Carbon footprint of biostatic, targeted ornamental lighting and related cleaning service for sustainable conservation of architectural heritage

The intellectual, architectural, and artifactual heritage of the Palembang Darussalam Sultanate during the reign of Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II (1767–1852) is examined in this study using a historical archaeological approach and textual analysis of manuscripts, buildings, and royal tombstones. This study assumes that Palembang functions as a political force and a centre of Islamic-Malay knowledge. The results show that the Palembang palace functioned as an epistemic space that combined religious understanding (tafaqquh fi al-dīn) and Islamic nobility, as evidenced by religious works such as the Syair Burung Nuri and legal documents (piyagêm) written in the Palembang script. The architecture of the Palembang Grand Mosque and the Kuto Besak Palace combines Islamic cosmological symbolism with local aesthetics and influences from various cultures. Meanwhile, places like Benteng Sungai Aur and the Kawah Tengkurep tomb complex demonstrate the close relationship between spirituality and defence tactics, making these places dynamic environments of Islamization. Historically, SMB II is depicted as a symbol of resistance against colonialism and the protector of Islamic civilisation, upholding morality, art, and science amidst imperialist pressure. This study shows that the heroism of SMB II was not only material but also spiritual. This is a type of archaeological power that uses faith, knowledge, and cultural legitimacy to maintain Islamic civilisation in the Nusantara.

Augmented reality in architectural heritage preservation: a comprehensive digitization approach validated in Salvador’s Pelourinho district – Brazil

This article reflects on how the transformation of natural sites into cultural spaces was perceived in medieval Armenia, as analysed in The History of the State of Sisakan, written by the bishop and historian Stepanos Orbelian (c. 1250–1304). Orbelian's text opens with the familiar theme of a natural environment being transformed from a desert into a paradise, and describes how monastic colonisation turned a wild landscape into a prosperous cultural and fertile place. Art and culture are presented as instruments that bring the environment closer to God's will: thanks to the monastic presence, the region was protected from floods and bad weather. However, human action cannot be seen as positive alone: various invasions by foreign forces should be seen as elements of rupture, damaging nature and culture in order to satisfy diabolical greed. By analysing textual data and architectural heritage, this text explores some of the questions raised within Ecocritical Art History, attempting to understand the issue of the 'exploitation' of natural sites in the past.

Abstract The objective of this article is to evaluate the heritagisation process and the degree of integration of the Annaba medina, Bouna El Haditha, by analysing the divergences and convergences between the viewpoints of various stakeholders and residents. Located in northeastern Algeria, Bouna was built in the 11th century by the Zirid dynasty. This medina underwent profound transformations during the French colonial period and continues to suffer the effects of time and human interventions, which altered its heritage values. An expert assessment of the sector's buildings in 2013 revealed that 71.54% of them were in a very advanced state of decay. In the same year, this heritage was classified as a protected area, despite the state of conservation of its architectural and urban heritage, raising a debate about the uncertain preservation of its value and numerous questions about its heritagisation process. Our methodology integrates an analysis of the literature related to the concept of heritagisation, combined with qualitative and quantitative approaches. The evaluation grid we designed is inspired by the MATEA model (Models for Architectural Analysis, Theory, and Experimentation). It is structured around three dimensions—a change in status, condition, and use—and six key subdimensions—awareness, selection, justification, conservation, valorisation, and exposure. These elements, defined in our literature review, are at the heart of the heritagisation process. The study reveals that the steps of the heritagisation process have not been followed and that this medina has undergone a de-heritagisation process, despite its status as a national heritage site.

Traditional earth construction represents significant architectural heritage, yet adoption patterns remain poorly understood despite documented environmental and cultural benefits. This study employs Socio-Technical Systems Theory to examine how technical subsystems (performance attributes), social subsystems (community structures, knowledge systems, perceptions), and their interactions shape earth construction adoption. Using sequential mixed-methods research combining semi-structured interviews (n = 12) and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (n = 121) in Punjab, Pakistan, we investigate relationships between socio-technical system elements and adoption commitment. Results demonstrate that Maintenance Requirements, Social Perception, and Thermal Performance significantly influence adoption commitment, while Economic Benefits, Functional Versatility, and Structural Reliability show non-significant direct effects. Notably, Maintenance Requirements exhibited positive rather than hypothesized negative relationships with adoption, suggesting maintenance acceptance reflects system commitment rather than deterrence. The model explains substantial variance in adoption commitment ( R 2 = 0.588). Knowledge Accessibility emerges as critical, significantly influencing both Innovation Adaptability and maintenance understanding. Community Support shapes both knowledge systems and social perceptions. Innovation Adaptability bridges technical attributes and social acceptance, confirming socio-technical co-evolution. Findings suggest that adoption emerges from socio-technical system alignment rather than technical superiority alone, providing evidence-based guidance for integrating vernacular earth construction within contemporary architectural practice while preserving traditional architectural heritage.

