Aesthetic Appeal Research Articles

Harnessing solar power with aesthetic innovation: An in‐depth study on spherical and hemispherical photovoltaic configurations

AbstractIn pursuing advancing solar energy systems, this research uniquely occupies a position at the intersection of photovoltaic (PV) efficiency, innovative design and aesthetic integration into urban landscapes. This study explores the potential of thin solar cells applied to spherical and hemispherical surfaces and the influence of temperature variations throughout the day. By conducting a comprehensive analysis of voltage–current diagrams, the study deciphers the intricate interconnections of spherical geometries and their response to external thermal impacts, elucidating their subsequent effects on energy conversion efficiency. Moreover, it delved into the dynamics of connecting multiple spherical modules, unveiling their potential to form artistic and utilitarian constructs such as solar trees and architectural embellishments. The findings indicate that while spherical configurations provide superior aesthetics and a power generation profile comparable to solar tracking systems, hemispherical configurations offer a 32% increase in efficiency compared with the spherical configuration and a notable reduction in land footprint. This research underscores the importance of striking a balance between aesthetic appeal, efficiency and land utilization, providing valuable insights for the future of PV technology integration into urban and agricultural landscapes.

Strategi Mengatasi Aksesibilitas Destinasi Pulau Kecil Dengan Penyesuaian Segmentasi Wisatawan Kepulauan Riau

A prevalent challenge encountered by small islands pertains to accessibility. Nevertheless, numerous ostensibly isolated islands attract a substantial number of tourists. This article examines the relationship between accessibility and tourism development on small islands to understand the two better. Qualitative data collection methods were utilized for this study, including in-depth interviews, the collection of pertinent secondary data, and field observations. Following analysis, the collected data were presented in a comparative descriptive fashion. A discussion of the island approach (islands and archipelagos) is undertaken to comprehend the interconnections between minor islands and other locations within the larger region. Field research indicates that despite possessing the aesthetic appeal of beaches and sea, many small islands still need to exploit their tourism potential fully. This is primarily due to the exorbitant transportation expenses for domestic visitors and the need for adequate tourism infrastructure, including resorts and hotels of international caliber catering to affluent-class tourists (middle and above). Conversely, despite being classified as remote islands, the Riau Archipelago maintains strong diplomatic relations with neighboring nations. It can attract international visitors for cultural tourism, beach activities, and scuba diving. Small islands may benefit from a strategy targeting affluent classes and foreign tourists. In order to develop the tourist experience on small islands by expectations, it is necessary to enhance tourism infrastructure and services for tourists and tourism investors as a result of targeting the tourist segment.

Mussel byssus-inspired dual-functionalization of zirconia dental implants for improved bone integration

Zirconia faces challenges in dental implant applications due to its inherent biological inertness, which compromises osseointegration, a critical factor for the long-term success of implants that rely heavily on specific cell adhesion and enhanced osteogenic activity. Here, we fabricated a dual-functional coating that incorporates strontium ions, aimed at enhancing osteogenic activity, along with an integrin-targeting sequence to improve cell adhesion by mussel byssus-inspired surface chemistry. The results indicated that although the integrin-targeting sequence at the interface solely enhances osteoblast adhesion without directly increasing osteogenic activity, its synergistic interaction with the continuously released strontium ions from the coating, as compared to the release of strontium ions alone, significantly enhances the overall osteogenic effect. More importantly, compared to traditional polydopamine surface chemistry, the coating surface is enriched with amino groups capable of undergoing various chemical reactions and exhibits enhanced stability and aesthetic appeal. Therefore, the synergistic interplay between strontium and the functionally customizable surface offers considerable potential to improve the success of zirconia implantation.

Purification Effect of Water Eutrophication Using the Mosaic System of Submerged-Emerged Plants and Growth Response.

