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Through this paper I present the results of my research concerning the link between literature, architecture and urban space. In two scientifically supervised studies at Graz University of Technology and at the Technical University of Berlin, students approach the spatial design based on narrative texts. On the basis of the evaluations of the experiment at Graz University of Technology, it is shown that it is possible to think architecture out of the place, to write, and to develop real space drafts from this resu...

The paper illustrates the author's analysis of green technologies in construction and how they alter the massing of works of architecture. Ranging from small buildings like single family houses, to large structures like skyscrapers - all types of buildings have their respective technologies that can be considered green, ranging from technology that focuses on the internal workings of a building's technical infrastructure, to those that affect its exterior, like solar or photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, external...

Today's world of architecture and art is more frequently separated from transcendence. The pressure of the pragmatism of a sign brutally annuls imagination. The language of symbols seems to be dying out. The victory of semiology, analytical rationalism and the reign of information communication are all the effects of the triumph of a sign over a symbol. The art of architecture, especially its sacral variety, ought to remain symbolic if it wants to be permanent and eternal. So, if it is expected to be the authentic...

This article presents preliminary results of research into the acoustic insulation of internal concrete slabs. The analyses were designed to answer the question whether concrete slabs—as a material commonly found in architecture—can also serve as an element that improves acoustic comfort in the room. Concrete is a building material that is being consistently used in architectural spaces, not only as a structural element, but more commonly as a decorative element in the form of lining. Theoretical studies indicated...

The paper illustrates the author's analysis of green technologies in construction and how they alter the massing of works of architecture. Ranging from small buildings like single family houses, to large structures like skyscrapers - all types of buildings have their respective technologies that can be considered green, ranging from technology that focuses on the internal workings of a building's technical infrastructure, to those that affect its exterior, like solar or photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, external...

Regeneration of areas, previously used by industry, is a social and spatial necessity. Current efforts to redevelop industrial wastelands and abandoned buildings raises broader views than just architectural and construction issues. In an urbanizing world that is increasingly driven by a stressed free market, how does the concept of industrial heritage adaptive reusing relate to contemporary sustainable city and its public space? How industrial areas can be turned into cultural districts? This contribution is tryin...

The design and construction phases for the realization of a large yacht, today, are involving a growing number of actors, each one with his own special skills, know how and language. Even the old concept of shipyard is evolving in a more fragmented and composed reality.These processes require a strategy in order to optimize communication and exchange of awarness among all the parties involved. Cultural, strategic, economics, technique and even social considerations have to be done in order to develop communication...

The article is devoted to the role of the Russian style in Russian art history. Russian style is discussed as an example of national historicism. The main features and attributes of Russian style and their expression in architecture, art and design are described. Stages of Russian style development are described, including “Society for the Revival of artistic Russia” as the most completed stage of Russian style concept forming. The idea of recreating the image of Holy Russia was supported by state. Fedorovsky (Rus...

Following the Carolingian reform and until the first true Gothic, churches remained predominantly introverted structures with thick walls, looking unto their inner life, the liturgical event. The stone skin delimited the mundane from the divine and created the space to experience the Light of Christ and the sense of the presence of God, unknowable through reason alone, Deus absconditus. The interior space of the church was a hidden jewel that came alive under the light, be it natural or artificial, with its column...

Space recycling is one way of reducing the suburbanization and preventing investment pressure on valuable natural areas. One of the challenges of territorial development of the European Union indicated in the Territorial Agenda 2020 is to reduce urban sprawl through the reuse of land called recycling of land, which includes urban regeneration, the use of areas abandoned, unused or derelict lands. Changes in the global economy, reducing coal mining, ecological solutions resulted in changes taking place in cities, b...

The protection of the environment is surely the last frontier in the project for Naval Architects, as the new materials allow us to dare using complex shapes, open spaces, very appealing lines but the challenge is to match the increase in size of the modern mega yacht, who are often Ships of 90-100-120 meters and over, with the environmental protection and the capability for these enormous ‘toys’ to travel everywhere especially in the most suggestive corners of the planet respecting the air, sea and earth. The IMO...

The focus of this research is the system of the public space in Wroclaw - the fourth most populated Polish city. The spatial policy, expressed in the planning documents, is essential for the development of the public space. Based on the analysis of the city development plans, one can specify the principles on which the management of public space areas are established. The cognitive aim is to isolate and evaluate criteria used in planning practice in determining these integration sites. This paper gives the answer ...

