Architectural Heritage Research Articles

Ancient architectural pathology of blue bricks and brick carvings in Northwest China: Example from the White Temple Tower

Rising damp is one of the main problems affecting historical masonry structures worldwide, as it affects the appearance of heritage architecture and reduces strength. In this study, to reproduce the pathologies as much as possible and explain the mechanism, the aging test was set up with the climate data (temperature, humidity, etc.) derived from the real environment in nature at the location of the White Temple Tower, which was the object of this study. The tests mimicked the temperature, humidity, and types of salt solutions as closely as possible. Unlike the traditional aging test (producing specimens in accordance with some standards), two samples of blue brick carvings and blue brick cubes were used for the test. The results show that brick carvings suffered more severe surface degradation than brick cubes under various circumstances. Brick specimens' mechanical characteristics, such as wave velocity and compressive strength, were greatly diminished, and there was a fluctuating trend in surface hardness and color difference. The data indicate a size effect on the weathering between brick carvings and brick cubes, with the former displaying a faster rate of weathering under identical conditions. The experiment successfully simulates some of the phenomena observed in the field and provides an idea for studying the weathering of brick artifacts.

Research on Real Scene Robot 3d Visualization of Historical Architectural Heritage Based on Big Data Objects

Research on Real Scene Robot 3d Visualization of Historical Architectural Heritage Based on Big Data Objects

Passive strategies for climate change mitigation in architectural heritage: the case study of Santa Maria in Trastevere Basilica, Rome

ABSTRACT According to the most recent climate projections, urban settings and historic centres will be affected by considerable increases in temperature extremes and heat waves as a result of climate change. For this reason, the issue of energy efficiency and indoor comfort in historic buildings has become a topic of major interest for the significant number of buildings in the national and European territories. The performance redevelopment of architectural heritage, particularly religious buildings, requires accurate design, through a careful assessment of the occupants’ needs and the historic building’s characteristics, to guarantee adequate levels of thermal comfort and ensure an indoor climate suitable for safeguarding the cultural asset. In this regard, the study investigates, through a data-driven approach and building performance analysis, the indoor comfort level of a religious building in the historical centre of Rome that presents phenomena of excessive indoor overheating. The objective is to identify passive cooling strategies, through the optimization of natural ventilation levels and reduction of surface temperatures of the envelope exposed to solar radiation, in order to propose different design scenarios. The results show how a data-driven process in a digital environment can significantly contribute to the identification of optimal and integrated design strategies and solutions.

Research on Madrasas in International Publications: Bibliometric Analysis with Vosviewer

The large number of studies on madrasas on Scopus means that madrasas can be used as an option for researchers in conducting research. This research aims to look at the grouping and novelty of keywords using Vosviewer. This research used 323 documents that had been sorted according to keywords. From the results of the analysis, there are fourteen research groups based on keywords in madrasa research in the Scopus database, namely improving educational practices in madrasas, developing madrasa education in rural areas, preserving architectural heritage in madrasas, improving the Arabic language curriculum in Aliyah madrasas, Islamic pedagogy and practice. memorization, heritage preservation and restoration techniques, Islamic boarding school management, integration of character in online learning during the pandemic, madrasas and maktab religious education and national training, teacher performance and academic achievement, development of religious character, leadership in moral education, environmental learning in Muslim communities, as well as the study of Islamic history. Meanwhile, the novelty of keywords such as mausoleum, Islamic boarding schools, learners, character building, online learning, emotional intelligence, critical thinking skills, and learning outcomes indicates the novelty of the keywords so that these keywords can be used as research recommendations in research on madrasas in the Scopus database.

Spiritual places: Spatial recognition of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual perception.

