Architecture Commons^™

Space For The Departed: Burial, Land Scarcity, And Bone-Ash Apartments In China, Xinyi Wu

Pitzer Senior Theses

The rise of bone ash apartments in China reflects a layered response to urban land scarcity, shifting funeral policies, and real estate speculation. As the state mandates cremation and restricts private cemetery development, traditional burial customs are increasingly reshaped by spatial limitations, economic pressures, and political regulation.

For some families, bone ash apartments function as modern ancestral halls—domestic spaces for remembrance and ritual continuity. For others, they represent a pragmatic investment strategy, offering long-term storage of ashes within assets that retain market value.

This thesis examines how urban planning, state funeral policy, real estate dynamics, and the disintegration of neighborhood …

Designing Public Parks To Enhance Quality Of Life: A Case Study Of Al-Eskan Park In Buraydah City, Basem Osama Elgendy, Essam Salem Almahmoud

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Public parks are essential elements for improving the quality of life, as they contribute to enhancing psychological comfort and creating spaces for social interaction. As the Kingdom moves towards achieving the goals of Vision 2030, the growth of green spaces, and the increasing interest of community members in public parks. However, many parks still lack a design that meets the needs of visitors, which calls for studies to understand the desires and behavior of park-goers.

This study focused on Al-Eskan Park as a case study, employing a mixed-methods approach that included observation and surveys of 34 participants from various age …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Arab Refugees: Access To Public Housing And Integration In Dallas County, Texas., Salam Lattouf

Planning Dissertations - Archive

Past research in the Global North has overlooked the housing issues faced by low-income refugees while primarily examining disadvantaged communities and people of color, such as low-income African American and Hispanic populations. Refugees coming to the United States face compound challenges and barriers in securing adequate housing, besides contending with other social and economic difficulties such as language barriers and lack of knowledge in the housing market, which expose them to exploitation and eventually impact their access to opportunities such as employment. Although the literature on housing accessibility for refugees is scarce in the United States, we argue that the …

Nature-Based Solutions For Urban Climate Resilience: Assessment Of Environmental Planning & Policy Perspective In New York City, Padmi R. Ranasinghe

Planning Dissertations - Archive

Climate change exerts a profound global influence, elevating the risk of disasters. Rapid urbanization and high population density make cities increasingly vulnerable to disasters. Climate impact is intense for cities in deltas and coastal regions, highlighting the importance of managing urban watersheds effectively. Often, climate change affects people unequally, with marginalized communities being extra vulnerable to climate-related disasters due to where they live (geographical vulnerability) and limited adaptive capacity. People often live in areas vulnerable to climate-related hazards, including flood zones and regions affected by environmental injustices. Enhancing city resilience is crucial, as it needs to reduce vulnerability and exposure …

Catalyzing Engagement: Investigating Factors And Perceptions Shaping Texas High School Landscape Architecture Education, Recruitment, And Outreach, Johnathan A. Hampton

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

Socio-economic and environmental pressures have created a demand for landscape architecture practitioners that far outweighs the current supply of students and professionals (Hendricks et al., 2019; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024c). This reality has spurred industry representatives to examine education, recruitment, and outreach strategies (Cardona, 2024, 2021; Davis, 2022; American Society of Landscape Architects, n.d.-a). Investigating the factors that influence landscape architecture (and allied industry) education, recruitment, and outreach may inform the refinement of such strategies. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the factors and stakeholder perceptions that influence landscape architecture education, recruitment, and outreach in Texas …

Achieving Vision Zero On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard: Enhancing Pedestrian Safety And Reclaiming Community Identity In South Dallas, Safa Sayeed Khan

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

Fair Park, a neighborhood of South Dallas, has experienced historical displacement, urban neglect, and pedestrian safety inequities, especially along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (MLK Blvd). This boulevard is a vital entryway to Fair Park and a center for local businesses, attracting significant foot traffic. However, it currently lacks essential pedestrian safety improvements. (Dallas Examiner, 2023). Due to its high crash rate, poor sidewalks, lack of crosswalks, and poor lighting, MLK Blvd has been identified as one of Dallas' most dangerous pedestrian areas, despite being an essential vehicle and pedestrian corridor that connects residents to Fair Park (Phillips, 2024; "South …

Correlating Csr Theory And Soil Texture To Bridge The Gap In Ecological Planting Strategies For Landscape Architecture, James E. Theiss

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

Many studies are focused on the benefits of including natural and ecoregional landscape design within urban habitats; however, a focused approach to how landscape architects can begin including ecological applications within their planting designs has not been fully assessed. Once the knowledge gap between ecology and how landscape architects plan landscape plantings is fully realized, research on the benefits of bringing nature back to urban environments can be thoroughly assessed. It is common knowledge that landscape design involves creating aesthetically pleasing plant combinations based on simple site characteristics that can influence how a plant grows (Tabassum S. et al., 2020; …

Breathing New Life Into Main Street Garden: A Design To Showcase Native Forb Flowering Lawns For A More Sustainable Downtown Dallas, Tx, Peter E. Wagner

