Architectural Heritage Research Articles

Historical study and strategies for the revitalization of the former Ginling College buildings in Nanjing, China —Architectural Heritage of the Church School in the Early Twentieth Century

ABSTRACT Ginling College is the first women’s university founded by the British and American Christian Churches in China at the beginning of the twentieth century. Its school building is not only the earliest and largest concrete school building group in Nanjing in near modern times, but also a masterpiece of the church's implementation of the ‘Chinese native architectural style’. This ‘combination of Chinese and Western’ creative method initiated by the churches is called the ‘Renaissance of Chinese Traditional Architecture’, which has a profound impact on later generations and has important historical significance and research value. At present, the school’s historical buildings are in urgent need of conservation and refurbishment. The conservation project strives to maintain the original appearance of the building, optimize the space design, and achieve the coordinated development of culture heritage conservation and the overall campus area. This paper provides a comprehensive evaluation and research on this school building heritage from the different perspectives of architectural history and regeneration. Given the significance of this historic building group in modern China, this research will fill a gap in relevant historical study, offering a typical case study of modern school buildings and their utilization in China.

Notes on Urban and Architectural Heritage Conservation of Historic Cores in the Middle East: A Critical Review, Evaluation and Recommendations

The historic cores in the Middle East (after this referred to as “ME”) region, a fragmented and thoroughly changed region during the 19th and 20th centuries, have many identities and authenticity challenges. Unfortunately, the rapid development rate, economic and rapid urbanisation, fast population increase, conflicts, lack of appreciation and awareness, and increasing market values gradually replace urban heritage buildings with newer, higher-density identity-less structures. This paper attempts to present the features, obstacles, challenges, and opportunities facing the urban built heritage at the historical cores and the neighbourhood within their physical, cultural and social life in the ME. It analyses questions for maintaining identity and authenticity, the future of traditional physical, technical and functional architectural elements paradigms and their contemporary reinterpretation and rethinking conservation from sustainable technical culture to socio-cultural sustainability. The paper investigates several issues related to the conservation concepts of the urban and architectural heritage in the ME. Special attention is given to the decision-making framework in the conservation practice, the destruction of the traditional urban heritage, and the destruction resulting from the ME region's political changes (modernisation). The focus is to identify, discuss and analyse how to deal with the challenges of maintaining the identity and authenticity of their historic urban cores. Finally, guidelines and framework recommendations are made for possible measures that may be taken for social sustainability.

Arsitektur Tradisional Bali pada Bangunan Puri Sebagai Daya Tarik Wisata Minat Khusus dalam Mendukung Pengembangan Pariwisata Berkelanjutan di Bali

The existence of the castle or puri as a historical and cultural heritage of traditional Balinese architecture at this time began to fade due to the influence of modernization. Not a few puri in Bali have experienced commodification both in terms of shape, function and meaning. Therefore an effort is needed to maintain the continuity of traditional Balinese architecture in the castle building in the midst of global culture, namely by developing the castle towards special interest tourism which is currently becoming a trend in the tourism world. The purpose of this study is to identify the potential of traditional Balinese architecture in castle buildings as a tourist attraction of special interest in supporting the development of tourism in Bali. This research included descriptive qualitative research conducted for three months at Puri Kaba-Kaba, Tabanan, Bali. Data collection was carried out through participatory observation on traditional Balinese architecture in Puri Kaba-Kaba, in-depth interviews with four informants consisting of castle leaders, tourism conscious groups, and the Head of Kaba-Kaba Village, as well as documentation studies of relevant literature and documents. The results of the study show that Puri Kaba-Kaba still preserves the concept of Sanga Mandala especially in parts of sacred or infused places that contain form, function, and meaning of traditional Balinese architecture that is unique and of historical value so that it has the potential

From Quarry to Monument: Considering Mardin Stone (SE, Türkiye) as the Symbol of Architectural and Cultural Heritage