Aquatic plants play a crucial role in the sustainable management of eutrophic water bodies, serving as a valuable tool for water purification. However, the effectiveness of using aquatic plants for improving water quality is influenced by landscape considerations. In practical applications, challenges arise concerning low purification efficiency and compromised aesthetic appeal when utilizing plants for water purification. To address these issues, this study aimed to examine the impact of aquatic plants on the purification of simulated landscape water bodies, specifically focusing on the effectiveness of the mosaic system of submerged-emerged plants in remediating eutrophic water bodies. Our findings indicated that individual aquatic plants exhibited limited efficacy in pollutant (total nitrogen, total phosphorus, ammonia nitrogen, and chemical oxygen demand) removal. However, when combined in appropriate proportions, submerged plants could enhance species growth and improve the purification efficiency of polluted water bodies. Notably, the mosaic system of submerged-emerged plants neither significantly promoted nor inhibited the growth of each other, but it effectively removed pollutants from the simulated water bodies and inhibited turbidity increase. The comprehensive evaluation ranked the purification capacity as Canna indica-submerged plants combination (C + S) > Thalia dealbata-submerged plants combination (T + S) > Iris pseudacorus-submerged plants combination (I + S) > Lythrum salicaria-submerged plants combination (L + S). Both C + S and T + S configurations effectively mitigated the rise of water turbidity and offered appealing landscape benefits, making them viable options for practical applications in urban landscape water bodies. Our study highlights that a submerged-emerged mosaic combination is a means of water purification that combines landscape aesthetics and purification efficiency.

Balancing creativity and longevity: The ambiguous role of obsolescence in product design

This paper dives into the complex and often contentious realm of obsolescence within product design, examining its role as both a deliberate design choice and an unintended consequence of evolving external factors. Critically exploring how obsolescence straddles the line between artistic expression and design failure, analyzing its historical evolution, its manifestation in intentional design decisions, and its interplay with unforeseen technological and socio-cultural shifts. Our inquiry reveals the multifaceted impact of obsolescence on product longevity and sustainability, highlighting its potential as a catalyst for strategic innovation but also its significant ethical, environmental, and economic implications. This study underscores the nuanced challenges faced by designers, who must navigate the fine line between the allure of novelty and the sustainable value of durability. Concluding with actionable insights and strategic recommendations, aiming to guide designers toward creating products that seamlessly integrate aesthetic appeal, functional utility, and long-term relevance, thereby redefining the narrative of obsolescence in modern product design.

Cardiac implantable electronic devices in female patients: Esthetic, breast implant, and anatomic considerations.

The implantation of a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) can have esthetic and psychological consequences on patients. We explore a heart team model for care coordination and discuss esthetic approaches for improved cosmetic outcomes in patients undergoing (CIED)-related procedures or de novo implantation. Patients undergoing CIED surgery for approved indications between June2015 andJune2022 were identified. Patients were included when surgical care was provided by a collaborative relationship between the primary electrophysiologist and the plastic surgeon. Patient demographics, details of the surgical procedure, information on breast implants, complications, and outcomes related to cosmesis were recorded. Twenty-two female patients were included in this study. The mean age was 50.2 ± 18.2 years. The mean follow-up duration was 2.2 ± 5.5 months. The top two indications for the procedure included CIED generator change (n = 9, 41%) and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation (n = 7, 32%). The most common reasons for involving plastic surgery in the procedure included surgery near breast implants (n = 10, 45%) and device displacement or discomfort (n = 8, 36%). CIED pocket position was prepectoral in 10 cases (45%), subpectoral in 11 patients (50%), and intramuscular in one patient (4.5%). The majority of the patients (20, 91%) had cosmetically acceptable results postprocedure. One patient (4.5%) had breast asymmetry on the CIED side, and another continued to have skin erosion over the CIED and leads. A heart team approach incorporating the expertize of cardiac electrophysiology and plastic surgery is essential for providing optimal care for patients with breast implants and patients requesting esthetic appeal.