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

Lawns are a landscape staple that dominate urban and suburban spaces. While they are often criticized, for many good reasons, their general popularity and acceptance are undeniable. Aesthetic preference, simple maintenance, low upfront cost, and high recreational value make lawns a ubiquitous feature in urban design (Ignatieva et al., 2017). However, from an environmental standpoint they are immensely costly and contribute significantly to pollution (Smetana & Crittenden 2014). Ecologically speaking, they contribute very little to local biomes and, with their prevalence in rural and suburban settings, they displace large swaths of native habitat. Despite rigorous research and well-articulated arguments against …

A First Model Foundation Design Of Wood Pillar In Banjarmasin Swampland, Nursyarif Agusniansyah, Gusti Novi Sarbini, Akbar Rahman, Muhammad Tharziansyah

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Banjarmasin's swampland presents distinct characteristics that make it suitable for constructing homes, but it also requires special attention, especially concerning the foundation. The soil in this area often has extremely low carrying capacity, which poses a significant challenge for construction. Mistakes in choosing construction materials, coupled with mismatched building loads and inadequate foundation functions, often result in foundation failures—a common cause of building collapses. As the complexity and functionality of buildings increase, the need for more thoughtful house design becomes more crucial. The commonly used wooden pile foundation, while popular, has limited load-bearing capacity, necessitating modifications to enhance its strength. …

Sit Down, But Not For Too Long, Laura Yam

ENGS 15.11: Design and Education

This lesson introduces undergraduate students to the concept of hostile architecture through an in-depth exploration of anti-homeless bench design in urban environments. It aims to help students identify both visible and disguised design features that deter unhoused individuals from using public spaces, while encouraging critical reflection on the ethical, social, and cultural implications of these practices.

Building Design - Bsc App Tools For Structural Systems, Jens G. Pohl

Architecture

Relationship to Building Science (BSc) App: In the domain of Building Science (BSc), this paper focuses on building design principles related to building loads and the conceptual analysis and approximate sizing of structural members and structural systems. It provides direct access to a BSc App that offers more than 420 calculation and information functions in the entire range of building science areas, comprising daylighting, artificial lighting, noise control, room acoustics, climate and thermal comfort, solar energy, and structural systems (https://research.chobugroup.com/buildingscience/analyzer/).

Information Content: The paper briefly explains the structural concepts and principles that underlie the selection and approximate sizing of structural …

Influence Of Sociocultural Aspects And Home Modification On Fall Risks Mitigation Among The Elderly In Thailand, Sumavalee Chindapol

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

This study investigates the impact of sociocultural dimensions on home modifications aimed at mitigating fall risks among elderly individuals residing in community settings. Personal measurements and questionnaire interviews were conducted across five regions in Thailand. Additionally, fall risk assessments were performed on the households of the elderly participants. These assessments incorporated both personal health factors and environmental risks associated with falls, resulting in quantifiable scores. The factors included health conditions, body size, sociocultural factors such as family conditions, physical-cultural aspects of elevated houses, bathroom and bedroom. The research revealed that these factors are significantly associated with fall risk (ρ <0.01), except body dimensions. Differences in body size among elderly individuals in different regions were significantly related to incidences of fall risk (ρ <0.05 in Chiang Mai female, Khonkaen male, Rangsit female, and Songkhla female). The contribution of this research is that different regions have varying body limitations and living culture. It was concluded that elderly females in Chiang Mai are at the highest risk of falling due to body shrinkage, residing in vernacular houses with hazards, and living alone. Overall, universal design may not be directly applicable for home modification in each region.  Consequently, the study suggested that home modifications alone may not offer a comprehensive solution for mitigating fall risks as sociocultural factors related to living conditions also play a significant role in shaping these outcomes.

Sales Rate Prediction For Condominiums In The Bangkok Metropolitan Region Using Deep Learning : Identification Of Determinants And Model Validation, Kongkoon Tochaiwat, Patcharida Seniwong

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

The sales rate is very important information for condominium design and development processes. However, predicting it accurately requires substantial expertise and experience. This research investigated the use of a Deep Learning model to predict condominium sales rates and explored various determinants that influence sales rates. The research was done by (1) identifying the determinant factors from the literature review, (2) collecting 199 data from market survey reports, (3) creating a Deep Learning model that can predict the sales rate of a condominium by its determinant factors, and (4) verifying the model by checking its coefficient of determination (R2 value). The …

Restoring Tranquility : Tackling Traffic Noise For Enhanced Comfort In Indonesia Kaya Park, Semarang City, Indonesia, David Suwarno Kusweanto, Natania Nysa Pertiwi N. S., Eldisya Martha Jebatu

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

The comfort of a landscape can be seen from the microclimate and traffic noise in the landscape. Traffic noise, including tire and engine noise, is a common disturbance, particularly in cities, and can lead to diseases. Indonesia Kaya Park, located in Mugassari, Semarang City, is an urban park and public space managed by the Djarum Foundation. Despite numerous studies evaluating its accessibility and biophilic elements, the condition of traffic noise nor potential interventions have been considered. The research question aims to understand the traffic noise condition of Indonesia Kaya Park and identify necessary interventions. The study used a mixed methodology, …

