Open House International

Wilkinson, Nicholas

2011 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/OHI-04-2011-B0001

Three years ago Maarten Cleeren from Elsevier in the Netherlands wrote about Open House International as a fine journal stating that “ in recognition of the high quality and relevance to the scientific community of Open House International we are pleased to inform you that your publication has been selected for coverage in the Elsevier Bibliographic Database Scopus as of 2007”. This was therefore added to our two other database connections namely EBSCO PUBLISHING and Thomsons ISI database including all their products, The Social Science Citation Index, (SSCI,) the Arts & Humanities Citation Index, (A&HCI), Social Scisearch, Current Contents/Social & Behavioral Sciences,(CC/S&BS) and the Current Contents/Arts & Humanities, (CC/A&H) and Journal Citation Reports/Social Sciences Edition.

Saigo, Tetsuya; Sawada, Seiji; Utida, Yositika

2011 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/OHI-04-2011-B0002

Amidst growing concern about the sustainability of human society, architecture studies are focusing increasingly on the means to achieve sustainable buildings. While various forward-looking studies are ongoing in this field, it is also important to realize that critical lessons may be learned from historical buildings that have withstood the test of time. Many traditional wooden buildings in Japan provide excellent examples of sustainable building design and production practices that are inherently flexible and therefore highly resistant to obsolescence. This paper first summarizes a recent lecture by Utida outlining his research into the flexibility and durability of modern buildings, which is based on comparisons with Japan's traditional wooden buildings.It is based on the results of Open Building researches in Japan, especially works in Utida laboratory of Tokyo University (1970-1986) and in AIJ Open Building Sub Committee. This is followed by an overview of the flexibility and material/social lifespan of buildings, and of the developmental trends seen in builders' organizations. And lastly, the future direction of the Japanese detached housing industry is explored. Specifically, the paper traces the changes in the Japanese detached housing industry between 1970 and 2010, and shows how the industry has been shifting toward a sustainable business model. Problems arising from these changes and possible solutions are discussed with concrete examples, and one specific business model is singled out and defined as a promising solution.

Beisi, Jia; Yingying, Jiang

2011 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/OHI-04-2011-B0003

Although an important facet of modernist architecture in which function plays a prominent role, building flexibility is not entirely a new concept. Its relevance transcends generations, allowing space and structure to evolve through time. This paper investigates the relationship among main building structures, infill elements, and space by studying examples in ancient Chinese architecture. It reveals the role of building owners, users, and craftsmen from a survey of historical documentation. In studying these examples, it is concluded that craftsmen in ancient China were involved not only during the construction phase but throughout the period of use as well. Thus, in select cases, the relationship between craftsmen and owners or users had been preserved for generations. Finally, this paper suggests potential strategies for the building industry and technology in the move towards sustainable development.

Hong Na, Le Thi; Park, Jin-Ho

2011 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/OHI-04-2011-B0004

This paper focuses on the potential applications of eco-features in Vietnamese traditional folk houses to contemporary high-rise housing. One of the main characteristics of traditional folk houses is that they are designed with a deep understanding of and respect for nature. This type of housing also expresses the way of life of its users, having evolved over generations while adapting to their needs, culture, and environment. Whereas the traditional Vietnamese houses can be an important source in the creation of a Vietnamese architectural identity, the design-with-nature approach and its unique characteristics are, however, scarcely found in the contemporary high-rise housing in Vietnam.The objective of this research is to investigate the potential applications of eco-features in Vietnamese traditional folk houses to contemporary high-rise urban housing. Initially, this study examines the unique spatial characteristics of the traditional folk houses typical in northern Vietnam. In particular, four houses at the Duong Lam Village in northern Vietnam are reviewed. Some of the ecological design elements are extracted from the spatial composition of the typical Vietnamese folk houses in relation to the local climate conditions and the Vietnamese lifestyle (vernacular culture). Finally, this paper attempts to develop new housing models in urban Vietnam, employing the ecological elements learned from the preceding assessment.

Pektaş, ŞEule Taşlı; Özgüç, Bülent

2011 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/OHI-04-2011-B0005

This paper re-visits the basic premises of open building: designing for change as well as for stability, including the users in the design decision-making processes, and disentangling the building systems into the levels and allowing replacement; then, addresses the limitations of conventional design media in terms of the capabilities to support these aims. It is discussed that the design media should be predictive, dynamic, and interactive. Virtual prototyping as an enabling technology is reviewed and proposals are made for the future use of this technology for open building design.

Gür, Şengül Öymen; Erol, Şengül Yalçınkaya

2011 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/OHI-04-2011-B0006

Due to discontent arising from the application of Modernism's totalitarian and homogenising logic to house design, recent research has concentrated on differences between cultures, societies and ethnic groups to the extent that today's students of architecture have difficulty finding sources which point to any universally valid values and preferences adopted by contemporary populations. In this study seventeen major design principles stemming from man-environment relationships, such as privacy, territoriality, personal space, backstage behaviour, orientation, and so on, as deduced from Turkish traditional houses, are investigated in terms of similarities among cultures. Samples of contemporary houses are selected from Turkey and elsewhere. Between local and international house designs full matches are depicted and verified by way of statistical analyses across fourteen items, such as living space subdivisions for guests and family, indirect access to the house (modulation), multi-purpose living space subdivisions (hierarchical living space), individualized bathrooms in bedrooms, independent family rooms, semi-closed spaces on the first floor, larger fenestration on upper floors as opposed to opacity of ground floors, segregated garden space, powerful demarcation of the garden space, orientation toward the house's own territory, bathrooms being situated in night time domains, differentiated status of spaces, multiple uses for stair landings (such as for hiding places for goods). Only three items showed some variance: closed balconies on upper floors were local, and semi-open spaces on ground floors were international tendencies. The practice of allowing direct access from the main entrance to a vertical circulation area was also predominantly a local choice.

