach was tested on a group of University of Jordan students, and the results were evaluated using a machine learning model. The effectiveness of this method was discovered, and it can be regarded as a step toward achieving spatial congruence.
In this essay I present a new and empirically-testable strategy for completing quantum mechanics. In recent decades, urban design and architecture disciplines witnessed plenty of theories and school development. Primarily, those disciplines are inspired by philosophical perspectives. Thus, it is required to have a good deal of perception on the philosophical roots. Contextualism theory and approach is considered one of the most important controversial approaches in urban design and architecture. The present study intends to elaborate contextualism and explicate its difference with other similar philosophical ideas. Subsequently, it tends to explain the epistemological and philosophical foundations of contextualism in postmodernism and Gestalt school and subsequently to elucidate its position in the postmodern art and specifically in postmodern urban design and architecture. Contextualism is an idea based on the epistemology that the meaning perceived from an epistemological sentence would differ according to the epistemological standards. The idea has three distinct uses in philosophical views, primarily, the truth condition of the sentences is come to be assessed; in the second use, the language meaning is dependent on the context. The paper indicates the first and second uses of contextualism are mostly seen in urban design and architecture contextualism theory.
Fabrication laboratories (FabLabs) and makerspaces are used to transform ideas into tangible products. Used in a design–learning context, they can enhance cognitive and creative skills. Creativity is the pivotal ability to produce innovative outcomes in makerspaces, and several studies have attempted to understand the role of makerspaces and creativity in specific fields. However, a comprehensive study offering a holistic view of the contributions of the makerspaces as built environments that foster creativity is lacking. Therefore, we conducted a systematic literature review on FabLabs, makerspaces, and creativity to address this research gap. While the review was performed using five major databases, only peer reviewed journal articles were considered. The findings revealed that makerspaces help to develop person, product, physical, and social environments, as well as process aspects of creativity. Moreover, makerspaces induce problem solving, collaborative, and communication skills; they also offer appealing environments and technologies for developing creative solutions to real-life problems. We identified and analysed five major themes dealing with technical skills, technological and environmental elements, STEM learning, and skill development, and elaborated upon their importance for enhancing creativity in FabLab and makerspace environments.
Museums that have recently been completed in the Gulf present a recurrent strategy. The emphasis is often on the container rather than the content. In this framework, architecture is the language that, through visual metaphors alluding to local traditions, generates a contextual linkage and a sense of place. Therefore, none of these latest museums is designed as a building. Instead, it is a desert rose, a falcon’s feather, a sail, or any other reference to Gulf iconography. The present text analyses the meaning of symbolic language in architecture by comparing a series of case studies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), culminating with Jean Nouvel’s antipodal proposals for the National Museum in Qatar and the Louvre Abu Dhabi. The paper argues that the validation of buildings through visual allusions to locality is a recurrent feature of recent Gulf museums, as a response to a fluid context in constant adjustment on the tradition-modernity axis.
Context is an external component that indicates the conditions surrounding a project site. The study shows the importance of architectural context for the architectural studio, where the study focuses on the results of students' work in Architectural design studio IV at the third year of architectural study, to explore students' abilities in how to link the concept with the site context. The studio centers studies in the classroom in the 2019-2020 Spring semester, where due to pandemics all around the world, the online lectures continued digital platforms and homely. The research methodology is geared towards collecting 9 students 'work in the assigned studio, to explore their abilities in how to create the bond between their concept and the context, to see, what is the impact of the pandemic? The study aims to highlight the impact of context on the concept in future architectural education. Mimari Tasarım Stüdyosunda Bağlam ve Konsept: Tasarım Stüdyosu IV Özet Bağlam, bir projenin alanını çevreleyen dış koşulları gösteren bir bileşendir. Çalışma, mimari eğitimin üçüncü yılında Mimari Tasarım Stüdyosu IV'te öğrencilerin çalışmalarının sonuçlarına odaklanarak mimari stüdyo için mimari bağlamın önemini göstermeyi amaçlamaktadır. 2019-2020 Bahar döneminde proje stüdyoları, pandemi nedeniyle dijital platformlarda ve evlerdeki odaların sınıflara, bilgisayar ekranlarının öğretme/öğrenme ortamına dönüştüğü çevrimiçi sınıflarda yürütülmüştür. Araştırma 9 öğrencinin dönem boyunca yaptıkları araştırma ve tasarım çalışmalarını belgelemeye, tasarıma yönelik kavramları ve bağlam arasında nasıl bir bağ oluşturacaklarına dair uygulamalarını anlamaya, pandeminin etkisinin ne olduğunu okumaya yöneliktir. Çalışma, geleceğin mimarlık eğitiminde bağlamın mimari tasarımdaki ana düşüncenin oluşmasındaki etkiyi vurgulamak ve pandemiyle birlikte bunu yeniden tartışmayı amaçlamaktadır. Anahtar Kelimeler: Mimarlık eğitimi; çevresel bağlam; tasarım konsepti; site analizi; mimari tasarım
The unique Traditional Islamic architecture characterizes some cities in the Arab Republic of Egypt. The purpose of the study is to highlight the significance of the Traditional Islamic house design, architectural elements, and the use of low-technology in house construction concerning sustainable architecture, in Old Fatimid Cairo and Rosetta (Rashid) cities. The study's method includes a literature review; with an overview of the history, the urban form, and the Islamic house design and architectural elements influenced by the local Islamic context (natural and cultural environments). A field survey included: the selection of eleven examples, five from Old Fatimid Cairo city and six examples from Rosetta (Rashid) city representing the most famous houses including the different architectural elements, and analyzing its components, the house design, spatial organization, building materials, house elements, courtyard, Mashrabiyah, wind catchers, and the construction system. Moreover, a comparative study for the selected Islamic houses illustrates the contexts' impact on the house design. In conclusion, the study highlighted the significance of Islamic house design and low-technology in house design and construction, which could be considered sustainable architecture and developed in the form of advanced technology in the future.
