Causes of Buildings＇ Abandonment in the Years 1960-1990

When a relatively new building is not being fully utilized, there must have existed, at one time, a change in its initial conditions. The aim of this research is to study the changes in the initial conditions which cause buildings to be underutilized and analyze whether the demolition was justified. Causes can be found in problems due to the building＇s management, as the owners make the main decisions concerning the buildings. Additionally problems are due to the location where the building is constructed because site conditions changes a lot in one generation. The use of the building can also be a cause of abandonment as the original use can end before the lifespan of the building. Architectural style can be dated as fashions and styles change rapidly. Finally, causes can be in the physical condition of the buildings： structure, construction, installations and adherence to current regulations. In this article, the authors provide guidelines demonstrating how buildings of a past generation which were initially considered obsolete, can be properly reused.     

A Study on the Architectural Application of Aerogel

As the building energy saving is more and more important, high-performing insulation like aerogel will be required in buildings to improve their thermal environment and to save building energy. This study conducted the literature survey on the aerogel blanket and presents the architectural application considering its high-insulating property. If aerogel is applied to a building as an envelope insulation, its thickness could be reduced to as half as that of existing insulation such as polystyrene foam board or glassfiber. Currently, aerogel is largely used as a thermal breaker in thermal bridges in buildings. It is still too expensive to be used as a main insulation of whole building envelopes. Thanks to the advantages of aerogel blanket such as low thermal conductivity, broad temperature range for use, excellent water repellent property and fire resistance, easiness of moving and applying, it has much possibility in the respect of its building application.     

Design and Management of Building＇s Resources

The developed modem control systems and buildings management resource systems would be effective if they are based on previously established optimal conditions during the building design. This is one of the key issues for a responsible architecture. The focus of this paper is on sustainable design methods and techniques for saving resources and their management throughout the building lifecycle. The main subject of the present article is the characteristics of these methods and their fundamental role in sustainable resource management during the building operation. The results which are based on conducted case studies of European and international practice in the construction of sustainable buildings are implemented here. Key features of a comprehensive approach for design and construction are outlined via comparative analysis, as well as various systems for the evaluation of sustainability for already constructed buildings. The mostly used criteria and indicators for sustainability are systematized, including those related to resource consumption. By analyzing a specific example, the role of sustainable design methods is justified as an important prerequisite for effective management of building resources in the process building maintenance. According to the conducted studies, during the longest life cycle period of a building, by implementation of control systems and resource management of building, the costs are successfully optimized. Specific directions that prove the effectiveness of such systems are systematized in the paper. Innovative approaches, complex methods and measures for design and management of buildings resources are presented as results of this study.     

Revolutionary Objects： Pure Forms and Disorder in Ivan Leonidov＇s Work

This paper analyzes compositional strategies of Russian avant-garde architecture from the 1920s and 1930s through the study of the work of Ivan Leonidov （1902-1959）, one of the leading and most prolific architects of this movement. In this study, Leonidov＇s work is located within its predominant architectural context, and his work is interpreted not only as a reaction against the domineering principles of classicism, but as an evolution and selective continuation of key concepts directly translated from architectural academism. The issues of the use of pure forms--a radical stance at odds with the commonly accepted morphologies of that era--associated with the principles of displaced symmetry, or disorder, are closely looked at and evaluated against both their architectural and political values within the context of post-revolutionary Russia. It is argued that the characteristic of weightlessness in his large-scale planning proposals is revelatory of a particular desire to invade space with political presence, thus demanding to reconsider the relation between space and architectural objects. Parallels are also drawn from French Revolutionary architecture, and from the work of Claude-Nicolas Ledoux in particular, whose search for purity and autonomy in architectural morphology preceded that of Soviet architecture. As Leonidov＇s legacy mainly consists of drawings of buildings that never got built, his influence can often be felt in the work of other architects which until today have drawn formal elements and compositional strategies from his relatively vast volume of un-built work.     

Conceptual Model for Collaborative Planning in Iran with Emphasis on the Role of Urban Planners： A Case Study of Anzali＇s Development Strategy

Nowadays, public participation is one of the most important factors to improve the feasibility, legitimacy and quality of urban plans. In Iran, due to lack of comprehensive understanding about the participation notion and its necessary socio-economic and political infrastructures, participatory decision-making has faced with some serious challenges in both processes of preparing and implementing. The present paper focuses on providing practical strategies for preparing collaborative urban plans in Iran＇s conditions. Also it seeks to answer this question： What is the role of planners to prepare a real collaborative plan？ It is assumed that a conceptual model for collaborative planning can be fitted with Iran＇s conditions by means of integrating the fundamental philosophic ideas of participatory planning such as theories of Paul Michel Foucault and Jürgen Habermas, given the fact that the present situation of collaborative planning in Iran needs a supportive theory which is compatible with power structures of Iranian urban planning system. In this regard, the Habermas＇ theory of “communicative action” and the Foucault＇s theory of “power structures” are reviewed by a comparative analysis methodology to present an integrated conceptual model for collaborative planning in Iran＇s condition. At the end, the CDS （City Development Strategy）---making process of Anzali City of Iran is analysed to examine this claim in the practice. The results yield that enabling urban planners to act as communication facilitators during planning can direct the collaborative planning in Iran from theory to a real practice by means of integrating the positive aspects of communication and power.     

