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The concepts of "performance" and "performative" are gaining significant attention in spatial design discourse. "Performative" is often linked with qualities such as open-form flexibility and scenic or theatrical attributes. It highlights the interaction between intentional and accidental elements, as well as the dynamic nature of environments. Some literature characterizes performative spatial design as the ability to execute multiple functions either simultaneously or individually, while others interpret it as a means of conveying content. Most discussions focus on three-dimensional spaces or architectural scales. This essay delves into the theories behind the term "performative" and its application in analyzing and describing the two-dimensional aspects of urban spaces, interiors, and architecture. It explores the semantic range and applications of "performative" and "performance" beyond simple analogies to the performing arts, aiming to articulate innovative and complex qualities of architectural skins and interior surfaces, including their capacity to communicate, narrate content, convey knowledge, and embed cultural references. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted traditional design education, forcing educators to adopt digital classrooms for architectural design instruction, which has led to various challenges and suboptimal student performance. This research explores effective online design teaching methods, particularly across different design modules (IVI), using a synthesis and literature review methodology. It investigates three domains: pandemic teaching challenges, traditional design education, and suitable pandemic teaching methods. The study triangulates teaching during the pandemic, conventional techniques, and elements from content focus (CF) and support open learning (SL) methods to create a hybrid pedagogy. The proposed blended approach combines traditional design education with virtual instruction, offering guidelines for educators to structure academic activities and integrate effective online teaching strategies. The findings provide valuable insights for design instructors and educational institutions adapting to digital classrooms during the pandemic and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study ventures into the interrelation of religious tradition and the design of floor coverings, specifically, the prayer mats utilized in the mandatory quintuple daily prayers by Muslims worldwide. Its primary focus is the relatively unfamiliar area of how religious sensitivities intersect with, and at times challenge, the development of patterns in mat design. Delving into the enigmatic metaphors intricately woven into these designs, the research reviewed the literature and illuminated the profound interplay between symbolic religious representation and the language of aesthetics. It additionally scrutinizes the potential conflicts that can emerge when sacred symbols are used unintentionally, underscoring the pivotal role of cultural consciousness and sensitivity in the realm of design. An extensive analysis of various prayer mats was conducted, dissecting their design composition to decipher any underlying symbolism. Upon its conclusion, the study proposed a set of 11 well-rounded recommendations, including the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). These guidelines are drafted through understanding of concept and design development, within the domain of Islamic aesthetics and religious sensitivities. These adaptable suggestions, backed by thorough research, hold the potential to act as valuable guidance for those involved in the designing and manufacturing industry of prayer mats, thus shaping the future direction of this art form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research delves into the architectural nuances of traditional Palestinian courtyard houses, unveiling their varied typologies and significant contributions to cultural identity. Research methodology involves meticulously examining their design (case studies), emphasizing strategic planning, utilization of local materials, and adherence to traditional construction methods. The core of this study centers on the assessment of heritage conservation and adaptation strategies, advocating for the modernization of these historical buildings to meet contemporary demands while safeguarding their cultural heritage. A novel aspect of the research is the application of AI-generated designs, which are utilized to ensure that modifications uphold the architectural integrity of these structures and are sensitive to both historical and modern requirements. This approach fosters a synthesis of local and global conservation practices. The research results present a detailed analysis of adaptive reuse strategies through case studies of the Al Nimr House and Ibrahim Touqan House, demonstrating their successful transformation that incorporates modern enhancements while preserving historical elements. The findings advocate for adaptive reuse as a viable strategy to revitalize historic structures, ensuring their functionality in contemporary society without compromising their historical essence. The study provides a sustainable framework for culturally sensitive urban development and sets a precedent for future conservation projects, highlighting the importance of a balanced approach to integrating modern innovations within traditional contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ever-evolving threats presented by climate change compel us to rethink and restructure our built environment, particularly housing designs, to imbue them with resilience and adaptability. In this research, this study has embarked on an exhaustive