Tibetan Buddhism, as an indigenous religion, has a significant and far-reaching influence in the Tibetan areas of China. This study, focusing on Lhasa, explores the integration of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual perceptions within urban spaces. Employing a novel approach that combines street view data and deep learning technology, the research aims to identify and map the spatial distribution of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual sites against the backdrop of the urban landscape. Our analysis reveals a notable concentration of these spiritual places near urban architectural and cultural heritage areas, highlighting the profound connection between residents' cultural life and spiritual practices. Despite challenges posed by modern urbanisation, these spiritual sites demonstrate resilience and adaptability, continuing to serve as cultural and spiritual pillars of the Tibetan Buddhist community. This study contributes to the fields of urban planning, religious studies, and digital humanities by demonstrating the potential of technology in examining the impact of urban development on cultural and religious landscapes. The research underscores the importance of protecting and integrating spaces of spiritual perception in urban development planning. It shows that safeguarding these spaces is crucial not only for cultural heritage preservation but also for achieving sustainable urban development and social harmony. This study opens new avenues for interdisciplinary research, advocating for a deeper understanding of the dynamic relationship between urban development and spiritual spaces from psychological, sociological, and environmental science perspectives. As urban landscapes evolve, the study emphasises the need to maintain a balance between material sustainability and cultural and spiritual richness in urban planning.

Method for selecting viewpoints of architectural heritage landscapes

The selection of viewpoints is a crucial aspect in conducting visual impact assessments of architectural heritage. To address this issue, a quantitative viewpoint selection method based on GIS spatial analysis is proposed. The first step involves defining the factors that influence the selection of viewpoints for architectural heritage. Next, the city’s historical architectural areas are divided into units based on courtyards. Subsequently, a candidate set of viewpoints is constructed by extracting the skeleton lines and characteristic points of sub-regions. Finally, following the principles of viewpoint selection, the method achieves the selection of viewpoints for the visual impact assessment of architectural heritage. The Forbidden City is chosen as the practical area for implementation, and the results demonstrate that the viewshed coverage range in the architectural heritage area is as high as 96%. It represents that this approach for visual impact assessments of architectural heritage is more grounded.

A Decentralized Centralization in Cultural Heritage Management of Singapore

In view of the importance of cultural heritage management, this paper aims to review and critically think of a cultural heritage management structure combining decentralization and centralization, by examining the managerial issues associated with architectural heritage conservation in Singapore. Its heritage management structure is interpreted around statutory boards and their grassroots support, drawing a clear picture of how Singaporean cultural heritage is preserved and managed in a decentralized-centralization structure. On this basis, a critical thinking about Singapore’s structure of cultural heritage management is developed. This paper found out that Singapore with a typical centralized managerial structure set up statutory boards as governmental agency to enhance the flexibility of operating conservation projects, avoiding possible weakness of state-centered management framework. In addition, this paper argued that a management system in combination with centralization and decentralization seems commonplace around the world, on the grounds that a pure centralized structure is often accompanied by cumbersome bureaucracy and the function of a pure decentralized structure is generally constrained due to possible stereotyping behaving and thinking way of civil servants with professional backgrounds.

Review of Studies on Performance of Dowel Connections Loaded Perpendicular to Grain

Wood as a sustainable building material demonstrates significant advantages in terms of environmental protection, economy and functionality. Studies showed that adding 1.0m3 of wood could absorb 1.0kg of carbon dioxide, produce 730kg of oxygen, and fix 270kg of carbon, which plays an important role in ecological environment protection. In addition, in addition, wood has good thermal insulation performance, can adjust indoor humidity, beneficial to human health.China's wooden structure architecture has a long history. As an important technology in China's traditional architecture, mortise and tenon connection technology constitutes an important part of Chinese traditional architectural heritage through the insertion of wood components. As a prefabricated building form, modern wood structure has a history of more than 100 years in developed countries. The main forms include heavy wood structure, light wood structure, square wood wood structure and wood mixed structure. In recent years, wood structure architecture has attracted wide attention in scientific research and application in China. Whether for new construction or large-scale reconstruction projects, wood structure buildings are widely adopted because of their design flexibility, high strength and aesthetics, as shown in Figure 1.1. Modern wood structure buildings show the advantages of energy conservation and environmental protection, good earthquake resistance, convenient construction and safety and comfort, and its development is fully in line with the national sustainable development strategy.

Once upon a Time, There Was a Piece of Wood: Present Knowledge and Future Perspectives in Fungal Deterioration of Wooden Cultural Heritage in Terrestrial Ecosystems and Diagnostic Tools.

