Architecture Commons^™

Landscape Improvement To Promote Cultural Landscape Values Toward Sustainability : A Case Study Of Wat Khongkhaliab, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand, Wirut Thinnakorn, Tanakorn Anurak, Pittida Phibul, Parinya Kangkasara, Sahad Satik

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Wat Khongkhaliab is where King Taksin the Great first set foot in Nakhon Si Thammarat, a province in the south of Thailand, during the Thonburi period. Due to the devotion of the local populace and the temple, there is a project to construct a monument to King Taksin the Great and improve the temple's landscape. This study investigates the issues and the impacts of the construction of the King Taksin monument within the Wat Khongkhaliab area. Additionally, the study proposes a sustainable landscaping model to enhance the cultural heritage values at Wat Khongkhaliab. The study employed concepts of cultural heritage …

A Comparative Analysis Of 21st Century Housing Development Planning In Asian Metropolises, Montouch Maglumtong, Kundoldibya Panitchpakdi, Querida Khotcharee

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Housing development planning in the 21st century involves addressing diverse challenges and opportunities across different regions of the world. Asia is the fastest-growing economic region, with many metropolises containing vast housing and urban development, including high-density living, aging populations, economic disparities, and natural disasters. This article aims to analyze and compare the housing development in the 21st century in major Asian metropolises, including Beijing, Tokyo, Singapore, and Bangkok, specifically in terms of housing policies, housing organizations, and laws and regulations. The study used secondary data from documents, research, theses, and related articles, along with interviews of experts to synthesize the …

Urban Land Expansion And Economic Development In Thailand From 2000 To 2020, Nutchapon Prasertsoong, Nattapong Puttanapong

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

This study utilizes information gathered from satellites and economic sources spanning two decades (2000–2020) to estimate the effect of income shocks from industrialization on urbanization at the provincial level in Thailand. To measure urbanization, the study relies on the observable increase in urban land area as seen from space, serving as a proxy for the country's urban growth. Four regression models—fixed-effects, spatial autoregressive, spatial error model, and dynamic panel—are employed to assess the short-term impact of income shock on urbanization. The results suggested that increased productivity from industrialization positively affected urbanization in Thailand. This study also revealed that natural factors …

Modeling Hydrological Impacts Of Land- Use Change In The Sam Ngao Watershed Using Swat And Ca-Markov, Banchongsak Faksomboon, Nares Khamcharoen, Thipphaphone Keoviyavong

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

This study investigates the hydrological consequences of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) transformations within the Sam Ngao Watershed (SNgW) from 2000 to 2020. Utilizing the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), the research simulates watershed hydrological responses to observed LULC dynamics. To forecast future hydrological conditions, LULC scenarios for 2040 and 2060 were generated using a hybrid Cellular Automata-Markov Chain (CA-Markov) modeling approach. A hybrid classification methodology enhanced the accuracy of LULC mapping from Landsat imagery, integrating multiple classification techniques. Results reveal that LULC alterations between 2000 and 2020 significantly influenced the watershed’s hydrological regime, including declines in dry …

Neighborhood Connectedness Through Physical-Spatial Dimensions : A Case Study Of Communities Near Eastern Industrial Estates In Thailand, Tipsuda Janjamlah, Peeradorn Kaewlai

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Neighborhood connectedness is a key dimension of community well-being and resilience, yet prior research has focused largely on social ties while under examining the role of physical–spatial environments. Drawing on place attachment theory, this study investigates how spatial features shape neighborhood connectedness in the context of urban transformation near a major industrial estate in eastern Thailand. Data were collected from 411 residents across four neighborhoods, categorized as long-established “old” communities and recently developed “new” ones. A second-order confirmatory factor analysis was employed to develop and validate a multidimensional model of connectedness, comprising proximal facilities, pedestrian friendliness, vibrancy, pleasantness, road network, …

Policy Mapping For Direction On Green Vertical Housing Development In Indonesia, Dewi Larasati, Furry Andini Wilis, Dewi Nurhayati, Roiswahid Dimas Pangestu, Allis Nurdini, Arnott Ferels

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Indonesia’s rapid urbanization has accelerated the construction of vertical public housing as a state-led response to growing urban housing needs. Compared to the general housing sector, these projects hold strategic importance due to their large scale, policy alignment, and reliance on public financing. However, this expansion intensifies resource consumption and environmental degradation, particularly in the absence of mandatory green building (GB) standards. Although GB initiatives have been introduced across multiple sectors, their fragmented implementation and weak enforcement diminish their overall effectiveness. Vertical public housing, therefore, presents a key opportunity for policy innovation, where governmental authority can effectively institutionalize sustainability practices. …

Dwelling With The Fault : Cultural Landscape And Spatial Formation In Kampung Batu Lonceng, Indonesia, Widjaja Martokusumo, Rr. Diah Asih Purwaningrum, Medria Shekar Rani, M. Zaini Dahlan, Budi Faisal, Izazaya Binta, Irwan Meilano, Hirohide Kobayashi

