Search

In non-Muslim countries with an Islamic historical background, Islamic geometric patterns (IGPs) are significant for reflecting the history, identity, and culture of the local Muslim communities. However, effectively communicating these patterns with local cultures remains a pressing issue. This study focuses on Donglianhua Village, a Muslim community in Weishan County, Yunnan Province, China, employing the Grasshopper plugin in Rhino software, principles of shape grammar, and digital technologies, including Stable Diffusion and ControlNet, for the design of IGPs. A subsequent satisfaction survey conducted with 219 villagers yielded an average satisfaction score of 3.583, indicating the design's success and broad acceptance. This study demonstrates the potential of parametric design and digital technology interventions in facilitating cultural dialogue and integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homeless cats in cities mainly include feral, roaming/stray, and community cats, which are collectively referred to as stray cats within the current social framework and norms. The large numbers of stray cats found in society and social spaces are more often than not regarded as problematic luminal animals, and their value in spatial construction and reflective significance are largely obscured. In fact, stray cats play a crucial role in human living spaces, and their survival activities have rich spatial production significance. In particular, in the era of digital intelligence, state-of-the-art media technology plays an important role in the spatial production of cultural and interpersonal interactions. Thus, on the basis of geomedia theory, we used case analysis, text analysis, technical walkthrough, participatory observation, and in-depth interviews in this study to better analyze the media practice of helping cats and elaborate on the reconstruction of space by geomedia and its role in shaping the relationships between people, media, stray cats, and space. By focusing on the interactions between people, stray cats, and media in both society and virtual space, we explored 1) the process of helping stray cats and the methods cat helpers used to construct cat assistance spaces; 2) how cat helpers interact with stray cats; and 3) the interpersonal communication or conflicts that occurred during the process of assisting cats and the roles they played in shaping and recognizing spatial locations. The Jiemao APP was the main tool used for observation and data collection, whereas TikTok and Station B were used as auxiliary tools for these same purposes. Concurrently, four communities (J, H, M, and Y) where cat houses were located were selected in W City, J Province for a 3-months offline observation. The reason for choosing these four communities is that their cat houses have a higher number of Jiemao APP subscribers in the same city, and cat house applicants are more proactive in managing their cat houses. Our study found that with the support of geomedia such as mobile phones and the Jiemao APP, multiple actors have constructed a cat assistance space that breaks through virtual and real dimensions in terms of dynamic interaction. On the one hand, the constructed virtual space expands the boundaries of meanders for cat lovers. On the other hand, the deployment of different platforms and monitoring systems exposes past offline as well as previously unseen, overlooked, and obscured events to the network, enhancing visible density and unleashing the effect of super visibility. Second, as non-human actors, the flow (transfer, relocation, and demolition) of cats and cat houses in cat assistance spaces is accompanied by dialogue, negotiation, and struggles between humans and space. Specifically, the impacts of environmental and climatic factors, as well as changes in the movement trajectory of stray cats, affect the transfer of cat houses. The human destruction of cat houses affects their relocation, whereas the decisions made by property management and their management styles affect the demolition of cat houses. Third, the cat helper encounters different actors in the constructed mixed space through geomedia, and the same or an opposite relationship is generated during this process. The interaction between stakeholders not only affects their understanding of the place but also shapes their local memory as well as the cultural atmosphere, meaning of existence, and evolution of the place. From a practical perspective, the contemplation of survival relationships between different species in the same space contributes to the reflexive and constructive significance of this study. From a theoretical perspective, this study found that previous research frameworks have mainly focused on exploring co-creations between humans and the environment, with stray cats being typically overlooked in such studies. Therefore, this study further subdivided geomedia into "technological geomedia" and "life-form geomedia" to break out of the framework of past research perspectives and thereby describe the mechanism of spatial construction of coexistence between humans and stray cats.

