Traditional Building Research Articles

Building-Integrated Photovoltaics in Existing Buildings: A Novel PV Roofing System

Among renewable energy generation technologies, photovoltaics has a pivotal role in reaching the EU’s decarbonization goals. In particular, building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems are attracting increasing interest since they are a fundamental element that allows buildings to abate their CO2 emissions while also performing functions typical of traditional building components, such as sealing against water. In such a context, since one of the main challenges to decarbonizing the building sector lies in the retrofitting of existing buildings, the current paper is focused on the design, development, and testing of a novel roofing BIPV system. The entire research was carried out as part of the Horizon 2020 HEART project. In more detail, the research analyzed the requirements of typical pitched tile roofs, which are currently the most common type in Europe, and developed a universal photovoltaic tile that can be easily and quickly integrated into such a type of roof. The research was also aimed at minimizing the embodied energy of the component and promoting disassembly and recycling at the end of life, fully in line with a circular economy perspective. The adopted design and development processes are described in detail in the present paper, along with the results of several tests performed in the field. In addition, further development prospects of the component, aimed at meeting the integration requirements in historic buildings, are finally presented.

Was kennzeichnet einen Holzbau?

The new online encyclopaedia www.holzbaukultur.ch from the Bern University of Applied Sciences presents Swiss timber buildings across six centuries and shows lineages of development. The wide range of examples initiates a debate about the characteristics of timber buildings. Switzerland is generally associated with craftsmanship and traditional timber buildings in the Alpine region. The attempt to develop timber architecture in the spirit of modernism in the 20th century was not very successful. The proportion of timber in total building volume decreased significantly. In recent decades, Swiss timber construction, which is now highly technologised, has repositioned itself, and architecture and structural planning have come closer together and realised remarkable, pioneering projects. Timber construction is now the subject of urban spaces and must find new forms accordingly. The approaches to these new forms have so far been very different. Answering the question “What characterises timber construction?” therefore appears to be a key to the visibility and success of a forward-looking Swiss timber construction culture.

Compressed stabilised earth block synergistically valorising municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash and sisal fiber: Strength, durability and life cycle analysis

Compressed stabilized earth blocks (CSEB) represent an eco-friendly substitute for traditional building materials, predominantly utilizing earth. Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Bottom Ash (MSWIBA) is a by-product of municipal waste treatment that can be creatively repurposed in construction projects. This research explores integrating MSWIBA as a substitute for Earth in CSEB production to conserve natural resources and repurpose waste, potentially reducing its landfill disposal. The sisal fibers (SF), often regarded as by-products of agricultural processes, offer an intriguing research material. The SF was treated with a 5 % NaOH alkaline solution to improve the CSEB bonding, increasing the flexural strength. The study aims to determine the optimal mix of stabilizers, in addition to a 10 % cement content, using various percentages of MSWIBA (10–40 % by weight of dry sand) and SF content (0.25–1 % by weight of dry soil). These blocks undergo comprehensive tests to determine their strength and durability. Wet and dry compression, flexural tests and indirect tensile tests were used to assess strength qualities, while wetting-drying cycles and acid exposure were used to determine durability. MSWIBA replaces 20 % sand in CSEB satisfying the strength. However, exceeding this amount increases void content and lowers strength, emphasizing the importance of balanced proportions for best performance. The 20 % MSWIBA and 0.75 % SF combination enhanced the compressive strength by 6.45 MPa, flexural strength by 0.92 MPa and water absorption by less than 18 %. The durability test displayed increases in compressive strength of 14.7 % and flexural strength of 93.48 % and optimized water absorption rate. Furthermore, microstructural analysis has been performed on CSEBs and the results highlight the importance of balanced cement and SF proportions for structural integrity. Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) investigation shows that construction costs using CSEB are 12.24 % higher than those with FCBs. Additionally, the study suggests that CSEB with MSWIBA and SF will be an environmentally sustainable construction material, considering factors such as energy usage, Global Warming Potential, and other environmental considerations