Adaptive Reuse of Old Houses into Boutique Hotels: An Approach to Market Architectural Heritage

Adaptive reuse of old house with rich architectural heritage into a boutique hotels or speciality tourism sector becoming a popular strategy while catering to sustainable use of resources. In addition, adaptive reuse helps to preserve architectural uniqueness, strength the local economy through environmentally friendly manner. This study focused to explore reuse house as boutique hotels in Sri Lanka, the vernacular and colonial approach by analysing the process and changes that occur on its application and identify the tourist perception on unique experience. Mixed method approach was instrumental in data collection. Site visits, walkthrough tour to identify building performance, analysis of the photographs, videos and online user satisfaction reviews were used to obtain tourist perceptions on reuse of old houses. Case studies approach used to study the 15 old houses converter to boutique hotels. Adaptive reuse of boutique hotels carter to the high-end tourist market and specially cratering to families and groups. Renovating old houses into boutique hotels enhances the value of the structures while preserving the passive design strategies inherent in vernacular and colonial buildings. Tourists appreciate the remarkable design layout, refined decor, aesthetic appeal of the space, and the ability of the interior to maintain its charm despite the tropical climate, offering mesmerizing views of the architecture. The result shows that a significant number of vernacular and colonial residences belonging to rich individuals have been transformed into boutique hotels, attracting a discerning clientele of high-end tourists. Conservation and restoration of economically and culturally important but abandoned buildings through its adoptive reuse contributes to the enhancement of tourist attraction, liveability, tackle the challenges of resource scarcity, waste prevention and preserve heritage.
 
 Keywords: Old houses, Tourist perception, Adaptive reuse, Sri Lanka

Unraveling the Dimensions of E-Servicescape and its Influence on E-Grocery Shopping Intention: Application of Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) Framework

This study aims to identify the dimensions of e-servicescape and to analyze the influence of these dimensions on customers e-grocery shopping intention. Based on the dimensions of e-servicescape proposed by Harris and Goode (2010) and the S–O–R framework proposed by Mehrabian and Russel (1974), a conceptual model was developed. The proposed model considered e-servicescape environment as stimuli, internal response (i.e., attitude and trust) as organism and online purchase intention as behavioral response. Data were collected from 200 respondents who purchase grocery items from e-commerce websites of Bangladesh. The PLS-SEM using SmartPLS V.3.3.3 evaluated the proposed model. The results revealed that financial security has positive influence on attitude towards website. The results also show a significant positive impact of aesthetic appeal, functionality and layout and financial security on trust in website. Finally, the study confirms that purchase intention is positively influenced by attitude towards website and trust in website. Stakeholders of e-commerce websites of Bangladesh can be benefitted from this study.

Integrating aesthetics and efficiency: AI-driven diffusion models for visually pleasing interior design generation

The interior design suffers from inefficiency and a lack of aesthetic appeal. With the development of artificial intelligence diffusion models, using text descriptions to generate aesthetically pleasing designs has emerged as a new approach to address these issues. In this study, we propose a novel method based on the aesthetic diffusion model, which can quickly generate visually appealing interior design based on input text descriptions while allowing for the specification of decorative styles and spatial functions. The method proposed in this study creates creative designs and drawings by computer instead of from designers, thus improving the design efficiency and aesthetic appeal. We demonstrate the potential of this approach in the field of interior design through our research. The results indicate that: (1) The method efficiently provides designers with aesthetically pleasing interior design solutions; (2) By modifying the text descriptions, the method allows for the rapid regeneration of design solutions; (3) Designers can apply this highly flexible method to other design fields through fine-tuning. (4) The method optimizes the workflow of interior design.

