Category: Architecture, Geography and Urban Studies
Adaptive Architecture in Sensitive Ecological Contexts: A Case Study of Firefly Conservation in Taro Village, Bali
The concept that “nature is the best architect” is widely acknowledged in environmental design. When architects encounter design challenges, they frequently look to nature for inspiration. This practice of deriving ideas from natural examples and integrating them into architectural solutions is a well-established and effective approach within the field. However, the challenge intensifies when we …
The Role of Rural Aesthetics and Cultural Practices in Promoting Active Ageing in Northern Thai Community
This study examines the impact of rural aesthetics and cultural practices on fostering active ageing in a case study village of Baan Pong Nuea, a rural community in Northern Thailand. Focusing on a high proportion of elderly residents, the research explores how the physical environment, cultural traditions, and social structures contribute to health and well-being …
Lifestyle-Oriented Urban Collage, the Future of Hong Kong “Tong Lau”? A Case Study of Tai Hang District
Emerging in mid-19th century Hong Kong, Tong Lau represents a unique architectural heritage blending Chinese traditions with colonial influences, characterised by ground-floor shops and upper-floor residences. Despite their historical significance, many Tong Lau face demolition due to intensive urbanisation. This research examines how Tai Hang District, a historic neighbourhood in Hong Kong, demonstrates an alternative …
Revealing the Spatial Continuum: Definition, Typologies, Elements, Possible Interpretations, and Contexts From the Kuroshio
The spatial continuum is an intangible architectural element that can observe human-environment connections achieved by exploring the role of environments, particularly the ocean. The ocean’s influence on social health is recognised through the contexts brought by the sea-to-land evolution of the Japanese and Philippine vernacular, which established the Kuroshio as the shared oceanic force between …
Learning by Doing: Enhancing the Educational Experience of Architectural Design by Using Collaborative and Experiential Means
The paper aims to identity opportunities to enhance the learning experience in the study of architectural design by using collaborative and experiential approaches where students learn by doing. Based on a case study, the paper analyses an activity where students examined various apartment typologies and modelled them on 1:1 scale using simple materials. The exercise …
Inclination Towards Tree Canopy: Architecture Origin, Space Demarcator, Dwelling and Art
Architecture allows us to position ourselves culturally. The moment when the canopy of a tree is translated into architecture is the moment of its positioning in the landscape and the emergence of the idea of building. In the conflict between architecture and landscape, the canopy is the element that connects the exterior and interior architecture. …
Religious Prosperity Calling Cultural Progress: Architectural Discourses on Korean Catholic Churches (1979–94)
After the Korean War (1950–53), the South-Korean Catholic population increased unprecedentedly, despite the Confucian roots of the nation. From 1979, this Catholic boom reached a climax, which was accompanied by the 200th anniversary of the Korean Catholic Church in 1984 and celebrated with commemorative cultural events and projects. Pope John Paul II visited Seoul twice, …