L'arquitectura de rebliment en contextos històrics és un concepte que requereix un examen curós en termes de les percepcions dels usuaris visitants i dels sentits ambientals. Això és de importància particular en la mesura que l'arquitectura de rebliment pot facilitar la preservació del patrimoni físic i no físic en contextos històrics perquè qualsevol interferència en el context històric està estretament relacionada amb les percepcions. En aquest sentit, el Basar Històric de Tabriz, com a Patrimoni de la Humanitat inscrit per la UNESCO, requereix consideracions especials. Aquest estudi investiga l'estat del Basar Històric de Tabriz a la llum dels canvis provocats per l'arquitectura de rebliment. Particularment, explora les percepcions dels usuaris visitants sobre l'arquitectura de rebliment i observa els canvis en els sentits ambientals del Basar. Utilitzant un mètode deductiu, l'estudi identifica si els canvis en els sentits ambientals poden afectar les percepcions dels usuaris visitants dels nous edificis dun context històric i com ho fan. En aquest sentit, comerciants, clients i residents van completar 350 qüestionaris. Les troballes mostren que els canvis en els components físics i no físics del context històric han alterat els aspectes reactius i visuals dels sentits ambientals. A més, els canvis en els aspectes reactius, prescriptius, afectius i de judici dels sentits ambientals han afectat les percepcions dels usuaris visitants de l'arquitectura de rebliment als nivells de cognició, interpretació i valoració. Això reflecteix limpacte de les variacions en els sentits ambientals en relació amb factors funcionals, històrics, culturals i socials en les percepcions dels usuaris.
Infill architecture in historic contexts is a concept that requires careful examination in terms of visiting users’ perceptions and environmental meanings. This is of particular importance insofar as infill architecture can facilitate the preservation of physical and non-physical heritage in historic contexts; because any interference in the historical context is closely related to environmental perception and meaning. In this respect, the Historic Bazaar of Tabriz, as a World Heritage site listed by the UNESCO World Heritage Center, requires special consideration. This study aims to investigate the status of the Historic Bazaar of Tabriz in light of the changes brought about by infill architecture. More particularly, it aims to explore visiting users’ perceptions of infill architecture and changes in the environmental meanings of the Historic Bazaar of Tabriz. Using a deductive method, we have tried to figure out whether, and how, changes in environmental meanings could affect visiting users’ perceptions of the new buildings of the historic context. In this regard, 350 closed-ended questionnaires were completed by tradespeople, customers and residents in the context. The results show that changes in the physical and non-physical components of the historic context have changed the reactive and visual aspects of environmental meanings. Also, according to the results, changes in the reactive, prescriptive, affective and judgmental aspects of environmental meanings have affected visiting users’ perceptions of infill architecture at the three levels of cognition, interpretation and valuation. This reflects the impact of changes in environmental meanings in relation to functional, historical, cultural and social factors on users’ perceptions.
La arquitectura de relleno en contextos históricos es un concepto que requiere un examen cuidadoso en términos de las percepciones de los usuarios visitantes y los sentidos ambientales. Esto es de particular importancia en la medida en que la arquitectura de relleno puede facilitar la preservación del patrimonio físico y no físico en contextos históricos porque cualquier interferencia en el contexto histórico está estrechamente relacionada con las percepciones. En este sentido, el Bazar Histórico de Tabriz, como Patrimonio de la Humanidad inscrito por la UNESCO, requiere consideraciones especiales. Este estudio investiga el estado del Bazar Histórico de Tabriz a la luz de los cambios provocados por la arquitectura de relleno. Particularmente, explora las percepciones de los usuarios visitantes sobre la arquitectura de relleno y observar los cambios en los sentidos ambientales del Bazar. Utilizando un método deductivo, el estudio identifica si los cambios en los sentidos ambientales pueden afectar las percepciones de los usuarios visitantes de los nuevos edificios de un contexto histórico y cómo lo hacen. En este sentido, comerciantes, clientes y residentes completaron 350 cuestionarios. Los hallazgos muestran que los cambios en los componentes físicos y no físicos del contexto histórico han alterado los aspectos reactivos y visuales de los sentidos ambientales. Además, los cambios en los aspectos reactivos, prescriptivos, afectivos y de juicio de los sentidos ambientales han afectado las percepciones de los usuarios visitantes de la arquitectura de relleno en los niveles de cognición, interpretación y valoración. Esto refleja el impacto de las variaciones en los sentidos ambientales en relación con factores funcionales, históricos, culturales y sociales en las percepciones de los usuarios.
The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, published in 2009, was designed to help systematic reviewers transparently report why the review was done, what the authors did, and what they found. Over the past decade, advances in systematic review methodology and terminology have necessitated an update to the guideline. The PRISMA 2020 statement replaces the 2009 statement and includes new reporting guidance that reflects advances in methods to identify, select, appraise, and synthesise studies. The structure and presentation of the items have been modified to facilitate implementation. In this article, we present the PRISMA 2020 27-item checklist, an expanded checklist that details reporting recommendations for each item, the PRISMA 2020 abstract checklist, and the revised flow diagrams for original and updated reviews.
