Architectural History Research Articles

New Zealand Architects and Australia’s Federation Architecture

ABSTRACT In 1887, Thomas Searell (1855-1938), Percival Selwyn Richards(1865-1952) and William Allen Tombs (1866-1928), architects trained in Christchurch, New Zealand, migrated to Melbourne, Victoria. A few years later they spread out to regional Victoria and Tasmania consolidating practices in the early 1900s in Ballarat (Richards), Geelong (Tombs), Hobart and Launceston (Searell). In those locations they became prominent practitioners, proficient in design discourses at the turn of the twentieth century which are now described in Australia as “Federation” architecture – a term that aligns design with the political realisation of Australia as a nation in1901. Yet the maintenance of personal connections and commonalities in their Australian buildings might be traced to the New Zealand architectural practice of Frederick Strouts who articled Searell in the 1870s and Richards in the early 1880s, and whose one-time assistant, Thomas Stoddart Lambert (1842-1917), articled Tombs in the early 1880s. At stake in this article, then, is the role of a larger region in late nineteenth and early twentieth-century Australian architecture. As such, the work of these regional NewZealand/Australian architects serve as a reminder of the limitations of nationalist frameworks that define our region’s architectural histories captured in stylistic terminology such as “Federation.”

Towards an Effective Architectural Form: The Composition of Squareness and Roundness Based on Scale Proportion—Evidence from the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda

Investigating the mathematical and geometric principles embedded in ancient classic architecture is a significant tradition in the history of architectural development. Drawing inspiration from the modular design and creative ideology based on the geometric proportions of squareness and roundness in ancient Chinese architecture, we propose a new mode of squareness and roundness composition based on scale proportion specifically for the design of multi-story buildings. Taking Yingxian Wooden Pagoda as the case study, we not only re-evaluate the modular system and proportional rules followed in the design of the entire pagoda, but also reveal the technical approaches and geometric rules for effectively controlling the form of multi-story buildings. In particular, the mode of squareness and roundness composition based on scale proportion, utilizing a modular grid combined with squareness and roundness drawings as decision-making tools, can control the scale and proportion of buildings across different design dimensions and organically coordinate the design of multi-story buildings’ plans and elevations. Thus, it can achieve an effective balance of multi-story architectural forms. This study has potential applications in the creation of traditional multi-story buildings and heritage restoration projects, and offers valuable insights for future research on ancient multi-story buildings.

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.

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.

From finance to legacy: Exploring Bank of China’s modern buildings as serial cultural heritage

In the early 20th century, China underwent profound societal transformations across cultural, political, economic, and military domains, culminating in the birth of its first national bank, the Bank of China. Enduring for over a century, the Bank of China stands as a testament to the emergence and evolution of a modern nation-state. The edifices housing this paramount institution, as well as their geographical locations and architectural designs, serve as prime examples for studying modern Chinese architecture and social history. This article, rooted in field surveys, traces the development history and current conservation status of the 26 existing Bank of China buildings. It analyzes their locations, construction backgrounds, architectural features, and functional uses. Through an assessment of the historical, artistic, scientific, and socio-cultural values of these bank buildings, this study employs the perspective of “serial cultural heritage” to propose a value-based thematic interpretation aimed at revitalization. In particular, it accentuates that analyses and interpretation of values are fundamental prerequisites for rebuilding and displaying the cultural identity of these buildings.

The Phylogeography of Deciduous Tree Ulmus macrocarpa (Ulmaceae) in Northern China

