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In my September column ("Planning for One's Housing Future: Proactive Decision Making," Journal of Financial Service Professionals 77, no. 5 (2023): 38-41), I introduced the concept of being proactive and deliberate in planning for one's housing future, as well as the role financial services professionals can play in encouraging clients to think about housing as a key element of their financial plan. In this column, I continue with this theme, focusing on the importance of home design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Where did postdevelopment thought go? Was its anti-development message too much for academia? While acknowledging some overlap between postdevelopment and mainstream academic decolonial thought, we argue that postdevelopment, and its conceptualization of the pluriverse directly challenges extractivism, statism, and capitalism or, in a word, development. After discussing aspects of mainstream decolonial thought, seven main points of postdevelopment criticism are reviewed and debunked. We demonstrate that resistance and 'attack' are enduring feature of postdevelopment praxis from the Zapatistas to the countless other (socio)ecological struggles across the world. Responding to critique, this article presents three postdevelopment practices: the Organización Popular Francisco Villa de Izquierda Independiente (OPFVII) in the Acapatzingo community, Mexico City; the Zone-to-Defend (Zone à Défendre, ZAD) concept formalized in France; and the Global Tapestry of Alternatives (GTA) initiative. The conclusion stresses the importance of postdevelopment and a pluriverse working towards anti-capitalism/statism/extractivism/patriarchal world to avoid (neo)colonial recuperations of anti-colonial/statist struggle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the potential of smart home technologies (SHT) to support everyday activities, the implementation rate of such technology in the homes of older adults remains low. The overall aim of this study was to explore factors involved in the decision-making process in adopting SHT among current and future generations of older adults. We also aimed to identify and understand barriers and facilitators that can better support older adults' engagement in everyday activities. Focus group discussions were used to explore the perspectives of people from diverse age groups (30–39, 50–59, and 70-79-year-olds). Three focus groups met twice at a lab designed as a two-room home equipped with SHT. Our findings revealed that the participants' decision-making process for adopting SHT involved designs that must be adapted to the changing physical abilities and diverse needs of users. Some conditions, such as ideas for re-invention, were identified after the integration of SHT. Concerns about reliability, complicated interfaces, and value to the user influenced the decision to adopt SHT, highlighting the importance of these factors for successful implementation. Some participants did not fully understand what SHT is nor perceive its benefits, but they expressed a desire to acquire the skills and knowledge to operate SHT. Furthermore, participants desired SHT that can support an active lifestyle. The perceived advantages of SHT include enhancing the sense of security and safety, which can facilitate engagement in everyday activity. Some participants experienced a positive impact on quality of life, related to comfortable living with the implementation of SHT. Adults across age groups perceive that SHT can enhance engagement in everyday activity and the sense of safety and security. However, it is essential to identify solutions for better usability. More collaborative efforts involving diverse stakeholders are vital to bridge the disconnect between SHT design and users' needs and preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is growing interest in developing sensing solutions for remote health monitoring to support the safety and independence of older adults. To ensure these technologies are practical and relevant, people-centred design is essential. This study aims to explore the involvement of various stakeholders across different developmental stages to inform the design and assess the capabilities of unobtrusive sensing solutions being developed as part of the Advanced Care Research Centre (ACRC), Edinburgh, UK. Methods: This study was conducted in two phases. In Phase I (Ideation), discussions were held with stakeholders (n = 19), including senior geriatricians (n = 2), healthcare and care home professionals (n = 4), PPI experts (n = 2), researchers (n = 4) and public members aged 65 and above from the ACRC Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Network (n = 7). The goal was to identify clinically significant health parameters and design preferences. Based on this, prototypes of unobtrusive sensors for monitoring movement, hydration, and respiration were developed. In Phase II (Development and Co-Design), an in-person PPI workshop was conducted with PPI experts (n = 2), researchers (n = 4) and PPI members (n = 8). The developed prototypes were demonstrated, and qualitative feedback was collected through focus group discussions on themes such as acceptability, usability, privacy, data sharing, and functionality enhancement. Results: Stakeholder input from Phase I emphasized the importance of non-contact sensing technologies that maintain privacy. Movement, hydration, and