Wooden Cultural Heritage (WCH) represents a significant portion of the world's historical and artistic heritage, consisting of immovable and movable artefacts. Despite the expertise developed since ancient times to enhance its durability, wooden artefacts are inevitably prone to degradation. Fungi play a pivotal role in the deterioration of WCH in terrestrial ecosystems, accelerating its decay and leading to alterations in color and strength. Reviewing the literature of the last 25 years, we aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of fungal diversity affecting WCH, the biochemical processes involved in wood decay, and the diagnostic tools available for fungal identification and damage evaluation. Climatic conditions influence the occurrence of fungal species in threatened WCH, characterized by a prevalence of wood-rot fungi (e.g., Serpula lacrymans, Coniophora puteana) in architectural heritage in temperate and continental climates and Ascomycota in indoor and harsh environments. More efforts are needed to address the knowledge fragmentation concerning biodiversity, the biology of the fungi involved, and succession in the degradative process, which is frequently centered solely on the main actors. Multidisciplinary collaboration among engineers, restorers, and life sciences scientists is vital for tackling the challenges posed by climate change with increased awareness. Traditional microbiology and culture collections are fundamental in laying solid foundations for a more comprehensive interpretation of big data.

HERITAGE CATEGORIZATION OF MONUMENTS USING DEEP LEARNING

One of the most important tasks in the digital documentation of cultural heritage is the classification of the photos that are taken when measuring an architectural asset. Since many images are typically handled classifying them is a laborious process that takes a lot of time and is prone to error. Additionally properly categorizing the existing images enables more effective management and searches using particular keywords supporting the tasks of researching and analyzing the relevant historical asset. This articles primary goal is to classify photos of architectural heritage using deep learning-based techniques. By creating different pictures of the specific landmarks along with their geo-locations (latitudes longitudes and landmark coordinates) we can use this project to create a variety of landmarks that are present in a given monument. Keywords: geolocations, prone to errors

Research on the Digital Preservation of Architectural Heritage Based on Virtual Reality Technology

As a representative of the scientific and technological achievements of the new era, the overall development of virtual reality (VR) technology is becoming increasingly refined, which provides new development ideas and technical support in the field of ancient building restoration and architectural heritage preservation. In this context, digital conservation and the practice of architectural heritage have become important focuses of application in the industry. This paper starts from the core concept of VR technology, analyzes the value of the application of VR technology in the protection of ancient architecture, puts forward relevant suggestions and technical application methods, and takes Red Pagoda in Fuliang County as an example. In this sense, virtual reality technology is used to restore and protect the buildings, forming a digital heritage of ancient architecture. This study first utilizes a three-dimensional laser scanning instrument to collect point cloud data, and then the plane graph is drawn by measurement. Then, an Architectural Heritage Building Information Model is created, and comprehensive information on historical buildings is integrated. Finally, VR technology is used to show the effect of digital display and preservation. This study transforms architectural cultural heritage into a shareable and renewable digital form through restoration and reproduction, interpreting and utilizing it from a new perspective and providing new ideas and methods for architectural heritage conservation.

TYPOLOGY OF METHODS OF MARKING ARCHITECTURAL AND URBAN PLANNING HERITAGE

The article deals with the problem of presenting objects of architectural and urban planning heritage in the modern environment. Most of such objects are unknown to society, not researched, their state of preservation is critical or they are only partially preserved, but at the same time, the value and uniqueness of such objects are the property of the entire nation. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out measures to preserve and protect valuable historical architectural and town-planning complexes, as well as to identify them with the help of a set of measures developed individually for each object. The article develops a typology of methods of identification of architectural and urban planning heritage. Among the options for identification methods: planar and three-dimensional tracings, information signs-symbols, exposure of ground and underground fragments of the object, model three-dimensional compositions, interactive and multimedia infoboxes, information and navigation systems, 3D reconstructions of lost objects, etc. In the process of finding and developing options for identification of Ukrainian heritage, options for identification of partially and completely lost valuable historical ensembles and complexes in the world were researched and analyzed.