This paper traces the evolution of patterns in architecture since early Modernism and links it to the socio-political and technological context of each period. The theme of patterns and its applications is a suitable one through which to rethink architecture’s values about making and living in relation to theories, ideals and priorities. A comparative examination of patterns further prompts revisiting concepts, notions, models and problematics of Twentieth-century architecture, this present time through a computational framing. In respect, this paper first draws upon systemic, structural, geometric and relational patterns developed since early Modernism; then, it delves into dynamic and adaptive patterns employed during late Modernism to respond to the emerging challenges of urban life. It is with the advent of computing that late Modernism’s aspirations have found a strong advocate by which to support complex pattern thinking, adding a cross-scientific perspective into architecture’s discourse.
It is easy to assume that historic environments consist mainly of traditional pre-modern style buildings; however, contemporary architecture is continuously added to historic environments, and its construction is positively encouraged by international heritage organizations such as UNESCO and ICOMOS. The conditions required for introducing contemporary architecture to historic urban environments manifest through the concept of contextual compatibility. This paper examines the meaning and operation of this compatibility in changing urban historical and cultural environments. It offers an empirical interpretation of ‘compatibility’ using three new conceptual parameters: the level of conservation value and importance designated by the heritage conservation system (heritage intensity), the ratio of contemporary architecture in a historic environment (context density), and the range of controlling measures available for conservation (regulation degree). Based on a content analysis of the relevant literature and a case study of 24 sample sites, this paper illuminates how ‘compatibility’ operates in the field, which sometimes contradicts our common assumptions. The notable findings reveal that heritage intensity and context density in the historical environment are not directly proportional to regulation degree. Meanwhile, low context density tends to correspond with highly detailed regulations and emphasise the physical realization of traditional elements.
Contextual relativities in the diversifying expression of New Urbanism are increasingly important. In this article, we explore the significance of context using a Scandinavian setting as example. We examine two embodiments of the Swedish realisation of New Urban neighbourhoods. Important in our exploration are the relationalities with contemporary contexts and belief systems, since every effort to create space becomes “an elaboration of the beliefs and values of some collection of people, expressed and fostered in their promotion of a preferred reality” (Stokowski, 2002, p. 374). The findings from the study demonstrate that the Swedish New Urban neighbourhood—no matter how meaningful as a communicative form mediating between agents and structures—cannot effect social cohesion or isolation. Rather, form communicates or evokes meaning in a variety of complex ways, suggesting the importance of “look[ing] to multiply…our readings of the city” (Leach, 1997, p. 158), particularly high - level readings that echo notions of the common good. Those concerned with New Urbanism’s embodiments should deliberate on relational fluidities and thereby strike a balance between conceptualising such urban design as either deterministically exceeding its power (Lawhon, 2009) or as side-lined to the whimsical relativity of particular consumers (Latham, 2003; Smith, 2002).
Islamic art is an introverted art derived from mystical thought and believes expressed in artistic activities and is pure, indigenous, and commensurate with the spirit and social status of its time; Islamic architecture also has an Islamic foundation, and it has a close relationship with the decorative arts. In this regard, mosques are considered the most significant Islamic architecture achievements; in most cases, geometrical shapes and motifs with religious and natural themes have been used. Therefore, the present study's primary purpose is to study the geometric patterns of the Ateeq Mosque (Shiraz) and the Cordoba Mosque (Cordoba) by a descriptive-analytical method. Analyzing the collected data revealed that the motifs and their role in both the Ateeq Mosque of Shiraz and Cordoba are similar. Among the essential motifs observed in these two mosques can be the circle (symbol of being and the symbol of heaven and God), Shams (symbol of the sun and celestial light), the triangle with the downward vertex, the symbol of the female principle and the upward symbol of the mountain symbol and the masculine principle and crucifix (symbol of rotation of the seasons and permanent reproduction) and spiral as the symbol of fertility. In the Islamic period, these motifs are decorated with architectural spaces. The geometric motifs represent natural elements. As appreciation and sanctification of natural elements have been noticed, geometric motifs symbolically evoke those sacred elements and were illustrated in Iran and Spain's arts.
The paper highlights the significance of context in Architecture; and the need for contextual studies in architecture academics. Meaningful spaces can only be designed if the context is considered. Context informs the Architectural design in reciprocating to the culture, community, and the physical terrain wherein it has to be constructed. Context acts as a catalyst for the design process, and aids the architect to arrive at an expression that has its own identity, yet conforms with the character of the larger urban fabric. The paper also guides about conducting contextual studio, its components, and its importance. It also highlights the ideology and process of learning in architectural education. It also focuses on the present scenario that needs to be rethought for evolving better designs. The second part of the paper focuses on the study of the streets in 'Dungrabhint Faliyu' of Lunawada, a princely state, and a traditional town of the Panchmahal region. It showcases illustrations depicting the relevance of settlement planning with contextual aspects. Here, a morphological study of Lunawada at the macro level and the Dungrabhint street at the micro-level is conducted, considering the traditional settlement as a repertoire of contextual imprints and the traditional architecture as an inheritance.
The historic centers to retain their liveliness and vibrancy should be able to grow and change. It is a big challenge for the contemporary architecture to balance the socio-economic needs of the city and its community in one hand, and protection of the cultural heritage on the other. The aim of this study is to analyze the incorporation of the new structures in the historical context. How can the new structures harmoniously be incorporated in the historic centers without endangering their cultural heritage values? The paper discusses how to design a new contemporary shopping mall in the Historic Center of Prizren in order to create an attractive area and at the same time avoiding deterioration of the historical place.
Analysis in this article has at its stake the continuity of the traditions into the present. Analysis in this article in doing so investigates the concept of a "cultural continuity" (or, a "continuity of memory") that evokes a place's "unique identity" in the architecture design of the present, however, the search for identity in architecture design does not lead to a design that is merely marked by either "falsifying history" or "being identical" with the traditions. Analysis in this article chooses the Masdar City (UAE) as a case study and suggests that a contemporary architecture inspires its conceptual design from the architecture of the past striving for a place's identity by neither literally copying the traditional motifs nor importing the universal models inherited in modernist/postmodernist architecture.
