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Urbanization process that is characterized by radical expansion of urban built up areas and rural urban migration has produced a new type of neighbourhood called Urban Village. In rapidly developing and urbanising countries like India and China, numerous urban villages dot the urban landscape and display typical characteristics of high density housing, migrant settlement, and a deteriorated urban environment. These urban villages are a result of dynamics of land use transformation of agricultural land resulting in an urbanized rural context and population. This research paper discusses some approaches that have been researched to address the sustainable development of urban villages. Sustainable development rests on social, economic and environmental aspects that have been largely ignored in urban planning policies. This research paper compiles the attempt to apply the principles of sustainable development through a multidisciplinary perspective in an undergraduate studio of urban design. The students documented and analysed an urban village, Alipur on Gurgaon Sohna Road in Haryana, through the lens of sustainable development. The proposed interventions pose solutions grounded in social, economic and environmental aspects. This perhaps is an indication that addressing the interconnected layers and issues could generate guidelines for steering urban village towards sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the notions of urban sprawl and suburbanisation are introduced and discussed in the context of American and European cases. The drivers of urban sprawl are discussed along with the main typologies analysed in the literature about the issue. The debate regarding urban sprawl is discussed in the particular context of Eastern Europe, and a timeline of suburbanisation is presented from the socialist years until today. Then, the specific case of Bucharest is examined through the case of Popesti Leordeni, where the particularities of the city development and the stages of urban sprawl are compared with the typologies observed in the Romanian context. The paper concludes with the need for further research to identify different or diverging planning practices within the metropolitan area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the world's rapid urban development, it has been observed that space for sociability has decreased. To overcome the impact of the same, streets should develop as an urban space along transit corridors. These spaces encourage meaning and identity creation by offering visual quality to everyone. This paper focuses on assessing parameters through which an urban streetscape along transit corridor can be analyzed to enhance visual quality. The authors suggest nine essential parameters based on literature review and expert interviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of navigating through an environment to reach a desired destination is known as wayfinding. It involves understanding one's current location, determining the desired destination and choosing a path to get there. Wayfinding design plays a significant role in enabling users to navigate an environment with ease and reach their desired destinations in a timely manner. However, poorly designed wayfinding systems can lead to confusion, stress and insecurity, which negatively impacts the user experience. This research paper explores the concept of wayfinding in educational buildings limited to universities, and its potential to enhance the user experience of students, faculty and visitors. Wayfinding can be a challenging task in large and complex buildings such as educational institutions. The study investigates the different factors that can affect wayfinding in educational buildings, including signage, lighting, spatial layout and technology. The paper presents case studies of two university buildings to investigate how a wayfinding system can improve user experience. The findings show that efficient wayfinding can improve the user experience greatly by reducing confusion, boosting efficiency and increasing overall happiness. The paper concludes with guidelines for educational institutions to improve wayfinding in their buildings with the help of signages and enhance user experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dimensions and arrangement of columns have a significant impact on the seismic behavior of a structure. The objective of this paper is to ascertain the appropriate dimensions and configuration of columns for a building utilizing a frame system and framed tube system. Various column sizes and configurations were utilized to model four different types of buildings. The pushover analysis method was employed to determine the deformation capacity. The results obtained from the pushover analysis, indicate that the drift ratio for each building model remains below the prescribed 2% drift limit. The fourth building model, known as the framed tube system, exhibits the lowest drift ratio among the models, measuring at 0.81%. Upon reviewing the budget plan, it is evident that the second model building exhibits the lowest cost, displaying a notable disparity of 20.98% in comparison to the fourth model building, which boasts the highest cost. After considering both structural performance and budgeted cost, it is determined that the framed tube structural system is the optimal configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In architectural education, informal interaction spaces play a significant role in experiential learning, allowing adult learners more flexibility and freedom. In India, the significance of these spaces has been heightened by the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) formulated by the Ministry of Human Resources, Government of India, which aligns with the activities promoted in educational institutes' informal interaction spaces. This research paper explores the role of informal interaction spaces in enhancing student-centered learning in architecture schools, presenting best practices for their design and utilization. The study employs mixed research methods, including literature review, case studies, and interviews, to gather perspectives from learners and instructors. The case study reveals a strong positive correlation between the percentage of informal interaction space and the learning outcomes of students. In addition to identifying challenges in informal interaction spaces, including interference and design issues, the literature study and respondents' views associate the crosscultural discussions happening in these spaces with academic learning, life skill enhancement, and the development of collaboration skills, establishing their significance in facilitating effective and student-centered pedagogy. Varied preferences of respondents regarding design criteria to be adopted in designing informal interaction spaces emphasize the need for adaptable designs that cater to diverse student needs regarding placement, visual connection, and amenities. The conclusions underscore the multifaceted impact of these spaces, providing valuable insights for their refinement and contributing to ongoing discourse in architectural education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal erosion is a growing problem worldwide and seriously threatens coastal infrastructure ecosystems and communities, particularly in areas where urban development has encroached on natural shorelines. Salty urbanism, an approach to urban design that incorporates natural features and works in harmony with coastal environments, offers a promising solution to this problem. This review explores strategies for coastal erosion reduction, particularly emphasizing community participation within the context of salty urbanism. By investigating the advantages of incorporating salty urbanism and community engagement in coastal management through a literature study, this paper explores a case study-Paradeep, a coastal city in India. The aim is to comprehend how salty urbanism principles have been assimilated into coastal erosion initiatives in Paradeep and to identify potential opportunities for further integration to maximize benefits. The results emphasize the importance of integrating