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Since UNESCO formalized the concept of cultural landscapes in 1992, heritage discourse has shifted from monument-centric approaches toward values-based perspectives that foreground the dynamic interplay among people, place, and ecology. Within this framework, cultural landscapes offer a critical lens for understanding rural settlements not only as spatial configurations but also as embodiments of intangible knowledge and ecological adaptation.  This study investigates Kampung Batu Lonceng, a vernacular settlement situated along the active Lembang Fault in West Java, Indonesia. With historical traces dating back to the Neolithic period, the kampung exemplifies how spatial formation is shaped simultaneously by geomorphological vulnerabilities and long-standing …

Contextualizing Tree Defects And Risks In An Urban Tropical Campus, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, Sirintra Vanno

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Tree failure poses a risk to property and people; however, there is limited data on tropical tree risk assessment, hindering effective risk management. Chulalongkorn University (CU) is an urban tropical forest campus in the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. The campus provides essential cultural, social, and ecological services but is subject to structural failure due to extreme weather and climate change that can cause severe consequences for property and public safety. This study aimed to carry out a tree risk assessment at CU using a form based on that of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).  Altogether, 4,255 trees representing 256 …

Automating Dynamic Scaffolding Construction Progress Tracking Using Deep Learning-Based Semantic Image Segmentation, Natthapol Saovana, Chavanont Khosakitchalert

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Scaffolding plays a critical role in construction by providing safe access to elevated work areas, yet it is often overlooked in progress monitoring and omitted from reports and building information models (BIM) due to its temporary and dynamic nature. This study presents a deep learning–based semantic segmentation system for tracking scaffolding installation progress, distinguishing between scaffolding with and without safety sheets. A custom dataset of annotated site images was used to train the model, and performance was evaluated on both validation and test sets. The system achieved real-time processing speeds of 33.81 Frame Per Second (FPS) (validation) and 31.28 FPS …

Fiction Of Form : Beaux-Arts As Projective Grammar In Yang Tingbao’S Architecture (1930–1981), Tengzhou Feng

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

This article proposes “fiction of form” to examine how architectural form mediates ideological pressures from institutional mandates, state imperatives, and professional discourse while sustaining cultural resonance in China (1930–1981). Through a comparative reading of plans, elevations, and spatial sequences, the article traces how Yang’s Beaux-Arts–inspired design principles were adapted across three Chinese political regimes, as evidenced by Tsinghua University Library Extension (1930), Peace Hotel (Beijing, 1951), and Wuyi Hotel (Fujian, 1981). Respectively, these cases demonstrate institutional legibility achieved through axial order and hierarchical sequencing in the Republican Period (1912–1949); functional alignment via compositional neutrality and façade discipline under early PRC …

Quantifying The Restorative Effects Of Green–Water–Hardscape Ratios : Evidence From A Simulated Landscape Experiment In Chiang Mai, Hay Thar Htar Ei

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Modern life presents significant stressors that negatively impact mental well-being. While the importance of mental health is increasingly recognized, effective stress management strategies are still crucial. This study explores the potential of landscape perception as a natural intervention to enhance proximal restorative outcomes. By investigating the physiological and psychological responses of individuals to diverse landscape stimuli, we aim to understand how specific combinations of landscape elements (e.g., green spaces, water features) can promote psychological restoration. The study design intended to collect psychological and physiological (heart rate and blood pressure) responses, measured before and after stress-inducing tests and landscape exposure. Scores …

“Para-Para Api” : Vernacular Architecture Of Nutmeg Farmers’ Settlements In The Banda Islands, Maluku, Indonesia, Joko Adianto, Rizki Hermawan, Hendrajaya Isnaeni, Christina Leigh Geros, Salsa Muafiroh, Muhamad Iko Kersapati, Nurachman Iriyanto, Mohamad Atqa

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

This article examines the Para-Para Api (PPA), a modest yet enduring form of vernacular architecture developed by nutmeg-farming households in the Banda Islands, Maluku. While spice-route scholarship has largely focused on palaces, forts, and trading ports, little attention has been given to the everyday structures that sustain nutmeg production. The study investigates the architectural characteristics and socio-cultural roles of the PPA, particularly how vernacular building practices adapted influences from colonial-era smokehouses within a household-scale context. Using qualitative methods that combine field surveys, architectural documentation, and semi-structured interviews with nutmeg farmers across several Bandanese settlements, the research analyzes construction techniques, spatial …

The Radiation Oncology Department : Design Guidelines, Implementation Challenges, And Lessons Learned In Thai Public Hospitals, Kullathida Sangnin, Traiwat Viryasiri, Vikrom Laovisutthichai, Noramon Panjapiyakul, Sasipa Onthong

