Apartment Blocks Research Articles

Vladimir Makanin and the Disorder of Post-Soviet Trauma

ABSTRACT This study aims to demonstrate that post-Soviet Russian prose from 1991–2000 contains a critique of totalitarianism manifested as much on the level of literary problematics as on the art of the narrative itself. The first part of the study synthesizes the most important themes in post-Soviet Russian literature, among which resentment of the trauma caused by communism stands out. Among the various literary movements, postmodernism played a decisive role by adopting an aggressive stylistic stance in the radical spirit of the avantgarde whose aesthetic it continued. The second part of the study analyzes one of the most renowned novels of the period in order to depict a significant anti-totalitarian vision, Underground, or a Hero of Our Time (1998) by Vladimir Makanin. In addition to the critique of totalitarianism, Makanin’s novel offers a critical reflection on post-Soviet reality seen as an effect of the trauma of communism. The sombre social mural created by Makanin – emphasizing at least three topoi: the underground, the obshhaga ‘communal apartment block’, and the psychiatric hospital – casts a bleak shadow over the recent past, from the paternalistic communist state to the chaotic transitional period of Perestroika, all depicted against a controversial ideological, economic and political landscape.

CROSS Safety Report: Dangerous glass infill panels on balustrade

This month we present a report about the structural stability of cantilever glass infill panels between a steel post and handrail balustrade system at a high-level apartment block.

Application of a retrofit system to improve the seismic and energy performances of RC framed buildings

The need to renovate the existing building stock in earthquake-prone countries is now widely recognized. In this framework, this paper aims at investigating an innovative technology for the seismic, energy and architectural renovation of RC framed buildings. This technology combines the seismic resistance provided by steel trusses with the thermal performance of wood-based panels, which are both applied to the outer building envelope.In this paper, the proposed system is applied to a pilot building located in the city of Bucharest, in Romania, to examine its effectiveness and replicability. The pilot building is a five-storey apartment block located in a suburban neighborhood of the city and representative of many coeval buildings in Bucharest that are energy-intensive and earthquakes-prone since they were built before the enforcement of effective seismic and energy efficiency standards.The proposed retrofit methodology involves designing wood-based prefabricated panels and steel trusses according to criteria of structural strengthening and energy efficiency, standardization in manufacturing process, fast installation, and architectural integration. Furthermore, the parametric modeling in BIM environment of the above-mentioned components enables controlling their size, quantity, manufacturing, cost, and arrangement on the building façade to optimize the construction and installation processes.

Exploiting the Unexpected

Contemporary imaging technologies have expanded our ability to view contemporary urban space from many vantage points. The camera's portability has meant a departure from any singular ‘ideal’ viewing position previously proposed using linear perspective geometry. This visual and technological shift has brought new opportunities for how urban space is understood and conceived for various modes of inhabitation. By fracturing and multiplying its representation, the recording of dynamic space thus destabilises the traditional relationship between image and form and, in so doing, presents previously unconsidered spatial opportunities. This text-based essay explores the instrumentality of digital image processes in the production of new material and spatial strategies for design and architectural applications. Contextualised within a frame of the digital image and contemporary envisioned space activated by the Internet, it focuses upon the spatial and material properties of three different architectural scales — the residential dwelling, the apartment block, and the public building. The essay demonstrates how repurposed medical imaging software can uncover hidden and unexpected characteristics of different-sized interior spaces by recalibrating image data from captured video footage. The essay draws on a range of generative digital techniques that transform the temporal visual content of interior space — the image stack and its slices or frames — into diagrammatic abstractions of recalibrated colour and form. The various axes of the stack thus serve as a contemporary extrapolation of the traditional orthographic diagrams that currently define architectural production — the plan, section, and elevation. With the visual content of these axes completely redistributed across different scales according to the shifts of the colour- and contrast-based properties of the digital array, the emerging slippages within each slice compose a new dynamic template or diagram that informs new and uncertain strategies of inhabitation.

