{"title":"The critical conservation paradigms of archaeological sites: The typological models of Scottish dry-stone brochs","authors":"Chang Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.foar.2025.03.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foar.2025.03.010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Northern Scotland's advanced dry-stone Iron-Age brochs, also known as broch towers, exhibit a relatively advanced technological culture. However, the uncertainty prevails because there is no consensus on a standard broch scheme, and additional archaeological research is required. A typological analysis of the plans and sections of brochs can uncover potential hidden architectural connections among features such as staircases, entrances, and central areas. Examining the architecture of Scottish brochs illustrates the decision-making process for each element, which a standard broch model influences.</div><div>This study found that brochs are not merely replicas of ordinary buildings but rather constructions that adhere to a specific concept, a set design, a method of organizing living spaces, and a blend of practical construction techniques. From the critical conservation viewpoint, this paper argues that conserving brochs should involve both archaeological and architectural values, treating the monuments as typological collections that should differ from conserving a single site. Thus, the conservation practice should aim at the readable integrity of these architectural features in the context of continuous fabric modifications, where typological methods have been used to initiate a discussion on how architects engage in preserving brochs with archaeologists.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51662,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Architectural Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Pages 41-53"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146175138","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"艺术学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Fire detection strategies for heritage buildings in different microclimates: A case study of Baoguo Monastery in Ningbo, China","authors":"Xin Wu , Jiajun Li","doi":"10.1016/j.foar.2025.04.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foar.2025.04.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To achieve fire prevention in heritage buildings, it is crucial to identify, analyse, and assess fire risks prior to fires due to the complexity of fire causes and risk factors influenced by various aspects such as environmental factors, building material characteristics, layout and management/maintenance practices. For building-specific fire risk identification, fire process simulation models constructed based on quantifying various fire risk elements are needed. Some studies have found that indoor microclimate has different degrees of influence on the fire development process, but there is a lack of relevant modelling. Taking the Grand Hall of Baoguo Monastery in Ningbo as an example, 32 fire operating conditions were simulated using the Fire Dynamics Simulator based on the monitoring environment data collected in the hall. The results revealed that the building structural nodes had higher fire risks, the wind direction significantly affected fire spread in the hall, ambient temperature could influence the fire development rate, smoke was more easily detected at the ceiling, and except for the temperature change (<em>P</em> < 0.01), the other indicators did not differ significantly across environmental conditions. Subsequently, a fire detector installation strategy with temperature, CO concentration and smoke detectors as detection indicators was proposed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51662,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Architectural Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Pages 70-83"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146175139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"艺术学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cenfeng Li , Xiaoqi Li , Junyu Diao , Fangxin Cao , Qichi Yang , Bin Zhang
{"title":"Research on local knowledge categories and formation mechanisms of traditional village landscapes: A case study of Jiangjin District, Chongqing, China","authors":"Cenfeng Li , Xiaoqi Li , Junyu Diao , Fangxin Cao , Qichi Yang , Bin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.foar.2025.03.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foar.2025.03.011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Locality embodies the spiritual essence and cultural heritage of regional historical development. Traditional villages, as crucial carriers of this “memory,” are essential for preserving regional identity and fostering sustainable development. However, existing research on traditional villages often lacks a unified framework to systematically identify embedded local knowledge, especially tacit elements such as traditional crafts and folk culture. To address this gap, this study proposes an analytical framework for the local knowledge system of traditional villages from an anthropological perspective. Through field investigations and qualitative analyses of eight representative villages in Jiangjin District, Chongqing, the study explores the generation, classification, and formation mechanisms of local knowledge. The findings reveal that: (1) local knowledge in traditional village landscapes consists of two main types—explicit knowledge (e.g., site-selection patterns, spatial morphology, and traditional architecture) and tacit knowledge (e.g., traditional craftsmanship and folk culture); (2) a comprehensive local knowledge atlas was developed, comprising 2 categories, 5 major classes, 15 sub-classes, and 48 small classes; and (3) the formation of local knowledge is driven by factors such as immigrant integration, environmental adaptation, clan culture, and transportation development. This study establishes a systematic foundation for understanding and preserving the unique landscape characteristics and cultural heritage of traditional villages. It offers practical insights for their conservation, sustainable development, and cultural revitalization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51662,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Architectural Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Pages 24-40"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146175137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"艺术学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fang Liu , Jiahao Zhou , Hao Geng , Yanmei Zhu , Yuanhong Ma , Shuyang Li
