Abstract: Architect Vladimir Potočnjak (1904-1952), a cofounder of Croatian Modern Movement is almost nonexistent in the recent Croatian architectural history. The research of archival sources, accompanied by acquired drawings and books from his library, comprised thor-ough analysis of his realizations, projects and publications. Potočnjak graduated from the Architectural Department of Zagreb’s Institute of Technology in 1926 and apprenticed to Adolf Loos in Paris where he improved drawing skills, subsequently to Ernst May in Frankfurt a/M and finally to Hugo Ehrlich in Zagreb. Between 1931 and 1945 he was li-censed architectural engineer in Kingdom of Yugoslavia and successively in the Inde-pendent State of Croatia, additionally an architectural critic and theoretician preoccupied with problems of standardization. After 1945 he was appointed senior manager for archi-tecture in the collectivized Croatian Stately Design and Planning Institute. Cooperating with Zlatko Neumann, junior architects Antun Ulrich and Dragica Perak, in 1947 he won Yugoslav competition for the Federal Government Presidency Palace, later the Federal Ex-ecutive Council Palace, today the Palata “Srbije”. Fully preoccupied to its construction un-til his death, he concurrently translated Ernst Neufert’s “Bauordnungslehre” in Serbo-Croatian. Although classically educated, Potočnjak blended Modern Architectural narrative with layers of German Expressionism, visible on seminal drawings of Palata “Srbije”.

Abstract: Rural architectural systems in the Mediterranean reflect a long-term entanglement between human agency, material conditions, and environmental constraints. This study uses this framework to explore architectural continuity in settlements near ancient Phoenix in Türkiye. It aims to understand how rural building practices like stone masonry, traditional carpentry, and spolia reuse have persisted from antiquity. The methodology combines UAV photogrammetry, GIS analysis, and oral histories to reveal spatial patterns and craft traditions across generations. Findings show structures are transmitted through technical knowledge, with stone and timber co evolving with local livelihoods. The Aegean's technical traditions share heritage with the Dodecanese islands of Symi and Tilos, supported by fieldwork and literature comparing masonry and craft techniques. The work emphasizes the need for conservation strategies that connect digital documentation with community experience to preserve this cross-border cultural landscape amid environmental threats and declining craftsmanship.

Abstract: Rural defensive heritage sites are highly vulnerable assets that require decision-making under conditions of limited data and high uncertainty, particularly in the context of large-scale infrastructure projects and accelerating environmental processes. This study proposes a modular decision-support model for defining conservation priorities in a transparent, traceable, and data-sensitive manner, based on four selected fortress sites in the Yusufeli district of Artvin, Türkiye. The model employs a risk-based approach to quantify anthropogenic risks (AR) through the combined assessment of impact (I) and probability (P). Topographic and contextual vulnerability (TC) is structured through sub-indicators including visual dominance disruption, access discontinuities, landscape fragmentation, and microclimatic exposure, while material and intervention compatibility (MS) is evaluated as a distinct compatibility–risk component. These three modules are integrated through normalization and weighted aggregation into a single Priority Index (PI). In addition, the study introduces a Data Completeness Index (DCI) to explicitly address heterogeneity and gaps in field data, allowing prioritization outcomes to be interpreted with an associated confidence level. Laser-scanning-based documentation, deterioration mapping, and photographic records support the evidence-based construction of indicators. The proposed framework offers a transferable approach for generating intervention and monitoring priorities for rural defensive heritage under rapid landscape transformation, while explicitly managing data uncertainty rather than obscuring it.

Abstract: Two major global trends shaping 21st-century society are population aging and urbanization. Consequently, the living conditions of older adults have become an increasing focus of societal attention. Social interaction plays a crucial role in the mental health, emotional well-being, and social identity of older adults. Urban streets, as key sites for walking and social activity among older adults, can be seen as extensions of their homes—places where they regularly interact with neighbors and build new connections. Compared to built environments often termed "gray spaces," exposure to green spaces has been shown to offer greater benefits to residents' well-being. Among streetscape features, the Spatial Openness Level is closely associated with the psychological well-being of elderly individuals. The Gray-Green space Exposure Ratio (GER) and Spatial Openness Level(SOL) serve as key indicators for evaluating streetscape quality. In this study, conducted in Wuhan City, objective physiological monitoring of brainwave activity was employed to examine the responses of older adults to variations in GER and SOL. The results indicate that both GER and SOL significantly influence the emotional states of older adults.(correlation coefficient R² = 0.6062, p < 0.01) .These findings can inform human-centered urban design criteria, thereby promoting social interaction among older adults. Future research should incorporate additional environmental factors to establish a more comprehensive assessment framework for age-friendly urban spaces.