Boelhouwer, Peter; Hoekstra, Joris

2011 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/OHI-04-2011-B0007

Every few years the planning agencies in the Netherlands draw up a prognosis for the future housing needs on the basis of economic and demographic scenarios. It is our contention that, in applying this approach, the agencies neglect to take sufficient account of the influence of cultural dynamics. Against this background, a recent recommendatory report by the Dutch Council for Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM-raad 2009) drew attention to three socio-cultural trends which are currently manifesting themselves on the Dutch housing market:A growing interest in living with like-minded people and in common-interest housing concepts;The rise of transnational living (permanently or temporarily living abroad) and people having multiple residences;An increasing mix of housing and other functions and services (care, energy, leisure, retail), which is opening up the housing market for new players.This contribution explores the background and the expressions of these three trends that will have a significant influence on the demand for housing in the future, in spatial terms as well as with regard to quantity and quality. It turns out that the trends raise new dilemmas in spatial planning and housing policy. In order to solve these dilemmas, a different way of thinking is needed.

Amaireh, Ali Al

2011 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/OHI-04-2011-B0008

From time immemorial until about a generation ago, the UAE desert-roaming Bedouins were living in tents (hair houses) which they themselves had innovated, constructed and elaborated. They had done this in such a way as to ensure that their practical need for accommodation was met, that the constraints of their physical environment were taken into account, and that their own social and religious obligations could be discharged. Then almost overnight the tents disappeared and with them the way of life they represented.As a consequence of the UAE government's policy in the early urbanization and resettlement of the country's nomadic population, the previous occupants of the hair houses found themselves residents of the so-called “housing areas” on the outskirts of the UAE cities and towns. The problems arising from this sudden transformation are the focus of this study which aims to demonstrate that while the resettled Bedouins turned to embrace the modern life in their new homes, they were mentally and emotionally drawn to their past lifestyle in which the hair house, more than merely providing accommodation, was an expression of personality and culture.To this end, this study documents and analyzes the southern version of the hair house (otherwise known as the “winter house”), previously the most common in the UAE desert. The study will consider not only that the hair house was a masterpiece of innovative construction suited to the Bedouin's environment and culture but also, as comparison at different levels shows, the inadequacy of the urban cement house as the Bedouin's current-day accommodation. Consequently, the study recommends that future housing projects targeted at the resettled Bedouins should be designed with a view to harmonizing the needs and requirements of contemporary life with the rich heritage of the Bedouins.In carrying out this study, the researcher has utilized a combination of research tools, primarily theoretical, descriptive and analytical together with field visits and personal interviews with former residents of the hair houses and the curators of the Heritage Village in Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital. In contrast, as the “housing areas” are still in existence, the scope of the study is limited to the hair house which it tries to recover and reconstruct as a point of reference for the thesis of the study.

Pawlikowska-Piechotka, Anna

2011 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/OHI-04-2011-B0009

In recent years worldwide interest has arisen in developing “child-friendly cities”, but research into this issue has so far not being carried out in Poland. Over the past decades one can observe a visible change which has taken place in the relationship between children and their living environment. In the many Polish cities (like in all industrialized countries) increased road traffic, pollution and crime, fragmentation of urban fabric, reduction of green public areas – resulted in rather ‘non child friendly’ environment. Although a child can play anywhere, carefully planned playgrounds are widely considered as an essential part of children's leisure and education. Today in Warsaw playgrounds could be found in a variety of settings as housing estates, recreation public areas, urban parks, schools, churches, community centres and commercial establishments as restaurants and hotels. But one can notice that demand for outdoor recreation shows signs of stopping, despite the efforts to supply much more sophisticated equipment. The aim of our research was to seek an answer for question how could we create an environment that meets a child's needs? Which factors determine child-friendly environment? In the course of our research project selected children's playgrounds in Warsaw were surveyed, undertaken on specific themes, such as: facilities, safety, pressures for change, popularity of sites, proposed strategy of renewal (with playground users interviewed). We were interested both in the children and their caregivers diversifying preferences, their expectations of outdoor recreation infrastructure and management improvements. As at present in Warsaw live as much as 5 528 disabled children therefore emphasis has been also placed on disabled children, their everyday access possibilities to public play space.

Haija, Ahmed Abu Al

2011 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/OHI-04-2011-B0010

The relationship between people, environmental circumstances and the cost of projects in Jordan are focal points of this study, where the problem of low-income housing needs is still increasing, having tripled in the last two decades. The shortage of public housing production and the cost of lands and building materials, mainly controlled by private sector investors, are substantial reasons for the housing crisis in a country of poor economic recourses and high percentage of poverty.The Jordanian government decided to aid the poorest class of the population, offering free of charge shelters organized in small residential quarters, which became a prototype diffused throughout all the Jordanian regions. This paper analyzes one of these typical quarters, collecting data through face-to-face interviews with the households using a structured questionnaire. The study focuses on the physical components of the quarter, looking at open spaces, paths, streets, volumes, materials, colors in relation with the environmental context. It also investigates the households' requirements, relationships and preferences.The study discusses also the housing problems at the macro scale level in order to concretely evaluate the shelters' cost, setting some guidelines with respect to the cultural and environmental local conditions.

Beisi, Jia

2011 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/OHI-04-2011-B0011

Decision Making for Flexibility in Housing