salty urbanism and community participation into coastal erosion management strategies, especially in coastal areas where these principles are either lacking or only minimally incorporated, often without a clear recognition of the term "salty urbanism" itself. Utilizing a mixed-methods research approach, the study integrates primary data from case studies and interviews, along with inferences from literature studies to gain valuable insights from coastal community residents and stakeholders. The findings will provide a significant contribution to advancing strategies and initiatives that advocate for sustainable coastal development and management by suggesting ways to incorporate a community participation-based salty urbanism approach in similar contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since being selected to host the 2016 Olympic Games, numerous studies have addressed the legacy of the event in Rio de Janeiro. The significance and sensitivity of the issues raised, namely the displacement of favela residents, has raised serious questions during and immediately after the Games about whether mega-events are fundamentally worthwhile. This paper revisits the topic and shares the findings of four focus groups reflecting non-favela youths’ thoughts about the Games after years. The findings show that while many still have positive attitude to few aspects of the Olympic Games, social justice issues significantly adversely affected respondents’ views of the event’s legacy. Some believe that discrimination continues a long-standing trend in the city, exacerbated by the Games. We believe that the International Olympic Committee always needs a Plan B if things do not work correctly in the host city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid environmental and economic changes occurring at the international and regional levels have necessitated the creation of a mechanism to provide an expert evaluation of the building's sustainability. In this regard, building certification methods have been developed to assess their energy efficiency and environmental friendliness. Building certification is one of the tools for sustainable state development. In Azerbaijan, the significant amount of natural resources causes mainly the voluntariness of the building certification process and the passivity of the government and public authorities. The article explores the experience of using the building certification methods BREEAM, LEED, Green Zoom Azeri in Azerbaijan. Technical characteristics of the certified buildings were considered. The benefits and drawbacks of the certification methods used were outlined, along with reasons for boosting the attractiveness of certified buildings. Based on the comparative analysis, the existing issues were classified as people-oriented, technology-oriented, and processoriented. Expert recommendations on overcoming obstacles and eliminating issues are given. The outcomes of this research will contribute to the development of a roadmap for the sustainability of the building industry, and help a wide range of international and local experts to better understand the emerging green building market in Azerbaijan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many recent catastrophes have necessitated ever more innovative approaches to prepare for resilient urban areas and city regions. In contrast to sustainability, a more established concept in research on the built environment, resilience refers to how to manage an unsustainable situation at a predominantly local level. While natural hazards, epidemics and armed conflicts make up the core of resilience research, also social hazards require some attention: hitherto the spectre of socioeconomic factors, demographics, and institutions herein can be considered neglected topics (in relative terms). This study deliberates on the current discourse surrounding these matters from a realist perspective. Additionally, it argues for a potential social innovation in the form of a localized, socioeconomic and demographic urban resilience index. The importance of real estate situations within local and regional governance circumstances is highlighted as it is central to the argumentation and proposed research strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phrase "neurodiversity" refers to the "diversity" in neural systems of people from various age groups, castes, genders, nationalities, and other groupings that are more common in society. Communication is the thread that establishes a dialogue between individuals tangibly and intangibly. Digitization has taken the steering to control as to how this communication (or interaction) can be established and delivered to enhance human experiences in the physical world and to bend the neural systems further to meliorate their perceptual and cognitive abilities. This technology (and its variants) has been used for a variety of purposes globally, specifically to support neurodiverse people. For example, immersive virtual reality environments can be used to improve social interaction for individuals with autism spectrum disorder through storytelling. A narrative of the space can improve their behavioral response in a given situation. For people in the neurodivergent section or with behavioral disorders or disabilities, the major goal is to increase the environment's stimulation such that their surroundings are comfortable and relatable. The study aims to showcase the importance of storytelling not only in physical space but digitally as well with the help of transmedia narratives for an inclusive interaction among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of digital twin has acquired attention in urban planning and design for its potential to revolutionize city understanding, planning, and management. This article explores the contributions of digital twin technology to smart city planning and development, aiming to understand its functionalities, benefits, and limitations. An overview of digital twin definition and functionalities is provided, emphasizing their ability to create virtual city replicas and simulate different scenarios. Case studies from London, Zürich, and Athens exemplify digital twin applications, and a comparative analysis reveals diverse objectives, technology deployments, user interaction levels, outcomes, and funding sources. Findings demonstrate digital twins as powerful tools for improved decision-making, resource allocation, and infrastructure management. They also facilitate stakeholder collaboration, community engagement, and evidence-based policy design. However, challenges related to data integration, privacy, and scalability exist. Nonetheless, results underscore the relevance and transformative potential of digital twins in shaping smart cities and fostering sustainable urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work will first focus on the various technical aspects of the design of photorealistic 3D renderings of architectural objects. Special attention will be given to the role of new technologies, such as photogrammetry or texture mapping, in the preservation and enhancement of the architectural heritage. The problem of restoring the visual appearance of 3D architectural heritage objects through texture mapping will also be addressed. Hence, an algorithm that achieve a piecewise texture mapping by minimizing length distortion based on artificial neural networks (ANN) and the theory of elasticity was presented. To begin, a surface triangulation S (comprising triangular facets and a boundary) is created. The obtained mesh is then partitioned into disjoint pieces, with each interior vertex belonging to a single piece. Each subsurface, corresponding to one of the obtained pieces, is then mapped independently from the others by imposing local length-preservation constraints and barycentric coordinates of the interior mesh vertices. The proposed method aims to achieve uniform and seamless texturing, allowing for photorealistic representation of 3D models of heritage buildings and cities. This work provides an effective mathematical framework to obtain geometrically precise texture generating process on surfaces of arbitrary architectural topology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]