The cultural and architectural significance of stone becomes evident as one traces its journey from quarry to monument. Located in southeastern Türkiye, Mardin City presents an urban landscape characterized by stone-built heritage. This transforms Mardin into an open-air museum where the final stone products are exhibited. In addition to its cultural and historical significance, the present study explores the geological, physical, mechanical, mineralogical, petrographic, and chemical properties of the Mardin Stone through the samples collected from the Artuklu, Midyat and Savur districts of Mardin. The Mardin Stone is represented by two different types of limestone deposited during the Cretaceous-Eocene period, categorized as fossiliferous micritic limestone and micritic limestone. The physicomechanical and thermal characteristics suggest that the samples collected from the Artuklu district exhibit better engineering properties than those from the Midyat and Savur districts. The study mapped ancient and modern quarries, illustrating the significance of the stone extraction and crafting techniques used to produce the Mardin Stone. Additionally, it emphasized the ongoing use of stone in contemporary structures, its vital role in heritage conservation, and its export to various countries, notably for use in the Syriac diaspora churches. The evaluations demonstrate that the Mardin Stone, with its diverse architectural applications and symbolic element of the collective memory, meets the essential standards and criteria of the International Union of Geological Sciences-Heritage Stone Subcommission (IUGS-HSS) as a potential candidate for designation as Heritage Stone.

The impact of the colonial architecture on the urban sustainability of Laghouat city in Algeria: ksar of Laghouat as a case

Among the risks that cities are exposed to, colonization emerges as a multifaceted concern representing historical and modern dimensions that can significantly impact a city’s urban sustainability. This study explores the diverse implications of colonization on the urban sustainability with a focus on the Ksar of Laghouat in Laghouat city, Algeria. It examines the urban adaptation cycle and the imprint left by the colonial era on the fabric of the city. Utilizing the method of adaptive cycle approach and transfer entropy analysis, our goal is to quantify interaction on the historical and urban development of potential, connectedness, and resilience of Laghouat city. This study enhances the understanding of the Architectural heritage of Algeria and highlights dynamics between traditional and colonial architectural dimensions of Ksar of Laghouat. By assimilating the impact of colonization on the urban development of the city, we aim to improve the resilience and sustainability of Laghouat, through empowering its local community, and providing decision-makers with valuable sustainable strategies and adaptation mechanisms for future urban visions of the city.

Three-Dimensional Documentation and Reconversion of Architectural Heritage by UAV and HBIM: A Study of Santo Stefano Church in Italy

Three-Dimensional Documentation and Reconversion of Architectural Heritage by UAV and HBIM: A Study of Santo Stefano Church in Italy

Provenance Studies of Natural Stones Used in Historical Buildings of the Peninsula de Barbanza, Galicia, Spain (North-Western Iberia)

Traditionally, the building stones used in the architectural heritage of Galicia (Spain) during the past were mainly extracted from quarries located in the surrounding areas of the historical buildings. Thus, a great variety of monuments were built with the same type of granite but with different degrees of weathering depending on local conditions, geological context (facies), and period of construction. The main purpose of this work is to evaluate the probable origin of the construction materials of six historical buildings on the Barbanza Peninsula, Galicia (Spain), based on the degree of weathering and petrographic-mineralogical characteristics. The evaluation was performed on six different samples of granite according to the geological context in outcrops of places where there are old quarries. We used X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and petrographic microscopy (PM) to attempt to address whether the origin is really local to the Barbanza Peninsula or whether the stone was brought from more distant places, based on our knowledge of the geological context of the study area. Based on the chemical, textural, and mineralogical analyses obtained, the material used for construction has a local origin and comes from small quarries spread over a wide area within the Peninsula itself. Barbanza-type granite is the most abundant within the geological context of the area and also the most used as a construction material. Other types of granites identified are the Confurco Granite and other granitoids of the Noya complex. The Chemical Alteration Index (CIA) shows low to moderate weathering in the granites, fitting petrographic observations. In monuments, samples show higher concentrations of Na and K due to salt crystallization. They show microcracks due to extraction, cutting, and finishing processes and common alteration processes of the main minerals, such as sericitization of plagioclase and chloritization of biotite. This work consists of a multidisciplinary study focused on the geological perspective for the identification and preservation of historic quarries. Knowledge of the original material also presents a unique opportunity for the restoration and/or reconstruction of monuments, which allows for the maintenance of their conceptual and constructive homogeneity.