Abstract: This paper examines a political dimension of architecture in developing and post-conflict economies by shifting focus from representational aesthetics to the organisation of production. Drawing on critical theory and political economy, it contends that architecture is political not through explicit ideology but through its impact on relationships involving labour, knowledge, material systems, and institutional authority. The paper challenges the historic divide between thinker and maker, rooted in Alberti's ideas, and examines how frameworks such as critical regionalism often aestheticise marginality while overlooking construction labour and political economy. Empirically, the study analyses six architectural projects in post-war Sri Lanka from 2013 to 2023, employing a qualitative, practice-based case study approach. These projects are viewed as social processes, emphasising labour organisation, knowledge exchange, material choices, procurement, and tectonics. The results show how small architectural interventions can serve as civic and pedagogical infrastructures, revealing labour, redistributing expertise, and strategically engaging with state and donor systems. A normative framework is proposed to redirect architectural politics toward production rather than mere representation.

Abstract: This study analyzes the restitution process of the Sümela Monastery, located in the Maçka district of Trabzon, within the framework of documenting and interpreting multilayered heritage. The monastery’s architectural evolution from the Byzantine to the Ottoman and Republican periods is examined through its spatial dialogue with the topography, revealing restitution as not merely a formal reconstruction but as a process of knowledge production and representation. The research follows the methodological logic of Letellier and Eppich’s decision-making matrix model, integrating documentation, analysis, and interpretation in a multidisciplinary sequence. Based on extensive architectural surveys, material studies, and comparative analyses, six successive construction and transformation phases were identified. Each phase reflects a different synthesis of structural continuity, material innovation, and symbolic meaning, thereby illustrating the epistemic continuity of the site. The findings demonstrate that Sümela represents a “palimpsest architecture” where physical, documentary, and sociocultural layers coexist without erasing one another. By emphasizing the ethical and cognitive dimensions of restitution, the study reframes conservation as an interpretive act that mediates between historical accuracy and conceptual integrity. Comparative analysis with other Eastern Mediterranean rock monasteries—such as Meteora, Athos, Hosios Loukas, and Panagia Hozoviotissa—further clarifies Sümela’s unique spatial identity formed through its concave relationship with the mountain mass. Ultimately, the study proposes an epistemological restitution model grounded in transparency, reversibility, and interpretive coherence, suggesting that conservation should not only preserve material authenticity but also sustain the evolving meanings accumulated over time within the cultural landscape.

Abstract: The increasing demand for permanent post-disaster housing highlights the need for rapid and high-quality construction methods. This study investigates the feasibility of prefabri-cated modular façade systems in accelerating post-disaster permanent housing construc-tion, while maintaining cost efficiency and construction quality. A mixed-methods ap-proach was adopted: semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 industry stake-holders, and thematic analysis was applied to extract qualitative insights. Subsequently, a quantitative survey involving 366 construction professionals was carried out and statisti-cally analyzed to validate the findings. Additionally, case studies from previous post-disaster reconstruction efforts were reviewed to contextualize the results. The find-ings reveal that prefabricated modular façade systems significantly reduce on-site con-struction time and overall project duration, minimize material waste, and uphold high construction standards. Most participants also noted quality control benefits inherent to factory-based production. However, the study identifies several limitations, including challenges related to cost, logistics, and workforce training. The research contributes to the evolving discourse on disaster-responsive housing policies and provides strategic rec-ommendations to enhance the adoption of modular façade technologies in construction practices.