Homeless cats in cities mainly include feral, roaming/stray, and community cats, which are collectively referred to as stray cats within the current social framework and norms. The large numbers of stray cats found in society and social spaces are more often than not regarded as problematic luminal animals, and their value in spatial construction and reflective significance are largely obscured. In fact, stray cats play a crucial role in human living spaces, and their survival activities have rich spatial production significance. In particular, in the era of digital intelligence, state-of-the-art media technology plays an important role in the spatial production of cultural and interpersonal interactions. Thus, on the basis of geomedia theory, we used case analysis, text analysis, technical walkthrough, participatory observation, and in-depth interviews in this study to better analyze the media practice of helping cats and elaborate on the reconstruction of space by geomedia and its role in shaping the relationships between people, media, stray cats, and space. By focusing on the interactions between people, stray cats, and media in both society and virtual space, we explored 1) the process of helping stray cats and the methods cat helpers used to construct cat assistance spaces; 2) how cat helpers interact with stray cats; and 3) the interpersonal communication or conflicts that occurred during the process of assisting cats and the roles they played in shaping and recognizing spatial locations. The Jiemao APP was the main tool used for observation and data collection, whereas TikTok and Station B were used as auxiliary tools for these same purposes. Concurrently, four communities (J, H, M, and Y) where cat houses were located were selected in W City, J Province for a 3-months offline observation. The reason for choosing these four communities is that their cat houses have a higher number of Jiemao APP subscribers in the same city, and cat house applicants are more proactive in managing their cat houses. Our study found that with the support of geomedia such as mobile phones and the Jiemao APP, multiple actors have constructed a cat assistance space that breaks through virtual and real dimensions in terms of dynamic interaction. On the one hand, the constructed virtual space expands the boundaries of meanders for cat lovers. On the other hand, the deployment of different platforms and monitoring systems exposes past offline as well as previously unseen, overlooked, and obscured events to the network, enhancing visible density and unleashing the effect of super visibility. Second, as non-human actors, the flow (transfer, relocation, and demolition) of cats and cat houses in cat assistance spaces is accompanied by dialogue, negotiation, and struggles between humans and space. Specifically, the impacts of environmental and climatic factors, as well as changes in the movement trajectory of stray cats, affect the transfer of cat houses. The human destruction of cat houses affects their relocation, whereas the decisions made by property management and their management styles affect the demolition of cat houses. Third, the cat helper encounters different actors in the constructed mixed space through geomedia, and the same or an opposite relationship is generated during this process. The interaction between stakeholders not only affects their understanding of the place but also shapes their local memory as well as the cultural atmosphere, meaning of existence, and evolution of the place. From a practical perspective, the contemplation of survival relationships between different species in the same space contributes to the reflexive and constructive significance of this study. From a theoretical perspective, this study found that previous research frameworks have mainly focused on exploring co-creations between humans and the environment, with stray cats being typically overlooked in such studies. Therefore, this study further subdivided geomedia into "technological geomedia" and "life-form geomedia" to break out of the framework of past research perspectives and thereby describe the mechanism of spatial construction of coexistence between humans and stray cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzing the carbon metabolism mechanism of production-living-ecological space through simulating biological metabolism can help to achieve the integration of regional elements and structural optimization, which is one of the effective ways to seek for the green and low- carbon development of cities. Taking Wuhan city, Hubei province as an example, a horizontal carbon flow model was constructed to analyze the flow direction of carbon elements from 2005 to 2020; and ecological network analysis (ENA) model was used to analyze the carbon metabolism of production-living-ecological space, and assess the ecological relationship between different land uses; finally, the comprehensive effect of the evolution of production-living-ecological space on urban carbon metabolism was judged by using the mutualism index. The results show that ① from 2005 to 2020, Wuhan city is dominated by negative carbon flows, which peaks in 2010- 2015, and the study area shows a disorganized carbon metabolism from 2005 to 2015; from 2015 to 2020, the effect of carbon emission reduction is significant, the positive and negative carbon flows are weaker, and distribute sporadically in space, and carbon metabolism is gradually balanced at the later stage; ② ecological relationships in Wuhan city are dominated by predation- restriction, ecological space is crowded by living space and production space, ecological conflicts between different land uses are more intense, and ecological relationships improve significantly after 2015 when the area without ecological relationships increase; ③ the mutualism index shows a trend of decreasing and then increasing, but the average value