Open House International

Yu, Andrew

2021 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/ohi-07-2020-0099

This study aims to examine the relationship between the walkable environment and community well-being of the older people in Kwun Tong, a district in Hong Kong.Design/methodology/approachFace-to-face survey interviews were conducted to collect data about perceived factors and community well-being of people aged 55 or above (N = 257, M = 71.78). Geographic information system was used to obtain geographic data to assess objective factors.FindingsThe results showed that perceived factors were more critical in explaining community well-being than objective factors.Originality/valueThis is one of the few research studies to study walkable environment and community well-being in both objective and subjective ways. The findings of this study could help policymakers and urban planners to move beyond the objective standard to better address the subjective environmental needs of older people in designing a walkable environment. The research findings also have implications for other Asian communities with similar environments and cultural backgrounds.

Abdullah, Aldrin; Safizadeh, Mina; Hedayati Marzbali, Massoomeh; Maghsoodi Tilaki, Mohammad Javad

2021 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/ohi-11-2020-0164

The current direction of urban planning and development is plagued with a number of issues related to crime and safety in neighbourhood areas. Undoubtedly, the physical characteristics of the surrounding environment play a vital role in residents’ social interactions and crime rate. This study aims to examine the role of the environmental features of the built environment, in particular house maintenance, on residents’ sense of belonging and victimisation. Although past research has relied on police victimisation rates, the current research has measured the actual victimisation rate through a questionnaire survey.Design/methodology/approachThe study is quantitative in nature and consists of 255 residents from an urban neighbourhood in Penang, Malaysia.FindingsThe results of structural equation modelling indicate that house maintenance has a significant and positive impact on the sense of belonging, while there is a negative impact on victimisation rate. However, the study findings do not support the mediation role of the sense of belonging in the relationship between house maintenance and victimisation rate.Originality/valueThe study suggests that physical characteristics of the environment play a significant role in reducing opportunities for property victimisation and a building sense of belongings amongst neighbours. This study can also be considered as a further step for obtaining insight into the understanding of the impact of physical characteristics of the neighbourhood environment on victimisation.

Nicolopoulou, Katerina; Salama, Ashraf M.; Attia, Sahar; Samy, Christine; Horgan, Donagh; Khalil, Heba Allah Essam E.; Bakhaty, Asser

2021 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/ohi-06-2020-0063

This study aims to develop an innovative and comprehensive framework to address water-related challenges faced by communities located in urban settlements in the area of Greater Cairo. It is commonly accepted that such global challenges that border issues of resilience, community development, social equity and inclusive growth, call for a collaboration of disciplines. Such collaboration allows for the identification of synergies in ways that can enlighten and enrich the space of potential solutions and create pathways towards robust solutions.Design/methodology/approachThe research process has been participatory, and it involved, apart from site interviews, engagement via a photographic exhibition, during an outreach and engagement event, of the researched sites in one of the academic institutions of the authors. A total of 12 women were interviewed and the expert’s workshop was attended by 12 experts.FindingsSocial innovation can promote agile processes to prototyping services, involving multiple sectors and stakeholders through open ecosystems. For urban settlements undergoing rapid expansion, social innovation can help communities and governments to build resilience in the face of resource gaps – often making use of advancements in technology and improvements from other disciplines (Horgan and Dimitrijevic, 2019). For the unplanned urban areas around Greater Cairo, input from different knowledge areas can offer valuable contributions; in terms of the project and the study that we report on in this paper, the contributing areas included architecture and urban planning, as well as women-led entrepreneurship targeting economic growth, social and community impacts.Originality/valueIn this paper, we demonstrate the significance of a transdisciplinary framework based on social innovation, for the study of women-led entrepreneurship as a response to water-based challenges within an urban settlement. The creation of such a framework can be a significant contribution to conceptualise, examine and respond to “wicked challenges” of urban sustainability. This paper also believes that the readership of the journal will be subsequently benefitting from another way to conceptualise the interplay of theoretical perspectives at the level of organisations and the individual to support the inquiry into such challenges.