This study evaluates a SiO2 nanoparticle (SiO2NPs)/Paraloid B-72 nanocomposite as a restorative and antifungal treatment for deteriorated sandstone at the Ptolemaic Temple of Isis, located within a densely populated residential area. The temple stones exhibit structural damage, soiling, and severe microbiological deterioration. Fungal isolates from the sandstone were cultured on PDA medium and identified by ITS region DNA sequencing as Alternaria alternata, Penicillium chrysogenum, and Aspergillus niger. The SiO2NPs and their Paraloid B-72 nanocomposites were synthesized and characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Stone samples, examined before and after treatment via SEM-EDX, TEM, and XRD, were used to assess both conservation performance and compatibility. Laboratory antifungal tests showed that SiO2NPs at 300 ppm exhibited the greatest inhibition of mycelial growth, reaching 91.59% for P. chrysogenum, 90.77% for A. niger, and 85.2% for A. alternata. Mechanical testing demonstrated that treatment with the SiO2NPs/Paraloid B-72 nanocomposite enhanced stone strength, increasing compressive strength from 26.5 MPa to 27.4 MPa. SEM images confirmed excellent, homogeneous dispersion of the nanocomposite on stone grains, forming a coherent coating without pore occlusion. Overall, the SiO2NPs/Paraloid B-72 formulation improved sandstone surface properties while substantially improving short-term mechanical performance and antifungal efficacy, indicating promise for enhancing restoration procedures when combined with established conservation protocols for sandstone architectural heritage.

Streets are vital public spaces that shape the identity and character of towns, especially in historically significant areas like Kuala Kangsar, the royal town of Perak, Malaysia. Yet, modern architecture, unregulated renovations, and vehicular encroachment have altered traditional streetscapes, threatening their cultural and architectural heritage. This study aims to establish physical design parameters to define and preserve street character within Kuala Kangsar’s historic urban fabric. Focusing on Istana, Laksamana, and Shahbandar Streets, it employs a mixed-methods approach: qualitative data from in-depth interviews (n=21), field observations, and archival analysis, and quantitative data from structured questionnaires (n=330). Triangulated analysis identifies two key dimensions shaping street character, appearance and function with buildings and landscape as primary influences. Basic statistical analysis of the survey responses, including descriptive frequency analysis and correlation assessment between building appearance attributes and public perception, was conducted to support the qualitative findings. This paper emphasizes building appearance, highlighting its role through attributes like attractiveness, visibility, and human scale. Findings, validated via expert focus group discussions (n=6), inform nine key design guidelines. The study contributes to urban design theory and policy by promoting heritage-sensitive street development in historic towns.

The present research examines the integration of architectural heritage with tensile membrane technologies as a pathway to sustainable urban regeneration. A theoretical framework is developed merging adaptive reuse with structural innovation, using interdisciplinary methods, literature review, and case studies. Tensile membranes, known for their lightweight, flexible, and reversible nature are especially valuable in heritage contexts. Their visual transparency preserves modern functionality while enabling the visibility and integrity of historic architecture, pathing the way to become ideal for minimal-impact interventions. Computational simulations and material testing demonstrate the structural resilience and environmental performance of these systems. Findings reveal that tensile membranes reduce energy consumption, increase durability, and strengthen heritage conservation. The study suggests an evaluation framework to assist architects and planners in assessing membrane compatibility with existing structures. While this approach fosters balanced urban renewal, the research underscores its potential to drive economic revitalization as well as maintaining cultural identity. Future research will concentrate on applying these strategies to diverse climates and urban settings for comprehensive global application.

Masonry minarets constitute an important component of Islamic architectural heritage. Beyond their religious function, they stand as social and cultural landmarks reflecting the diversity of architectural styles and building techniques of the regions in which they are located. Historical minarets have demonstrated remarkable resilience against environmental degradation and aging; however, in seismically active regions, earthquakes pose a major threat to their integrity. Due to their slender geometry and material characteristics, these structures are particularly vulnerable to seismic effects. Many historical records document that minarets have suffered severe damage and collapse during earthquakes. This study presents a state-of-the-art review of seismic vulnerability assessments of masonry minarets. It concentrates on Southwest Asia and the Mediterranean, regions that are characterized by high seismic risk and a rich inventory of this structural typology. Currently employed approaches to the seismic analysis of minarets typically require substantial computational resources and expertise. Recognizing the need for rapid and accessible methodologies in place of them, this study proposes a Kinematic Limit Analysis framework that is suitable for fast vulnerability assessment of large-scale building stocks. This allows for the most critical structures to be identified for further scrutiny using more sophisticated approaches.