of mutualism index is 0.77(<1), which indicates that the evolution of the production-living-ecological space still has a negative effect on the balance of urban carbon metabolism, and there are still irrationalities in spatial utilization of Wuhan's land and the pressure on carbon metabolism, which calls for the optimization of land and spatial layout, and the promotion of green and low-carbon development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to summarise the findings of the 71st conference of the Association Internationale D’Experts Scientifiques Du Tourisme ([AIEST] International Association of Scientific Experts in Tourism) 2022 Consensus held in Cologne, Germany. The experience-based interrelationships of sport, culture, and resilience in a destination ecosystem were assessed. Conference delegates evaluated new ways of designing places and experiences – intertwining sport, destination, and living spaces. Applying consensus discourse methodology, 27 research propositions at the crossroads of sport space, destination space, and living space were identified and summarised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amid rapid urbanization, shantytown redevelopment profoundly transforms urban environments and catalyzes substantial changes in social, economic, and family structures. Yet, most previous studies have focused narrowly on the outcomes of single residential mobility events, overlooking the complex dynamics that unfold across the pre-redevelopment, during-redevelopment, and post-redevelopment phases. This study investigates changes in family structure and their correlation with living space throughout all three phases of shantytown redevelopment in Heze City, Shandong Province, China, from 2016 to 2023. Collecting data through a community survey, we gathered 1035 valid responses to analyze family structure and residential characteristics. Our analysis, which included Sankey diagrams and cross-lagged panel models (CLPM), revealed a predominant trend of large families fragmenting into smaller nuclear units and demonstrated a significant positive correlation between family structure complexity (FSC) and living space. Notably, the FSC from a previous phase had a significant influence on the living space of the following phase, indicating lagged effects where housing choices are influenced by prior family structure. Further comparisons across different housing types and tenures during the temporary phase highlighted diverse structural changes among families. These insights are crucial for policymakers to refine urban redevelopment strategies, better meet residents' needs, and enhance the efficacy of policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The housed environment for dairy cattle is of critical importance to their health, wellbeing, and productivity. Lack of space is an important factor for housing quality assessment due to links with increased likelihood of disease. A recently published randomized controlled trial identified that greater living space provision increased lying time, milk volume production, and also increased time to conception. However, despite probable improvements in cow welfare, the question remains as to whether offering increased living space is a cost-effective option for farmers. The costs associated with financing new housing facilities are escalating, and the industry urgently requires an evidence base for ensuring these investments are financially sustainable. This research used stochastic simulation modeling to explore theoretical net returns on infrastructure investment differences between two living space scenarios (3 m2 vs. 6.5 m2). A cow entered a simulation at the point of first calving, and milk production, reproductive performance, and points of exit were stochastically determined over the cow’s lifetime simultaneously based on living space scenario. This allowed for direct financial comparison over specified sets of parameter inputs. Where cows exited the herd within their second to fourth lactation, the median difference in financial return was observed to be +£87.61 per cow per year (mean + £86.74). The estimated return on investment to provide extra living space access varied dependent on provision method, interest rates, and loan repayment duration. Under the circumstances and contexts investigated, the results suggest that building for increased living space would be cost-effective. When building a new shed with a high living space versus control at a 4.00% interest rate, a median net return on infrastructure investment of +£23.00 per cow per year was identified (range –£25.91 to +£64.16 for 10th to 90th percentile). Since decreased living space is likely to lead to poorer welfare, it can be considered a negative production externality associated with current production systems, the cost of which should also be accounted for when analyzing the economics of housing. Further research is essential to gain a complete understanding of the cost-effectiveness of providing increased living space per cow under different management scenarios.