Disentangling how climate oscillations and geographical events significantly influence plants’ genetic architecture and demographic history is a central topic in phytogeography. The deciduous ancient tree species Ulmus macrocarpa is primarily distributed throughout Northern China and has timber and horticultural value. In the current study, we studied the phylogenic architecture and demographical history of U. macrocarpa using chloroplast DNA with ecological niche modeling. The results indicated that the populations’ genetic differentiation coefficient (NST) value was significantly greater than the haplotype frequency (GST) (p < 0.05), suggesting that U. macrocarpa had a clear phylogeographical structure. Phylogenetic inference showed that the putative chloroplast haplotypes could be divided into three groups, in which the group Ⅰ was considered to be ancestral. Despite significant genetic differentiation among these groups, gene flow was detected. The common ancestor of all haplotypes was inferred to originate in the middle–late Miocene, followed by the haplotype overwhelming diversification that occurred in the Quaternary. Combined with demography pattern and ecological niche modeling, we speculated that the surrounding areas of Shanxi and Inner Mongolia were potential refugia for U. macrocarpa during the glacial period in Northern China. Our results illuminated the demography pattern of U. macrocarpa and provided clues and references for further population genetics investigations of precious tree species distributed in Northern China.

Seventeenth-century Seville houses: a survey by the Alarife Juan De Legarra (1637)

Despite the wealth of preserved information, research on the domestic architecture of Seville has been limited. Much of this historical data is available in survey books that were formally compiled in Seville from the Modern Age onwards. These books had detailed descriptions and sometimes illustrations provided by surveyors who were commissioned by owners or tenants.The intention of this study is to illustrate that the information contained in building surveys goes beyond simple descriptions or measurements often accompanied by drawings. They are a comprehensive account that, even centuries later, help reconstruct the architecture, material culture and everyday life that no longer exist. Our research contributes to the understanding of the domestic architectural history of Seville by focusing on one specific survey (a collection of drawings and a written description) extracted from the Hospital de las Cinco Llagas Collection, which is found in the Seville Provincial Council Archive. At least one of the drawings and the written survey can be attributed to the Alarife (architect or master builder) Juan de Legarra, who signed them in 1637.This research explores the architectural development of the city, offering fresh insights into its architecture, heritage, and history. It supplements existing historical, visual, and written records derived from prior studies with a meticulously curated bibliography. Additionally, it uses visualisation techniques to reconstruct buildings, augmenting the research.This endeavour has yielded anticipated benefits, particularly in facilitating visual analysis. The surveys have proven to be invaluable for historical inquiry, yielding unexpected insights through the thorough analysis of both written and graphic sources which serve as a basis for hypothetical construction plans due to their detailed descriptions. Furthermore, this study has contributed to enriching both historical and architectural terminology.The incorporation of digital technologies into this architectural context allows us to expand our knowledge through the exhaustive compilation of building records. It also facilitates in-depth analysis of architecture, which could result in an up-to-date architectural catalogue that would stimulate interest in preserving a legacy that, until recently, was at risk of being lost.

Classroom architecture and the gaze. Beyond the Panopticon

ABSTRACT This article begins by considering the radical changes that occurred in architecture throughout the twentieth century due to the influence of Le Corbusier and the ensuing movement of modernism. Though the building of schools was embroiled in this architectural movement, the classrooms within them remained broadly the same as they had been in the previous century, something that might pose a limit to the forms of education that take place within. Classrooms are then explored in the article in terms of their design and symbolic functions, both of which pertain to questions concerned with light, seeing, and the gaze. The article then introduces two key concepts that are useful for considering the gaze, Foucault’s Panopticon and Lacan’s psychoanalysis, to engage with the classroom architecture. Finally, the article proposes a rethinking of classroom architecture to encourage new forms of learning to take place.

Concrete touchdown: new technology influences industrial buildings in Norway, 1912–1920

Construction technology developed quickly during the first decades of the twentieth century. This influenced the construction of industrial buildings at the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage site of Rjukan and Notodden in Norway. Behind the construction was Hydro, a company founded in 1905 to produce synthetic nitrogen fertiliser to increase the world’s food production. This industrial development demanded large structures such as hydropower stations and production facilities. Concrete was introduced for the first time during this period, and systems are characterised by heavy concrete bearing walls and mixed bearing walls where concrete and steel were combined. Such systems demanded significant material resources and resulted in the development of steel and concrete skeleton frames. The development of viable systems was achieved through research in materials science and structural engineering, in both the USA and Europe. This paper discusses how concrete influenced construction and building systems at this site. Similarities to industrial buildings and other building typologies are evident and connect the site to the international context of architecture and engineering history. Understanding the characteristics of individual buildings and presenting them in an order of a construction systems will support the work of architects and engineers in future conservation schemes.