{"title":"Unraveling equilibrium effect between traffic supply and land use in transit-oriented development","authors":"Fang Liu , Jiahao Zhou , Hao Geng , Yanmei Zhu , Yuanhong Ma , Shuyang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.foar.2025.04.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foar.2025.04.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Node-Place model is a classic tool in Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) typologies that it illustrates the synergistic equilibrium between traffic supply (Node) and land use (Place). However, practical applications often face limitations that can shift this relationship from the ideal 1:1 equilibrium. During the regulatory detailed planning stage, while we determine the Node-Place equilibrium relationship that effectively confirms the anticipated people activity density, we also ensure it aligns with varied development strategies and enables efficient identification of total proportion and thresholds for both traffic supply and land use. Our analysis identified that the Node-Place equilibrium coefficient for TOD subway station areas in Shenzhen, China's highest construction density zone registered at 1.596. Building on this finding, we further developed a method for differentiating between TOD and DOT samples. Regression analysis indicates that the NP model is not appropriate for analyzing DOT station areas. Accordingly, this study proposes a simplified method to enhance the applicability of the NP model in planning decisions, and this method helps avoid the issues associated with incorporating a third dimension and the interpretive challenges of typologies arising from the application of clustering methods to extended NP models.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51662,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Architectural Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Pages 194-215"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146175227","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"艺术学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Demre St. Nicholas Church: Russian repairs and conservation in the longest century","authors":"Mine Esmer , Ibrahim Halil Coskun , Arzu Ulas","doi":"10.1016/j.foar.2025.05.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foar.2025.05.010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the 19th-century Russian restoration of the Church of St. Nicholas in Demre, Turkey, within the framework of evolving international conservation practices and Ottoman heritage policies. Through archival analysis, travelers' accounts, and comparative architectural evaluation, the research reveals how geopolitical rivalries and ideological agendas shaped the church's transformation. While European nations like Italy, France, and England institutionalized conservation ethics in the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire's delayed adoption of systematic policies until the 1869 Antiquities Regulation allowed foreign interventions to proceed unchecked.</div><div>Russian efforts, initiated in 1850s preserved the church structurally but imposed radical alterations which compromised historical authenticity. The Ottomans countered through militarized control of strategic sites like Andriake Port, while the Ecumenical Patriarchate resisted Russian hegemony to safeguard religious identity. Archival documents underscore the church's role as a contested space, reflecting Trigger's paradigm of archaeology as a tool of nationalism and imperialism. This case study illuminates the duality of conservation as both a technical and political practice, where preservation and power intersect. By exposing the tensions between authenticity, ideology, and legacy, the study contributes to broader discourses on heritage management, urging a re-evaluation of conservation as a dynamic socio-political process rather than a mere technical endeavor.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51662,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Architectural Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Pages 333-352"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146175226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"艺术学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Path exploration for the conservation of regional cultural heritage","authors":"Yan Wang , Zuyue Liu , Wei Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.foar.2025.04.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foar.2025.04.011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>At present, historical and cultural conservation presents a regional, holistic, and synergistic development trend. Moreover, the previous theories and methods are no longer applicable and need to be explored and updated urgently. This study identifies, locates and comprehensively assesses and analyses the value carriers from the perspective of historical and cultural conservation and inheritance by adhering to the combination of the locality of culture and the systematicness of value, sorting out the regional historical lineage and refining the resource elements and value system through resource element identification, ancient map translation, historical and cultural information visualisation and spatial layering and slicing. This study also focuses on the correlation between regional historical and cultural elements. Moreover, the studies on the changes and development of the historic and cultural spatial system in the Xuhe River Basin, the concentrated and contiguous preservation and utilisation planning of Jiangsu's typical traditional villages and the urban and rural historical and cultural conservation and inheritance system planning in Jiangsu Province are taken as typical examples. This study attempts to construct the technical support under the regional context according to the successive historical and cultural patterns and explore the path and methods of regional historical and cultural conservation and the inheritance system. Moreover, it looks forward to proposing an interpretation and a response to the historical and cultural conservation and inheritance in Jiangsu Province to integrate them into the Chinese heritage conservation system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51662,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Architectural Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Pages 84-104"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146175131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"艺术学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Conceptualising a model for understanding socio-cultural and spatial factors in housing: Insights from a systematic scoping review","authors":"Fatemeh Fallah Tafti, John Rollo, Sarah McGann","doi":"10.1016/j.foar.2025.05.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foar.2025.05.