Editorial Address & Advisory Board

The first issue of volume five of the Journal of the Council for Research on Religion (JCREOR) is a call by the editors to examine and understand social cohesions and conflicts, with particular interest in what role religion or religious traditions play within communities of diverse peoples. We sought first to understand how tension points arise within communities, and second, to examine the role played by religion in creating or appeasing these tension points. This issue is thus dedicated to probing, not only the tensions that arise within religiously diverse communities but the solutions that are developed in response to criticism or conflict. The studies in this issue address: the fractures that have been created in the Orthodox world by the Russian Orthodox Church’s support for the ongoing war in Ukraine; the tensions between liberal and traditional standpoints when discussing the Vedāntic tradition and the philosophy of the Upanishads; the tension and cohesion created by how different Turkish faith communities have been negotiating their role in the preservation of Ottoman architectural heritage; and, finally, how attempts at creating social cohesion in the Southern state of Karnataka have led to tensions between Muslim and Hindu communities.

ECONOMIC DAMAGE FROM THE DESTRUCTION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE MONUMENTS OF UKRAINE

In world history, aggressors have often attacked objects of valuable architectural heritage, believing that such destruction would demoralize the people of the target nation and irreversibly shake the foundations of a marginalized culture. Architectural buildings that were. Since the beginning of the large-scale invasion, the sphere of culture, in particular, historical heritage, has suffered the most. For any country, culture is the basis of self-determination of every citizen. The destruction of cultural objects such as museums, historical buildings, monuments and works of art of eminent people is a huge loss. Since the beginning of Russia's military aggression, 348 places of worship, 705 cultural centers/palaces of culture, 82 museums, 157 hotels/restaurants and 8 sports stadiums have been destroyed. Damaged objects, according to documented losses, are mainly located in 14 regions of the country: Dnipro, Donetsk, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Luhansk, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, Chernihiv and Kyiv. As of June, the share of damage to the infrastructure of culture, religion and tourism amounted to 2.4 billion dollars. In total, no less than 1,804 cultural objects, 348 religious buildings, 343 sports facilities, and 164 tourism objects were damaged or destroyed since the beginning of the war. The assessment of damaged or destroyed cultural values is complicated by the difficulty of indirect assessment of the value and value of the interior decoration of religious and other cultural institutions, art objects, decorations, exhibits, icons, frescoes, etc. contained in buildings. Accordingly, the value of damaged objects of cultural value may be changed in accordance with the establishment of the possibility of restoration of these objects and its cost. Total losses in culture, tourism and sports as amounted to $10.8 billion, of which culture and sports accounted for $6.4 billion and tourism for $4.4 billion

Cultural heritage tourism and urban regeneration: The case of Fez Medina in Morocco

After Morocco gained independence in 1956, the country's historic cities, including Fez, Marrakesh, and Meknes, experienced rapid urban growth, decay, and the destruction of their rich cultural and architectural heritage. The rise in urbanisation, redevelopment projects, and tourism has raised concerns related to the urban gentrification and social sustainability of local communities. In addition, the influx of large-scale foreign investments and the conversion of traditional Moroccan houses into riad hotels have sparked tensions over land use, economic shifts, and the ongoing exploitation of historic cities. This research presents a case study of the world heritage city of Fez in Morocco, where these dynamics are particularly significant, as efforts are made to balance conservation and modern needs. The main question to be addressed is how can the surviving historic centres be regenerated while ensuring social sustainability for their inhabitants? The primary objective of this study is to explore the multifaceted urban regeneration strategies in Fez, focusing on urban planning, conservation efforts, economic revitalisation, and social development. Employing a mixed-method approach, this study draws on desk research, content analysis, fieldwork, observations, and qualitative interviews with key stakeholders. The findings suggest that the previous strategies focused on physical development and riad hotels to boost cultural tourism and tourist accommodation, exacerbating the gentrification and socioeconomic stratification of the local community. This study emphasises the “Ziyarates Fez” project, which provides an innovative approach to rehabilitating and reusing traditional houses for tourism accommodation without displacing local occupants. Furthermore, this project represents a holistic strategy for balancing economic and social sustainability in urban regeneration. This paper contributes to the expanding body of research on sustainable urban regeneration in historic cities. These results are anticipated to benefit academic research and the implementation of regeneration strategies in historic cities in Morocco and worldwide.