Tall building configuration effects on their response to earthquake loading

This paper studies and analyzes the response and behavior of regular and irregular building structures in earthquake zones. The non-linear dynamic response of tall buildings structures were obtained using five simulated models, which were subjected to UBC code dynamic and static equivalent earthquake loads. The maximum response of the structural models were computed and analyzed in order to verify the effects of building configuration on drift results. Drift results agreed with codes recommendations regarding building configuration and showed that regular buildings performance in resisting earthquake forces is better than that of irregular buildings.     

Determination of the Scale of Damage in the Wastewater Tunnels Due to Earthquake： A Case Study

The pre-determination of the effect of earthquake in subsurface structures is gaining importance increasingly. One of the main factors in determination of the damages due to earthquakes in subsurface structures, especially tunnels are horizontal acceleration value. The aim of the study is to put forward the scale of damage due to earthquake in a wastewater tunnel in Istanbul, the most populated city of Turkey, under construction. Possible damage caused by earthquake will be determined by utilizing the information about the route of the wastewater tunnel analyzed in the study.     

Behavior of Millstone Masonry Vaults Strengthened by Composite Materials

Sewerage systems first appeared in Paris in the middle of 19th century. Even if the majority of structures are still in working order, their general state will deteriorate inexorably, and as reconstruction is not always possible for cost and social impact reasons, rehabilitation is a solution adopted by many clients. It is necessary to resort to new rehabilitation techniques. Reinforcement by bonding composite materials has many advantages compared to other techniques. The objective of the experimental campaign presented in this paper is to study the addition of a lining by means of mortar reinforced by thin composite materials so as to restore masonry structures. To that purpose, crushing tests on masonry vaults have been carried out. The application of a lining made of mortar reinforced with composite materials has allowed increasing the breaking load and delaying the occurrence of the first cracks. This article presents the characterization of the materials. Moreover, the results of the breaking tests applied to masonry vaults are shown in this paper. A comparison with a traditional type of rehabilitation by a 6 cm-thick shotcrete lining will be performed.     

Durability problems of lining structures for Xiamen Xiang’an subsea tunnel in China

Durability problem of reinforced concrete for underground structures is a hot issue in the field of structural engineering.For underground structures,the prediction of structural service life and methodology for durability design are needed to estimate structural durability.Taking the case of Xiamen Xiang’an subsea tunnel as background,which is designed to meet the requirement of 100-year service life,the influential factors on tunnel lining durability are analyzed.Under the criteria of crack controlling and bearing capacity of lining structures,the theoretical service life of Xiamen Xiang’an subsea tunnel lining is studied.The regulations,which are needed for the diffusion capability of chloride ions in concrete by the relevant diffusion tests,are proposed.After a quick corrosion test,the bearing capacity test on eccentric short columns is implemented to investigate the variation rules in the bearing capacity of models with time.Influence of the corrosion degree of steel bars on the bearing capacity of models is also investigated.Based on the results of model tests,the acceleration ratio between the quick corrosion in laboratory test and the natural corrosion environments is established.Thus,the natural service life of subsea tunnel lining structures can be obtained by means of laboratory tests.Then,the proposed method using this modified model is employed to predict the service life of tunnel lining structures.Finally,the design and construction measures for improving the durability of lining structures of subsea tunnel are introduced.The proposed method in the present study based on a real engineering project is superior to those with only theoretical assumptions,and would be more suitable for similar projects.     

Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Delamination Repair Plaster Applied to Historical Masonry Building

Often masonry walls of historical buildings are subject to rising damp effects due to capillary or rain infiltrations. In the time, their cyclic action produces decay and delamination of historical plasters. An experimental laboratory procedure for the pre-qualification of repair mortars is described. Long-term plaster delamination frequently occurs because of the mechanical incompatibility of new repair mortars. The tested mortars are suitable for new dehumidified plasters applied to historical masonry walls. Compression static tests were carried out on composite specimens stSone block-repair mortar, which specific geometry can test the de-bonding process of mortar in adherence with historical masonry structure. A numerical simulation based on the cohesive crack model was used to follow the experimental data, in order to describe the evolutionary phenomenon of de-bonding as a function of a small number of parameters. This method supplies useful indication for selecting the product that is best in keeping with the mechanical characteristics of the historical material, thereby avoiding errors associated with materials that are not mechanically compatible. Currently, the methodology is being used at Sacro Monte di Varallo Special Natural Reserve （UNESCO heritage site） in Piedmont （Italy）.     