This paper focuses on the importance of framing and conceiving smart urban initiatives and schemes in a highly context-sensitive way, and argues that place-based approaches are essential for enhancing the social sustainability of smart cities. It does so by highlighting how such a perspective is often ignored by discourses and visions that favor generalized and socially skewed ways of framing the “city” as well as the citizens who are expected to become “smart” and benefit from high technologies. These, the paper argues, leave out the important nuances and social and spatial interstices that make places unique, and by doing so weaken the ability of smart to be inclusive and afford a rich landscape of technological appropriation making cities more resilient.
This article discussed the topic of Contextualism in architectural design through its relationship with Modern movement in architecture. Many writers have discussed the concepts of Context and Contextualism in architecture, mainly from the point of view of how Modern Architecture dealt with the subject. From these writings, one theme is apparent: the notion that Modern architecture or Modern buildings neglected this very important requirement of architectural design, but rather presented a pseudo-industrial style of building that was intended to replace the academic eclecticism of the Beaux Arts. To do this, it employed imagery related to machinery rather than to previous building, thus symbolizing its belief in a social and a physical utopia to be created by technology. Very few, in their writings, discuss more than one dimension of this concept. Many tend to focus on physical context alone. However, the works of Robert Venturi explain to us that there may be more than one interpretation of the concept. He posits that one must necessarily include both the physical and cultural contexts. Other works such as those of Colin Rowe, Thomas L. Schumacher and Stuart Cohen have also delved into this concept from different dimensions expounding on it from the perspectives of Modernism, Post-Modernism, and Deconstructivism. Schumacher, for instance, proposes a scenario where the disparate theories of cultural and physical contexts are included rather than excluded. In this particular article, a common Modern building type (hotel) is used to further explore and fathom the meaning of this concept and how it has been applied in the paradigm of African architecture. In contrast to the failures of Modern Architecture in dealing with the urban context, the French hotels of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries Rococo period exhibited a remarkable response to the urban site conditions. These buildings in a bid to become part of their site, assumed exterior forms that differed from their interior configurations. As opposed to Modern Architecture, the form was basically determined by contextual requirements and considerations rather than by programmatic requirements and considerations. The most profound example of Contextualism in African architecture is revealed in the Great Mosque of Djenne, in Djenne, Mali, West Africa. The profundity of the form cannot be understated as the building’s response to its physical and cultural contexts is unequivocally original and authentic. Finally, we looked at some examples of contemporary Nigerian (African) contextual architecture in the City of Enugu and saw how the buildings responded to context within the ubiquity of Urbanism.
Key Words:
Contextualism
Symbolism
Modern Architecture
African Architecture
French Hotels
This study introduces the basic concepts and terminologies regarding space syntax research through a simple spatial configuration. The concepts are elaborated for intricate configurations. This study aims to deepen the understanding of how syntactical analysis can extract social information embedded in traditional architectural practice in the Malay Archipelago. The basic terminologies are outlined, and the sequential procedure for analysis is described along with its interpretation in the context of actual social phenomena. Result shows that the syntactical properties of a particular configuration within a particular region reflect the traditions of the people in that region. This study serves as a basis for the future study of the applications of space syntax to diverse spatial configurations in the Malay Archipelago.
Any Architectural work is a complex process of urban and cultural morphological output derived from the user's need, and as a result of many contextual directors. The urban contextual envelope is considered as an effective factor in the formation of architectural and urban planning products, consequently raised to be an important approach in the architecture educational process. Architectural education process thrives on critical reflection, discussion and debate about its products. The architectural product analysis reflects how a building relates to its urban or rural sitting, its climate and the society it serves. The context determines the architectural style, building material and site layout, which is very important in creating an effective design. All these promote continuity between the building and its surroundings.
Nowadays, most of the architectural educational output in the Arabian region suffers and encountered problem, the total separation from the surrounding contextual envelope including urban, cultural, social and environmental factors. Architectural design education as a whole, and particularly the architectural design studio, should be considered as sort of an initiation process where students are introduced to architectural knowledge. The activities of the studio should emphasize the context at a local, regional and global level. Since the primary concern of architects is to produce three dimensional space and form, which is necessary to accommodate the users' needs, the teaching process should focus on two concerns: first, is the balance between formal and socio-cultural aspects and second, is the balance between students’ searching and thinking capabilities and their other mental activities. As it is obvious from these definitions that cultural diversity, architectural design education and accordingly teaching strategies essentially have connections.
This paper mainly discusses the impact of the existing surrounding context's features and characteristics on the architecture educational design process. Therefore, the research methodology is directed toward evaluating the outcomes within the educational process in design studios, and measuring the reflected knowledge of the contextual envelope. Consequently, the findings of the analytical part will conclude the percentage of students who are able to design projects that are compatible with the surrounding environment and reflect the nature of the Arabian contextual fitting. Finally, a conclusion will be drawn up, in order to help in enriching the students' knowledge and awareness of the contextual envelope and its applications in the architectural design process, which formulates the morphological language reflecting the Arabian architectural identity.