Terracotta to Terraces: Tracing the Unique Temple Architecture of Bengal

This paper explores the diverse architectural styles of temple construction in Bengal from the 9th to the 19th centuries. Through a detailed examination of structural variations and decorations, the study highlights how the intermingling of Hindu, Islamic, and later European influences shaped the distinctive temple architecture in this region. The research uses architectural analysis and historical texts to identify key styles, such as the 'do-chala' and 'char-chala' huts, alongside the more ornate 'Ratna' and 'naba-ratna' structures. These styles reflect the religious and cultural synthesis and the geographical and material constraints influencing temple architecture in Bengal. The findings underscore the role of Gaudiya Vaishnavism and regional patronage in fostering a unique architectural heritage characterized by its terracotta embellishments and innovative structural forms. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of South Asian architectural diversity and its socio-religious contexts, offering insights into the region's broader patterns of cultural interchange.

Inheritance and Development of Architectural Heritage: A Case Study of China's First Architectural History and Theory Ph.D

Inheritance and Development of Architectural Heritage: A Case Study of China's First Architectural History and Theory Ph.D

Study on Red Architectural Heritage Landscape Revitalisation Design in Jiangxi Province under the Perspective of Culture and Tourism Integration

Study on Red Architectural Heritage Landscape Revitalisation Design in Jiangxi Province under the Perspective of Culture and Tourism Integration

REVITALIZATION OF THE ABANDONED TERRITORY OF THE NADVIRNYA REFINERY PLANT

The issue of revitalization of abandoned territories of former powerful complexes of the oil and gas industry. XIX - beginning 20th century is becoming more and more relevant. These objects in modern conditions are defined as depressed points of one or another environment and need to be organized and developed. The article examines the territory of the oil refinery "Nadvirna Oil and Paraffin Factory", located in the city of Nadvirna, Ivano-Frankivsk region. The historical and architectural development and the main factors of the formation of the enterprise are studied. Urban-planning, architectural-planning and landscape-compositional features have been identified; a valuable historical building. The original functional zoning of the territory, volumetric and planning structure of buildings and structures were analyzed with the help of archival materials and technical descriptions. The authors proposed a conceptual project for the revitalization of the Nadvirnya Oil Refinery - "Building Hub". The project envisages the preservation of the architectural heritage, which will be harmoniously combined with modern technological solutions. Office premises, a museum complex, shopping and food areas, and parking spaces will be located on the territory. The reorganization of this object will significantly affect the architectural development of the city, will contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of the local population.

Understanding past rules of the art in columna-capreoli wood trusses

A transversely isotropic structural model for wood, based on a polytope strength criterion, is proposed and deployed in the analysis of solid wood columna-capreoli A-trusses reproducing the geometry and connection details of those currently erected in the Aula Magna of the Monastery San Lorenzo ad Septimum in Aversa. The predictivity of the polytope strength criterion is assessed verifying its capability of identifying the closest crisis mode against experimental evidence from a simple flexural test, with minimal wood sacrifice. The model is employed in parametric optimization analyses to infer a design provision for the columna-capreoli connection which appears to be in reasonable agreement with the rule of the art empirically inferable from the observation of many samples of open-node King Post A-trusses belonging to the architectural heritage in Campania of historical and artistic value. A final discussion examines a perspective of extending these optimization analyses to the sustainability of the built environment.

THE IMPACT OF RAJPUT ARCHITECTURE STYLE ON CONTEMPORARY RESORT DESIGN IN JAIPUR RAJASTHAN

This research paper explores the development of Rajput architecture design giving shape to examining the historical factors, in the broader context of the Rajputana region in medieval India. By researching the socio-political landscape, cultural influences, distinctive architectural features, conservation system, regional variations, cultural Content of medieval socio-political influences, and distinctive conservation Variations, this research on the Rajput dynasty's rich architectural heritage provides an understanding of the broader. Building on this historical foundation, Studies in contemporary resort design of analysis the incorporation of Rajput architectural elements such as arches, domes, Jharokha, chhatri, and Lattice work. Through qualitative analysis and case studies, this research examines the impact of these elements on aesthetics, utility, and guest experiences in modern resorts. This study bridges the gap between historical and modern design, Rajput architecture of permanent relevance, and contemporary architecture of landscapes giving shaped the role of intense appreciation having contribution.