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

The radiation oncology department (ROD) is a specialized healthcare unit utilizing advanced radiation technologies to deliver precise cancer treatment, which demand complex coordination of space, safety, and multidisciplinary workflows. Although several ROD design guidelines exist, they are tailored to developed economies, remain piecemeal, and lack comprehensive feedback from practitioners in other socio-cultural conditions regarding their implementation process, difficulties, and outcomes. This research thus (1) synthesizes ROD design guidelines, (2) investigates the implementation challenges, and (3) collects insights and experiences from healthcare professionals involved in ROD operations. A mixed-method approach is employed, incorporating literature review, construction drawing analysis, site visits, and …

The Felt City : Sensory–Cognitive Mapping Of Urban Atmospheres In Izmir, Turkey, Çağla Duygu Üstün, Fatma Ipek Ek

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

This study investigates the multi-sensory atmospheric qualities of two pedestrian corridors in İzmir, Turkey—Kıbrıs Şehitleri Avenue and Bornova Street—and examines how sensory input interacts with emotional and cognitive processes in shaping urban experience. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines an online questionnaire (n = 120) for case selection with in-situ aesthetic fieldwork based on guided walks and semi-structured elicitation (n = 20). The analytical framework is based on Böhme’s concept of atmosphere generators and is further extended through the notion of moodmosphere to capture cognitive–affective interpretations such as memory, attachment, and personal associations. Within this framework, the felt city …

Interchangeable Sensorial Encounters With Nature In Older Adults’ Domestic Space In Indonesia, Paramita Atmodiwirjo, Ruth Kartika Purnasasmita, Paramita Atmodiwirjo, Yandi Andri Yatmo, Demet Dincer

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

This study investigates how older individuals encounter nature through sensorial contact in their domestic settings. It argues that nature should be integrated into the older adults’ domestic spaces to foster connections with nature that promote active living and improve their well-being. Such interactions with nature are captured by understanding the relationships between the degrees of connection with nature: viewing nature, being in nature, and doing in nature. This study was conducted through field observations and interviews with 24 older adults with varying physical capacities and levels of independence across 15 households in Jakarta and West Java. It further maps the …

Integrating Bangkok’S Western Canals For Micro-Mobility And Last-Mile Connectivity : A Spatial Analysis Of Man-Powered Paddle-Boat Movement, Sasima Chaichulee, Puntra Amphan, Parthorn Satitanon, Pasinee Jongraktanakit, Patiphol Yodsurang

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

This study presents an intentionally extreme analytical scenario to expose gaps in urban mobility planning by evaluating the potential of Bangkok’s western canal system to function as vernacular micro-mobility infrastructure for last-mile connectivity. The research provides the first empirical survey of canal-based mobility conducted using self-owned, man-powered paddle boats operated by local residents, generating primary data on everyday waterborne movement. Using geotagged field surveys and GIS-based spatial analysis, the study maps boat activity, access landings, navigability constraints, and connectivity to public transport. The results reveal concentrated corridors of active vernacular mobility alongside extensive segments constrained by sedimentation, fragmented hydrology, and …

Green Project Finance For Infrastructure And Building Construction: Instruments And Benchmarks, Yunping Liang

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

It is counterintuitive that both the practice and research on green project finance for infrastructure and building construction are ascendant and still have limited precedents, considering that individually, the two parts (i.e., project finance and sustainability in the built environment) are both familiar to the communities. To narrow the gap and facilitate the financing of the built environment’s sustainable transformation, this study systematically reviews the common instruments for financing green infrastructure and building projects. Benchmarking questions distinguishing the profile of green project finance from common construction project finance are developed based on the literature review and then are used for …

Ultrabaroque Grandeur: Examining The Churrigueresque In Spanish Architecture From The Seventeenth And Eighteenth Centuries, Sarah Staeben

Capstone Showcase

Following the Protestant Reformation, Spain was in a unique position compared to the rest of Europe. The importance of Catholicism was intrinsic to Spanish society by this point, as it was under King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, aptly dubbed the Catholic Monarchs, that the Christians reconquered the Iberian peninsula in 1492, after an eight century rule by Arab-Muslims. In the centuries that followed, Spanish architecture reached new levels of grandeur in the wake of reformed Catholic doctrine. Following the motto “docere, delectare, movere”(to teach, to delight, to move), architects were urged to convey the Church’s power and garner new supporters. …

Building Design - Bsc App Tools For Noise Control And Room Acoustics, 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 sound environments that are conducive to comfortable speech communication and the enjoyment of music. 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 principles of physics that underlie the propagation of sound at a level that is …

Building Design - Bsc App Tools For Thermal Comfort, Control, Heat Flow And Solar Energy, Jens G. Pohl

Architecture

Relationship to Building Science (BSc) App: In the domain of Building Science (BSc), this paper focuses on thermal comfort fundamentals, climate concepts and design principles, and solar energy opportunities that should be considered during the early stages of building design. It provides direct access to a BSc App that offers more than 420 calculation and information functions (https://research.chobugroup.com/buildingscience/analyzer/) 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.

Information Content: The paper briefly explains the principles of biology and physics that underlie thermal comfort at …