Keywords: Contextual envelope, Architecture design studio, Topography Shaping, Urban Fabric Fitting, Identity, Environmental directors, Socio/culture aspects
p>The expression of architecture in mosques in the non-Muslim worlds may have added to the problem of alienization of Muslims to the host community. The Muslim community has misunderstood the idea of ‘sacredness’ of form in allowing revivalistic foreign traditional architectural language to be part of the mosque architectural language. This sets up the mosque being totally not in context with the surrounding urban fabric. This paper outlines the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad about the importance of being part of a larger society of man and even to love all man regardless of their faith. Hence, this paper puts forward the position that mosque designers must rethink their design ideas towards the values of inclusivity in Islam.</p
The concept of “Affordance” is increasingly used among urban designers because it adds theoretical clarity to the understanding of the link between the environment, human behavior, and human needs fulfillment. Affordances emerge only when the different characteristics of individuals, such as their physical dimension and abilities, social needs and personal intentions are matched with the features of the environment. However, in formalizing social sustainability, a central issue to be addressed is the relation between people and their environment in social sustainability processes. The definition of “Affordance” of a particular urban context will provide the means to make precise the opportunities for achieving social sustainability. With reviewing the related literature, it is concluded that the multidisciplinary relations between “Human Needs” and “Social Sustainability” with the aim of “Theory of Affordance” has been out of scholar's agenda. This paper fills this gap with proposing an integrated model of fulfilling human needs in urban context through achieving social Sustainability with the aim of cognitive affordance.
As one of the fastest growing countries in the Middle East, and the one most vulnerable to climate change, the main challenge now facing Iran today is how to house its growing population in a socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable way. However, in the absence of a national framework to guide the sustainable development of the built environment, responding to this challenge is problematic. The articulation of a comprehensive assessment method that would enable issues of sustainability to be addressed and incorporated within building construction projects is urgently required. The research that underpins this paper takes account of current tools in aiming to support the development of a national building sustainability assessment method (BSAM) for use in Iran that involves the identification of sources of impact, specific benchmarks, and priorities for a weighting system for assessment criteria. This paper profiles the basis of a contextual framework that will inform the development of such a regional-based tool, taking account of Iran's current climate change adaptation policies and priorities, its environmental conditions and socio-economic challenges, building typologies, standards and benchmarks.
The most important component that forms the values, lifestyle, beliefs, traditions, in short, the whole of the material and spiritual values of a society is culture. Culture is the whole of the things that the human learned, applied and maintained as long as they exist. Culture shows change and sustainability as a result of differentiation of factors which compose the culture. The architecture that is one of the important components that reflect the culture is also affected by this change process. The characteristic features of existing cultural identity in architecture are observed in houses where the daily life is maintained. The functional changes occurred in houses are reflected physically and they mostly affect the frontage construct as well. Thus, the character of the street where the houses are located is also changed. In this context, in study, there was aimed to examine the effect of spatial changes occurred dependent on time on frontage construct in houses where non-Muslim people who were exposed to population exchange and Muslim people who were settled to the houses which were quit after population exchange in the settlement of Sille that is connected to the city of Konya. The effect of time-dependent spatial change of 10 (ten) tiered genuine houses in Haci Ali Aga Street that is the important house settlement in Sille on frontage shaping was examined through the graphics created and physical changes (frontage character) were revealed via functional changes (spatial). © 2017, Istanbul Teknik Universitesi, Faculty of Architecture. All rights reserved.
The paper argues the role of interior spaces in linking with the urban open space configuration. The interior space is discussed as extensions of urban spaces and urban spaces as extensions of interiors with specific reference to a case study selected in Balıkesir urban fabric. Under the light shed by these discussions, the paper questions the certainty of boundries between exterior and interior, thus between interior design and architecture. While the first axis of discussion focuses on the duality between interior and exterior, the second axis of discussion concentrates on the insertion of new and contemporary architectural and spatial features into an existing and historic context. The Museum and Library of Photography project in Balıkesir, which is selected as case study, is based on a VOID connecting what exists with what disappeared long ago in a totally new combination. Consequently, paper shows that architectural identity of the existing (and sometimes disappeared) heritage is reproduced via injection of this new hybrid (interior-exterior) into the very heart of the existing urban fabric. The hybrid design of the VOID intends to resolve the tensions between the contrasting features of restoration and intervention merely by understanding the conditions and fundementals of the process of historical layering in the town. © 2017, Istanbul Teknik Universitesi, Faculty of Architecture. All rights reserved.
This study aimed to explore the relationship of form and meaning in architectural inculturation, which can be
seen as a powerful agency to reinforce the sacredness of church architecture. Inculturation process shifted the
preferences of having typical Gothic church architecture to new local architecture Christian style. Ganjuran
Catholic Church in Bantul, Yogyakarta is taken as case study. This is a descriptive, analytical and interpretive
study, using an interdisciplinary approach by borrowing structural analysis from the discipline of semiotics and
complemented by architectural analysis. Description and analyses are made to identify the local architectural
components that are present in Catholic worship and to explain the meaning behind it. The study showed that
the relationship between architectural inculturation and meaning, can be understood as the result of an intimate
connection that engages people perceptually and intellectually in relation to the formal and spatial design,
structural aspects and ornamentation in the context of sacredness. This analytical understanding could be the
basis for strategic action to address issues of church architecture and its interaction with local culture.
KEY WORDS : inculturation, church architecture, meaning
Özet
The early generator tool designs of architects in the design process are architectural context and design data, and they define the main approach of the design; this approach has led to extensive expressions of design options and ultimately they are followed by more successful assessment of solutions and more complete design. The study implements descriptive and historical analysis (using the data of ancient city and define a new set for reviving the identity and analyzing the new process). There is no doubt that the museum as a cultural institution in community is vital because the culture of a society is a general concept and it includes all the spiritual values of that community. Thus, culture is the heritage of every people, which is taken from his or her predecessors, and it has been changed and shifted to the next generation. Whenever a decision is taken to build a museum the preliminary basic problem that must be dealt with is choosing the location, a place with various facilities and each one of them need to be examined carefully. Now we should decide whether it should be in the downtown or in the suburb. But with the gradual speed increase and ease of use of public and private vehicles to get from one place to another, it was realized that a location of a museum in a downtown is not a priority anymore. A museum should be accessible from all parts of the city by public transport, and possibly by walking, and as much as possible they should be in the vicinity of schools, colleges, universities and libraries. Today, museums are seen as cultural centers more than past. But it should be noted that not only students visit them, but people who have different socio-economic background visit them. Visiting of museums are more likely if the museum is close and accessible, and coming these kinds of people even for spending their free time is an education hobby.