Dynamics of the Inflation-Hedging Capabilities of Real Estate Investment Portfolios in the Nigerian Property Market

There has been a wide belief that real estate is a source of good investment portfolios because it has a hedge against inflation. Considering this notion, the present research examined the dynamics of the inflation-hedging capabilities of real estate investment in Nigeria’s three foremost property markets, Abuja (Maitama and Central Business District), Lagos (Lekki and Victoria Island), and Port Harcourt (Rumu Ibekwe and Aba Road). To achieve this aim, this study was carried out by exploring the returns on different types of commercial properties in the chosen location and investigating the effect of inflation on such returns in order to come up with the hedging capabilities of the assets. Out of the four property prime locations in Nigeria’s market, these selected study sites were purposely selected for investigation because they comprise the most desirable and preferred properties regarding location, standards, aesthetics, and value. From the data collected, a mean return, coefficient of variation, and ordinary least square regression analysis were completed. In terms of the coefficient of variation (CV), the findings reveal that the duplex in Port Harcourt exhibits the most performed investment, with a value of 0.33, compared to other locations. However, in terms of the expected return (ER), the duplex outperformed other property types in the different locations, with a return of 39.56%. Results also show that inflation has an adverse effect on the returns of the office space for the three locations considered, with the expected returns below 1%. The block of flats in Abuja has a complete defence against the three components of inflation, with a coefficient beta of 0.5633, 0.6586, and 0.8440, respectively. Thus, investors should consider inflation and other investment attributes when making decisions among arrays of investments. This will help guard against the widespread perception that real estate has a hedge against inflation. This paper adds to the existing literature on inflation hedging by investigating the effect of inflation on the real estate investment returns of commercial properties.

Economic Model-Predictive Control of Building Heating Systems Using Backbone Energy System Modelling Framework

Accessing the demand-side management potential of the residential heating sector requires sophisticated control capable of predicting buildings’ response to changes in heating and cooling power, e.g., model-predictive control. However, while studies exploring its impacts both for individual buildings as well as energy markets exist, building-level control in large-scale energy system models has not been properly examined. In this work, we demonstrate the feasibility of the open-source energy system modelling framework Backbone for simplified model-predictive control of buildings, helping address the above-mentioned research gap. Hourly rolling horizon optimisations were performed to minimise the costs of flexible heating and cooling electricity consumption for a modern Finnish detached house and an apartment block with ground-to-water heat pump systems for the years 2015–2022. Compared to a baseline using a constant electricity price signal, optimisation with hourly spot electricity market prices resulted in 3.1–17.5% yearly cost savings depending on the simulated year, agreeing with comparable literature. Furthermore, the length of the optimisation horizon was not found to have a significant impact on the results beyond 36 h. Overall, the simplified model-predictive control was observed to behave rationally, lending credence to the integration of simplified building models within large-scale energy system modelling frameworks.

Exploring educational traditions and experiences of block residents engaging in urban food self-production: a case study of Urban Living Lab

Food self-production offers a promising solution to many urbanization problems in cities. However, despite the advanced technology, the acceptance and involvement of local residents (its users) are required for implementation. The study presented here aims to gain a deeper understanding of the educational characteristics of future or current users of urban gardens, especially those oriented towards their own food production. The research will explore urban dwellers' traditional understanding and knowledge of the food growing process acquired over the course of their lives. We conducted in-depth interviews with residents of a selected block of flats in Łódź, who expressed their willingness to participate in an Urban Living Lab. As part of it, they would grow food for a year using hydroponic installation located in the corridors of their block. As a result of our analyses, we have identified the dominant traditions and social culture associated with growing food among the future participants of the Urban Living Lab, focusing primarily on the educational aspects. This is because we assume that effective educational interventions are an essential tool in the process of shaping the pro-environmental behaviour of city dwellers. The results obtained will be relevant for those involved in the urban education process, including city authorities, urban educators, pro-environmental associations, and grassroots activists.

Warszawskie Jelonki – od wsi folwarcznej, przez miasto ogród do wielkomiejskiego osiedla mieszkaniowego

The Jelonki neighbourhood in Warsaw is a part of the capital’s Bemowo district. It is primarily a residential area, but it is characterized by mixed development, consisting of single-family and multi-family houses, blocks of flats, as well as contemporary, modern apartment blocks and gated estates. The specific urban layout of Jelonki has been shaped over the last hundred years. The successive stages of the formation of space in this part of Warsaw illustrate the changing architectural and social standards. From the pre-war garden city, through the “Przyjaźń” (“Friendship”) settlement subordinated to the socio-political conditions of Stalinist Poland and the prefabricated high-rise neighbourhoods of Jelonki, Lazurowa and Górczewska, built in the construction boom of the seventies and eighties, to the new housing projects of the free market economy post 1989.

Warszawskie Jelonki – od wsi folwarcznej, przez miasto ogród do wielkomiejskiego osiedla mieszkaniowego

The Jelonki neighbourhood in Warsaw is a part of the capital’s Bemowo district. It is primarily a residential area, but it is characterized by mixed development, consisting of single-family and multi-family houses, blocks of flats, as well as contemporary, modern apartment blocks and gated estates. The specific urban layout of Jelonki has been shaped over the last hundred years. The successive stages of the formation of space in this part of Warsaw illustrate the changing architectural and social standards. From the pre-war garden city, through the “Przyjaźń” (“Friendship”) settlement subordinated to the socio-political conditions of Stalinist Poland and the prefabricated high-rise neighbourhoods of Jelonki, Lazurowa and Górczewska, built in the construction boom of the seventies and eighties, to the new housing projects of the free market economy post 1989.