As UNESCO's cultural heritage protection philosophy shifts from monumental architecture to traditional living architecture, the preservation of vernacular architectural heritage has received increasing attention. Nevertheless, it is still in trouble at present. The paper utilizes textual analysis and fieldwork to examine the situation of present vernacular architectural heritage preservation, serious games, and issues and solutions associated with conservation of the vernacular residential cultural heritage buildings. The research confers that preservation of the vernacular architectural heritage is still focused on the heritage itself and there is relatively lack of protection of the collective memories and cultural spirit that is contained within such heritage. The present paper suggests a vision of the serious games incorporating the concept of heritage awareness and cultural experience. The study results indicate that serious games can not only break the time and space restrictions and safeguard the privacy of the residents, but also address the flaws in memory passing and emotional bonding. The research offers a new direction of the ongoing preservation of the vernacular architecture in the digital era and contributes to the innovative methods to the designing of the further cultural serious game narratives.

The architectural and electronic reconstruction of the mausoleum of Sheikh Nur al-Din Basir (d.1249) destroyed in the late nineteenth century in Samarkand and an important Temurid monument is included in this essay. The study is interdisciplinary following the integration of the archival research, architectural drawing, cartography, and up-to-date geodetic research as the scientific basis of a 3D reconstruction of the mausoleum and its historical landscape. In addition to the reconstruction of the architectural image of the monument, the study showcases how it would fit in the urban fabric of Temurid Samarkand and how it would be incorporated in the fortified citadel of Amir Temur. The reconstruction has also shown the relevance of digital technologies in conservation of heritage, history of urban planning and marketing cultural tourism. Connecting the studies of architectural heritage to the modern techniques of planning and built environment, this paper will give a new understanding of how digital reconstructions may be used as the means of both academic study and sustainable management of cultural heritage.

Istana Melayu Melaka represents a significant symbol of the Malay Sultanate’s architectural heritage. However, challenges such as modernization and declining public awareness threaten its cultural relevance among younger generations. This study explores the use of immersive video game technology as a digital preservation strategy aimed at enhancing heritage engagement among Malaysian youth. A mixed-method approach was employed, combining a semi-structured interview with a heritage practitioner and a two-phase questionnaire administered to adolescents aged 13–17. The interview informed the exterior architectural reconstruction process, while pre- and post-gameplay questionnaires were used to evaluate perceived engagement and educational effectiveness among adolescent participants. Findings indicate that participants responded positively to the immersive visual environment, narrative structure, and gameplay progression. The majority reported increased awareness and interest in the architectural heritage of Istana Melayu Melaka following gameplay. The study suggests that immersive digital platforms can function not only as preservation tools but also as engaging educational mediums that bridge cultural heritage and contemporary youth audiences. The Mahligai project demonstrates the potential of interactive game-based environments in supporting architectural preservation initiatives through experiential learning approaches.

ABSTRACT Architectural heritage components – murals, reliefs, structural members, decorative elements – face the risk of “mobilization”: physical separation from buildings that transforms them from immovable to movable property, enabling circulation in antiquities markets. This study proposes “mobilization” as an analytical concept and develops a typology of legal models for component protection through comparative analysis of ten countries: Italy, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, China, Egypt, Cambodia and South Korea. The analysis identifies four legal models: (1) Explicit Enumeration Model, listing protected components in legislation; (2) Property Law Integration Model, extending civil law property concepts to heritage contexts; (3) Comprehensive Permit Model, regulating through general alteration permit requirements; and (4) State Ownership Model, vesting ownership of heritage components in the state. Each model presents distinct advantages, limitations, and implementation conditions.

ABSTRACT Curved domes, vaults, and apses in heritage architecture often contain frescoes and inscriptions of immense cultural value, yet their documentation remains challenging. Conventional orthophotos assume planarity, producing distortions that limit iconographic interpretation and conservation mapping. While commercial software offers partial solutions, high costs and limited transparency hinder adoption by many institutions. This study introduces a fully open-source workflow for producing metrically accurate orthophotos of curved interiors, demonstrated on the richly painted rock-hewn St Theodore Church in Cappadocia. The pipeline integrates photogrammetric reconstruction in Meshroom with 3D point-cloud segmentation, primitive fitting, and surface unrolling in CloudCompare, followed by Poisson meshing and orthographic rendering. Validation against CAD measurements confirmed geometric fidelity, with median errors of ∼1–2%. The resulting CAD-ready orthophotos enable detailed tracing of mural registers, epigraphic analysis, and quantitative conservation studies. By providing a low-cost, reproducible, and accessible alternative to proprietary tools, the proposed method empowers heritage professionals to create distortion-controlled documentation of complex interiors and supports long-term monitoring and preservation efforts.