Psychological needs and human wellbeing are aspects of sustainability that urgently need to be reconsidered in architecture. Too often, the concept of sustainability is connected to quantitative building performance, without enough consideration of how people use and enjoy spaces and how their wellbeing is influenced by their environment. This paper introduces the report Bo-miljø or Living Environment, written by Danish environmental psychologist Ingrid Gehl in 1971, into the current social sustainability discourse in architectural design as a way of gaining perspective into psychological wellbeing. The report is particularly relevant for considering the human dimension in housing design and identifies eight basic psychological needs that people have in relation to their living environments. The analysis of this report, and the synthesis of the findings with newer studies and definitions of social sustainability offer a framework for rethinking social sustainability. This essay analyses the findings from Gehl's report and contextualises it within current interdisciplinary research in this area. Critically analysing leading definitions and concepts in social sustainability and wellbeing, this essay offers an architectural perspective on design for social sustainability and wellbeing.
This paper proposes a reflection on the relationship of new construction in an old context focusing on the recognition of the value of contemporary work which, historically, was introduced starting from post-war reconstructions. The article presents the methodologies and results of research that was first financed by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and later, by the Liguria Region for the purposes of cataloguing the modern and contemporary architectural heritage in the Region since the post-war period to-date, and highlighting its value for the purposes of its future protection and enhancement. Assigning values to recent and very recent architectural production is, in fact, variegated and controversial which, in many ways has established a dialogue with the old fabric.
Context is a crucial concept in architecture in spite of the frequent ambiguity around its use. Although the consideration of context is intrinsic to the process of architectural design, in contemporary theory, little attention is paid to it. By way of contrast, in the 1950s, various architects, theorists, and teachers cultivated several perspectives on context as a way of addressing some of the ill effects of modern architectural orthodoxy. Although a topic of layered and productive debate in the post-war years, context fell into disrepute in the critical architectural discourse of the 1980s. This paper provides an archaeology of the “context debate” in the hope that it may be possible to reveal its forgotten dimensions and flexibility.
Architects and urban planners must be aware of the impact of their contribution to both the society and the environment, this awareness needs to be planted in their educational programs. This paper is trying to determine the social and environmental priorities in architecture and urban undergraduate programs. After discussing the trends of curricula in architecture programs the paper analyses Ain Shams university curricula as a case study. Leading the paper to determine the correct approaches that need to be taken in order to produce a generation of practitioners that are aware of the social and environmental needs of their society.
The well-known and much investigated rise of urban entrepreneurial policies has fuelled a transformation of urban spaces and landscapes, and has led to changes in the social composition of city centres. This is the case for Oslo, Norway’s capital, where increasingly urban policies are designed to attract transnational companies and those in the creative class. A key strategy to achieve this has been to transform the city’s waterfront through spectacular architecture and urban design, as has taken place in other European cities. Transnational and local architects have been commissioned to design the Barcode, one of the most striking waterfront projects. This article investigates the role of architecture and architects in this process, because architects can be seen as influential generators of urban spaces and agents for social change, and because there is remarkably little published empirical research on this specific role of architects. It is argued that although there was an overall planning goal that the projects along the waterfront of Oslo should contribute to social sustainability, with the implication that planners and architects possessed information about the local urban context and used this knowledge, in practice this was not the case. It is demonstrated that the architects paid little attention to the social, cultural and economic contexts in their design process. Rather, the architects emphasized the creation of an exciting urban space and, in particular, designed spectacular architecture that
would contribute to the merits of the firms involved. It is further argued that because of this the Barcode project will not contribute to the making of a just city.
Keywords
Architecture, urban design, urban entrepreneurialism, urban planning, waterfront transformation
The history of the settlement in Bengal region is probably more than 3,000 years old. The Muslim rule was introduced by the invasion of Ikhtiyar Uddin Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji at around 1204 A.D. In the later years lots of Muslim rulers came in this continent and contributed in the construction of Masjid, Madrasa, and Mausoleums. Unique building materials, climatic considerations, social and contextual impact on spatial quality has given such prominence in these structures that it has become identical as "Bengal Style" among the other styles practiced in Indian sub-continent and outside of India in other Muslim countries during 12th-15th century. This paper is an outcome of the search on contextual issues of Bengal mosques practiced from 12th -15th century and put light on the existing practice of mosque architecture in Bangladesh.
The quest for improvement and upgrading of the historic urban environment through coexisting historical context and new context had introduced tension over the previous years. The resultant flows have jeopardized the harmonious layers of historical settings. The concept of conservation that provides the needed bridge between the forces in many cases implemented exhibits a no consideration of the three polarities that controls historic areas. The aftermath shows up in two ways. At one end is convergence and divergence at the other but the emphasis of this paper focuses on investigating what happens in historic urban environments when annex developments exceed historic limits? Historic Limit (HL) is the hidden benchmark and maximum point of the historic urban environment at which the forces produced by the two contexts coexist elastically. In order to answer the generated question, a literature review of the keywords that constitutes the topic is explored. The ideas of Warren John on ‘interaction’ and that of Getty Conservation Institute on ‘relationship’ that happens in the built above environment will buttress the argument. A model that represents the correlation of the two contexts is developed to simplify the overall intentions of the essay. Another technique is the selection of two composite annex cases to validate the targeted objectives. The article is concluded by recommending that conservation schemes in historic urban landscapes should adopt consensus design strategy for tackling context tension. As a sure way of sustainably welcoming the voices of the community in the process before implementation of the development.