Investigation of heating energy performance gap (EPG) in design and operation stages of residential buildings

The Energy Performance Gap (EPG) in buildings is a recognized phenomenon. However, its definition and underlying factors are extensive, necessitating a thorough investigation of the quantitative impact of each factor contributing to the EPG. In this research, a calibration-based approach is employed to identify and measure the contribution of these factors. Questionnaires, measurements, analyses, and calibrations are conducted on the energy performance of four residential units of an apartment block building in Iran as a case study. Subsequently, the impact rates of three key causes of the EPG, namely heating system efficiency, weather data in an EnergyPlus Weather (EPW) format file, and occupant behavior, are determined. By incorporating these causes into the model calibration process, the disparities between the design and operation stages are decreased. The study highlights the significance and quantifiable effects of accurate and measured boiler efficiency, utilizing a genuine EPW file rather than a convenient EPW file e.g., airport stations, and adopting precise and adaptable assumptions for occupant behavior modeling in bridging the EPG between the design and operation stages. There are a number of factors that impact the design stage gap, including boiler efficiency, occupant behavior, and a corrected EPW file, which contribute 43.9%, 26%, and 6.6%, respectively.

Biophilic design: an effective design approach during pandemic and post-pandemic

PurposeThe emergence of Covid-19 and its epidemic features have affected many people around the world. Regardless of the physical and psychological problems caused by it, people must isolate themselves from their surroundings. This problem is more intense in urban areas where people live in crowded apartments and high-rise buildings. During the lockdown, residents of such buildings suffered from disconnection from nature, in addition to the lack of communication with others. As most multi-story apartments and residential complexes do not have separate green spaces and do not provide a safe connection to nature for occupants, it is very tough for the residents of these buildings to endure the disease, and occupants are more vulnerable to disease. Accordingly, this study proposes the biophilic design as an effective approach to provide a secure connection with nature in residential complexes and high-rise apartments.Design/methodology/approachThe questionnaire method was used in this study to analyze the raised hypotheses. Two types of residential zones were selected for the survey and comparing the results. One is apartment units without dedicated green space, and the other is villa houses with private green space. Size of the sample population include 300 people (150 residents of an apartment block and 150 residents of villa homes).FindingsStrict restrictions during the pandemic have prevented people from connecting with nature, especially in urban areas, owing to the lack of separated and dedicated green spaces, whereas connection with nature can be healing and lead to relieving anxiety and stress in this era based on the approved research. Accordingly, applying a biophilic approach to the design process would be helpful.Research limitations/implicationsThe lack of a biophilic project to observe was one of the limitations of this study. Being an available biophilic project in the surroundings could be very helpful to observe and acquire comprehensive knowledge and experiences from the handlers and users of biophilic buildings.Practical implicationsThis study can be beneficial for patients, individuals and occupants of apartments and residential complexes in urban areas who suffer from distance from nature and green spaces during the restrictions of pandemics such as Covid-19.Originality/valueThis study proposes the use of biophilic architecture in the design process of residential complexes and high-rise apartments to provide isolated and dedicated green spaces for occupants, especially during the lockdown when people have been deprived of parks and public green spaces.

Feasibility analysis of the application of building automation and control system and their interaction with occupant behavior

Occupant behavior is among the main causes for the mismatch between simulated and in-use energy performance of buildings. One of the strategies considered capable of reducing user’s behavior induced energy consumption, while increasing indoor environmental quality is the application of Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS). In this study, three building user’s profiles have been considered depending on their energy consumption. The energy savings due to BACS class increase have been calculated, and a cost–benefit analysis (CBA) has been performed to evaluate the feasibility of different scenarios. Additional co-benefits perceived by the individuals have been accounted for in the form of willingness-to-pay (WTP). The methodology is applied to two case studies: a nearly zero-energy building (NZEB) rural single-family house and a recently renovated dwelling in an apartment block. The results show that the main reductions are achieved by the users’ behavior alone, and the adoption of BACS is economically feasible only when an incentive program is in place, and the WTP is repeated as a recurrent co-benefit over the years. In particular, relying only on energy reduction due to higher BACS class introduction is not economically desirable. The greatest savings are achieved by the behavioral change of the user when coupled with BACS, supporting their potential role in improving user’s energy literacy. Finally, incentive schemes are necessary to reduce the investment costs of such projects, being these the most influential variables in the feasibility of BACS applications.