respiration were identified as critical health parameters. In Phase II, PPI members were optimistic about the prototypes, valuing their unobtrusive design and privacy-preserving features. Key themes identified included (1) the need for user-customized alarms, (2) clear data-sharing protocols, and (3) the importance of embedding sensors into familiar household objects. Suggestions for refining the prototypes included adding functionality for detecting deviations in daily routines and integrating feedback mechanisms for caregivers. Conclusions: Involving diverse stakeholders from the early stages of technology development enhanced the relevance and acceptability of unobtrusive sensing solutions. This study highlights the importance of integrating public perspectives into the design process. For successful implementation, developers of healthcare technologies should prioritize privacy, usability, and clear communication with end-users and caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAs smart home technologies become pervasive, more knowledge is needed on their impact on everyday living. New urban cohousing has been studied avidly but there is less research on technologies in this context. This article investigates the lived experience of smart home technologies in cohousing with focus on how technologies shape the use of shared spaces and social relations. Based on interviews with residents and managers of a Finnish cohousing block, the results highlight the diversity of residents and practices in cohousing, and smart home technologies as a mundane necessity. The study shows how public cohousing is subtly infiltrated by technologies, making it similar to commercial coliving. We demonstrate how technologies provide an interface to shared resources, and how disciplinary technologies impede sharing, assert control on residents, and undermine their agency, contradicting the values of cohousing. A key implication is that smart home technologies should be more intentionally designed to align with the values and practices of cohousing communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAs significant contributors to CO2, UK homes must be decarbonized. Active Homes represent a possible route to addressing both societal concerns and policy ambitions, while providing comfortable high quality living environments. However, changes to the material structure of homes have potential implications for people’s ability to live well within them. Our qualitative longitudinal (QL) research as part of the living well in low carbon homes project unpacks how changes brought about by living within an Active Home are experienced by residents, including to self-reported health and wellbeing. We explore how living in an Active Home may challenge expectations of home, including embodied experiences of comfort and intrinsic values of privacy and control. We suggest that it is important to recognize that these different but interwoven elements impact upon residents’ sense of home, and health and wellbeing, which has implications for future innovative low carbon homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the groundbreaking work of Joan DeJean, a scholar in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century French studies, who transformed the understanding of the canon through her research and advocacy. Joan's dedication to teaching and writing for a broader audience aimed to keep the field of French studies alive and relevant. Her public-facing books, such as "The Essence of Style" and "The Age of Comfort," explored the cultural and historical significance of material culture in France, while shedding light on overlooked voices and histories. Joan's work, including her final book "Mutinous Women," continues to challenge historical erasures and bring to light the enduring relevance of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to contemporary society. [Extracted from the article]

The article "Photography and the Domestication of History at the Margins of Empire" by Tijana Vujosevic examines the relationship between settler colonialism and domestic spaces in late 19th-century British Columbia, focusing on the portrayal of domestic interiors in Canadian Pacific Railway cars through photography. It explores how domesticity and colonial progress were intertwined, challenging gendered distinctions in Victorian domesticity and the separation of the domestic and political realms. The analysis of photographs reveals how settler history was domesticated and shaped colonial identity, contributing to nation-building efforts. Other works mentioned in the article, such as Catherine Hall's "The Sweet Delights of Home" and Sigfried Kracauer's exploration of the mass ornament, offer additional perspectives on the intersection of photography, history, and cultural identity. [Extracted from the article]