The Effects of Vertical Load and Gaps on Lateral Resistance of Fork-Column Dougong in Traditional MultiStory Wooden Structures

ABSTRACT This article investigates the mechanical performances of the Fork-Column Dougong (FCDG), also named as Cha-Zhu-Zao Dougong, which is a common type of connection between the upper and lower columns in a traditional multistory Chinese wooden building. Numerical results of a typical FCDG under different vertical loads illustrate that the vertical load can strengthen the lateral stiffness of FCDG to some extent. Because existing FCDGs have different lengths of column limbs in their construction, the effect of this variation on the lateral behavior of the FCDG is also studied with reference to the different contact states between different components of the FCDG. The FCDG without gaps between its components gives generally better lateral behavior according to the lateral force-displacement curve. Because the column is the main member of the structure to carry the structural load transferred through by contact between the column limbs and the supporting Fangs. The length of column limbs would directly affect the effective contact area at the bottom and roots of column limbs, and the variation of the contact area would change the bearing capacity and load path of the FCDG. Results from this study may serve as reference to the restoration and protection of traditional Chinese wooden structures.

Investigating the seismic vulnerability of traditional ancient Tibetan buildings via structural subscaling experiments

Investigating the seismic vulnerability of traditional ancient Tibetan buildings via structural subscaling experiments

CONFLICT MANAGEMENT THROUGH BAILEO DESIGN CONCEPT STRATEGY IN YALAHATAN VILLAGE, CENTRAL MALUKU DISTRICT

The Ambon conflict is an event of conflict between religious communities. What occurred in the period from 1999 to 2000, this event caused divisions which had an impact on the harmony of the people who had long lived side by side. Baileo House is a traditional building that is able to translate various elements of kinship between pela gandong and patasiwa, patalima. This research was conducted in Yalahatan hamlet, negeri Tamilouw, Central Maluku Regency. The people of Yalahatan hamlet have a Baileo house called usali or a community gathering place. The aim of this research is to identify various factors contained in the Baileo house in Yalahatan hamlet as a unifying building with its performance in minimizing conflict by elevating the community's identity as traditional people who love brotherhood. The type of research applied is qualitative descriptive research. From the research results, it was found that the performance of the Baileo house in uniting the Yalahatan hamlet community through its various functions, is an example of the existence of traditional values ​​which naturally direct the community to return to maintaining kinship relations between fellow Yalahatan people in particular and fellow Alifuru people in general.

Performance of traditional Chinese courtyard buildings from a sustainability perspective and implications for contemporary green building design

Climate change, resource depletion, and biodiversity decline have prompted the construction industry to seek more sustainable solutions. While high-tech and often high-cost technologies and equipment support progress toward more sustainable built form, the sustainability performance of historical and vernacular buildings should also be reviewed. These buildings may offer advantages that are “hidden in plain sight.” This research focuses on the use of building information modeling technology to model and simulate a historical Chinese courtyard building. The outcomes of the simulation were evaluated using the green building council of Australia’s green star rating criteria to provide quantitative results. At the same time, relevant literature was explored to obtain a qualitative perspective. The final results indicate that courtyard buildings can serve as useful references for contemporary building design and retrofitting. The choice of building materials offers designers effective ideas for designing sustainable buildings. Courtyards can enhance ventilation, cooling, humidity control, light exposure, and connectivity to outdoor areas while ensuring privacy. In developing countries, this approach may be a viable way to promote sustainable development and energy conservation.

Development of a Method for Commercial Style Transfer of Historical Architectural Facades Based on Stable Diffusion Models.

In the sphere of urban renewal of historic districts, preserving and innovatively reinterpreting traditional architectural styles remains a primary research focus. However, the modernization and adaptive reuse of traditional buildings often necessitate changes in their functionality. To cater to the demands of tourism in historic districts, many traditional residential buildings require conversion to commercial use, resulting in a mismatch between their external form and their internal function. This study explored an automated approach to transform traditional residences into commercially viable designs, offering an efficient and scalable solution for the modernization of historic architecture. We developed a methodology based on diffusion models, focusing on a dataset of nighttime shopfront facades. By training a low-rank adaptation (LoRA) model and integrating the ControlNet model, we enhanced the accuracy and stability of the generated images. The methodology's performance was validated through qualitative and quantitative assessments, optimizing the batch size, repetition, and learning rate configurations. These evaluations confirmed the method's effectiveness. Our findings significantly advance the modern commercial style transformation of historical architectural facades, providing a novel solution that maintains the aesthetic and functional integrity, thereby fostering breakthroughs in traditional design thinking and exploring new possibilities for the preservation and commercial adaptation of historical buildings.