Association between the extension of smoke-free legislation and incident acute myocardial infarctions in Singapore from 2010 to 2019: an interrupted time-series analysis

BackgroundWe examined the association between smoke-free laws implemented in the outdoors and the common areas of residential apartment blocks and reported acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) in Singapore.MethodsWe used an interrupted...

Micro-segregation and residential mobility: case study of two athenian apartment blocks

AbstractThis article considers changes regarding the social physiognomy of apartment blocks in urban housing in the densely built neighbourhoods of Athens City Centre. The aim is to illuminate the changes that have been a main consequence of the residential mobility that began during the post-World War II period and continues today. Thus, I will provide evidence of two apartment blocks located in the Kypseli neighbourhood of the Municipality of Athens that I have thoroughly investigated. These blocks are among the 28 I have previously examined in a project about Athenian apartment blocks.

Energy justice in heat metering: Findings from a Danish experiment of metering and distribution in residential apartment buildings

According to EU regulations on heat metering, households should be metered individually and pay accordingly. However, in apartment blocks, heating is often provided for the whole building, and different ways of distributing costs are used. In Denmark, an investigation has been carried out into new ways of distributing costs, using indoor climate measurements of temperature, CO2 and humidity. Incorporating these three types of measurements in payment distribution can create an incentive to encourage residents to pursue a healthier indoor climate with lower energy consumption. This paper reports on qualitative interviews with residents as well as housing staff taking part in the experiment, relating empirical findings to questions of justice and ethics raised in the literature. Analysis reveals differing levels of understanding among residents concerning metering systems and rationales, including in relation to cost distribution and questions of justice. The experiment was carried out in social housing blocks where some residents could be categorised as vulnerable in terms of limited income and specific heating needs. Furthermore, issues of global climate and justice from an intergenerational perspective are also considered. This paper therefore draws on wider discussions about energy justice and vulnerability related to types of heat metering, and shows how these issues are interlinked with the socio-material context and the interplay with socio-technical constructions of comfort norms. The relevance of country-specific insights are thus demonstrated at a European level and beyond.

Assessing the Social Values of Built Heritage: Participatory Methods as Ways of Knowing

This paper explores the role participatory methods play in understanding the social values of built heritage, including people’s sense of identity, belonging, and place. It is based on research in Scotland where, as in many other countries, there is an increasing emphasis on contemporary significance and public participation within domestic heritage management frameworks. The paper draws on the experiences and findings of a social values assessment for Cables Wynd House, a Brutalist block of flats in Edinburgh that was listed in 2017. Through the case study assessment, conducted over six months in 2019, Cables Wynd House is manifested as a multiplicity of connected realities, diverse experiences, and micro-locations. The participatory methods reveal interactions and tensions between the architectural design and aesthetics of the building and participants’ lived experiences and connections. The article argues that the mix of participatory methods provide different opportunities and ways of knowing, surfacing diversity, dissonance, and complexity. It highlights that participatory research is a collaborative process, requiring a flexible and responsive approach to methods. The paper concludes that participatory methods and collaborative approaches can provide nuanced and contextualised understandings of the social value of built heritage, which can complement but also diverge significantly from professional assessments of value. Wider adoption of these methods and the resulting understandings into the management and conservation of built heritage would support more people-centred, inclusive, and socially relevant forms of practice.

Predicting Building Energy Demand and Retrofit Potentials Using New Climatic Stress Indices and Curves

Building energy requalification in Italy and Europe has been much discussed in recent years due to the high percentage of existing buildings with poor energy performance. In this context, it is useful to obtain a user-friendly and fast tool to predict the thermal energy demand (TED) for space conditioning and the related primary energy consumption (PEC) as a function of climatic stress. In this study, the SLABE methodology (simulation-based large-scale uncertainty/sensitivity analysis of building energy performance) is used to simulate representative Italian buildings, varying parameters such as geometry, envelope and HVAC (heating, ventilating and space conditioning) systems. MATLAB® in combination with EnergyPlus is used to analyze 200 buildings belonging to two structural types (multi-family buildings and apartment blocks) built in 1961–1975. Nine scenarios (as-built scenarios and eight retrofit ones) are investigated in 63 climatic locations. A regression analysis shows that the classical HDDs (heating degree days) approach cannot give an accurate prediction of TED because solar radiation is not accounted for. Thus, new climatic indices are developed alongside solar radiation, including the heating stress index (HSI), the cooling stress index (CSI) and the yearly climatic stress index (YCSI). The purpose of our work is to obtain climatic stress curves for the prediction of TED and PEC. Testing of this novel approach is performed by comparison with another building energy simulation tool, showing a low discrepancy, i.e., the coefficient of variation of the root mean square error is between 12% and 28%, which confirms certain reliability of the approach here proposed.