New building design in historic settings is not a new source of debate. Indeed, there has always been a fear that the sense of place and identity of a historic area might be ignored or negatively affected if new buildings are added. Thus, there has been wide-ranging discussion regarding how to integrate new buildings into existing contexts, and the harmonious integration of buildings has been a key concern of many scholars and institutions. However, analysis of different examples of new buildings in historic settings has revealed a need for further study of the varying impacts of new buildings on the sense of place of historic areas when they are integrated in a contextually juxtaposed versus non-contextual or freestyle way Thus, the major aim of this paper is to question the distinctiveness of the contextual juxtaposition and non-contextual/freestyle design approaches. Based on a detailed review of the literature, the paper first outlines the current discussions and arguments surrounding the integration of new buildings into historic settings and how they contribute to the physical character of historic settings. It then presents and evaluates different design approaches to new building design in historic settings using four diverse examples from two countries. Finally, the paper concludes with a discussion of the subtle nuances between the contextual juxtaposition and non-contextual/freestyle design approaches with regard to the sense of place.
Image making is a continuous worldwide practice of architects and designers whose concern is to create meaningful environments. Such a practice results in expressions that either reflect the regional context or mirror the wider global culture. This paper aims at interrogating image making practices in the city of Doha, which has experienced rapid urban transformations, associated with building large scale work and learning environments, mixed use developments, and cultural and sport facilities. Contextualizing current debate on Doha's architecture and urbanism, a critical analysis of geo-cultural politics and on the notion of the 'scapes of flows' is undertaken. Based on contextual, critical, and perceptual approaches image-making practices in the city were discerned. Different types of efforts were categorized and critically analyzed underlying the contextual and critical approaches. The analysis reveals that efforts range from utilizing symbolism in contemporary imaging, to manifesting tradition-modernity in search for image identity, to addressing the global condition towards image making. The perceptual approach established empirical evidence by investigating users' reactions to three notable office buildings that their design attempts to evoke a unique image. This was supported by statements made by CEOs of architectural firms and development companies that reflected a promise towards image making in the architecture of Doha. A concluding critique is introduced to elucidate that while there are incessant attempts at image making, the practice of 'cutting and pasting' dominates in the absence of critical consciousness. Such a critique calls for avoiding 'case by case decision making' the urban governance in the city still adopts while engaging effective place making strategies.
© 2014 Archnet-IJAR, International Journal of Architectural Research.
Contextual sensitivity should be amongst the primary concerns of the architect. Understanding the context and considering micro the macro scale is crucial to produce contextually sensitive design solutions. Contextual architecture becomes challenging while studying how the different cultural identities are formed and how they can be translated into the design, in this case, the designers have to study in-depth the surroundings, as places talk and main ideas can be generated from the location. Design should be considered by checking how effectively it uses the context and its sensitivity. It should respect and prioritise the character of place by creating and sustaining the pre-existent identity and harmony. Learnings from the context provide a link between history, society and culture, thus allowing the design to utilise the features of the place and results to become integrated with the roots of city. With organisations and specialists having diverse views on the subject, the need for a cohesive point of view is more than necessary at this stage. The rise of iconic architecture and international style solidifies the need of exploring contemporary architecture and its influence on historic context or the other way around. The quality of new construction and the process of adding new buildings in a historic context is debatable and has always been in discussion. This paper provides the details of key concepts and approaches that can be used in the historic context.
Nowadays the principles and criteria for place attachment in neighborhoods and their relevance to cultural, historical, social, and natural contexts are ignored, and this causes many problems. The purpose of this study is to enhance place attachment in historical neighborhoods (sorkhab and davehchi) of tabriz through contextualism descriptive-analytic methods using questionnaires and spss tests by random sampling. The statistical population of the study is inhabitants of sorkhab and davehchi neighborhoods with 300 statistical samples (150 from each neighborhood). The results show that there is a linear relationship between contextualism components (except natural context) and place attachment is visible. In terms of impact, the historical component has the greatest impact on place attachment. Therefore, to enhance the place attachment in the historical neighborhoods, it is necessary for urban designers and planners to pay more attention to the historical dimension of contextualism.
This study tackles the topic of design in Iraq: its emergence and its signification of modernity since the post-independent era, during which Iraq was a regional center of pioneering Arabic movements in modern literature, arts, and architecture. Emergent design practices are visible in architecture and urban planning, which were delivered by key international architects. This study presents a historical account and contextual analysis of the vital contributions that these designs made to supporting the Iraqi modernity project. Moreover, it indicates the significant role and strategic domination of the sociopolitical order in shaping design practices and education in the country. Methodologically, this study draws from unstructured conversations with members of the Iraqi design community, followed by thematic and context analysis to identify design discourses transformation. The analysis demonstrates that in Iraq design: (a) is a signifier of modernity; (b) contributes to the enhancement of cultural identity and industrialization; (c) has been redirected toward patriotism; and (d) now suffers from decline and chaos.
This article deals with permanence and change in the traditional architecture of southern Portugal, adopting the town and landscape of Mértola as a case study. This research conveys how the relationship between the vernacular architecture, the territory and the site is not immune to the course of history, reflecting a profound change in the ways of living over time. In methodological terms, the research focuses on surveying and characterizing architectural diversity in both the
rural context (with the definition of various landscape subunits) and the urban context (delimiting the various urban subunits). This concludes that the architectural specificity, in both contexts, is subordinate to the same processes of historical change which nevertheless acquire a circumstantial dimension. These processes
include the readable influences of models and ways of living arriving from abroad and contemplate: the transition of the courtyard house from the Islamic medieval period to the compact house of the Christian medieval and modern periods; the consolidation, diversification and ennobling of different housing types during the Ancien Régime; and the profound transformations of domestic architecture following the advent of Liberalism.