Arid Urban Green Areas Reimagined: Transforming Landscapes with Native Plants for a Sustainable Future in Aksu, Northwest China

The exponential growth of the economy and society has resulted in a substantial need for superior urban green spaces, consequently fostering a significant surge in urban landscape construction. The integration of plant landscapes in urban landscape construction is crucial. The rational use of plant landscape resources to create high-quality urban green spaces is of great significance for promoting urban sustainable development. Hence, the primary aim of this study was to investigate the landscape and ecological functions of indigenous plants in the context of urban landscape implementation and then provide utilization strategies of indigenous plants for urban landscape construction. This research focuses on the utilization of native plants in Aksu’s urban green spaces (a city in northwest China). Through a contrastive analysis of the dust retention, windbreak and sand fixation, and landscaping capabilities of these native plants, certain indigenous species are identified as suitable candidates. Specifically, Styphnolobium japonicum and Ulmus densa exhibit a dust adhering per plant of 656.50 and 388.46 g·m−2, respectively. Consequently, augmenting their planting proportion can effectively augment the overall dust adhering within the garden. The windbreak distances of Populus bolleana, Populus euphratica, and Styphnolobium japonicum were found to exceed 60 m, indicating their effectiveness in mitigating wind and sand erosion. Therefore, strategically planting these species can contribute to the establishment of a robust urban windbreak forest. Additionally, optimizing the arrangement of Rosa multiflora, Hippophae rhamnoides, Berberis thunbergii, and Salix matsudana can enhance the aesthetic appeal of urban gardens. The utilization of native plants holds promise in enhancing the ecological and landscape functions of urban gardens in Aksu. The effective enhancement of the ecological function and the landscape effect of urban gardens can be achieved through the appropriate reconstruction with native plants. The findings of this study hold significant reference value for the urban landscape architecture in arid urban areas.

Climate Change-Induced Geoenvironmental Challenges in Faizabad City: A Case Study from 2010-2020

The issue of environmental change is a pressing concern in the world today, impacting various aspects of human life. This study aims to assess environmental changes in Faizabad City, located in the Badakhshan Province at the northeast of Afghanistan. The study utilizes a combination of comperhinsive reviws, field observations, and laboratory analysis. Specifically, the study focuses on climate change and its environmental impact on Faizabad City, affecting both human and non-human elements of the ecosystem. By analyzing data from 2010 to 2020, including rainfall patterns, population growth, and temperature fluctuations from reputable local and global meteorological sources, the study highlights significant trends in environmental parameters. The findings indicate a population growth rate exceeding 2% and a temperature increase of 0.5°C during the specified timeframe, alongside fluctuating precipitation levels characterized by both decreases and increases. Consequently, the study concludes that Faizabad City experiences significant warming trends and excessive population growth, posing challenges to planned urban development and geomorphic integrity, thereby compromising its aesthetic appeal.

Using photo editing to understand the impact of species aesthetics on support for conservation

Abstract Many threatened species suffer from a lack of conservation attention compared to others. Prioritisation of funding, research and conservation efforts seem to be driven by reasons beyond conservation need. This could be due to a ‘beauty bias’, whereby aesthetically pleasing species receive more attention. We examined how editing an image to increase a species' aesthetic appeal may impact donation choices and public attitude towards that species. We posed two research questions; first, ‘do people make different donation choices when they see original images of a species compared to when they see images of the same species that have been edited to match aesthetic preferences?’ Using hypothetical donation experiments, we asked respondents to allocate funds to the conservation of three pictured species, one ‘aesthetically appealing’, one ‘aesthetically unappealing’, and one whose image was either edited to reflect common aesthetic preferences or left unedited. Our findings suggest that images edited to make an animal more visually appealing tend to receive higher hypothetical donation amounts than original images. We also posed a second research question; ‘How do people of varying conservation expertise respond to original versus edited images of wildlife?’ To investigate this, we ran three focus groups with individuals unfamiliar with our test species, those familiar with two or more of our test species, and with conservation professionals, which showed mixed reactions both within and between groups. Focus group participants with less conservation expertise noted that edited images often seemed ‘cuter’ than unedited images, and were more likely to compare them to cartoon characters. Participants with more conservation expertise and species familiarity reported greater empathy towards unedited images, and noted that the edited images prompted an ‘uncanny valley’ response, highlighting the need for further scrutiny in how photo editing might be used in conservation messaging. Our findings support the beauty bias hypothesis and highlight that decisions on conservation support should acknowledge that less aesthetically pleasing species are disadvantaged in public attention and funding. In addition, the findings highlight the role of conservation expertise in impacting viewer reactions, as well as the ethical implications of editing images of wildlife. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