Wang, Xiaoxiao; Shi, Ruiting; Wang, Ting

2021 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/ohi-02-2021-0040

Due to the different actual construction conditions in different cities, the requirements for community livability may also differ due to different geographical locations and urban construction priorities. The research system in this paper can be applied to study similar old communities in old urban areas. The indicator system would need to be adjusted in different places, based on specific construction situations and higher planning requirements. This process would provide valuable insights for effective construction projects that support the livability of the old communities.Design/methodology/approachBased on sustainable and people-oriented development principles, this study considered the development of old urban communities during today’s rapid urban renewal and development. Using previous literature and related research experience, this study established an evaluation indicator system to assess the livability of old urban communities. Based on the local resident experience and satisfaction, the study investigated current weaknesses in the construction of livable old urban communities and developed corresponding recommendations for reform based on these. The goal was to provide guidance and recommendations for renewing old communities in during urban development and further promote the sustainable development of the city.FindingsBased on the people-oriented principle and focusing on old urban communities as the research object, this study constructed an evaluation indicator system to evaluate the livability of urban old communities. The goal was to identify the weaknesses in the construction of old urban communities, with a focus on livability. Using the Bei’anmen community in Nanjing as a case study, the AHP method and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method were applied to evaluate the overall target level and specific indicators, with the goal of assessing the level of livability in the Bei’anmen community.[AQ2] The results show that the livability of the Bei’anmen community is “very poor,” with significant room for improvements in community livability. This study also proposed corresponding measures for improving problems related to livability in the old urban community. Establishing the indicator system may help evaluate the livability of similar old communities in Nanjing and the same types of old communities in other cities. Understanding the overall livability of communities under construction can help identify weaknesses in other own construction approaches and may inform appropriate steps to improve the sustainable construction of the community in the wave of continuous urban renewal. This may realize the further development of livability in the community.Originality/valueThe community is an integral part of the city and strengthening the community’s civilization can support a harmonious and stable social environment. In constructing livable communities, improving the community civilization can promote social progress and civilization, promote social harmony and support the harmonious and sustainable development of communities. To strengthen the construction of a livable community, it is important to apply a residential perspective and provide a good platform for managing community participation and interaction. This may include organizing community-level cultural activities and strengthening communication between residents to increase the residents’ affection for the community. This would enhance the residents’ sense of belonging, forming a harmonious and stable atmosphere of community life, mutual help and mutual tolerance.

Ramli, Nurul Atikah; Ujang, Norsidah

2021 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/ohi-12-2020-0172

An increasing effort to reinforce cultural and social activities in creative placemaking is observed. Despite extensive previous studies, works of literature ignored the necessary group-specific indicators and processes in creative placemaking. In successful placemaking, the vital attributes of a place as a social platform should be identified and intensified in the initiatives taken. As such, this study aims to examine the functions of urban design social attributes in generating meaningful creative placemaking initiatives.Design/methodology/approachA survey was performed, which involved 340 visitors in the inner city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from one case study (a strategic social event initiative called RIUH) on users’ preference toward the social attributes of place and the factors influencing preference. Field observations were carried out to understand the social activities and pattern of engagement.FindingsThe preference study revealed that urban design social attributes encompassed the essential inclusiveness, value, diversity and vitality of place because of high preference and a significant difference among groups.Social implicationsUnderstanding users’ preferences has emphasized the relevance of each urban design social attribute in accommodating different user opportunity groups, ultimately inducing a positive social impact in creative placemaking.Originality/valueThis study demonstrated the success of creative placemaking in urban development from the social dimension. It provides an understanding that the priority of creative practices should be redirected toward a more in-depth approach in addressing individuals, social capacity, involvement and well-being through the optimization of benefits and other creative placemaking values.

Ji, Yunzhu; Gu, Zhenhong; Wennersten, Ronald; Zhang, Tong; Duan, Yixing

2021 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/ohi-10-2020-0144

The purpose of this paper we present a case study where the Swedish planning support system Citylab is applied to a Chinese case in Changzhou's Tianning District.Design/methodology/approachChina's planning system is a vertical system based on policy development on the national level, policies which are to be implemented on local level. There is a gap between the ambitious central policies and the implementations on local levels. China is now exporting its planning model to other developing countries which makes it urgent to show examples of other strategies including more horizontal planning involving the public. The planning system in Sweden is based on a much more horizontal process. Therefore, the authors try to learn from Sweden's vertical planning system in the urban development environment of China.FindingsA key message for policy makers in China is that systems like Citylab can play an important role in developing practical and scalable examples of more sustainable city districts. The paper concludes that a barrier for local sustainability planning in China is still lack of effective communication between local actors including the public.Originality/valueThe authors exemplified Changzhou Tianning District's practical exploration, thus proving the adapted Citylab method's practical operability. Based on the common problems faced by eco-city development in developing countries, the method framework of Citylab is applicable to other developing countries, with strong room for deduction and development.

Sharif, Ahlam Ammar; Karvonen, Andrew

2021 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/ohi-10-2020-0151

Architectural theorists have a long tradition of acknowledging the centrality of building users to architectural production. This article contributes to the discourse on architecture, actor–network theory (ANT), and users by proposing a typology of user translations ranging from supporting to tinkering to adjusting to resisting.Design/methodology/approachThe research utilises an ANT-inspired ethnography of sustainable lighting scripts at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MIST). It comprises semi-structured interviews with MIST designers and students, and site visits and participant observation to understand how the users interpret the scripts and how they interact and change them on a daily basis.FindingsThere is a shared understanding that users do not simply receive architectural designs but interpret and change them to suit their preferences. The findings reveal the multiple ways that users interpret and respond to the assumptions of designers and in the process, recast the relations between themselves and their material surroundings.Originality/valueThe research contributes to acknowledging the centrality of users to architectural design processes and the interpretation of design scripts, addressing the limitation in current literature in demonstrating the diversity of ways that users react to such scripts. The research suggests that user actions have significant implications on long-term building performance. It accordingly points to the need for devising multiple means of user involvement in the design process and allowing greater flexibility in design scripts to improve the alignment with user preferences.