Many Italian historic buildings are located in earthquake-prone areas and, therefore, need effective seismic evaluations. Most widespread commercial codes are based on the Equivalent Frame Model (EFM). To investigate their reliability, particularly to assess the effect of tie-rod retrofitting interventions, the present research applies an EFM approach via 3Muri software to a detailed 3D digital model of Villa Vannucchi, a heritage building in southern Italy. The combined use of 3Muri for the 3D global behaviour and linear kinematic approaches for the 2D out-of-plane response shows the need for the installation of tie-rods. Looking at the 2D main facade, the effectiveness of 3Muri in capturing the beneficial effect of tie-rods is investigated against parametric analyses carried out with a standard limit analysis block-based method (BBM). Specifically, using the exact EFM's discretization and boundary conditions, the 3Muri results are benchmarked against the BBM adopting two modelling strategies: BBM pushover analysis with the same modelling strategy and loading conditions used by 3Muri, and BBM tilting tests. With the first strategy, it is shown that BBM provides results in good agreement with 3Muri; however, these results are independent of the tie-rod tension and presence because of inappropriate modelling of loading conditions. Conversely, the second strategy overcomes this drawback by better capturing the positive influence of the tie-rods both in terms of collapse mechanisms and an improved base shear capacity. The results of this research suggest that limit analysis represents a key, useful, and viable tool that needs to be integrated with EFM results in order to better capture the real effectiveness of tie-rod strengthening interventions, allowing for more sustainable consolidation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Roman Landscapes: Visions of Nature and Myth from Rome and Pompeii" by Jessica Powers and "Shaping Roman Landscape: Ecocritical Approaches to Architecture and Wall Painting in Early Imperial Italy" by Mantha Zarmakoupi explore Roman conceptions of landscape through the lens of ecocriticism. Powers' book delves into the abstract, imagined, and feared aspects of Roman landscapes, while Zarmakoupi's work focuses on the architectural settings of landscape paintings. Both books highlight the interplay between humans, nature, and the divine in Roman art, shedding light on the cultural and environmental influences that shaped Roman landscape depictions." [Extracted from the article]

Reflecting on findings from over ten years of research, four studies, and a focused two-day workshop, this article argues that it is past time to surface gender as a critical consideration in reimagining care homes to create conditions of dignity and respect for residents, workers, and families in all their diversity. Considering care homes as an indicator of equity in welfare states, we deploy a concept of gender that acknowledges the relationship between bodies and social relations, and an inclusive concept of women that interrogates the differences among women. We outline the reasons that make care homes a women's issue, explaining why women are the majority of care home residents and staff across jurisdictions in high-income countries. We draw insights from our workshop and research studies to discuss how gender is both ignored and embedded in care home design and offer considerations and possibilities for designing care homes for women in all their diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses Conditional Generative Adversarial Network (CGAN) to construct a method for generating floor plans for long-term care spaces in retirement home buildings to assist architects in improving interior space design. The results of this study show the following: (1) For the interior design of long-term care spaces in retirement home buildings, the CGAN model has strong understanding and calculation capabilities. The zoning layout of long-term care spaces in retirement home buildings has been completed, and the results show that the CGAN model has reference value. (2) Although there are several differences in the design of CGANs and authentic design, there are still many similarities. Some unreasonable results, such as space generation in corridors and elevator shafts, require further manual correction. (3) According to a later questionnaire survey on the satisfaction of architects and CGAN model design solutions, the difference between the two is not large, which also illustrates the great potential of CGANs for intervention in interior space design. This helps architects create more detailed plans based on the model, greatly increasing work efficiency. Moreover, additional interior space design possibilities can be explored, and to some extent, the architect's subjective assumptions can also be corrected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multi‐analytical approach based on colourimetry, micro‐Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy and powder X‐ray diffraction, has been applied to investigate Roman cooking ware samples dating back to imperial age (I‐II century AD). In particular, the highly distinctive production of pots coming from two different archaeological sites, 'Villa della Piscina' at Centocelle district and the so called 'Minerva Medica Temple' at Esquilino district (Rome, Italy), was studied characterising the colour, the chemical, mineralogical and petrographic distinctive properties of the investigated samples, in order to compare technological and provenance aspects. Classification of ceramic fragment by colorimetry, integrated by compositional studies with a main contribution of micro‐Raman spectroscopy, allows to discriminate between superior and inferior quality cooking ware and evaluate the compatibility of the investigated samples with some pottery realised in known manufacturing sites in Lazio. Compositional and petrographic features allow assignment of samples from 'Villa della Piscina' testifying