ClearPath aligners: An invisible approach for the correction of anterior open bite

Clear aligner treatment has established itself as a reputable orthodontic procedure known for its aesthetic appeal and comfort, particularly favored by adult patients This case report details the clear aligner treatment administered to an adult patient presenting with an anterior open bite and spaced upper dentition. The treatment involved closing spaces and retracting upper anterior teeth, while interproximal reduction was performed in the lower arch. The Elastic Button Technique (EBT) was employed to address the open bite. A total of 9 sets of clear aligners were provided, with a recommended wear time of 22 hours per day for 10 days, spanning a four-month period. Consequently, this case study underscores the effectiveness of using clear aligners in orthodontic treatment to resolve anterior open bite issues. The inconspicuous design of these aligners not only contributes to enhanced periodontal health but also boosts patient acceptance.

Using Biophilic Design to Enhance Resilience of Urban Parks in Semarang City, Indonesia

Biophilic design is an approach for creating resilient, sustainable cities by constructing resilient buildings that connect humans and nature by integrating natural adaptation and aesthetic appeal in urban spaces. Biophilic design enables improved climate resilience and mental health. Semarang City in Java, Indonesia is a concrete jungle metropolis that will benefit from the application of biophilic design. Although several urban parks are constructed in public areas, certain design elements remain extremely simple. For example, the vegetated-setting contextminimal and unable to generate sufficient interest in community physical activities. Hence, the connection between humans and nature is limited, which demonstrates the lack of biophilic design. Thus, the study aims to investigate the use of biophilic design in urban public spaces by promoting resilience. This research uses a quantitative method and analytical tools. Questionnaires and field observations were used to collect data. The study investigated the effectiveness of urban parks on mental health, climate resilience, need for urban park design elements, and the design of urban parks. The study identified three parks with the highest increases in land surface temperatures from 2011 to 2021, which indicates that incorporating biophilic design elements into these locations should be considered. More than half of the users at these parks preferred biophilic design elements, which are effective in lowering air temperature, blending with the surrounding nature, and promoting calming, cost-effective, and beneficial mental and physical health. Using these biophilic elements, the average temperature of the parks could be decreased by approximately 0.5 °C.

Invitations Within and Beyond the Fictitious World: An LDA Discourse Analysis of Female Game Preferences in Chinese CMC Forums

Throughout the conventionally masculine video game culture worldwide, the existing literature on video game preferences mainly focuses on the West, overlooking Chinese female gamers, who make up the largest female gamer population globally. This study aims to explore their preferences by analyzing responses from four female-exclusive video game forums. Using the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) Topic Model, 1321 responses were analyzed, extracting females’ preferences into six dimensions: characters, design, genre, narrative, engagement, and experience. This multifaceted research offers preliminary insights into female gaming experience. Our findings highlight the evolving portrayal and preference of game characters, a complex interplay between aesthetic appeal, genre, and the intriguing relationship between game narratology and empathy. The study further explores how narrative structures in video games can evoke empathy, and advance understanding of females’ engagement and flow experience in the virtual world, challenging conventional assumptions and expanding the understanding of player interaction with digital media.