Rural living space was the place where rural residents live in daily life. The scenic beauty evaluation of rural living space was of great significance for protecting the traditional rural fabric and planning and designing a reasonable and beautiful living environment. Taking Ni-yuan village, Zi-shan village, Mo-shi-tang village and Chen-you-fang village as the research objects, 40 selected rural living space landscape samples were evaluated with SBE (scenic beauty evaluation) method, the factors affecting the scenic beauty were analyzed, and the strategy of rural landscape planning and design was discussed. The results showed that: The average SBE value of the four villages was Zi-shan village > Ni-yuan village > Chen-you-fang village > Mo-shi-tang village. The evaluators were generally satisfied with the rural living space. Regression analysis showed that the SBE value of rural living space was mainly affected by environmental cleanliness, rural cultural characteristics and landscape material ecology. The key points to be considered in the planning and design of rural living space were the protection of the original rural texture and vegetation, local materials, appropriate public activity space and rural residents' participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A determination of how the amount of allotted feedlot living space influences both production indicators as well as carcass and meat quality traits obtained from Holstein steers was performed by forming two treatment groups, T14: 65 steers/pen (14 m²/head of space allowances) and T16: 57 steers/pen (16 m²/head of space allowances), with five replications each treatment. The average arrival weight 238 ± 0.74 kg. During the fattening period the cattle was feed twice a day with commercial diets. The steers were slaughtered after a 261-d period. At the moment of the first reimplant a greater average body weight was found in T16 vs T14 (384.25 vs 378.38 kg; P<0.05) and the difference continued until day 261 (612.35 vs 595.54 kg; P<0.05); regarding ADG, hot carcass weight and cold carcass weight the result were: 1.50 vs 1.46 kg (P<0.05), of ADG kg/d; 367.34 vs 360.35 kg (P<0.05) and 366.68 vs 358.78 kg (P<0.05). No difference between treatments were found in dorsal fat, marbling, pH and meat color. The results suggest that an increase from 14 m²/animal to 16 m²/animal improves the production results as well as the hot and cold carcass weight, with no effect on the quality traits of the carcass and beef. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is common to observe the epidemic risk perception (ERP) and a decline in subjective well-being (SWB) in the context of public health events, such as Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, there have been few studies exploring the impact of individuals' ERP within living space on their SWB, especially from a geographical and daily activity perspective after the resumption of work and other activities following a wave of the pandemic. In this paper, we conducted a study with 789 participants in urban China, measuring their ERP within living space and examining its influence on their SWB using path analysis. The results indicated that individuals' ERP within their living space had a significant negative effect on their SWB. The density of certain types of facilities within their living space, such as bus stops, subway stations, restaurants, fast food shops, convenience shops, hospitals, and public toilets, had a significantly negative impact on their SWB, mediated by their ERP within living space. Additionally, participation in out-of-home work and other activities not only increased individuals' ERP within living space, but also strengthened its negative effect on their SWB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Architectural Journal / Jian Zhu Xue Bao is the property of Architectural Journal Editorial Office 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.)

Investigate the factors influencing life space utilization in older Afro-descendant adults residing in Tumaco, Colombia – a marginalized region of the country. This cross-sectional study included 388 Afro-descendant older adults. The study assessed living space using the Life Space Assessment (LSA) scale and collected demographic data. Cognitive levels were measured with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Yesavage scale. Socio-emotional indicators were determined with the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS). The research employed linear and logistic regression models for data analysis. On average, participants scored 27.0 on the LSA scale. A lack of perceived income resulted in a 10.44-point decrease on the LSA scale. For each unit increase in the MOS-Instrumental Dimension score, the LSA score increased by 0.52 points (95% CI 0.17–0.87). As for cognitive performance (MMSE scale), each one-point increase resulted in a 0.69 decrease in the LSA score (95% CI −1.25 to −0.12). Socioeconomic disadvantages limit living space utilization, particularly in the Afro-descendant population. Yet, social support can enhance living space use despite environmental and economic constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amid rapid urbanization, shantytown redevelopment profoundly transforms urban environments and catalyzes substantial changes in social, economic, and family structures. Yet, most previous studies have focused narrowly on the outcomes of single residential mobility events, overlooking the complex dynamics that unfold across the pre-redevelopment, during-redevelopment, and post-redevelopment phases. This study investigates changes in family structure and their correlation with living space throughout all three phases of shantytown redevelopment in Heze City, Shandong Province, China, from 2016 to 2023. Collecting data through a community survey, we gathered 1035 valid responses to analyze family structure and residential characteristics. Our analysis, which included Sankey diagrams and cross-lagged panel models (CLPM), revealed a predominant trend of large families fragmenting into smaller nuclear units and demonstrated a significant positive correlation between family structure complexity (FSC) and living space. Notably, the FSC from a previous phase had a significant influence on the living space of the following phase, indicating lagged effects where housing choices are influenced by prior family structure. Further comparisons across different housing types and tenures during the temporary phase highlighted diverse structural changes among families. These insights are crucial for policymakers to refine urban redevelopment strategies, better meet residents’ needs, and enhance the efficacy of policies.