Impacts of WWII bomb explosions on weathering damage of architectural heritage: Bath, England

The effects of bomb impacts, including the explosive force and combustion associated with these impacts, are preserved in only a few cities across the UK. In particular, World War Two (WWII) has left scars across a wide range of structures as a result of air raids. On immovable heritage, such as architectural structures, these impacts commonly take the form of craters, fractures and fire damage to stonework. This instantaneous damage is subsequently exposed to environmental stresses, such as moisture cycling, thermal stress and the movement of soluble elements and can thus lead to further deterioration of the stone. In this study, Rock Surface Hardness (RSH) measurements, permeametry measurements and microscopic observations were selected to capture stone deterioration data from 80-year-old bomb impacts on two walls of the Labour Exchange in Bath (UK) for spatial distribution analysis (Kriging) in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The results show that the weathering forms that were found on the two walls can be attributed to nine different types. They can provide quantitative assessment of damage caused by bomb explosions and combustion in the war. The increase in permeability of walls and craters is shown to be primarily caused by the bomb explosion and combustion, whereas the decrease of hardness is associated with subsequent stone deterioration processes. This indicates that the interplay of initial damage likely accelerates subsequent response to environmental stress, extending the initial damage patterns from the impact crater to larger areas of stonework.

Application of 3D laser scanning technology for mapping and accuracy assessment of the point cloud model for the Great Achievement Palace heritage building

Heritage buildings represent history and act as vessels of human civilisation. The significance of these architectural phenomena increases as society increases, which renders their preservation and ethical use increasingly crucial. Hence, preserving heritage buildings is necessary for societal benefit. The accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) point cloud models of heritage buildings is important to their digital conservation. Traditional mapping methods typically require more time and human resources. Furthermore, the outcome is subject to measurement omissions, errors, and other issues, which are contrary to the protection of the object measured. The complex elements of ancient Chinese architecture render it challenging for traditional measuring techniques to accurately capture spatial structural information. The 3D laser scanning technology is a novel technology to obtain 3D data rapidly. In this paper, the Great Achievement Palace of the Confucian Temple in Yuci District, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, was used as an example to examine the application of 3D laser scanning technology to acquire point cloud models of heritage buildings. Field data collection for architectural heritage using 3D laser scanning technology requires measuring station setting analysis to ensure effect accuracy while considering the elements of target location and quantity. For the 3D point cloud model of the Great Achievement Palace, error analysis and accuracy assessment were conducted on the quality elements of alignment accuracy between scanning stations, point cloud model reliability, point cloud data noise condition, and whether the point cloud data were stratified. The findings demonstrated that the improved method quickly and accurately acquired 3D point cloud model data and obtained realistic spatial data models of the heritage building.

A Historical Building Information Modeling-Based Framework to Improve Collaboration and Data Security in Architectural Heritage Restoration Projects

With the increasing awareness of architectural heritage conservation and the development of digital technology, there is an urgent need in the field of architectural heritage restoration for a novel solution that can enhance data security, collaboration efficiency, and file management capabilities. This study proposes an Architectural Heritage Restoration Distributed Common Data Environment (AHR-DCDE) framework based on blockchain and IPFS technologies to address the above challenges. The AHR-DCDE framework significantly improves data security and collaborative efficiency in architectural heritage restoration projects by creating a decentralized collaborative design process that achieves data immutability, traceability, and efficient large-scale file processing capabilities. The AHR-DCDE framework significantly improves data security and collaborative efficiency in architectural heritage restoration projects by creating a decentralized collaborative design process that achieves data immutability, traceability, and efficient large-scale file processing capabilities. In this study, the practicality and effectiveness of the AHR-DCDE framework is verified by taking the heritage restoration design project of Pinghe Packing Factory in Wuhan, Hubei Province, as an example. Evaluation of the framework’s network latency, throughput, and storage costs indicates that AHR-DCDE can meet the requirements of architectural heritage restoration projects, possessing efficient capabilities for handling and sharing project data. Furthermore, the implementation of the AHR-DCDE framework also facilitates efficient collaboration among interdisciplinary teams, providing robust technical support for the protection and restoration of architectural heritage.