The paper is part of the ‘Back Home’ research project carried out by a group of PhD students from the Polytechnic University of Milan within the framework of the Paquebot Laboratory. The goal of the present research is to reveal historical premises and sociocultural circumstances that provided the basis necessary for the development of the British post-war housing. As one of the major sociocultural and architectural phenomena in the modern history of Great Britain, the new residential development has been taking s...

One of the contemporary famous architect Le Corbusier pointed out the time dimensions in architecture. He described it in his theoretical studies Vers une architecture first published in 1923 (English version titled Towards a New Architecture). In the same time some modern visionary composers reacted the references between space and music underlining a spacious character of sounds and inventing the new forms based on the spacious dimensions of music. My paper is about the possible connections between modern music ...

The article is based on a description of historical trends in design of machine tools and presents contemporary possibilities for their design solutions. Czech lands were in terms of the engineering industry at a high level. There arose a large number of machine tools, which have been internationally awarded. Since the emphasis on overall aesthetic expression, the machines were designed by engineers and industrial designers. Changes of the shape and the materials used have been over the years due to the new possib...

The goal of this paper is to point out the importance that thermal waste processing plants can have within an urban space. Despite the fact that the first thermal waste processing plant was built around the half of the XIX century, the question of their importance within the space of a modern city is currently very important and viable. In recent years, the number of thermal waste processing plants that are being designed has greatly increased. They are being built as environmentally friendly structures, guarantee...

After the political transformation in 1989, polish cities experienced many negative phenomena that affect their spatial development. Among them, may be mentioned the problem of excessive growth of cities, extensive development, lack of ring roads and transit traffic crossing the historical urban structures, technical and functional degradation of central areas and also transfer of central functions at the periphery. These problems are especially severe in historic cities, with preserved precious urban layout and h...

As a result of intense, rapid development of civilization that took place in the previous century, facades of the architectural objects has gone through huge evolution. In historical times, the outer walls of the buildings were designed in such way to ensure the safety of users in the first place. The aesthetic value was the result of the applied material. Nowadays, in most cases we are dealing with multi-layer exterior walls. The reason is the increasing number of functions, they have to perform. With the develop...

This article is part of a broader study on the new visual methods to organize data and information, with the aim to recognize the designing of archives as an active process in information storage and retrieval. The building of an Archive, a structured and declared element of information, implies the awareness of existing data organization processes. The management of this information will connect with the capability to interpret and read information that is otherwise impervious. Design, archiving and image are fer...

The aim of this paper is to apply parts from the technique of value analysis in the area of architectural engineering, trying to answer to the opportunity of using new solutions in water management of a smart building still from the conceptual phase of designing. To reach this issue were used various methodologies and tools as: scientific method, tree diagram, Computer Aided Design (REVIT software student, AutoCAD2017 student). Through a careful analyse of collected data, the paper indentifies trends and opportuni...

Reconstruction, regeneration and modernization of the settlements in the Czech Republic is the current process. The improvement of the existing housing stock, including the improvement of the social life of our settlement sis one of the long-term goals in the development of our cities. The settlements in most of our cities do not correspond with the current requirements of modern trends and modern way of life of people in the 20th century. In the recent time also positive view of life on the settlement (mainly on ...

The aim of the research and analyses was to present the design process of industrial facilities, that takes into account their impact on the existing environment in order to limit the impact of the designed facility on the landscape. Industrial architecture work is usually carried out without taking the surrounding landscape into consideration. The proper analyses of the land for investment and its surroundings allows to develop a design strategy. Appropriate arrangement of isolating greenery allows to create natu...

As digital fabrication is becoming widely available, to design using CAD modeling methods seems to be the only viable solution. Similar prejudices among students are being observed, in relation to analog methods of formal exploration, which are perceived as being anachronic. The present study is based on a comparative analysis of projects that have been carried out by the 3rd year students of the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism of Timisoara during the interior design classes of the second semester. The study ...

The research paper presents innovative approaches to using online services in the course of creating design projects. In order to substantiate theoretical constructs as to using online services in the field of designing we employed a set of theoretical and empirical research methods, among which: modelling professional activities, determining a status of solving the problem, the method of observation, the conversation method etc. Using FloorPlan 3D, Sweet Home 3D, and Planoplan online services, which fall under an...

The paper deals about the differences in the methodology for sustainable development in historical cultural landscape. In two specific case studies it is comparing different methods of access to two important Slovak wine-growing regions. It compares the options and approaches in the design of sustainable construction in Svaty Jur and Rybnik. The paper is also dedicated to the impact of the genius loci, regional identity and alternative development scenarios for the actual design. The implementation of the possibil...