Identifying the oral microbiome of adolescents with and without dental fluorosis based on full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Dental fluorosis, resulting from long-term environmental exposure to fluoride, is prevalent among diverse populations worldwide. Severe fluorosis not only compromises the aesthetic appeal of teeth but also impairs their functionality. This study aims to investigate the oral microbiome in dental fluorosis and the health individuals of adolescents living in the endemic fluorosis area of Guizhou, China through full-length 16S rDNA sequencing. Fourty-six individuals meet the sampling criteria, and we divided these samples into the following groups: a healthy group (H = 23) and a dental fluorosis group (F = 23), and two subgroups of Miao ethnicity: a healthy Miao group (Hm = 13) and a dental fluorosis Miao group (Fm = 15). A total of 660,389 high-quality sequences were obtained, and 12,007 Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) were identified, revealing significant variations in oral microbiome between Fm and Hm groups. The composition of oral microbiota was similar between the H and F groups. At the genus level, Pseudopropionibacterium and at the species level, Streptococcus oralis_subsp.dentisani_clade_058 were less abundant in group F than in group H (P < 0.05). Further analysis revealed that the abundance of Capnocytophaga gingivalis and Kingella denitrificans was significantly lower in Fm fluorosis patients than in the Hm group (P < 0.05). Based on the LEfSe analysis, the potential core biomarkers in the oral of Fm fluorosis patients were identified at different taxonomic levels, ranging from phylum to species. These include Gammaproteobacteria, Prevotella sp_HMT_304, Gemella sanguinis, and Gracilibacteria_(GN02). Network analysis revealed that the microbiota in the fluorosis group exhibited more complex interactions with each other than the healthy group. Notably, within the Hm group, the potential biomarkers Capnocytophaga gingivalis and Kingella denitrificans exhibited a positive correlation. Finally, we employed PICRUSt2 analysis to explore the abundance clustering of the top 30 functional units in each sample, and we found that the metabolic pathway compositions of the four groups were similar. In summary, our findings suggest that the microbial composition of plaque in Hm patients with dental fluorosis is significantly altered, and we identified the potential marker microorganisms that contribute to these changes.

Miswak-Infused Glass Ionomer Cement: A Comparative In Vitro Analysis of Antibacterial Efficacy and Compressive Strength.

Glass ionomer cement (GIC) restorations are commonly used in primary dentition, due to their aesthetic appeal, self-adhesive nature, and biocompatibility. However, the material's limited antibacterial activity and inadequate mechanical strength highlight the necessity for modifying the material. The study aims to evaluate and compare the antimicrobial potency and compressive strength of GIC-incorporated Miswak extract with that of conventional GIC. After obtaining the Miswak extract, a modified GICwas formulated by combining the extract with the conventional GIC powder and liquid components, in three different ratios (Powder: Extract and Liquid), Group I (2:1:1), Group II (3:1:2), Group III (3:2:1), and the Group IV as control, which consist of unmodified/conventional GIC. To evaluate and compare the antibacterial efficacy of the modified and unmodified GIC, standard strains of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus were utilized. For each group, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay was tested. For the evaluation of compressive strength, cylindrical moulds were utilized in compliance with ISO 9917-1:2007 standards and tested using the universal testing machine (Instron, ElectroPuls®, Bangalore, IND). The highest force exerted at the point of specimen fracture was recorded to calculate the compressive strength values in MPa. The data obtained were analyzed using the StatisticalPackage for the Social Sciences (IBMSPSSStatisticsforWindows,IBMCorp., Version 24.0, Armonk,NY)software. The statistical analysis was conducted utilizing repeated measures of analysis of variance (ANOVA) to calculate the mean MICvalues and compressive strength, with pairwise comparisons assessed using Tukey's post hoc test. The results provedthat the antimicrobial properties of Miswak containing GIC performed better against S. mutans and Lactobacillus with a statistically significant difference when compared with group IV (p<0.05), it has been found that an increase in the concentration of extract increased the antimicrobial potency. Significant results were obtained in compressive strength where GroupII (41.49±3.6) and Group III (15.23±4.96) proved to be weaker than the control (62.69±2.58), while Group I showed no differences from the control group (p>0.05). It can be concluded that Group I was found to be better in terms of both antimicrobial properties and compressive strength, where no significant difference in compressive strength was identified when comparing Group I with Group IV. Thus, the overall study depicts that a lesser concentration of extract can be the best option in terms of good antimicrobial properties without altering its strength. Hence, the Miswak containing GIC could be a promising restorative material; further studies should include considering intraoral variables such as masticatory stress, moisture levels and in-vivo tests of this combination.