A newly developed 10 kA-level HTS conductor: innovative tenon-mortise-based modularized conductor (TMMC) based on China ancient architecture

We proposed a new type of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) conductor concept: modularized conductors (MCs) connected by Chinese traditional tenon-mortise (TM) connection structure, referred as TMMC (tenon-mortise modularized conductor). The conductor consisted of multiple concentric round sub-conductors with slots for stacking rare-earth-barium-copper-oxide (REBCO) tapes. Innovatively, the REBCO stacks in the adjacent sub-conductors were arranged with the fully-misaligned configuration to enhance the critical current’s isotropy with respect to magnetic field and reduce ac loss. For example, the angle between the adjacent stacks in the two adjacent sub-conductors was 45° if each sub-conductor contains 4 REBCO stacks. In order to construct the fully-misaligned configuration, the sub-conductors were designed with two open half-circular formers and connected by TM structure which makes the conductor modularized and simply to assembly and disassembly. Based on the design concept, a prototype conductor containing 160 REBCO tapes distributed in the four concentric sub-conductors was fabricated. The conductor’s measured critical current was 13.69 kA at 77 K and self-field, which was consistent to the simulation result. In order to further improve the TMMC’s engineering critical current density (J ce) and bending performance, we proposed two enhancement approaches: reducing the former’s thickness and re-arrange stacks in the outer sub-conductors. With the enhancements, both TMMC’s radius and J ce were comparable to the existing slotted-core conductor. The study shows the TMMC’s advantages of non-twisted structures, easy assembly, high-current carrying and low ac losses, which made it promising for constructing large-scale scientific devices.

The Exhibition as Assessment: Design Research in Architectural History

This paper presents the experience of facilitating an operative architectural history course for undergraduate students at Griffith University, Australia. The exhibition is the mode through which students are assessed and where students engage with the critical act of re-interpretation through the creation of artifacts that solve an original research question. The paper explores the potential of expanding architectural history to include new modes of design research, challenging traditional inquiry methods, and creating new opportunities for practice and research. Ultimately, the paper underscores the value of using the exhibition as a tool to revitalize architectural history for emerging design professionals.

Racist dogs and classist rats?

In cities across the world, animals reflect, reproduce and transform urban inequalities – yet their role in mediating social hierarchies remains undertheorized. Urban scholars have begun to highlight the importance of infrastructures and technologies in configuring access to essential goods and services. While this research provides key insights into how non-human entities mediate unequal relations, it has largely overlooked how certain animals – „political animals“ – also co-produce inequalities. This article focuses on two critical urban domains, security and public health, that are often characterized by stark inequalities, and takes the role of key animals within these domains – dogs and rats, respectively – as a new analytical entry-point. Security dogs are socialized to identify threatening individuals on the basis of classed and raced markers. Rats thrive in upscale neighborhoods with historical architecture and abundant green space – yet the public health risks and the stigma associated with these rodents may disproportionately affect low-income residents. Drawing on research on security dogs in Kingston, Jamaica and rats in Amsterdam, this talk discusses the role of animals in the formation of sociospatial boundaries, and the distribution of resources and risks across urban spaces and populations. Focusing on the interactions these two types of „political animals“ have with both humans and infrastructure, it sets out a research agenda for studying how animals’ everyday encounters with their cultural and material environments combine to result in (in-)equitable social outcomes.

Every Dataset is a Canon

AbstractFor architects, the construction of a dataset for use in AI, whether imported from somewhere else or newly created, is fundamentally an epistemological canon of references, likes and preoccupations often predicated on the selection of so‐called masterpieces of Western art. The canon represents ideals of beauty and knowledge, but it also reflects a bias in favour of art created by those who have occupied the most socially, politically and economically powerful positions in culture. Mario Carpo, architectural historian, critic and Reyner Banham Professor of Architectural History and Theory at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, leads us through a succinct series of eras and architectural styles to demonstrate this fact and their lack of diversity.