productions in the surroundings of Rome, while an importation from outsider workshops is hypothesised for the ceramic fragments from the so called 'Minerva Medica Temple'. For these, an importation from outsider workshop is hypothesised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates a new, popular, award-winning reality television show, Your Home Made Perfect. Drawing on insights from Sara Ahmed's work on the promise of happiness, our thematic analysis of nineteen episodes of Your Home shows how architectural entertainment is uniquely positioned through its use of Virtual Reality (VR) technology to circulate happiness and uplifting emotions and to critique the power imbalances of architect-client relationships. The paper argues how Your Home foregrounds happy emotions to the re-design of homes, where emotions are mobilized through design visualizations that turn both home and architects into "happy objects." Moreover, through "happy objects," this property television show seeks to deflect anxieties of housing precarity and growing wealth disparity. Finally, the paper reveals how architectural TV entertainment reinforces regressive ideas of identity and home ownership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores emerging domesticities in Atauro, Timor‐Leste, in relation to efforts to make homestays available for potential tourists. In exploring these new domesticities, we elucidate the 'civilising process' that is happening in terms of the ways in which people consider hygiene, diet, and their relationship with non‐human animals. In addition, the advent of potential tourism engenders the emergence of a new trend in domestic architecture. At the same time, this raising of homestays has intensified the workload of especially younger women, preventing them from taking part in collective activities and agriculture, which makes them more dependent on the market economy. Our analysis of these processes points to the heuristic potential of intersectional analysis to better understand development dynamics in contemporary Timor‐Leste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "HISTORY OF MADNESS IN AMERICA: DISOBEDIENT BODIES AND SOULS" by María del Carmen García Escudero, published in Temas Americanistas, addresses the history of madness in America from pre-Hispanic times to the present day. It highlights research on madness in Mexico, Mesoamerican sacrifice, madness in colonial Peru, the work of Julio Ruelas, Mexican cinema from the golden age, literary representations of madness, and tensions between witchcraft and evangelical doctrine in Andean communities. Additionally, it analyzes madness in psychiatric institutions and the control of bodies at the psychiatric hospital Villa Ocaranza in Hidalgo, Mexico. [Extracted from the article]

This work seeks to analyze the treatment of madness based on the concept of disciplinary power developed by Foucault to identify the mechanisms of social control and the deployment of technologies for the surrender of bodies. This is done through a study at the Villa Ocaranza psychiatric hospital in the State of Hidalgo, Mexico, to identify the care model, hospital architecture, regulatory framework, and abuses to which patients are subjected. The above is a framework to understand the historical continuity in treating madness as a form of social control and differentiation (normal/abnormal). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Histria Archaeologica is the property of Arheoloski Muzej Istre u Puli and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

With the ongoing changes in the work environment, specifically turning from fulltime to no time at the office and nowadays pending somewhere in between, there is a need for decision makers to redefine their expectations of a day at the office. Previously, organizations worldwide focussed on creating workplaces that foster interaction and collaboration to enhance knowledge exchange and communication. Both are among the main drivers for stimulating creativity at the workplace, leading to increased innovation activities. Since offices are dramatically changing from lean, work‐focused, and hierarchical workstations into employee‐oriented, creativity‐enhancing spaces with playground artefacts, the need for quantitative research on the effects of workplace design on creativity seems evident for researchers and practitioners. Although prior research has attempted to describe the physical work environment and its impact on creativity, empirical evidence is still lacking on what concrete attributes of a workplace employees perceive as inspiring. We therefore contribute to the existent body of knowledge by establishing a definition for inspiring physical workplaces as perceived by employees in times of digitalization and provide a conceptual model analysing the effects between workplace design, internal knowledge exchange, and creative problem‐solving capacity. We assess our survey data with partial least squares structural equation modelling and provide first empirical evidence that our proposed formative index supports the common research agenda within the context of workplace design, and further, that aspects of workplace design not only enhance creative problem‐solving capacity as an important dimension of creativity itself, but that this relationship is also partially mediated by internal knowledge exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Just a few decades