The sustainable potential of the architectural and urban heritage of the Algerian ksour

ABSTRACT This paper aims to assess the sustainability potential of Algerian desert Ksour's architectural and urban heritage. It identifies systems aligning with the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), categorized into formal, spatial organization, and architectonic aspects. The approach correlates Ksour's architectural features with SDGs defined by the International Union of Architects, yielding 40 passive features applicable for achieving SDGs. Notably, features like high windows (architectural) and strategic siting (urban) remain relevant for energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction. This research gives us the opportunity to improve our strategies for rehabilitating and adapting built heritage so that it can meet current environmental challenges, but also opens up the possibility in the future of continuing to identify more sustainable systems by extending the study of heritage examples, but also and above all of developing a reflection on the adaptation of these passive systems in the design of contemporary architectural and urban projects.

KOMPLEKSOWA MUZEALIZACJA DZIEDZICTWA ARCHEOLOGICZNOARCHITEKTONICZNEGO NA PRZYKŁADZIE WIŚLICY

The article presents an analysis of the ongoing changes of revitalization of the city of Wiślica, taking into account the inclusion of the archaeological and architectural heritage resource. As a result, the revitalization was based on the musealization of individual historical areas, carried out in stages in order to rebuild the tourist and economic potential of the region. The above-mentioned project, which priority is the protection of heritage, and then its promotion as well as universal education and accessibility, is carried out in Wiślica, based on contemporary standards of revalorization and modernization of public spaces. This example is an important in the development of a sustainable policy for the management and protection of historical heritage, and monitoring the effects the city's development is an important training element.

The evolution of traditional ancient towns in South China: Tangjiawan Ancient Town in Zhuhai city

ABSTRACT Based on the urban morphology theory of the Conzen School and the actual situation of the Tangjiawan Ancient Town, a morphological process analysis of the Tangjiawan Ancient Town was conducted. The end result is a visualization of the process of urban form evolution. The first objective is to describe the morphological framework of Tangjiawan Ancient Town and the morphological changes that occurred during its development. The current urban landscape is divided into units by superimposing morphological units, building types, and land use. The results of the division also reflect the morphological development, structure, and compositional characteristics of the ancient city of Tangjiawan. Using Tangjiawan Ancient Town in Zhuhai city as an example, on-site research, historical evidence, urban morphology analysis methods, and interviews were used to elaborate and analyze the spatial structure and evolution process of traditional ancient towns in South China. In particular, morphological units, building types, and land use are included. The morphological map of the Tangjiawan ancient town is inconsistent with the current economic-oriented development of ancient town planning. This shows that current planning is less concerned with the physical form of architectural heritage, which may lead to further damage to the landscape of the ancient town. This study provides a strong reference for the follow-up planning of ancient town protection of the same type from the perspective of morphology and area and provides ideas for the subsequent preparation of protection plans.

Evaluating the Stability of the Jianchuan Ancient Town with TerraSAR-X images

Abstract. Architectural heritage holds significant historical and cultural value. However, it faces substantial risks of deterioration stemming from natural aging and human activities. Traditional methods rely on manual surveys or ground-based measurements, which are time-consuming and labor-intensive, making it challenging to meet the demand for large-scale stability assessments of architectural heritage. In this study, we designed a methodology based on the analysis of differential deformation and angular distortion of buildings using InSAR line-of-sight (LOS) displacements. Then, the stability of buildings is categorized into three groups: stable, moderate, and unstable, using these stability indicators. A total of 74 TerraSAR-X images acquired from August 2017 to November 2019 in ascending orbit were used to monitor the Jianchuan Ancient Town, which has a history of over 650 years. Our evaluation reveals that among the 1891 architectures in Jianchuan Ancient Town, 1191 are rated as stable, 696 as moderate, and 4 as unstable. Time-series results indicate that one of the four unstable buildings exhibited a severe accelerating trend that requires attention. In conclusion, this methodology can enhance the capability to assess the stability of large-scale architectural heritages.

Building the Nation in Stone and Wood. Restorations and Writings about Historical Monuments in the First Half of the Twentieth Century in Romania

The paper looks at restoration and preservation practices and at art history writings to explore attitudes and mentalities in the first decades of the twentieth century in Romania. It deciphers the creation of an architectural heritage and the meanings of writings about and restoring historical monuments in a young nation-state that expanded significantly after World War I. Some of the major restoration sites in Romania, around 1900, are analysed together with several of the architectural history writings of the interwar period that reveal a growing turn to nationalism in the Romanian cultural and political spheres.