A Conservation Strategy for the Sanatorio Carlos Duran Cartín in Costa Rica

The Sanatorio Carlos Duran Cartín in Costa Rica is a noteworthy example of tuberculosis sanatorium architecture. Positioned within the broader context of Latin American architectural heritage conservation, the research pays specific attention to tuberculosis sanatoriums as a prevalent architectural typology from the early 1900s to the 1940s. Its historical and cultural significance is explored through contextualizing its architectural value and identifying current challenges and conservation needs. Using archival documents and photographic evidence, the study aimed to delineate tangible and intangible values associated with the complex, thus justifying the need for its preservation and safeguarding. Furthermore, the study aimed to establish guidelines and a conceptual framework for a conservation strategy designed for the Sanatorio Duran.

Evaluating the Quality of Architectural Heritage Reuse Projects Using a Well-Being and NEB Approach: The Case Study of IPIM in Turin (Italy)

International conservation approaches recognise architectural heritage as crucial in promoting sustainable development and enhancing human well-being. This has been highlighted by the recent New European Bauhaus (NEB) movement. As for the reuse of architectural heritage, this debate has led to the formulation of new guidelines that aim to maximise the tangible and intangible values of the assets from a long-term and circular economy perspective. In turning theory into operational practice, it is essential to reuse heritage structures while keeping these principles in mind and remaining within the boundaries of conservation objectives. To achieve this, evaluation tools that can aid in the decision-making process need to be identified. This research presents a novel model of indicators that can monitor and evaluate the quality of architectural heritage reuse projects, proposing a perspective that considers both the concept of well-being and the NEB principles. The proposed model is tested on Turin’s IPIM (Provincial Institute for Childhood and Maternity). This structure has been transformed from an uncomfortable heritage into a cultural centre for contemporary art called Flashback Habitat. The case study tests the model’s practical applicability and demonstrates its effectiveness in identifying the most challenging principles to apply in practice.

Evaluation of Calcarenite Degradation by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Analysis inside the Rupestrian Church of San Pietro Barisano (Matera, Southern Italy)

We report on the XPS analysis of degraded surfaces inside San Pietro Barisano, the rupestrian church carved into the calcarenite rock of ancient Matera, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. As reported in previous works, the “Sassi” district and the park of rupestrian churches were available as open laboratories for the National Smart Cities SCN_00520 research project dedicated to the sustainable recovery of this remarkable architectural heritage. In that context, XPS functionality was shown to reside in the possibility of analyzing surfaces by feasible sampling, acquiring spectra without any preliminary sample treatment, and processing data using a well-established curve fitting procedure. The obtained results allowed us to identify the degradation products of the investigated surfaces, thus contributing to defining a diagnostic framework for subsequent actions. Accordingly, the samples here considered, collected from the internal wall surfaces of the church, were all analyzed in comparison with the reference calcarenite, and the XPS results were evaluated as a function of local environmental factors and the historical context of the church itself. The final aim was to provide, for each sample, the most representative indicator(s) of biotic and/or abiotic degradation for reliable use, in a multidisciplinary context, in planning care interventions for building heritage.

Research on heritage characteristics based on railway architectural heritage database in Jinzhou section of the Peking–Mukden Railway

This research interprets the background of Jinzhou section of the Peking–Mukden Railway, and puts forward 65 heritages as cases based on the scope definition and investigation. After the data collection, processing, and visualization, the database composed of 9 sub-databases, with B/S architecture mode, is constructed based on SQL server platform. The ArcGIS tool is used to analyze the distribution of the heritages, including spatial distribution characteristics, spatial agglomeration, and spatial equilibrium. “Image and model information database” and “text attribute information database” is used to analyze the architectural ontology features. The conclusions are drawn as follows: 1) The integral distribution has the characteristics of “cohesion”, while the 5 medium types of heritages show obvious and different directions. 2) The overall pattern of spatial agglomeration is characterized by high cohesion with a single high agglomeration point as the core. The low agglomeration area shows a point-line-point pattern. 3) The integral heritages and three main types of buildings differ in distribution, and the equilibrium is low. The architectural ontology analysis shows that the image information can be used as the basis for ontology characteristics analysis, architectural form and style judgment, and architectural functional space analysis.