Previously perceived as a rapid prototyping technique, additive manufacturing (AM) has evolved into a fully developed manufacturing process, with growing accessibility to different industrial sectors. Its technological and economic advantages are frequently documented, but AM's environmental performance is seldom investigated. Not long ago discrete initiatives to assess AM's applicability for building large-scale structures started to arise. Mostly focused on technical and economic feasibility, these studies pave the way for the process's consolidation in the construction sector. This paper aims to systematically and critically assess the available literature on AM's life cycle environmental impacts and to identify the main challenges and trends on loads measurements. The findings help feed recommendations to perform life cycle assessments (LCA) in AM initiatives, with a special focus on the construction sector. A systematic search led to the careful analysis of 52 papers, out of 353 that matched our search protocol. In terms of LCA methods' robustness, a lack of transparency stood out in many papers, suggesting that authors were most likely non-LCA experts, applying the tool without much knowledge of requirements and modelling intricacies. In terms of documented global warming potential (GWP) values in comparison to conventional manufacturing (CM), AM processes were portrayed as beneficial in most cases. Most papers documented results ranges, which represented different printing, production or distribution strategies, in which AM's performance varied considerably. LCA played a significant role in finding an optimum production approach and seems to be a valuable lens to assure 3D printing's environmental competitiveness. A contribution analysis showed that there is a shift between materials vs. production processes contribution in the life cycle GWP loads of systems manufactured with AM and CM. 3D printing processes account for almost 80% of AM's total GWP, while for CM that position is held by the material-related loads. For construction related AM processes, the material intensity is, however, still by far the largest contributor to building systems' GWP, maintaining the impact distribution as in typical manufacturing processes.
This paper addresses the cultural geography of the vernacular architecture of the Dai ethnic minority in Dehong Prefecture, located on the border between southern China and Myanmar. The objectives of the study include: exploring the characteristics and distributions of built forms, identifying the hybridization of ideal Dai pattern-built forms in Southeast Asia caused by the influence of the Han Chinese, and discussing the continuity and change of vernacular architecture in a cross-cultural context. The field methods include a physical survey of the cultural geography of Dai living as rice farmers in lowland geographies, a detailed investigation of their houses, and in-depth interviews with local informants about the dynamics of changes under socio-political constraints in China. The findings provide insight and knowledge about the cultural geography of architecture in a cross-cultural context.
This paper addresses Materiality and Context by introducing Lumifoil, a design-build intervention in the Red Generator; an iconic work of contemporary architecture designed by architect Bernard Tschumi for The Florida International University School of Architecture. This paper explore the engagement of context through the design of computational processes and material manipulation. The proposition that context only exists as something to respond to is critically questioned. Emerging from rigorous, parametrically controlled design-processes, form, material, surface and finish – as semi-autonomous yet entangled conditions – are used to variegate, meet, and enhance the conceptual and physical contexts of Tschumi’s project while transforming and expanding them. Lumifoil is an exercise in re-engaging, remaking contexts through the formal and material intervention of a place. Upon completion, Lumifoil will yield conceptual, material, formal, structural, and programmatic effects through an analysis of Tschumi’s building.
In architecture, context refers to the surrounding area or setting in which the building is placed. In architectural theory and practice, context plays an important role in proposing architectural vocabulary. Since the mid-20th-century, creating harmony with traditional context amidst growing development has been a major concern and interest of designers. Contextualism theory in architecture refers to the relationship between new buildings and the existing surroundings while addressing the issue of fitting new to old structures together to achieve congruence and continuity. The analysis of traditional architectural style significantly influences a designer’s decision-making process when adopting contextual design approach. In this study, a shape grammar approach is proposed to create a harmonious environment through the generation of new designs based on the grammar of existing architectural style without curbing the designer’s creativity. This paper demonstrates the pattern-generating quality of traditional Pol row houses of Ahmedabad, India. The grammar of the traditional Pol house forms the architectural context for the new in-fill development in the area. The shape grammar approach to architectural design is examined as a process of interpreting the context as socio-cultural experience through rule schema when addressing the issue of contemporary demands and needs. Here, shape grammar is explored as a tool to analyse the existing design through the generation of new designs. The grammar differs from the previous work in terms of the derivation method and identification of the clues for rule schema in the Indian context. This method has been examined in the process of resolving the issue of unsympathetic development by providing design variations within the grammar for in-fill development to derive spatial clues for generation of new designs, which would be argued as the first step towards achieving aesthetic congruence.
The conservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage is a well-developed field. However, cultural heritage is only ever partially preserved if its context is lost. This contribution argues that the future of conservation should include context as an integral and inalienable part of all forms of cultural heritage. As such, this will require an increase in cross disciplinary collaborations with, among others, archaeologists, historians and archivists involved in efforts aimed at restoring cultural heritage to the contexts from which it has become disengaged. Based on theoretical frameworks from the digital humanities, cultural theory, history of the built environment and archaeology, the authors outline a method of re-contextualization using the drowned landscape of Nubia as a case study. Aside from the landscape in which the Nubian monuments once stood and the vernacular of historical Nubian cultures, we argue that the history and socio-political nature of the decisions made in the name of preservation itself should also be incorporated as part of this context. The contribution argues that digital representations coupled with digital archiving provides one means of incorporating such heterogeneous and diverse information to present the contexts in which descriptions, texts, photographs, letters, videos and oral history can be better understood, interpreted and distributed.