Abstract: Despite significant global commitment to smart buildings and Digital Twin technologies within architecture research and practice, existing systems face fundamental challenges: they widely suffer from data silos, hindering comprehensive data integration; they are constrained by cognitive limitations, preventing deep learning from predicting complex behaviors and spatial intentions; their design goals are fundamentally device-centric, rather than human-centric; and they operate in a state of environmental isolation, lacking dynamic coordination with the external environment. To address these bottlenecks, this paper proposes the BLUE Building Paradigm, a novel and pioneering framework for next-generation spatial intelligence. BLUE represents four core pillars: Big-data (B), Learning (L), User (U), and Environment (E). The core contribution of the BLUE Building is the construction of a Spatio-Temporal Cognitive Operating System, which, through a unified Spatial Semantic Graph and Adaptive Reinforcement Learning, achieves a deep understanding of spatial states and user intentions, and forms a dynamic, continuously optimized closed-loop synergy with the external environment. This marks an epoch-making transition in spatial intelligence from passive automation to proactive cognition and continuous self-adaptation. This paper details the operational mechanism of the BLUE Paradigm, its key technical implementations, and cross-scale interaction strategies. Furthermore, it introduces the BLUE Building Rating and Evaluation Mechanism, including its potential for expansion, translating the paradigm's cognitive capabilities into quantifiable industry standards to drive adoption. The BLUE Building Paradigm not only sets a new benchmark for building energy efficiency and occupant well-being but also lays a solid theoretical foundation for the resilient, sustainable, and integrated development of future urban systems and the human experience.

Abstract: The Chinese pavilion is a poetic architectural form, and whenever a pavilion appears in a modern architectural complex, the spirit of Chinese classical culture is displayed. This study takes seven Chinese pavilions on the campus of Jiangnan University as examples and uses field investigation and architectural phenomenology methods to analyze the architectural features of Chinese pavilions and the poetic experience they bring. This study reached three conclusions. One is that the architectural attributes of Chinese pa-vilions are manifested as the unity of natural scenery and cultural symbols. Its archi-tectural design philosophy reflects the Chinese people's pursuit of natural beauty and noble morality. The second is that the spiritual attributes of Chinese pavilions are man-ifested in the "Fourfold" structure of sky, earth, sages and mortals. Chinese pavilions integrate secular life and life beliefs, providing mortal with a lofty spiritual experience. Thirdly, the Chinese pavilion is not only a standalone building, but also an integrated space that is organically combined with the natural environment. The Chinese pavilion must be surrounded by "three elements" - trees, water and mountains. This is a typical manifestation of the artistic consistency between Chinese landscape painting and Chinese architecture. The results of this study will deepen people's understanding of Chinese pavilions and provide new theoretical perspective for researchers to further study this type of Chinese architecture.

Abstract: Street networks shape urban dynamics. However, the spatial configuration of street stores and its interaction with urban economy and socio-culture remain insufficiently studied at meso- and micro-scales. Based on the dual network logic of Space Syn-tax—foreground and background networks, the study analyses the spatial distribution patterns of street stores in eight street segments in four Chinese cities: Tianjin, Nanjing, Zhengzhou, and Hong Kong. Network types are distinguished by Normalized Angular Choice (NACH) and patchwork pattern analysis. Drawing on 2019 POI data, street view images, and field surveys, this study compares store operation methods, func-tional diversity, and 100-meter density between the two network types. The results in-dicate that high-value street segments of foreground network are dominated by eco-nomically driven and functionally diverse chain stores, while high-value street seg-ments of background networks tend to have high densities of sole stores that are more embedded in local socio-cultural contexts. By linking spatial configurations of street-level commerce with urban economic and cultural activities, this research ex-tends Space Syntax theory and provides a new analytical method for interpreting and optimizing commercial spatial planning in Chinese cities.