Natural Ventilation by Air Captors and Extractors Sheds in Hospitals in Brazil： Wind Tunnel Measurements

Natural ventilation is an efficient design strategy for the passive cooling of buildings, especially in tropical countries such as Brazil. Among the ventilation strategies, sheds can be highlighted. These structures consist of roof openings that work as air captors or extractors depending on their location in relation to the prevailing wind directions. The hospitals of the Sarah Network, designed by the Brazilian architect Joao Filgueiras Lima, Lele, are worldwide known for using these elements to improve natural ventilation. This paper analyses the natural ventilation performance of sheds for air collecting and extracting in two Sarah hospitals located in the cities of Salvador and Rio de Janeiro. In each building, the sheds were analyzed for air extracting and collecting. The analyses were carried out by reduced physical models in an atmospheric boundary layer wind tunnel. The wind velocity was measured at external and internal points of the buildings, using hot-wire anemometers. The results show that the wards in Rio de Janeiro hospital are 17% more ventilated than the ones in the Salvador hospital. However, this difference occurs not only because of the collecting sheds but also because of set of openings and the configuration of the covering in hospitals in Rio de Janeiro.     

Seismic Vulnerability of Building Construction Site

Building construction site plays an important role in the economic aspect of a region. So any disruption due to hazard event like earthquake can cause several direct and indirect damages. Direct damages can lead to the loss of equipments and qualified persons. Indirect damages can lead to inflation and loss of purchasing power. To deal with that situation, parameters that govern the vulnerability of building construction site have been identified. Using a MCDM （multiple criteria decision making） method, the priority order of these parameters has been set. Then a PVI （partial vulnerability index） and a GVI （global vulnerability index） are proposed. These indexes allow the classification of building construction sites according to their intrinsic vulnerability and seismic vulnerability respectively that is through the use of a given classification. Several Algerian building construction sites belonging to different seismic zones were considered in order to show the applicability of the method.     

Informal Settlements： A Shape Grammar Approach

Informal urban development is seldomly covered in academic studies or professional architectural training. This article sets forth the first stage of a novel study that observes the informal city using the methodology of analysis of architecture called shape grammars. The idea is to recognize peculiarities in the occupation of the land and the volumetric features of the buildings. Rocinha favela, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is taken as a case study with the primary aim of extrapolating a set of rules for its morphological features so that these rules can be used to generate new shapes, whilst bearing in mind the issues of adaptation and transformation which are so characteristic of informal settlements. There is some expectation that this study may help improve the housing and public space in the favela and enable new housing programs to observe the way the buildings and different architectural elements combined, forming a new channel of interchange with the spatial organization of the favela.     

Energy Consumption,Thermal Performance and Thermal Comfort in Public School Buildings in Jordan

Good learning outputs in schools require an acceptable physical environment inside schools. Whatever the climatic context that surrounds any school buildings, energy flows of different types should be provided. Concerns may include thermal environment, luminous environment and acoustics environment. Types of energy used are an important variable that contributes to thermal comfort. Physical structure of the school building is another factor to be taken into consideration. This article established a relationship between thermal comfort inside schools and types of energy flows which have been consumed to maintain the level of comfort required, controlled by the building fabric and consequent economic factors that affect energy consumption of school buildings. Different approaches were applied in order to achieve the research objectives. Field surveys, field measurements and analyzing historical data were the most approaches followed to implement this study. The final outputs of this work have a national value nationwide： establishing a relationship among thermal comfort, energy flows and building fabric is of importance. Furthermore, it is of great importance to the decision maker for educational facilities. Research will also establish a wide platform based on scientific investigations for developing climate responsive school architecture in Jordan.     

Economy of RHA （Rice Husk Ash） in Concrete for Low-Cost Housing Delivery in Nigeria

Delivery of housing units in adequate quantity and quality has been the pursuits of individuals and successive governments in Nigeria. Still, the gap between demand and supply is becoming wider on daily basis due to exorbitant cost of building materials that is beyond the reach of average Nigerians. Concrete being the most acceptable construction material is expensive due to high cost of cement. Efforts made to reduce the cost of cement were to no avail, thus there is need to look elsewhere. Past researches showed that substituting cement with 15% of RHA （rice husk ash） in concrete improves the performance of concrete and reduces global warming as a result of emissions from cement production. This paper looks into the effect of using RHA as partial substitute of cement on the cost of a low-cost housing unit. Results showed that cement based construction materials are responsible for 82.58% of the total cost in which cement is responsible for 42%. When 15% RHA was used to substitute cement over N90,000 was saved, amounting to about 7% of the total cost of the building. In addition, depletion of natural resources was reduced.     