The idea of sustainable development was devised as an answer to the dynamic development of civilisation, in order to minimise its negative consequences. The main task that was set before society has been the outlining of new methods of utilising global resources. As a result, it was possible to plan a number of projects that meet the requirements of Sustainable Development and environmentally friendly architecture, built in a manner that stresses the social aspect of these settlements. This paper focuses on three ...

The study looks at the aspect of ergonomic demands of seniors relevant to the industrial design. This category of people was in the past ignored. However the percentage of older people is increasing, therefore it can be expected that in the future specialized products for older people will be developed. We will introduce ergonomic demands of elderly people applicable to the area of industrial design. It is a set of specific criteria of this age group for the anthropometric, psychophysiological, psychological, hygi...

High-quality, full-featured urban public spaces are characterized by wide complex of attributes. Places for fun and relax, offering emotions of joy, happiness and a good time for inhabitants and visitors, can raise the quality of urban environment. With their functional and emotional potential, the places for relax and entertainment can contribute to make the urban public spaces of contemporary cities more attractive, more lively and more people-friendly. We examine the potential of fun and relax spaces and design...

Important component of fortification in system of resettlement of mountain societies were settlements. Concerning the main settlements in defense the natural factor had also defining value: - a remote location of the settlement (existence on approaches to him of natural barriers: - breaks, steep slopes, rocks); - existence of the circular review of the area surrounding the settlement; - existence of communications of the basic with seasonal settlements – the settlements located in even more hard-to-reach spots hav...

The article presents the didactic values of garden exhibitions. The text is depicted by examples of theme gardens from Bundesgartenschau 2015, which bring visitors attention towards issues of nature protection. Show gardens are a particular type of gardens designed to amaze visitors with bold solutions, fabulous colours and new plant varieties. One type of show gardens - the theme garden seems to be a great opportunity to communicate with visitors. To observant guest they can unveil a story hidden on symbolic laye...

This article focuses on the question of the barrier-free use of zoological gardens with respect to the legislative provisions for this issue in the legal system. A zoological garden is a place of scientific and cognitive interest intended for the breeding of endangered and less endangered animals. By virtue of their logical purpose these facilities should be designed as barrier-free to serve everybody. It focuses on the basic barrier-free criteria which are demonstrated in two examples - Wroclaw Zoo and Ostrava Zo...

The Church of Most Holy Trinity in Klimkovice was build in 1522 – 1529. According to the chronicles local Catholics built the church in late gothic style. Protestants took over the church after the change of owner of the manor in the early 17th century, and according to the principles of the Peace of Augsburg in 1555. The truss of the church and wooden ceiling were exchanged between 1615–1617 (dendrochronologically dating). On the west side was built a wooden four-sided tower, which was removed at the turn of the ...

This paper presents first the difference between the field of thoughts were architecture itself is com-position of figures resulting in architectural objects … without any contact with social Sciences and the field of thoughts where architecture itself is a dis-position of matters resulting in an architectural operation in the ‘Real’ so that architecture becomes a fundament of social science. And these fields of thoughts are under condition of how we consider the ‘anthropos’. Knowledge can stay in a field of thoug...

The author of the paper discusses the subject of the importance of big-box stores in small towns in the second half of the XX century and the beginning of the XXI century. The goal of the paper is to point out whether – and if so, then in what manner – the placement of large area retail buildings influences the spatial structure of small towns. Particular focus was directed towards the changes that have occurred over the past 25 years (after the change of the socio-economic regime in Poland) and the retail buildin...

So, quite fortunately for the history of design, a place arose at that time where these pioneering developments could take shape. We might say that the pivotal moment arrived with the renowned german Bauhaus movement (1919-1933). Nowhere else in the world was so much thought given to modern design in such a remarkable way, merging with architecture, textile and object-based developments; its focus was to give the profession of design a definitive boost. And even though the fourteen years of Bauhaus’ gender policy ...

A fundamental element in the debate about public space is understanding and determining its meaning. Tadeusz Buksi?ski in his article O miejskiej sferze publicznej focuses on its prevailing social function and differentiates eight types of public realm: for presenting oneself, expression, worship and holy places, view/landscape/cityscape, authority, commercial, utility, leisure and entertainment.[7] In 1748 Giambattista Nolli had created a map of Rome, which most important feature is distinguishing public spaces i...