Introduction. The space of the children's world evolves together with a person's ideas about oneself, the world around them, the development of scientific and technological progress. The purpose of this study is to describe the transformation of the space of the child's world, the change in the socio-cultural position of the child through the acquisition of his / her personal physical space along with the discovery of his /her inner mental world. The relevance is determined by the complexity of the spatial coordinates of the children's world associated with the digitalization of childhood. Scientific novelty consists in an attempt to systematize scientific knowledge in the description of the space of the children's world and to evaluate them from the point of view of the modern socio-cultural state.Methodology and sources. The methodological basis of the work is a cultural philosophical analysis. The works of G. Bachelard, A. Lefebvre, M. Foucault and other authors were used as a philosophical understanding of the problem of space. Cultural and ethnographic analysis of the phenomenon of childhood, carried out in the works of F. Aries, J. Duby, M. Mead, K. Levi-Strauss, contributed to the understanding of the space of the children's world and the problem of its transformation.Results and discussion. The space of the children's world is associated with a combination of various socio-cultural factors that change throughout historical time. The space of the children's world opens up in the eyes of an adult with the manifestation of interest in children's experiences, the inner psychological structure of the child. Great importance in the transformation of the childhood space occurs at the moment when the child finds his / her own “place” in the house. The traditional expansion of the space of the children's world (house-street-city-country-world) in modern times acquires another dimension – virtuality.Conclusion. The evolution of the socio-cultural position of the child in society depended on the specifics of ideas about the rules of behavior, social habits, ritual practices. For a long time, the space of the children's world was perceived as fundamentally different from the space of an adult, carried beyond its limits. The digitalization of childhood has provided the world with new dangers associated with the risks of finding a child in virtual spaces beyond the control of an adult.

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the social construction of living spaces by considering commonly studied variables such as sociodemographic characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and residential location. Additionally, it tests the significance of deeper sociological factors, specifically place attachment, bonds with the local community, and perceptions of the neighbourhood. An analysis, based on a description of the spatial structure of daily activities globally, the construction of living space dispersion indices, and a stepwise linear regression model, identified three types of living spaces: commuting spaces, self-realization spaces, and spaces of care, with different concentration and dispersion patterns. Commuting spaces are typically larger; self-realization takes place in the neighbourhood but is also frequently dispersed across multiple locations; and spaces of care are heavily concentrated. The analysis of subpopulations reveals distinct living space patterns based on two main factors: work and children. However, there are important differences in the age and gender composition of the subpopulations. The concentration/dispersion of living spaces is mainly driven by sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors, but place attachment measures significantly affect their construction. The results encourage further exploration of the subjective, experienced dimension of urban phenomena, going beyond the concept of "living spaces" to think of them as "lived-in spaces". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As urbanization continues to advance rapidly, the emergence of biophilic design offers a positive perspective to address the alienation between humans and nature, becoming a hot research topic in areas related to human living environments. Biophilic design, as a design concept inspired by nature, has positive significance in promoting the development of ecological diversity and improving human physical and mental health. This paper makes a comparative analysis of two of China's residential communities in the same high-density environment through the main influencing factors of plot ratio, greening rate, external facades environments, and internal living space. Starting from the five senses of the human body, namely, sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste, this paper aims to investigate the design of living spaces through the lens of biophilic design, and proposes a biophilic design model, along with strategies and recommendations tailored to high-density urban environments, in the hope of serving as a valuable reference and source of inspiration for future healthy dwelling design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To promote the adoption of Direct Air Capture (DAC) systems, this paper proposes and tests a photovoltaic-powered DAC system in a generic residential building located in Qatar. The proposed DAC system can efficiently reduce CO2 concentration in a living space, thus providing an incentive to individuals to adopt it. The ventilation performance of the building is determined using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, undertaken with ANSYS-CFD. The CFD model was validated using microclimate-air quality dataloggers. The simulated velocity was 1.4 m/s and the measured velocity was 1.35 m/s, which corresponds to a 3.5% error. The system decarbonizes air supplied to the building by natural ventilation or ventilation according to the ASHRAE standards. Furthermore, the performance of the photovoltaic system is analyzed using the ENERGYPLUS package of the Design Builder software. We assume that 75% of CO2 is captured. In addition, a preliminary characterization of the overall system's performance is determined. It is determined that the amount of CO2 captured by the system is 0.112 tones/year per square meter of solar panel area. A solar panel area of 19 m2 is required to decarbonize the building with natural ventilation, and 27 m2 is required in the case of ventilation according to the ASHRAE standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze, commonly known as Brazilian pine, is a significant tree species in the Brazilian flora that once covered an area of 200,000 km2 in the Southern region. During the 1970s, high-quality timber logs from this conifer became the primary export product of the country. However, the species is endangered due to uncontrolled exploitation and is subject to a harvesting ban. It is crucial, therefore, to explore sustainable cultivation methods for this species, which necessitates urgent research and scientific insights. In this study, we present a simulation of a management strategy for in situ conservation by manipulating growth space and crown size dynamics. Forest inventory data and mixed forest regression equations were employed to describe the horizontal dimensions of average and maximum potential crown growth, resulting in two management scenarios. The results presented in management diagrams show that both approaches required logging numerous trees to ensure adequate space for healthy tree growth and provide soil coverage and forest protection. Therefore, the absence of effective forest management initiatives for Araucaria forests may have further implications for the structure, production, conservation, and overall development. To address these challenges, we propose two hypotheses: firstly, that tree diameter depends on crown dimensions, which are in turn influenced by tree growth space, and, secondly, that crown dimensions serve as a reliable indicator of existing competition and can be utilized to simulate forest management practices. We urge that implementing sustainable forest management initiatives for Araucaria angustifolia at selected locations can contribute to expanding natural forest areas, mitigate deterioration caused by high competition, discourage illegal logging, and prevent overexploitation of their edible seeds, which hinders regeneration. Our results underscore the significant implications of the lack of forest management initiatives in rural properties, potentially resulting in irreversible deterioration. The exact consequences of this deterioration remain unclear, emphasizing the need for further studies to understand its eventual effects on the growth reaction of trees of different diameters, ages, and crown conditions after the liberation of their crowns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper identifies the physical space design that could influence the Penang youths’ state of well-being positively. The objectives of this study to comprehend the relationship between the psychological influence of physical space and the state of well-being of youths in the youth institution to determine the relationship between physical space and its significance in perpetuating end users’ state of well-being of Penang youths and enlighten on the understanding of physical space design that is influential to the state of well-being of Malaysian youths. This analysis will look onto aspects of physical space, including design elements, physical condition, and space sufficiency in youth’s current living space such as choices of colours, presence of daylighting, utilization of indoor landscape, open spaces concept, ventilation, and sense of privacy. The finding of this study generally helps to enlighten the understanding of physical space design that are influential to the state of well-being of youths in Penang.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted everyday living and social practices, prompting questions of whether more sustainable consumption patterns are emerging and the likelihood of their long-term retention. To examine these questions, we apply a practice-based approach to a quantitative study of COVID-driven practice changes in the domains of food, material consumption, housing, and mobility conducted in four global North countries (Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States). We discuss the trends emerging from our analysis from a sustainability perspective and address the role of social practice elements – materials, meanings, competences – in the establishment and discontinuation of sustainable consumption practices. Observed sustainability gains in specific practices and domains (such as a decrease in material consumption and more sustainable food practices and diets), may be offset by other practices, particularly a renewed desire for air travel and larger housing. The uptake and lock-in of sustainable practices are driven by a combination of meaning and material-related practice elements such as the alignment with interests and personal values; the availability of labor, energy, or time; and the ability to routinize practices. However, new policies to support emerging lifestyle shifts, as well as the development of businesses catering to and encouraging low-impact practices, may ultimately determine the formation of a more sustainable “new normal.” We also reflect on the strengths and limitations of using quantitative research methods in studies of sustainable consumption informed by social practice theories.

This article discusses how the Thami people of Alampu village, Dolakha District, Nepal, responded to the 2015 earthquake disaster, focusing on their (re)building and dwelling activities. After the earthquake and subsequent aftershock quakes, most villagers of Alampu first moved into temporary shelters. They then began constructing permanent earthquake resistant houses, called bhukampa ghar in Nepali . We offer an ethnographic account of how this process from temporary shelters to bhfikampa ghar was lived, experienced, and executed by various villagers in negotiation with diverse individual, collective, and institutional agencies, within ever-shifting legal, political, economic and socio-cultural contexts. After introducing the village and its people as well as our research methodology, we trace the transformation of Alampu in the following two sections: a briefdescription ofpre-earthquake Alampu in terms of its dwellings, followed by the aftermath ofthe earthquakes in Alampu, where many villagers had moved from temporary shelters to bhfikampa ghar. We then demonstrate how Thami people in Alampu experienced and renegotiated with temporary shelters and new earthquake-resistant houses, many of which were built by fellow villagers using techniques foreign to them prior to the earthquakes, heuristically using Tim Ingold's concepts of"building" and "dwelling." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties it was common thought that the Qinglou talented women were not bound by normal human relationships and women's virtues because they lived outside the patriarchal order. Chased after by male bigwigs in the society, they mingled at upper-class male playing places and obtained higher reputations because of their outstanding talent. However, they held a very contradictory position because, especially in the Ming dynasty, women's virtues were still regarded as an important standard of female evaluation in the society. On the one hand, they faced dilemmas in their living conditions, and on the other, there was a subtle interaction between their living space and the patriarchal clan system – this also occurred because of changes created by the patriarchal clan system and social rules, which exerted a continuous influence on the way a female could survive in the later imperial period. Based on historical and literary documents such as jottings, novels, and unofficial history of Ming and Qing Dynasties, this essay aims at analyzing the living space of these talented women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The normal development of "smart buildings," which calls for integrating sensors, rich data, and artificial intelligence (AI) simulation models, promises to usher in a new era of architectural concepts. AI simulation models can improve home functions and users' comfort and significantly cut energy consumption through better control, increased reliability, and automation. This article highlights the potential of using artificial intelligence (AI) models to improve the design and functionality of smart houses, especially in implementing living spaces. This case study provides examples of how artificial intelligence can be embedded in smart homes to improve user experience and optimize energy efficiency. Next, the article will explore and thoroughly analyze the thorough analysis of current research on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in smart homes using a variety of innovative ideas, including smart interior design and a Smart Building System Framework based on digital twins (DT). Finally, the article explores the advantages of using AI models in smart homes, emphasizing living spaces. Through the case study, the theme seeks to provide ideas on how AI can be effectively embedded in smart homes to improve functionality, convenience, and energy efficiency. The overarching goal is to harness the potential of artificial intelligence by transforming how we live in our homes and improving our quality of life. The article concludes by discussing the unresolved issues and potential future research areas on the usage of AI in smart houses. Incorporating AI technology into smart homes benefits homeowners, providing excellent safety and convenience and increased energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Forestry Economy is the property of China Forestry Economy Magazine Agency 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.)

Previous research has shown that a long commuting duration and shortage of living space are associated with poor mental health in individuals. However, most studies have regarded the two as separate factors and have focused exclusively on one dimension of mental health. To address these gaps, we use survey data from 2018 in Beijing to re-examine how commuting duration is associated with both the absence of psychological illness (depression) and the presence of positive mental well-being (happiness), and to test whether and to what extent living space moderates the commuting–mental health relationship. The results show that both commuting duration and living space are significantly associated with the two dimensions of mental health. Furthermore, living space has a quasi-moderating effect on the association between commuting duration and depression, but the moderating effect is insignificant for happiness. This implies that the "trade (commuting) time for (living) space" approach might matter for the absence of mental illness, but this is not an effective approach for the presence of positive subjective well-being. This study echoes the equilibrium location theory but argues that the negative effects of commuting duration on mental health might be partially compensated by the benefits of housing conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The question of the city sustainability was involved in the process of sustainable development, which is considered as guarantees of a harmonious urban development for future generations. The architectural envelope of a living space includes elements that play an important role in energy consumption. The less energy it consumes, the higher energy-efficient it is. Thus, we tried to develop the basic notions and key concepts related to the research topic (energy performance and thermal comfort) of the architectural envelope and then we carried out experimental fieldwork to highlight the link between energy performance and thermal comfort, supported by simulation in order to achieve optimum real results. Our objective is to sort out the issue of energy performance and thermal comfort in living space in both vernacular and contemporary cases, and consequently develop conformations that are as autonomous as possible in terms of energy, by taking advantage of natural inputs and the application of renewable energy for housing. As a result, a survey was carried out on the inhabitants of the houses in the study corpus, and we achieved a qualitative and quantitative work that comes down to an Energetic Performance Diagnosis on a corpus study that constitutes two houses: a vernacular case versus a modern house case. Based on this social survey and energy consumption calculations, we can recommend some guiding points to achieve an architectural conformity that satisfies users' needs, and reach a long-lasting development on the matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During COVID-19, private living spaces have become settings for activities usually taking place elsewhere. Work, education and leisure activities have moved in, while we have moved out and now frequently project our private interiors onto the screens of others when meeting online. We see ourselves reflected while reflecting each other, and we peek into the lives of strangers while staging our own for the world to see. If such virtual cross-extensions of public and private domains are not completely new, then they have been taken to a whole new