after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights pronounced housing as a human right in 1948, the concept of the home as shelter was overshadowed by home ownership and asset creation, resulting in inadequate affordable housing, or homelessness for many, in urban contexts. Despite this, the house as a material and spatial artefact and the production of the home are consistently in negotiation by individuals and groups who are marginalized from the hegemonic private housing and real estate system. This article is an examination of the ways in which radical practices of everyday homemaking can inform professional design practice and policy to facilitate better housing for dignified inhabitation. The study of houses self-built or upgraded in Mumbai, India, and Brighton and Hove, United Kingdom, demonstrate that living takes place through shifting imaginations of the house as property to that of the home, involving aspiration and flexibility. This form of design is produced by persistently reworking the home, through innovative design solutions that assemble spatial and material bricolages and non-standard designs, implemented by a slew of small-time contractors and workers that form an extended ecology of design practice. These findings open new logics of delivery systems and consequent configurations of space that enrich lived relationships, experiences, and imaginations, often overlooked by mainstream frameworks of housing. This article, therefore, expands the debate on housing quantity to meet the current housing needs, to include quality of living within these, that can be influenced through a reformulation of professional design practice and policy. Comparing the two cities across the Global South and the Global North develops an understanding of generalizations and the particularities related to housing contexts, and informs how housing precarity operates beyond a certain locality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the publication of the first Quaderno di traduzioni letterarie Balit in 2022, which focuses on translating Hungarian literary works into Italian. The collaboration between the Department of Italian Studies at the University of Szeged and the Hungarian Translator's House Foundation in Balatonfüred led to the creation of this translation series. The Quaderno contains translations of various Hungarian literary works, including stories, poems, and novels, done by students from both Italian and Hungarian universities. The article also mentions plans for future publications in the series, continuing the collaboration between Hungarian and Italian students at the Translator's House in Balatonfüred. [Extracted from the article]

Today, the social inclusion concept embraces numerous aspects and contexts of everyday life. Inclusive Design, going far beyond the design of products/services, plays a crucial role in fostering the inclusion of individuals within society and improving their living conditions. Inclusive design, however, should ensure a more humane and conscious design process that does not limit its attention solely to artifacts' usability requirements but allows for the inclusion and evaluation of the emotional effects associated with interacting with them. This aspect is particularly important in the case of products and environments aimed at vulnerable, elderly, or disabled people, which can induce a perception of threat and stigmatize their physical and mental condition. Therefore, this article presents the results of the Home Care Design for Parkinson's Disease research project. Through the literature review, it was possible to analyze the contribution of technologies in generating pleasurable sensory experiences but, more importantly, to investigate the role of Emotional Design and Evidence-Based Design approach. They can play a role in resolving problems related to environmental, perceptual-sensory, and stress factors and, in some cases, slowing down the course of the disease and ensuring greater well-being. Therefore, the research work, developed through the application of Human-Centered Design methodologies, aims to: (1) define Design Guidelines to identify people with Parkinson's disease needs and difficulties within the home context; (2) set up an analytical method that proposes future intervention scenarios to improve their quality of life and that of their families and caregivers, through the mapping of emotional indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Question (1669-6581) is the property of Universidad Nacional de La Plata and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A house is more than just a collection of spaces, objects, and people; it is also shaped by hierarchies, roles, and tensions influenced by the broader context that permeates its boundaries and manifests in human relationships within it. Whether it is a room, an apartment, an anti-refuge, or a domain, these dynamics are ever-present. This research presents a quantitative analysis of the representation of gender roles in anthropometry and ergonomics manuals commonly used in design and architecture. In the manuals by Neufert, Fonseca, and Panero & Zenik, over 90% of service spaces in homes are depicted using graphic scales of women, while recreational and rest spaces predominantly feature men. This study critically examines how these representations reinforce structures of domination and highlights the need for more inclusive design alternatives.