The cultural movement of Renaissance affected profoundly all the accusations of intellectualism. The hallmark of this alternation came with the publication of Nikolaus Copernicus work in 1543 entitled «De revolutionibus orbium coelestium». This work was the formalization of multiannual considerations, of the astronomers of that time, on the existing interpretational theories for our planetary system. The constant search for truth that governs our planetary system, remained irreducible throughout the course of the ...

Responding to the growing impact of changing environmental conditions and the requirement it generates for cities to respond in a resilient way, together with a changing economic climate on a global and local level [1], the research focuses on one particular aspect, aiming to gain critical insights on the reconfiguration of fragile industrial waterfronts. This research paper focuses on the reconfiguration of the Coney Island Creek in New York as an exemplary case of the needed transformation of fragile industrial ...

This article is part of a broader study focused on the perception of functional domestic objects. We propose the analysis of user perception of said objects, through literary revision of key authors and concepts, and also via an enquiry and photographic records of the objects of study in their domestic environment. By promoting investigation of user perception we aim to provide product designers with information and potentially tools which will be conducive to a more informed approach during the design process. “N...

The construction of dwelling spaces is not only a tool for the satisfaction of every person’s needs, but it also means production of the smallest elements which form a town as a whole. Similarly to, for instance, the clothing and car industries, electrical engineering or other branches of economic production, even residential buildings - apartment houses are subject to various fashion waves created in the course of time. Otherwise, branches such as architecture or art history would hardly have appeared; moreover, ...

The global village, in the hyper-metropolises - that form its sub-centres - in which there now lives almost a third of the world's population, with over half living in cities overall - demands its built environment to be constructed with newer and newer technologies. This also requires innovative thinking about the form of future cities. Increasing the effectiveness of land use, accomplished through constructing even taller building, is associated with the struggle between their structures and the destructive impa...

The article is devoted to research, the study of wooden architecture of Petropavlovsk (North Kazakhstan). The purpose of this study - to identify objects preserved wooden residential buildings; determine their importance in the preservation of the historic appearance of the city. The work is based on the historical and bibliographic information for the building of the city of Petropavlovsk, archival and field research. At the beginning of the eighteenth century the Russian state expanded its Siberian territory to ...

Living organisms have been constantly adapting to the specific environmental conditions of the most diverse places in the world and have developed a balanced relationship with nature that is particularly interesting to observe in extreme conditions. The landscapes are continually influenced, even shaped by natural forces. Many of the beautiful natural formations are created by the water and wind erosion. The creations of humans are quite a different case. Architecture hasn’t evolved yet to be a natural part of its...

This paper focuses on defining functional urban areas in the Czech Republic. Time availability of population centres is a key factor in their economic development. An analysis of regional and local centres and their accessibility in terms of job vacancies leads to the identification of areas with poor accessibility and assessment of the impact of upcoming or already implemented major transportation investments on the availability of the centres. Based on the assumption that the time availability is of great import...

Nowadays, some contemporary houses are becoming extraordinary through individual design and may be presumed as manifestos or icons. At some locations the design is driven by the site: the houses either open to the adjacent neighborhood or expose the site's advantages. The 'house with a view' or 'view house' is a term often used by architects to describe their design for an extraordinary house which explores the element of the view in the house idea. The author discusses the term 'house with a view' and proposes a ...

After 25 years since dissolution of the Soviet system, St. Petersburg is still a city in transition and therefore undergoing a period of significant changes in its socio-economic and political-administrative reorganization. The industrial belt of St. Petersburg, once a sign for wealth and growth is today characterized by brown fields, functional and spatial diversity and fragmentation. However, with its huge territory, unique landscapes and built heritage it has potential to respond to current demands of St. Peter...

The debate about post-war reconstruction has been ongoing during the last six years of the ongoing Syrian war. The increasing volume of destruction in different big cities has created a need for new ideas and innovative building solutions. Many studies have tried to suggest solutions comparing other countries ruined by wars such as post-WWII case studies from Germany, Poland, Italy, and also Bosnia after the Balkan War. The case studies have considered similarities and differences demanding innovative ideas and no...

The focus of the research is accessibility of the public space designated in the legal documents generating social policy of Wroclaw city. Integration and expansion of social development constitute one of the main objectives of economic development, both at the national and local level. Spatial planning should satisfy basic social needs and provide room to interpersonal relationships. Accessibility is one of the most important features defining areas of public space. Depending on various points of view from which ...