A Multi-Method Analysis of a Color Painting on Ancient Architecture from Anyuan Temple in Chengde, China

Anyuan Temple, constructed in the 29th year of the Qing Dynasty (1764), serves as a repository of numerous Sanskrit inscriptions and Hexi color paintings from the Qing era. Among its collections, the green Tara Buddha statue, exquisitely carved from wood, is recognized as a national first-class cultural relic. This edifice is instrumental in advancing our comprehension of painting artistry in royal temples. The current research focused on the pigments and binders utilized in the color paintings within Anyuan Temple, located in Chengde. An investigative process entailed collecting four samples from the paintings adorning the temple’s beams. These samples underwent comprehensive analysis using a variety of techniques, such as Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy-Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS), Micro Raman Spectroscopy (m-RS), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The examination revealed that the paintings comprised pigments of lead white, cinnabar, malachite, and azurite, corresponding to the colors white, red, green, and blue, respectively. The enduring stability and aesthetic appeal of these pigments suggest their suitability for use in future conservation efforts. Additionally, Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) analysis identified animal glue as the binding agent in the wood component paintings. These insights are pivotal for the forthcoming restoration endeavors of Anyuan Temple, offering essential guidance in selecting the appropriate materials for restoration.

Cloud as an Alternative Architecture

This paper argues for the absenting presence of an embodied theoretical architecture of materialist harmonious dialectic in Hubert Damisch’s engagement with Chinese art and architecture around the cloud. This connects with recent media studies discourse where environment both conditions and is being with an alternative architecture that is different from a centralized elevated arche. At the same time, the essay positively explores the decolonizing structural potential for displacing Eurocentrism and idealism in the making of theory and art and architecture history by opening up to global collaborative knowledge formation and reconnecting theory with practice.

A FRCM technique for strengthening of masonry domes against near-fault pulse-like vertical excitations

Masonry domes have been used extensively in historic architecture, covering large interior spaces in structures ranging from temples, mausoleums, palaces and fortresses to baths, churches, and mosques. This research is motivated by the post-earthquake observations following the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, which revealed significant structural damage to masonry domes caused by near-fault pulse-like horizontal and vertical ground motions. Previous studies in the literature have not investigated the impact of near-fault pulse-like vertical and horizontal ground motions on the seismic performance of masonry domes. This paper aims to explore the impact of the vertical component on the seismic damage behavior of masonry domes subjected to near-fault pulse-like ground motions. Additionally, it seeks to propose a cost-effective seismic strengthening technique characterized by minimal intervention, improved workability, and reduced cost. A 3D finite element model of a masonry dome with a drum was created using the isotropic continuum macro modeling technique with homogenized properties. The Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP) model was selected as the nonlinear material model. Near-fault pulse-like vertical and horizontal ground motions recorded during the February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaraş earthquake (M7.7) were chosen for the nonlinear analysis. Initially, displacements, tensile strains, and damage patterns of masonry domes subjected to near-fault pulse-like vertical and horizontal ground motions were obtained and thoroughly evaluated for V/H (the peak vertical ground acceleration to the peak horizontal ground acceleration ratio) ratios of 0.0, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0, and 1.25. Subsequently, seismic analyses were conducted on masonry domes strengthened with four different Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Mortar (FRCM) configurations under near-fault pulse-like excitations with a V/H ratio of 1.25 to propose an optimal strengthening technique.

VR headset vs. PC screen as virtual learning tour interface for Chinese architecture heritage investigation

AbstractIn design education, integrating digital tools has revolutionized pedagogical approaches. This study examines the impact of VR HMDs and PC screens on learning ancient Chinese architecture using a virtual tour. Involving 22 students, it assessed simulator sickness, user experience, and spatial awareness. Results show VR had a more positive spatial learning experience but the same learning outcomes. VR enhances presence but increases simulator sickness. The study underscores VR's potential and limitations in ancient Chinese architectural education, suggesting future research directions.