Abstract: The rapid pace of urban growth in the 21st century has transformed cities into complex and interconnected systems that extend far beyond their municipal boundaries. As urbanisation intensifies, the terminology associated with city expansion-particularly metropolitan areas and metropolitan regions is frequently used interchangeably, even though they represent conceptually distinct spatial, functional, and governance entities. Understanding the difference between these two frameworks is essential in urban and regional planning, transport planning, public policy, and sustainable development. This paper provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of metropolitan areas and metropolitan regions by examining their definitions, boundaries, functional characteristics, governance structures, socio-economic influence, and planning implications. Drawing insights from global examples and detailed case studies from India-including Delhi NCR, Mumbai MMR, and Bengaluru BMR-the paper highlights key similarities and contrasts and argues that while metropolitan areas represent the compact, continuous urban footprint, metropolitan regions reflect a broader sphere of economic, functional, and socio-spatial influence extending into peri-urban and rural territories. The study underscores the importance of adopting regionally integrated planning approaches to address contemporary challenges, such as transportation connectivity, land-use fragmentation, environmental stress, and socio-economic disparities. It concludes by emphasizing the need for coordinated governance models and integrated metropolitan regional planning frameworks to support sustainable urban futures.

Abstract: This study presents an integrated analytical approach that combines Space Syntax metrics with user-experience data to examine spatial patterns, perceptual tendencies, and sustainability-related considerations on university campuses. Using the Balkan Campus as a case study, the analysis reveals a pronounced center–periphery structure shaped by the campus’s historical growth and linear development pattern. Background: The study is situated within broader discussions of how spatial configuration influences user perceptions and sustainability-related experiences in campus environments. Methods: Higher integration, connectivity, and visibility values occurred in areas that respondents more frequently described as offering either clear or unclear navigational conditions, reflecting overlapping spatial and perceptual tendencies without implying causation. Regression analyses identified notable associations between user satisfaction and factors such as wayfinding difficulty, the availability of social spaces, and cleanliness–hygiene conditions. Results: Social and green areas were also closely associated with positive evaluations, paralleling themes discussed in sustainability and environmental-psychology literature. The combined interpretation of spatial and perceptual data provides a complementary perspective for understanding campus environments and may offer contextual insight for future planning discussions related to accessibility, environmental comfort, perceived safety, and spatial equity. Conclusions: The proposed integrated framework holds potential relevance not only for university campuses but also for broader applications in urban-design research and public-space assessment.

Abstract: The accelerating shortage of adequate housing across the Global South continues to intensify the growth of informal settlements, underscoring the need for design pedagogies that prepare architects to engage ethically and analytically with complex urban realities. While computational design and service learning have each gained prominence in architectural education, few pedagogical models integrate these frameworks to support context-responsive approaches to informal settlement planning. This article presents a studio methodology that combines pattern language, shape grammars, and parametric logic with service-learning principles to cultivate socially attuned and analytically rigorous design reasoning. Developed within an undergraduate architectural design course at Belmont University, the six-phase framework guides students through pattern identification, rule definition, generative modeling, and iterative evaluation grounded in community narratives from Ramapir no Tekro, a dense informal settlement in Ahmedabad, India. A representative student project, Community at Scale, demonstrates how rule-based generative systems can translate vernacular spatial practices into adaptable urban strategies that address environmental vulnerability, density, and access to essential services. The findings show that integrating computational methods with community-oriented learning fosters a form of design intelligence capable of operating across scales, negotiating uncertainty, and supporting participatory urban futures. The article concludes by outlining implications for architectural pedagogy and identifying opportunities for further research at the intersection of computational design, informal urbanism, and service-learning frameworks.

Abstract:

The Yanfu Temple in Wuyi County is one of the few Yuan Dynasty wooden structures in Jiangnan, which is representative in the history of architecture. Based on the proportionality of each structural parameter of the building, the Yingzao chi (Construction ruler) was calculated to be 315. 48 mm, using the large and small rulers system that has been used since the Tang and Song dynasties. It did not adopt the cai-fen system of the Yingzao Fashi (The Methodology of Official Architecture in the Northern Song Dynasty), but instead used the architectural module system. This modulus is a series modulus, very similar to the modern building modulus.