Evaluating And Optimizing Acoustical Reverberation Time And Material Cost For Classrooms Using Building Information Modeling (Bim) And Generative Design (Gd) Tools, Chavanont Khosakitchalert, Taki Eddine Seghier

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Reverberation time (RT) measures how long sound takes to decay in a space, affecting speech intelligibility and sound quality. Calculating RT using Sabine’s formula is time-consuming and error-prone due to manual extraction of room volume and material surface areas. Balancing RT and cost further complicates material selection. This paper automates RT calculation and optimization using Building Information Modeling (BIM) and generative design (GD). Sound absorption coefficients are input into a BIM model’s material properties, and visual programming (VP) extracts room geometries, materials, and absorption coefficients to compute RT and material costs. A multi-objective optimization algorithm in Autodesk GD identifies the …

The Impact Of Home Environmental Hazards On Subjective Health Among Healthy Elderly Adults In Thailand, Arunya Tuicomepee, Kitti-On Sirisuk, Juthatip Wiwattanapantuwong, Somnuke Gulsatitporn, Trirat Jarutach

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Thailand's aging population includes a growing number of near-centenarians and centenarians living at home. Grounded in Lawton’s Ecological Theory of Aging, this study aimed to examine whether an unsafe home environment (outdoor, indoor, and additional hazards) has an indirect negative effect on subjective health among elderly Thai adults. Participants were 141 elderly (ages 80–112) but healthy adults, most of whom were living in well-maintained, single-story homes. Instruments used in the study included the Self-Rated Health Question, the Social Contact Scale, the Loneliness Question, and the Home Environmental Hazards Checklist. Findings reveal common indoor hazards such …

The Sociopolitical Manifestation Of Built Environment In Rural Thailand : Holistic Development For An Aging Society?, Sirima Thongsawang, Ampa Kaewkumkong

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Changes in demographic structures in an aging society have diminished farming employment and incomes of old residents of Talat Mai subdistrict, Angthong Province, Thailand. Under decentralization, the local government assumes primary development responsibility in managing the basic needs of citizens. This case study demonstrates how the local government uses the built environment—Wiset Chai Chan Historical Park Royalty Monument —as an instrument for community development to enhance life quality for old residents. This study examines ways in which the park's construction as a built environment are shaped and consequences due to community development as an aging society. Data was gathered by …

A Framework For Ordinary Urban Heritage Mapmaking : The Case Of Trok In Rattanakosin, Bangkok’S Historic Center, Prin Jhearmaneechotechai

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

This research offers an alternative mapmaking framework for Ordinary Urban Heritage (OUH), specifically applied to the Trok (local alleys) of Bangkok's Rattanakosin district. Departing from conventional approaches that might map Trok solely as pedestrian urban patterns, this framework uniquely explores Trok as dynamic urban spaces that enable the manifestation of diverse everyday heritages, including temporary commercial activities, people’s way of living, and sacred spaces, thereby revealing a richer understanding of OUH. The framework's development is grounded in the analysis of existing mapping practices, historical maps, and non-participatory surveys, incorporating five key OUH selection criteria sensitive to these dynamic manifestations: (1) …

Balancing Authenticity And Adaptive Reuse : Resident-Centric Conservation Strategies For Huizhou Traditional Dwellings, Weiyi Zhang, Nooriati Taib, Mariati Taib

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Amid rapid urbanization and modernization, traditional Huizhou dwellings face significant challenges in balancing the preservation of architectural authenticity with the practical needs of adaptive reuse. This study investigates the tensions between maintaining cultural and structural integrity and meeting evolving lifestyle and functional demands. Adopting a resident-centered perspective, the research employs a quantitative survey method, collecting 390 valid responses from two UNESCO-listed villages. A structural equation model (SEM) is used to examine the influence of conservation status, government policy, value recognition, and authenticity on residents’ perceptions of adaptive reuse. While findings indicate strong resident support for preserving traditional architectural styles and …

Tradition And Modernity : The Adaptation Of Outdoor Spaces In Traditional Balinese Dwelling, Kristanti Paramita, Aswin Indraprastha, Agus Hariyadi, Yandi Andri Yatmo, Paramita Atmodiwirjo, Rini Suryantini

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

This study investigates the dialectical relation between tradition and current everyday domestic practices in traditional Balinese dwellings that manifest through the spatial adaptation of their outdoor spaces. Traditional Balinese dwellings consist of a compound collection of partly open pavilions surrounded by open spaces, following the symbolic classification of Balinese cosmology, Sanga Mandala. Dwelling adaptation becomes necessary to enable the support of the changing household needs throughout time, aiming to capture a process that emerges in the current traditional dwellings bounded by a particular cultural order. This study focuses on the spatial adaptation strategies of the outdoor spaces as a …