MSFA-Net: A Multiscale Feature Aggregation Network for Semantic Segmentation of Historical Building Point Clouds

In recent years, research on the preservation of historical architecture has gained significant attention, where the effectiveness of semantic segmentation is particularly crucial for subsequent repair, protection, and 3D reconstruction. Given the sparse and uneven nature of large-scale historical building point cloud scenes, most semantic segmentation methods opt to sample representative subsets of points, often leading to the loss of key features and insufficient segmentation accuracy of architectural components. Moreover, the geometric feature information at the junctions of components is cluttered and dense, resulting in poor edge segmentation. Based on this, this paper proposes a unique semantic segmentation network design called MSFA-Net. To obtain multiscale features and suppress irrelevant information, a double attention aggregation module is first introduced. Then, to enhance the model’s robustness and generalization capabilities, a contextual feature enhancement and edge interactive classifier module are proposed to train edge features and fuse the context data. Finally, to evaluate the performance of the proposed model, experiments were conducted on a self-curated ancient building dataset and the S3DIS dataset, achieving OA values of 95.2% and 88.7%, as well as mIoU values of 86.2% and 71.6%, respectively, further confirming the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method.

In-situ graft fibrous PPy@PEI enables sensitive and all-seasoned crack monitoring for ancient architectures based on flexible pressure sensors

The non-destructive, real-time, and automatic monitoring for the development of cracks in ancient architectures is crucial to the preservation of precious ancient heritages. Here, light-weight crack sensing constructed with ultra-thin and high-performance flexible pressure sensors is proposed to fulfill this demand. The signal drift and poor reversibility commonly observed in widely-reported sensors based on elastomer matrix, which originates from the creep and relaxation behaviors, are addressed using piezoresistive polypyrrole-grafted polyetherimide fibers. The corresponding flexible piezoresistive sensors exhibit great sensitivity (9.45 kPa−1 in 0 ∼ 1 kPa and 3.48 kPa−1 in 3 ∼ 10 kPa), outstanding static stability (5.13 % signal drift after 48 h under 1 kPa), dynamic durability (4.72 % degradation after ∼30,000 cycles) and excellent robustness across an ultra-wide temperature range of −70 ∼ 150 ℃. Based on this highly reliable pressure sensor, the proposed non-destructive crack sensors integrated into an Internet of Things (IoT) platform display outstanding stability during their service in the Forbidden City. By virtue of the low energy consumption, one lithium battery can power the monitoring system for more than one year.

Theoretical principles of studyng the historical and cultural heritage of small towns of Ukraine

The purpose of the article is to study the influence of the historical and cultural heritage of small towns on the development of tourism in Ukraine. It was established that small cities of Ukraine have a significant potential for the development of tourism. These cities preserve a rich historical and culturalheritage, including ancient architecture, cultural monuments and traditions. The growing interest in travel and educational tourism creates opportunities for the development of the tourism potential of small towns. At the same time, the development of tourism contributes to the economic growth of small towns, creating new jobs and increasing income from the tourism business. It is important to take into account sociocultural aspects, as tourism can contribute to the preservation and popularization of local traditions, arts and crafts. Therefore, the study of the historical and cultural heritage of small towns will reveal unique resources that can attract tourists. Methodology. The methodological basis of the work is: the method of theoretical research, induction and deduction, observation, comparison, analysis and synthesis. The methodology is based on the principles of historicism, systematicity and scientificity. Scientific novelty. The scientific study emphasizes the role of the historical and cultural heritage of small towns of Ukraine and their opportunities for the development of tourism. Characterized: the conceptual apparatus of historical and cultural heritage, its features as an object of socio-geographical research and modern trends of cultural heritage in Ukraine. The results of the research will contribute to determining the potential of the historical and cultural heritage of small towns and its impact on the development of tourism in Ukraine. It is important to carry out a systematic monitoring study of the state of cultural heritage, which will allow timely detection of problems, evaluation of the effectiveness of preservation and use measures, and adjustment of tourism development strategies. Therefore, the research results can become the basis for the development of tourism development strategies and programs aimed at the attractiveness of small towns for domestic and foreign tourists.