review of scholarly works to identify design harmonies that can enhance the resilience of housing structures under fluctuating climate circumstances, particularly flooding results from unexpected heavy rains. The study's purview extends to diverse case studies from Northern and Southern parts of Pakistan experienced unprecedent rains and flooding, elucidating the unique obstacles and environmental variances across these regions. The literature review spans across several disciplines, exploring resilience in housing design from architectural, environmental, health and socio-economic angles. It provides an in-depth examination of established methodologies and innovative trends, with an emphasis on merging ancestral wisdom with modern advancements. This holistic approach underscores the significance of community-based design solutions, active community involvement, and policy structures in cultivating resilience. The case studies from different flood affecting regions of Pakistan serve as practical examples, shedding light on the unique climatic adversities and identifying 14 critical housing defects caused by natural disasters. By juxtaposing these diverse climatic settings, this study determine design and protection guidelines that can be customized to cater to each region's specific requirements, fostering a resilient housing infrastructure capable of weathering climate change impacts. In conclusion this study underscores the importance of adopting both immediate and long-term strategies for housing design in response to climate change. By synthesizing the valuable insights gleaned from the literature review and case studies, a set of recommendations for architects, urban planners, and policymakers are suggested to promote resilient housing design, not only within Pakistan but on a global scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The notions of Performance and Performative are emerging in architectural design discourses including heritage processing and repurposing. The literature review shows that the terms are semantically wide and they are linked to a variety of concepts: the open form, the flexible, the dynamic, the event—based spatial settings and the active engagement with space. The essay examines how – beyond museumification -the activation and the reuse of heritage sites can be seen through the lens of Performance and the concept of the Performative, and the difference between passive engagement and active engagement. The essay has three folds aims unfolding as follow: The first explores a literature review analysis of Performative and Performance in architectural discourse, arriving to explore those concepts in the discourses of reuse of historical heritage sites as exhibitions performative venues. The second examines a proposed performative-oriented approach to the reuse of heritage sites which aims at a dynamic and active engagement with the space, opposing to museumification which usually leads to passive engagement while taking examples from Europe. The third one will be centered on the case of the old heart of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates as a heritage site reinvented and inhabited by the Sharjah Art Foundation, which we will analyze through the lens of the Performative and the practice of Exhibiting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive assessment of indoor air quality (IAQ) in newly constructed apartment buildings in small and medium-sized cities, with a specific focus on formaldehyde (HCHO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as major contributors to sick building syndrome (SBS). The study aims to measure using the World Health Organization (WHO) process test method and compare the concentrations of HCHO and TVOC indoors and outdoors, assess the indoor temperature levels, evaluate the airtightness performance, and analyze the impact of these factors on IAQ. The research was conducted in Yasmeen Tower and Al Wahat Tower in Ajman Al Jurf area. The results showed that in Yasmeen Tower, unoccupied one-bedroom units had high concentrations of HCHO and TVOC. The average HCHO concentration was 198 µg/m3, with the highest recorded concentration at 265 µg/m3. The average TVOC concentration was 1,244 µg/m3. In Al Wahat Tower, even higher levels of HCHO were observed. The highest recorded concentration reached 445 µg/m3, with an average of 323 µg/m3. Airtightness performance was assessed, with the effective leakage area ranging from 139 cm2 to 301 cm2 for the 7 units, averaging at 193 cm2. Onebedroom units exhibited higher airtightness. Correlation analysis revealed a strong relationship between room temperature and both HCHO and TVOC concentrations, indicating that higher room temperatures were associated with increased pollutant levels. Moreover, improved airtightness performance correlated with decreased HCHO and TVOC concentrations. The findings emphasize the importance of effective ventilation systems, temperature control, and airtightness measures to mitigate indoor air pollutants and enhance IAQ in multi-unit dwellings. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers, architects, and residents to address IAQ concerns and promote healthier indoor environments. However, the study's limitations should be considered, and further research is recommended to broaden the understanding of IAQ in residential buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Dubai Municipality has launched the ‘Green Roofs Awareness Initiative’ to achieve a green area per capita of 23.4 m2 in the city. Given the numerous symptoms caused by the unprecedented urban expansion, green roofs and facades can provide various benefits to the city. This study intends to develop an evaluation method for the performance of green roofs (artificial ground reforestation) by quantifying the thermal environment functionality of a low-maintenance lightweight green roof. As a methodology, this study analyzed the change in the thermal environment of the surface, including sensible heat and latent heat, using four types of plants, namely Polytrichum Commune (PC), Thuidium Kanedae (TK), Anomobryum Filiforme (AF), and Kentucky Bluegrass (KB). The results showed that PC reduced the ground surface temperature by 2.58°C to 3.81°C while planting PC increased relative humidity (RH) from 48.0% to 93.3%. KB had the highest effect on humidity control, resulting in a 49.31% increase in RH. Regarding the temperature change by ground surface type, the surface temperature was 0.4 ~ 0.9°C lower for PC, AF, and TK at 18 ~ 24°C, while KB showed a 0.5 ± 0.2°C lower than the set temperature. KB did not show any significant change in temperature up to 24°C, but as the set temperature increased from 30 to 36°C, the surface temperature decreased remarkably. This research provides primary data that will serve to raise awareness, reduce installation costs, and systemize government support for green roofs in Dubai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban regeneration is a dominant approach to sustain resilient historic centers and cities. This paper focuses on two urban regeneration projects in the Gulf: old Doha Qatar and old Sharjah UAE. It is based on exploring the main concepts related to identity and sustainable urban regeneration in a global world. The investigation aims to undertake a comparative analysis of these projects, which will help to extract lessons for future interventions in other historic cities. This study is unique in tackling the relationship between urban regeneration and identity to counterbalance the globalization trends that may create major threats to historic cities. The areas chosen present some similarities in terms of decisionmakers, in both of them there is a duality from the cultural identity point of view. The approach to the research objectives is based on two methodologies: • Deductive: a theoretical investigation based on the properties of the urban regeneration, definitions, objectives and the dilemma of implementing it. This combines literature reviews, key figures in the urban conservation field and the place identity, social identity and identity process as theories for cultural models of the historical center. • Inductive: a comparative analysis of two examples that have been through some metamorphoses. The study looks to elicit the images of the historical areas structure to support the theoretical propositions of surface and deep structural city elements. The conclusion is based on an analysis of the case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the sustainability potential of traditional architecture, with a specific focus on the application of windcatchers as passive ventilation systems in hot and arid climates. This study fills a significant knowledge gap concerning the integration and performance of such traditional systems in modern architectural designs, particularly within various climates of the UAE. Employing a combination of (CFD) simulation and real-time temperature monitoring in buildings equipped with windcatchers, the research compares these results with those from buildings lacking such systems across different seasons. Findings indicate that windcatchers significantly outperform conventional cooling systems. They maintained indoor temperatures below 20 °C in January and below 30 °C during the peak heat of April. The most striking results occurred during July and September's midday heat, where temperatures stayed below 35 °C, significantly cooler compared to nearly 40 °C in non-windcatcher environments. Furthermore, windcatchers achieved these temperature reductions without any energy consumption, leading to considerable savings in operational costs and a reduction in carbon emissions by 74 to 111 kg CO2 e monthly. The study confirms that integrating windcatchers into modern UAE buildings is not only viable but also enhances environmental sustainability and energy efficiency. This integration supports cultural heritage while addressing modern environmental challenges, marking windcatchers as a crucial element in sustainable building design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing cooling loads in hot countries requires thermal insulation, and cooling methods be improved. Evaporative cooling, although problematic, is one solution that can be explored since it is significantly more efficient than regular compressor air conditioners, and the net result of using one is cooling. Furthermore, while compressor air conditioner efficiency decreases with rising temperatures in summer, evaporative ones, up to a point, are the exact opposite. A novel hybrid cooling system capable of combining both showed an 80% decrease in cooling load. The system's efficacy was assessed in this paper by thermally simulating designs that are suitable for the hot Middle East region. Two locations with different environments and building guidelines that are representative of the variations in the area were selected. The first was the hot, dry Baghdad environment; the other was Dubai's coastal, more humid city. Two different houses were designed to suit the municipal rules of each and accommodate the hybrid cooling system. As expected, the simulation results showed that savings in the dry Baghdad climate were high at 78% compared to a non-insulated alternative. In Dubai, unsurprisingly, they were less at 52% on the more humid coast. Further simulations revealed that this latter figure in the humid coast could also be achieved using good thermal insulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]