level during the pandemic. The article explores such projected interiors extended between screens and walls and the implications these have for the thinking and making of a future living space. It asks how in response to the current environmental crisis the experience of the pandemic interior might help project new spaces radically different from the ones of pre-pandemic times. Two versions of a drawing made in the early 1920s by the Swiss German artist Paul Klee evoke the experience of spatial relationships familiar from the pandemic house. Creative writing of an inflected space detected in the drawings identifies an opening in the fabric of the interior potentially leading us into a future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Living spaces have been recognized as one of the functional spaces of housing. Materials and textures are regarded as some of the features of the space. The present study sought to analyze the components of the different materials (brick, stone, glass, metal, concrete, and wood) and their semantic role in living spaces. The materials' characteristics were coded and then semantic differentials was conducted to quantify the measurement. The significant factors of materials were defined as acceptability, motivative, capability, and resistance for brick; persistence, admiration, and purity for concrete; creativeness, resilience, and capacity for wood; fatigue and limpidity for glass; strength and durability for stone; and minimal and interweaving for metal. The results of the present study indicated that the implicit meaning of acceptability in brick was based on nostalgia, traditionality, and warmth. Furthermore, the industriality, modernity, coldness, and artificiality of concrete represented the explicitness and transparency and the industriality of glass indicated limpidity. The resilience of wood was based on stagnation, strength, and solitude. Finally, the rigidity, beauty, and coldness of stone indicated the power and strength, while simplicity, solitude, and stress-induced demonstrated the tangle of metal that can affect the application and achievement of desired living space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper identifies the physical space design that could influence the Penang youths’ state of well-being positively. The objectives of this study to comprehend the relationship between the psychological influence of physical space and the state of well-being of youths in the youth institution to determine the relationship between physical space and its significance in perpetuating end users’ state of well-being of Penang youths and enlighten on the understanding of physical space design that is influential to the state of well-being of Malaysian youths. This analysis will look onto aspects of physical space, including design elements, physical condition, and space sufficiency in youth’s current living space such as choices of colours, presence of daylighting, utilization of indoor landscape, open spaces concept, ventilation, and sense of privacy. The finding of this study generally helps to enlighten the understanding of physical space design that are influential to the state of well-being of youths in Penang.

As urbanization continues to advance rapidly, the emergence of biophilic design offers a positive perspective to address the alienation between humans and nature, becoming a hot research topic in areas related to human living environments. Biophilic design, as a design concept inspired by nature, has positive significance in promoting the development of ecological diversity and improving human physical and mental health. This paper makes a comparative analysis of two of China’s residential communities in the same high-density environment through the main influencing factors of plot ratio, greening rate, external facades environments, and internal living space. Starting from the five senses of the human body, namely, sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste, this paper aims to investigate the design of living spaces through the lens of biophilic design, and proposes a biophilic design model, along with strategies and recommendations tailored to high-density urban environments, in the hope of serving as a valuable reference and source of inspiration for future healthy dwelling design.

To promote the adoption of Direct Air Capture (DAC) systems, this paper proposes and tests a photovoltaic-powered DAC system in a generic residential building located in Qatar. The proposed DAC system can efficiently reduce CO2 concentration in a living space, thus providing an incentive to individuals to adopt it. The ventilation performance of the building is determined using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, undertaken with ANSYS-CFD. The CFD model was validated using microclimate-air quality dataloggers. The simulated velocity was 1.4 m/s and the measured velocity was 1.35 m/s, which corresponds to a 3.5% error. The system decarbonizes air supplied to the building by natural ventilation or ventilation according to the ASHRAE standards. Furthermore, the performance of the photovoltaic system is analyzed using the ENERGYPLUS package of the Design Builder software. We assume that 75% of CO2 is captured. In addition, a preliminary characterization of the overall system’s performance is determined. It is determined that the amount of CO2 captured by the system is 0.112 tones/year per square meter of solar panel area. A solar panel area of 19 m2 is required to decarbonize the building with natural ventilation, and 27 m2 is required in the case of ventilation according to the ASHRAE standard.

Copyright of Procesos Urbanos (2500-5200) is the property of Corporacion Universitaria del Caribe (CECAR) 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.)

The article presents the beginnings of urban sanitation and hygiene services. It focuses on the city of Kranj in the interwar period. It touches on legislation in the field of creating a healthy living environment and raising awareness of citizens about the importance of sanitation and hygiene for the beauty of the city and for the health of the individual. A major shift in sanitation services presented the construction of sewers and plumbing. Citizens were increasingly aware of the importance of sanitation and hygiene in the city, which is evident, among other things, from complaints to the city council related to dirt and stench in the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]