Abstract: Urban kampungs in Surabaya, Indonesia, face layered vulnerabilities due to overlapping envi-ronmental hazards, socioeconomic precarity, and limited infrastructural support. Despite being central to the city’s cultural and spatial fabric, these communities are often excluded from formal risk governance frameworks and mischaracterized as homogenous informal settlements. This paper explores how multi-hazard risks, such as tidal flooding, electrical hazards, and social in-security, manifest in three kampungs: Kampung Nelayan Kenjeran, Kampung Kue Rungkut, and Kampung Kota Ketandan-Kebangsren. Using qualitative methods including interviews, field observation, and participatory risk mapping, the study examines local adaptation strategies, collective resilience, and everyday practices that mitigate risk. The findings emphasize the value of a community-based risk analysis approach that centers resident knowledge and social net-works. Such bottom-up strategies not only complement existing urban policies but also offer contextually relevant insights for inclusive and adaptive resilience planning in rapidly urbanizing environments.

Abstract: This essay commemorates Henri Ciriani (1936–2025), tracing his architectural work and influential teaching as a defender of ethical modernism. Through his built projects and his pedagogy at Studio UNO, Ciriani advanced a spatial language rooted in light, proportion, and human dignity, shaping generations of architects and reaffirming architecture’s civic role.

Abstract: This paper analyzes the spatial evolution and walkability of Urmia’s historic Bazaar, applying space syntax theory to support heritage-sensitive urban planning. Three temporal configurations (1933, 1948, 2018) were reconstructed from georeferenced maps and field surveys and analyzed in Depthmap X using syntactic measures (NACH, NAIN, Entropy). Results indicate that modernization expanded network connectivity and introduced linear patterns, yet the Bazaar continues to function as the primary configurational hub driving socio-economic interaction. Findings empirically reinforce natural movement theory and offer practical guidance for planning strategies that enhance spatial permeability while sustaining historic fabric integrity and cultural continuity.

Abstract: This article introduces the Olfactory Attribution Circle (OAC), a conceptual tool for integrating olfaction, color, and linguistic attributes in the design of multisensory atmospheres. Developed through a multi-method strategy, the research combined a systematic literature review, semi-structured interviews with academic and industry sources, a case study of EveryHuman (Algorithmic Perfumery), and AI-assisted exploration. The review revealed a lack of tools operationalizing olfactory design within the built environment. Interviews provided practice-based insights on inclusion, intensity calibration, and feasibility, while the case study demonstrated the potential and limitations of AI-driven personalization. AI was employed to generate mappings between 60 essences, bipolar semantic attributes, and chromatic codes, refined through authorial curation. Results highlight systematic crossmodal correspondences between scents, linguistic attributes, and chromatic values, underscoring the importance of crossmodal congruence in designing coherent sensory experiences. The OAC enables congruent, human-centered olfactory design, though cultural variability and semantic ambiguity limit universal application. The study positions the OAC as both a methodological contribution and a foundation for future empirical testing across diverse cultural contexts.

Abstract: The San Niccolò’ Tower-Gate in Florence, designed by Andrea dell'Orcagna, was built in 1328 as part of the third ring of the city walls of Florence. In the frame of a conservation project promoted by the Municipality of Florence, the Department of Earth Sciences of the University of Florence conducted a series of studies, using NDT techniques, to characterize the tower's masonry. Based on geological, seismic, georadar, sonic, and scleometric investigations, the Tower's masonry was found to had been excellently constructed and, after eight centuries, remains in good condition.

Abstract: Recreational construction has developed in the Beskid Mountains in Southern Poland over the span of several decades, especially in the villages of Szczyrk, Wisła, and Brenna, known as the Beskid touristic triangle. This development has been very intensive due to the proximity of the industrial Silesian agglomeration. However, these newly constructed buildings, heterogeneous in appearance, do not reference traditional timber-and-stone sustainable architecture, instead replicating the aesthetics found in contemporary single-family houses throughout Poland or abroad. Inconsistencies in the building laws have strengthened this approach and led to a decline in the quality of the architecture and landscape, as the predominantly sustainable approach of traditional architecture based on local experience has given way to more popular, socially accepted solutions that do not fit the environment aesthetically or functionally. Although the development of recreational architecture in this region has been widely discussed in public media, publications on this topic remain sporadic and have generally focused on analyzing specific architectural solutions. This article therefore discusses the role of cultural identity in the modern recreational architecture in the Beskid Mountains as it has affected the well-being of the citizens of Silesia since the 1930s and continues to create a still-evolving, vibrant cultural phenomenon.