State of the Art Review of Attributes and Mechanical Properties of Hempcrete

The global surge in environmental pollution, largely attributed to industrialization, has fueled a pressing need for sustainable solutions. In response, the construction sector is increasingly focusing on bio-based materials such as hemp, recognized for its low environmental footprint and prominent carbon-negative quality. As designers, housebuilders, and an environmentally conscious society pivot towards ecological alternatives to standard building materials, hempcrete emerges as a promising candidate. As a composite material mainly made from hemp hurd/shiv, water, and lime, hempcrete offers the ability to sequester carbon long after its incorporation into structures. As a result, the hemp cultivation process—which can be completed within less than four months—ensures that more carbon is absorbed during production and deployment than emitted, e.g., per one study, sequestration on the order of 300 kg of CO2 per m3 of hempcrete. In comparison to concrete, hempcrete offers a more sustainable footprint, given its recyclability post life cycle. This state-of-the-art review paper delves deep into different aspects of hempcrete, summarizing its multifaceted attributes, particularly its compressive strength. Based on the study conducted, the paper also suggests strategies to augment this strength, thereby transitioning hempcrete from a non-load-bearing material to one capable of shouldering significant weight. As architects and designers consistently strive to align their projects with high ecological standards, focusing not just on aesthetic appeal but also environmental compatibility, hempcrete becomes an increasingly fitting solution for the future of construction.

Perceptions and Reuse of Concrete Building Structures

Concrete has gone through significant changes in popularity in the United Kingdom. This paper explores factors associated with shifts in the perception, and reuse of concrete buildings. and how these changes have influenced the use of concrete in Architecture and Design in the UK. The popularity of concrete has fluctuated over the past few decades. This is driven by a combination of cultural, aesthetic and sustainability factors. In the 1980’s and 90’s fairfaced, textured, bush-hammered concrete acquired a reputation which took some three decades to reverse. UK public opinion on concrete ‘Brutalist’ buildings of these decades is mixed, but tends to often be negative, where terms used include ‘Depressing’, ‘Hideous’, ‘Monstrosities’, ‘Eyesores’. There is currently a growing appreciation for the history and cultural significance of concrete and specifically ‘Brutalist’ architecture. Although these buildings were previously despised, they are now recognised as part of the UK’s architectural heritage and efforts are made to preserve them for future generations. Buildings and complexes, which were once run-down urban environments, are now changed into more desirable housing complexes often leading to drastic social changes in the area. Concrete has been generally seen as a material that has significant environmental impact, especially in terms of carbon emissions. Concrete’s durability, thermal mass and fire protection properties paired with advances in technology that can improve the appearance and consistency of finishes, have all improved the popularity of concrete. Strides are also being made to improve the sustainability of concrete constituent materials. The positioning of concrete as a sustainable, energy efficient building material that can also have an aesthetic appeal, combined with its versatility and durability, make concrete once again a popular choice for contemporary architecture and Interior design.

Revitalizing Old Facades: Innovations in Facade System Installation and Preservation

This article presents a novel approach to enhancing the aesthetic appeal and longevity of old building facades through the installation of a new facade system. The study aims to improve the appearance of buildings while safeguarding the integrity of existing facades and mitigating various associated challenges. The methodology involves a detailed analysis of the old facade's condition, selection of appropriate materials and technologies for the new system, and implementation strategies for seamless integration. Results indicate significant improvements in building aesthetics, increased durability, and reduced maintenance costs. The implications of this research extend to urban planning, heritage preservation, and sustainable architectural practices, offering valuable insights for architects, engineers, and policymakers globally.&#x0D; Highlights:&#x0D; &#x0D; Facade renovation enhances building aesthetics and preserves historical architecture.&#x0D; Innovative materials and technologies ensure long-term sustainability and reduce maintenance costs.&#x0D; Global impact: Research findings inform urban development practices, emphasizing heritage preservation and sustainable building strategies.&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: Facade System, Building Renovation, Modernization