Policy Framework for the Development of Real Estate and the Real Estate Industry in China

Compared with the situation in other countries,therole played by China's real estate and real estate industry inincreasing municipal financial resources has the followingobviously different characteristics:In most countries,land in urban areas is privatelyowned,and so are buildings.Therefore,real estate revenuescome mainly through taxation.In China,however,urbanland as well as a greater part of the urban building stock are     

Augmented Reality Applied to Building Assessment with Building Information Model Visualization

AR （augmented reality） is a technology that adds information to the real world adding virtual elements to its visualization in real time. AR used in AECO （architectural, engineering, construction and operations） can contribute in augmenting visualization during design, construction and operation of the buildings. This article presents a study that applies AR to building assessment with BIM （building information） model visualization. The use of AR on existing applications for smart phones and tablets is validated. AR proposed an adaptation of the method of POE （post-occupancy evaluation） subsidized. Traditional POE process model involves three phases： planning, conducting and applying. In order to incorporate AR, it is proposed a total restructuring of the planning phase, developing the research instruments in three steps： 3D modeling, model treatment and AR application development. It was observed that for POE studies, the 3D models are in large scale and need to be detailed for precise comparison. BIM models for facility management, representing building use situation, are of the highest level of detail. A balanced point between simplicity and representativeness was the solution adopted in this experiment for uploading and downloading performance issues. This article presents and discusses findings for the new proposition for the activity of research instruments development for the planning phase of POE with AR as well as initial tests with first results and difficulties faced.     

Architectural Requirements for Improving Social Interactions in Subway Stations： An Evidence Based Design Approach

Environmental design is concerned with the function of people within an environment and their interactions. Subway stations spaces are important examples of public spaces that are in close connection with the social life of people. Also, the fact that the social interactions and relations between people and city environments are becoming indispensable for subway station space indicates that these spaces play an essential role in urban life. This paper addresses the result of a study conducted by the authors on the influential elements pivotal to the improvement of social interactions in subway stations. The theory of John Lang in Urban design with consideration of social interaction was considered in this study. The objective of the study was to identify the architectural requirements in improving social interaction between people and environment in subway station spaces according to an evidence based design approach. To do so, relevant literature in different disciplines, architecture, urban design, social sustainability and so on, were reviewed Next, the most important environmental factors which contribute to human behavior in public spaces were derived and analyzed. Data of the study were collected via questionnaires filled out by the users of Tehran＇s subway stations. The collected data were analyzed and the architectural elements/requirements for improving social interactions were classified. The results of the study indicate that in the case of architectural requirements, contribution to the improvement of social interactions, design considerations for physical and mental safety, accessibility and lighting are the most important factors.     

A Case Study for End of Life Reuse and Recycling Survey Methodologies： The Hollentalanger Cottage

Up to now, reuse and recycling of existing buildings have not been examined widely. This paper discusses the theories, methods and practicalities of buildings＇ end of life with a main focus on planning and managing reuse and recycling of existing buildings. Our aim is the realistic modelling of theoretical scenarios for end of life based on a case study. The methods of building survey, material classification and documentation for reuse, recycling and disposal of existing constructions are presented. Investigations and calculations were done on an existing cottage in the Alps. The ecologically most beneficial disposal phase of the old wooden hut is our main objective. Critical questions arise from the quality of the material and how it can be extracted, separated and balanced in an appropriate way. A systematic survey of the building by inspection of constructions and materials in iterative steps allows a detailed material balance with condition and property information. This information is crucial for scenarios and material flow analysis of demolished and rebuilt building in environmental system analysis. For future planning, the reuse and recycling of existing buildings should be integrated quite early in the planning process so that we can use the materials in the best way.     

Policy Analysis on Building Regulations and the Recovery of Earthquake and Tsunami Affected Areas

The paper examines the situation and causes of recent big earthquake and tsunami disasters especially in the case of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, and analyzes the damage to extract lessons on safety of buildings and recovery of cities from the view point of building regulations such as the Article 39 of the Building Standard Law. In addition, the Article 8 of the Ordinance of City Planning Law resulted in not so effective against tsunami in March 2011. Control mechanisms of building construction should be integrated into socio-economic, institutional, technical and other policy tools. In order to mitigate earthquake risk, all stages of building construction, from location, planning and construction to maintenance are important. Awareness creation is instrumental for building culture of safety and demands for intervention in disaster mitigation. The demands ultimately help in creating conducive environment for policy intervention, in realizing institutional mechanism of building code enforcement and land use control for the municipal authorities and in creating demand for competent professionals.