Study on the workability and early mechanical properties of carbon nanotube-coated fly ash modified cement-based grouting materials

Carbon nanotube (CNTs) reinforced cementitious composites have obvious advantages over traditional building materials in strength and impermeable durability. However, the material in question has not been widely employed in grouting engineering due to the limitations posed by dispersion issues. This study introduces a novel method of using amino functional groups to coat carbon nanotubes on the surface of fly ash to improve dispersion. The objective is to produce high-quality industrial-grade slurry and facilitate the transition of carbon nanotubes from small-scale research to large-scale engineering applications. The results show that mixing 14.3 wt% fly ash and 0.023 wt% CNTs in cementitious composites can replace an equivalent proportion of cement. Compared to traditional cement-based grouting material, the modified composites exhibit a 21.6 % increase in fluidity, a 7.9 % increase in the 7-day consolidation strength, and an 11.9 % reduction in the porosity of the slurry consolidation. The CNTs with large specific surface area on the fly ash surface provide sites for cement hydration reaction, accelerate cement hydration, and form dense hydration products. Additionally, the interaction between hydration products and CNTs within the microcracks of the cement matrix forms a 'bridging role' that enhances mechanical properties. The effectiveness of incorporating CNTs in reducing micro-damage during the loading process of slurry consolidation, enhancing integrity, and improving the grouting material's resistance to loading was further proved by acoustic emission, scanning electron microscopy, and fractal analysis of the fracture surface.

Shift from Traditional to Modern Building Concepts and Designs in Ringim Town: A Comparative Study of Aesthetics, Values, Functions and Durability

This study is part of an Undergraduate Project for the award of “B.Tech (Hons) Building Technology Education” at the “Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University”, Bauchi State, Nigeria, and is aimed to identify the contrasts between Traditional and Modern Buildings in Ringim Town, Jigawa State, Northern Nigeria, with respect to their “Purposes, Durability, Aesthetics and Values. The study's subjects were the residents of Ringim Town, with 88 respondents drawn from ten cohorts of young people (under 40) and Adults (over 40) living in the Katutu, Galadanchi, Walawa, Majiyawar-Gari, and Marakawa Quarters. In order to better understand the shift from traditional to modern building concepts and designs in Ringim, the study used a quantitative approach, specifically a structured questionnaire that focused on groups of youths and adults and asked questions about functions, durability, aesthetics, and values. The answers to the research questions were analyzed using the simple mean and standard deviation. The study's conclusions showed that while traditional buildings in Ringim had greater fire, acoustic, and thermal insulation, they also have poor water resistance, to name a few drawbacks. It is advised that experts in the fields of Architecture, Town planning, and Construction, among others, pay attention to the indigenous Design theory, Technology, Artisanship, and Craftsmanship connected to the emergence of Traditional Building. Additionally, recommendations indicated that, for comparative purposes, comparable studies had to be carried out at other tiers of educational establishments, such as Colleges, Polytechnics, and Universities, as well as in other parts of the State and Nation.

