Journal of Architecture and Urbanism

Attractive streetscape making pedestrians walk longer routes: the case of Kunitachi in Tokyo

Marco Capitanio — 2019-10-29

There are manifold benefits of an increase in pedestrian movement, both in regard to societal and to personal wellbeing, and walkability is considered a major goal in urban design. However, it is methodologically complicated to ascertain to what extent streetscape features relating to comfort and pleasurability influence pedestrian behavior. Our hypothesis is that pedestrians, at the neighborhood scale, prefer more attractive routes even if they are longer than other possible and equally safe routes to reach a certain destination, independently of the presence of amenities. As a case study, we selected Kunitachi, an attractive city in Tokyo Prefecture, thus adding to the body of non-western empirical research on pedestrian preferences. By comparing two Space Syntax betweenness simulations of pedestrian routes – compulsory and optional – with an actual counting of pedestrian frequency on site, and with behavioral observations, we have established that simulations according to the principle of “shortest route” considerably differ from actual pedestrian frequency. Only by allowing a certain detour leeway, simulations showed a less pronounced discrepancy with reality. While further research is needed to confirm our results, this enquiry has demonstrated that, attractive streetscape features are part of the reason why local residents prefer pleasant and comfortable routes over shorter ones.

Pursuing the concept of existence in the designs of civic centers: the 17th–18th – century Persia

Mohammadhossein Shahani — 2019-10-29

In recent decades, the concept of existence is increasingly becoming a significant subject in contemporary studies of architecture. However, its concerns in architecture cannot be denied in the last centuries. In the 17th-century Persia, a philosophical movement had effects on the concept of existence, which coincided with the urban developments, and the establishment of novel civic centers. With respect to philosophical backgrounds of architecture, this study aims to interpret the concept of existence in the designs of civic centers. For this purpose, the primacy of existence to essence, and bestowing of presence are illustrated to analyze the presentations in the designs of civic centers in that era. Then, the presentations are categorized to elucidate manifesting units in the designs of civic centers. Finally, the result of this study presents principles applied in the designs of civic centers, based on the concept of existence.

The layers of Cordoba: an analytical historical study for the effect of religion conflict on architectural and urban features

Mahmoud Murad — 2019-12-13

This paper discusses Cordoba as one of the most iconic cities in human history and particularly in Europe. As part of the Andalusia region in southern Spain, Cordoba was the center of many conflicts that helped in shaping the European architecture and the urban fabric. Under the Umayyad rule, Cordoba was the largest and arguably most beautiful city in the World. However, the passage of time has not been very kind to it. Unfortunately, it has suffered from severely diminished of its historical and strategic value. This paper analysed Cordoba’s history through different ages. Then, we focused on the peak of the city when it was under the Islamic rule when it became the center for culture and arts. At the end, we analysed how the city has faced a drastic architectural transformation that was carried out by the Spanish when they took control of the city during the Spanish Reconquista. We found how different cultures and religions throughout history have affected the architectural layers of Cordoba. These layers have exposed either demolish, overlap or dominate of one layer over another layer. Finally, we realized that this conflict created present Cordoba; the strong cultural, economic, touristic center in Southern Spain.

Observing parallaxical identities of place in architecture – adopting architectural and psychoanalytical approaches to urban fabrics

Louis D'Arcy-Reed — 2019-12-31

This article analyses the concept of the parallaxical identity within architecture, and its significance in identifying a metaphysical barrier between buildings, urban fabrics, and cognitive understanding. The research focuses and expands upon Slavoj Žižek’s parallax of postmodernist cultural architecture and it’s “zero-institutional” role in marginalising class-struggle and incommensurability between architecture and audience. Interrogating psychoanalytical parallax and architectural concepts of parallax in its history, it explains the determining of a “parallaxical identity of place,” present within cities and as a result of regeneration schemes. Through a design method examining an example of cultural architecture, this article presents a case to integrate psychoanalytical analysis as a useful design methodology within practice. At the end of the article, recommendations are made on how to observe and manage against any potential dissociative or psychological barrier between architecture, environment and community.

Reviewing the notion of progress in the quest for sustainability: the example of Chinese architecture

Mengbi Li — 2019-12-31

Progress is a frequently admired concept in modern societies, yet defining and achieving it requires renewed consideration in the context of sustainability and low-carbon living. This paper suggests that in China, the modern concept of progress came as a result of certain historical events in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries when the country was trapped in crisis. This concept was useful in stimulating society at that time and contributed to the rapid development that followed, but whether it can still meet the new challenges of today’s China is questionable. Focusing on the discipline of architecture, this paper suggests that now is the time for a critical rethink of the concept of progress. There are valuable notions to be found in China’s history when addressing these challenges.

Integrationist triadic agendas for city research:cases from recent urban studies

Ashraf M. Salama — 2019-11-22

With more than 60% of the world population living in urban areas, cities are becoming at the centre of attention in academic institutions and government organizations. However, there appears to be a continuous fragmentation in the types of knowledge developed where issues or concerns are always addressed in isolation and many factors critical to a comprehensive understanding of cities towards creating better urban environments are oversimplified at best or ignored at worst. Therefore, the thrust of this paper is to demonstrate the thought processes involved in instigating frameworks, raising questions, and establishing objectives for responsive city research. It aims to present two triadic agendas that untangle the essential components of city research; the first is the Lefebvrian triadic conception on the production of space and the second is the triadic perspective of lifestyles theories for understanding housing developments, typologies, and choices. Contextually, while the theoretical underpinnings of these agendas are developed based on a body of knowledge generated in the context of the Western world, their conceptualisation is adapted to grasp and examine key unique particularities of selected emerging (and globalised) Arab cities in the Gulf region. Calling for the need for a trans-disciplinary thinking paradigm for city research, the two agendas adopt an integrationist approach that is amenable to understanding the urban realities of these cities.