Gümüşburun Ayalp, Gülden; Çivici, Tülay

2021 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/ohi-10-2020-0150

Presently, there are two main classification of architectural courses in the curriculum: lecture courses and design studios. Owing to the duality between design studios and lecture courses, architectural education includes a highly stressful learning environment. In addition to this dualism, architecture students also cope with their lives in universities and different types of stressors similar to all university students. Therefore, this study aims to determine the critical stress factors that affect architecture students studying in Turkey.Design/methodology/approachThe reasons for a stressful architecture learning environment were examined using a questionnaire distributed among architecture students, and face-to-face surveys were conducted. The obtained data were analysed statistically using SPSS 22 and LISREL 8.7 software. Correlation analysis, exploratory and confirmatory analysis and structural equation modelling of the relationships between the stressors and stress factors and the impacts (perceived stress) were performed, and a structural model was developed.FindingsA total of 11 critical factors affecting architecture students’ stress levels were determined; academic inadequacy, unusual assessments and evaluation techniques of courses and intensive academic schedule were the most critical stressors. Based on these factors, necessary solutions and recommendations were offered, which are expected to decrease architecture students’ stress levels and encourage other similar studies.Originality/valueThere is limited research that provides insights into the factors that cause stress to architecture students; only literature reviews and surveys are currently available. Unlike these, this study presents a structural equation model for critical stress factors via a confirmatory factor analysis.

Laloui, Hamza; Abdul Majid, Noor Hanita; Sanusi, Aliyah Nur Zafirah

2021 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/ohi-11-2020-0157

This paper aims to investigate the impacts of introducing voids combinations on natural ventilation performance in high-rise residential building living unit.Design/methodology/approachThis study was carried out through field measurement and computational fluid dynamics methods. The parameters of the study are void types and sizes, and a wind angle was used to formulate case studies.FindingsThe results indicate that the provision of a single-sided horizontal void larger by 50% increase the indoor air velocity performance up to 322.37% to 0.471 m/s in the living unit and achieves the required velocity for thermal comfort.Originality/valuePassive design features are the most desirable techniques to enhance natural ventilation performance in the high-rise residential apartments for thermal comfort and indoor air quality purposes.

Selvaraj, Subhashini; Kesavaperumal, Thirumaran

2021 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/ohi-08-2020-0120

Heat gain in buildings occurs due to heat transfer through the building fabric or envelope, especially the walls and roof. The purpose of this paper is to identify and recommend the suitable wall materials for better thermal performance in buildings in warm and hot climatic zones of India. As India lies between the tropic of cancer and the equator, the solar radiation from the sun falls more on the walls than the roofs of the buildings. Thus, it is imperative to protect the walls from heat gain to promote thermal comfort in naturally ventilated buildings and reduce the energy loads due to artificial cooling systems in air-conditioned buildings.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, an investigation of heat flow characteristics in steady-state and the transient state for five different uninsulated wall structures using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software has been carried out. The climate conditions at Madurai, India have been considered for this study.FindingsThe findings of the study revealed that aerated autoclaved concrete (AAC) and hollow clay blocks (HCB) for external walls in naturally ventilated buildings in warm climatic regions could improve the building’s thermal performance index and reduce peak indoor operative temperature by about 6°C–7°C. The results of steady-state and transient state analysis were found to be in good agreement with the results of the reviewed literature.Research limitations/implicationsOver the past few decades, only very few architects and builders have been successful in influencing their clients to accept alternate materials such as AAC blocks, HCB, stabilized earth blocks, adobe blocks, fly-ash bricks as an alternate to conventional bricks in an attempt of highlighting their benefits, such as; materials that are easily available, more energy-efficient, can withstand the extreme weather conditions, promote thermal comfort and cost-effective. This paper provides strong evidence that AAC and HCB blocks are the most appropriate materials for improving the thermal performance of envelope walls in regions where the outdoor temperatures are above 40°C.Originality/valueThis paper has made an attempt to identify the appropriate wall materials for effective thermal performance in warm and hot climates. A comparative analysis between five different wall types under the existing solar conditions has been analyzed using CFD simulation study in steady-state and transient conditions under summer conditions and the appropriate wall materials have been suggested. There has been no attempt carried out so far to analyze the thermal performance of different walls using 24 h transient approach in CFD.