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fulfilling socio-cultural needs is crucial for resident's satisfaction, quality of life, and sustainable development. The relationship between socio-cultural dynamics and housing preferences and forms has long been central to architectural and environment-behaviour research. However, a holistic understanding of the socio-cultural and spatial factors associated with housing remains limited. This systematic scoping review synthesised knowledge from 141 peer-reviewed articles across 40 countries to identify these key factors and their interconnections. The review identified nine socio-cultural and six spatial factor groups, each including multiple sub-factors. These factors were then incorporated into a conceptual model that illustrates their interrelationships and collective influence on housing design. The findings confirmed the complex relationship between culture and housing, encompassing a wide range of factors. By applying the Shannon entropy weighting method, regional mapping, and similarity analysis, the review assessed the variability of these factors across various countries to guide designers and policymakers. Notably, “values, norms, standards, and expectations” among socio-cultural factors and “spatial arrangements” among spatial factors showed broader applicability across various countries in the culture-housing relationship. The review concluded by highlighting important avenues for future research and advocating for a holistic, balanced approach to understanding the evolving interplay between culture and housing in research and practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51662,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Architectural Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Pages 119-143"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146175130","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"艺术学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yaolin Lin , Honghong Cheng , Wei Yang , Chun-Qing Li
{"title":"Carbon-neutral building conceptual evolution, research advancement and practical application: A systematic review","authors":"Yaolin Lin , Honghong Cheng , Wei Yang , Chun-Qing Li","doi":"10.1016/j.foar.2025.04.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foar.2025.04.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Carbon-neutral building is an important step to reach the target of carbon peak and carbon neutrality in the society. Therefore, many scholars have conducted studies on different aspects of carbon-neutral buildings recently and there is a need to perform a comprehensive review on the research and development in carbon-neutral buildings. This article firstly introduces the evolution and definition of carbon neutrality, its relationship with buildings, and the definition of carbon-neutral buildings. Secondly, it presents studies on different types of carbon-neutral buildings and different methods on the calculation of carbon emissions. Finally, the practical application examples of carbon neutral buildings, related evaluation standards and government policies are analyzed and suggestions and recommendations for future research and development are provided.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51662,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Architectural Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Pages 306-332"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146175129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"艺术学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Spatio-temporal continuity in post-earthquake architecture of Francesco Venezia's anomalous monuments in the Belice Valley","authors":"Yingle Zhang , Jiaqi He , Dhondub Dawa","doi":"10.1016/j.foar.2025.07.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foar.2025.07.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the architectural interventions of Francesco Venezia in the Belice Valley after the 1968 earthquake, with a particular focus on the c and the Open-Air Theatre in Salemi. Employing a qualitative, design-driven methodology, the research integrates formal spatial analysis with interpretative frameworks from spatial theory, cultural memory studies, and phenomenological approaches to architectural experience. Primary sources, including on-site surveys, original drawings, and project documentation, are complemented by critical essays and historical accounts. The analysis centers on the theme of spatio-temporal continuity, examining how Venezia's works engage with memory, ruins, and the fragmented identity of place. The findings reveal that Venezia's design process anchored in reinterpretation rather than reconstruction produces anomalous monuments that reestablish a sense of historical depth while resisting conventional forms of memorialization. His architecture articulates a dialectical relationship between absence and presence, solidifying a new spatial narrative in a landscape marked by trauma and displacement. This paper presents a globally applicable design paradigm for handling cultural memory, identity, and continuity in the architecture of crisis and recovery by suggesting a substitute for traditional post-disaster restoration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51662,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Architectural Research","volume":"14 6","pages":"Pages 1794-1809"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145500422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"艺术学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A dual-aspect evaluation framework for architectural-like plan generation via pix2pix series algorithms","authors":"Yu Guo , Tianyu Fang , Zhe Cui , Rudi Stouffs","doi":"10.1016/j.foar.2025.04.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foar.2025.04.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Architectural plan generation via pix2pix series algorithms faces dual challenges: the absence of domain-specific evaluation metrics and a lack of systematic insights into the joint impact of training configurations. To address the limitations of pix2pix-based models adaptation to architectural design, we designed a training regimen involving 12 experiments with varying training set sizes, dataset characteristics, and algorithms. These experiments utilized our self-built, high-quality, large-volume synthetic dataset of architectural-like plans. By saving intermediate models, we obtained 240 generative models for evaluation on a fixed test set. To quantify model performance, we developed a dual-aspect evaluation method that assesses predictions through pixel similarity (principle adherence) and segmentation line continuity (vectorization quality). Analysis revealed algorithm choice and training set size as primary factors, with larger sets enhancing the benefits of high-resolution and enhanced-annotation datasets. The optimal model achieved high-quality predictions, demonstrating strict adherence to predefined principles (0.81 similarity) and effective vectorization (0.86 segmentation line continuity). Testing on 7695 samples of varying complexity confirmed the model's robustness, strong generative capability, and controlled innovation within defined principles, validated through 3D model conversion. This work provides a domain-adapted framework for training and evaluating pix2pix-based architectural generators, bridging generative research and practical applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51662,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Architectural Research","volume":"14 6","pages":"Pages 1516-1535"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145499900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"艺术学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}