Container buildings used for residential and business purposes in Johannesburg, South Africa and potential heat-related health risks.

Outdoor and indoor air temperature affects human health and wellbeing. Climate change projections suggest that global temperatures will continue to increase, and this poses a threat to health. Buildings (for housing and business purposes) that can protect humans from the adverse effects of temperature are essential, especially in the context of climate change. In this cross-sectional study, we measured the indoor temperature inside shipping containers comprising a seven-storey block of apartments and businesses in Johannesburg, South Africa for 14 days. We assessed indoor temperature and relative humidity; evaluated measured temperatures in relation to thresholds known to be associated with adverse health risks; and sought to understand heat-health perceptions and symptoms of people living and working in shipping container units. Median indoor apparent temperature (AT) (a combination of temperature and relative humidity) was 16°C with values ranging from 6°C (observed at 8:00) to 42°C (observed at 17:00). Insulated units had temperatures between 2°C and 9°C cooler than the uninsulated unit. Heat-health risks from AT exposure were likely in all units, although there was variation in the number of occurrences that AT measurements exceeded the four symptom bands of caution, extreme caution, danger and extreme danger. Indoor AT was found to be 7°C higher on average when compared to outdoor AT. Some participants believed that their units were hot during hot weather and most people opened windows or did nothing during hot weather. Few participants reported experiencing adverse heat-health impacts, except for experiencing headaches (58%) and feeling tired or weak (40%). Residents, tenants, or business owners using shipping containers should consider insulation installation and adequate windows/air conditioning for ventilation, especially in hot climates. Further research and awareness regarding heat-health risks of living or working in these spaces is needed.

Aplikasi Teknologi Underwater Lobster Apartment Untuk Pembesaran Lobster Pasir (P. homarus) pada Kelompok Pembudidaya Ikan (POKDAKAN) Pesona Bahari, Banyuwangi, Jawa Timur

As a continuation of the Doctoral Service 2021 activity that was carried out by this team last year at POKDAKAN Pesona Bahari, the solution offered is to design a culture container by providing insulation between individual lobsters being cultivated, as well as providing more "rooms"/spaces with Underwater Lobster. Appartment.. Underwater lobster apartment is the latest technology in lobster rearing cultivation with modification of basic cages. Lobsters obtained by POKDAKAN Pesona Bahari are raised in an Underwater Lobster Appartment measuring 2 m long x 3 m wide X 2 meters high where 1 lobster is kept in 1 apartment block. One apartment block has dimensions (LxWxH: 30cm x 15cm x 15cm) and the overall dimensions consist of 6 blocks x 10 blocks x 2 (front andback). The enlargement is carried out within a period of 30 days with regular feeding of green scallop by members of POKDAKAN Pesona Bahari. Controlling and supervision as well as data collection are carried out jointly with the UB DM team and the students involved. Based on the observations, it can be concluded that the use of the apartment lobster underwater system in lobster cultivation has a very positive effect on growth and survival reaching 100%. Water quality with the apartment lobster underwater system is maintained and does not exceed the water quality limit value for cultivation.

Bytový dům pro zemědělce: k procesu adaptace městských standardů bydlení v prostředí vesnických sídel

Housing construction in Czechoslovakia began to grow in the 1940s, which was reflected in the increased number of flats and improved housing standards. This growth was made possible mainly due to the construction of blocks of flats. Although in the countryside, in contrast to the cities, people predominantly lived in their own family houses, the construction of apartment blocks also contributed to the increase in capacity there. However, the experience from the 1940s and 1950s shows negative impacts of adopting the projects for blocks of flats which were designed for the city and the urban way of life and did not suit rural residents, who had different working patterns and needs. In the 1960s, an intensive dialogue between local participants, architects, and the authorities took place, leading to the adaptation of the apartment block concept to the needs of agricultural workers. The adaption concerned both the external appearance, which had to respect the village environment, and the internal layout. The adapted projects included separate rooms for residents to wash themselves after their return from fields and gardens, and storage compartments for foods and livestock feed. Attention was also paid to the surroundings, where buildings related to residents’ farming activities were designed (small animal breeding, working in the gardens and small fields). The willingness to conduct the dialogue and to adapt the projects for rural blocks of flats disappeared in the 1970s as a result of the normalization and gradual improvement in agricultural workers’ living standards.