Are we reusing heritage safely? Stakeholder perceptions and safety priorities in the adaptive reuse of Chinese architectural heritage

ABSTRACT Diagnosing chromatic decay — an early and sensitive indicator of material deterioration — remains a critical challenge in the conservation of tropical heritage buildings, where high humidity accelerates biological patina, moisture staining, and surface discoloration. This study introduces a reproducible hybrid machine-learning framework for the 3D detection and mapping of chromatic decay in tropical architectural heritage. The pipeline integrates HSV-encoded hierarchical clustering on photogrammetric point clouds to identify perceptual chromatic groupings, coupled with a supervised Random Forest classifier applied to UV-textured meshes for distinguishing specific decay categories. The framework was evaluated across four heritage sites in Semarang, Indonesia, encompassing 48,830 expert-labelled pixels, 3750 annotated tiles, and 4.81 million segmented 3D points. Quantitatively, the Random Forest classifier achieved a mean macro-F1 score of 0.88 (range: 0.83–0.91) and overall accuracy above 90%, while hierarchical clustering produced stable chromatic partitions (silhouette coefficient ≈0.75). When combined, the hybrid workflow improved spatial Intersection-over-Union (IoU) by 17–51% relative to unsupervised clustering alone. Microclimatic correlations are presented as supplementary indicators that support expert interpretation rather than function as predictive inputs. Overall, the framework offers a scalable, transparent, and methodologically rigorous approach for advancing chromatic-decay diagnostics and informing conservation planning in tropical heritage contexts.

The paper examines the concept of hybrid restoration as an integrated approach combining architectural conservation with the organization of cultural and social events for the full and active use of public spaces and public buildings. The theoretical foundations of the synthesis between the preservation of architectural heritage and the event-based “revitalization” of spaces are presented. A methodology for applying this approach is outlined, including analysis of cultural value, planning of temporary interventions, and community engagement. International examples and examples from Bulgaria are examined, illustrating how cultural events and temporary functions can revitalize open public spaces and public buildings without compromising their authenticity. The benefits (social, cultural, and economic) and challenges of hybrid restoration are analyzed. Conclusions are drawn about the applicability of the approach in the Bulgarian urban environment with a view to achieving “living” spaces and sustainable urban development.

ABSTRACT This article examines the demolition of the Hôtel du Lac (1973–2025) in Tunis as a critical case of planning failure, highlighting the vulnerability of modern architectural heritage within postcolonial and neoliberal planning regimes. While the building has long been recognized by architects and historians as a landmark of Tunisian modernism, its erasure reveals structural gaps in planning law, governance, and heritage policy. Drawing on archival documents, policy analysis, and media discourse, the paper situates the hotel within Tunisia’s post-independence planning trajectory, shaped by high-modernist state-building, institutional fragmentation, and the growing influence of market-driven redevelopment. Comparative insights from France, the United Kingdom, and Lebanon demonstrate that the Tunisian case is part of a wider global debate on the governance of twentieth-century urban landscapes. By reframing demolition as a planning outcome rather than a purely cultural loss, the article argues for the need to incorporate modern heritage into planning frameworks, regulatory instruments, and urban policy. The case of Hôtel du Lac ultimately underscores how planning institutions negotiate (or fail to negotiate) the balance between market imperatives, collective memory, and the urban futures of rapidly transforming cities.

Msheireb Downtown Doha represents a landmark urban transformation that seeks to reconcile tradition and modernity while addressing the challenge of preserving cultural identity amid rapid urbanization. Rapid development in Doha raises critical questions regarding how urban regeneration can preserve cultural authenticity while accommodating contemporary urban needs, particularly in densely developed historic districts. This study seeks to explore how spatial form – grounded in both traditional and contemporary design principles – may influence cultural authenticity in placemaking and contribute to the livability of Msheireb Downtown Doha. It aims to examine how public spaces, building typologies, and pedestrian networks draw on vernacular patterns while incorporating sustainable design strategies. To achieve these objectives, the research adopts a multi-phased methodology. A literature review establishes the theoretical framework, while qualitative data from semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and on-site observations with 34 stakeholders provide empirical insight into how design decisions relate to cultural authenticity and urban livability. This approach links the research objectives directly to both theory and practice. The study positions Msheireb Downtown Doha as a model of authentic placemaking that balances heritage preservation with contemporary urban demands, offering transferable insights for culturally grounded urban development across the Middle East.