Green Building and Energy-Efficient Design

In the modern era, the rapid expansion of infrastructure is a crucial indicator of a country's development. However, this growth must be balanced with environmental conservation to ensure the well-being of humans and other living organisms. The construction industry, a significant development driver, is also a primary source of environmental pollution, contributing to approximately 40% of air pollution. The production and transportation of construction materials, particularly cement and steel, are primary culprits. These processes release substantial amounts of CO2, a greenhouse gas that deteriorates the ozone layer and exacerbates global warming. Cement production accounts for 8-10% of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions, while steel manufacturing contributes about 5-10%. These emissions harm the environment and adversely affect human living conditions. Although it is challenging to eliminate CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions, adopting sustainable living practices, such as the construction of green buildings, offers a viable path toward mitigation. Green or sustainable buildings are designed, constructed, operated, and maintained to minimize adverse environmental impacts and promote occupant health and well being. These structures aim to reduce resource consumption, increase energy efficiency, improve indoor air quality, and decrease the overall environmental footprint compared to traditional buildings. By prioritizing Sustainability, green buildings present an effective strategy to address the ecological challenges the construction industry poses, paving the way for a more sustainable and harmonious relationship between development and the natural world.

Research on intelligent monitoring technology for roof damage of traditional Chinese residential buildings based on improved YOLOv8: taking ancient villages in southern Fujian as an example

In the process of preserving historical buildings in southern Fujian, China, it is crucial to provide timely and accurate statistical data to classify the damage of traditional buildings. In this study, a method based on the improved YOLOv8 neural network is proposed to select aerial photographs of six villages in Xiamen and Quanzhou cities in Fujian Province as the dataset, which contains a total of 3124 photographs. Based on the high-resolution orthophotographs obtained from UAV tilt photography, the YOLOv8 model was used to make predictions. The main task in the first stage is to select the buildings with historical value in the area, and the model's mAP (Mean Accuracy Rate) can reach 97.2% in the first stage task. The second stage uses the YOLOv8 model to segment the images selected in the first stage, detecting possible defects on the roofs, including collapses, missing tiles, unsuitable architectural additions, and vegetation encroachment. In the second stage of the segmentation task, the mAP reaches 89.4%, which is a 1.5% improvement in mAP50 (mean accuracy) compared to the original YOLOv8 model, and the number of parameters and GFLOPs are reduced by 22% and 15%, respectively. This method can effectively improve the disease detection efficiency of historical built heritage in southern Fujian under complex terrain and ground conditions.

Assessment of radon in traditional building materials using polymeric nuclear track detector

Natural uranium deposits decay into radon gas, a radioactive element that is produced spontaneously. It is a radioactive gas that adversely affects the human population because it can be ingested and inhaled internally, contaminating living tissue, especially DNA, through the ionizing process that increases free radical bodies and increases the risk of cancer. The present study is carried out to determine the radon concentration for some traditional building materials in Egypt by using the nuclear track detector (CR-39). The values of radon concentrations measured by CR-39 ranged from 40.5 ± 3 to 593.2 ± 13 with an average value of 180 ± 6 (Bqm−3). The average values of both surface and mass exhalation rates are 6.3E-04 (Bqm−2h−1) and 7.01E-06 (Bqkg−1h−1) respectively. Pearson’s correlation analysis shows a direct and great correlation between 222Rn, and all variables indexed particularly the annual effective dose with significance at 0.01. The current study helps to create baseline data to assess any anomalies in the level of background radioactivity at Egyptian houses. In addition to applying radiation protection strategies for public and occupational regarding the permissible and recommendation limits by ICRP, and IAEA.

MODERN APPROACHES TO THE USE OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS IN CONSTRUCTION

A review of the literature on scientific approaches in the development of composite materials and building structures made of composites is carried out. When creating and manufacturing traditional and new composite materials, for example, by additive manufacturing, and when creating structures and structures in engineering calculations, new techniques, finite element computational software systems, and neural network technologies are used, which are used in the creation of modern metal and composite materials, analysis of mechanical characteristics of materials, forecasting loads on the structure, optimization of structures and calculation of their construction characteristics. The distinctive features of modern composite materials are shown. The main types of composite materials are considered: talc, diatomite, calcium carbonate, gibbsite, barium sulfate, feldspar, nepheline, aragonite, calcium carbonate, wool, silk, cotton, linen, jute, wood pulp, asbestos, fiberglass, metal fibers, quartz fibers, basalt fibers, polyamide fibers, polyester fibers, polyvinyl alcohol fibers, carbon fibers, viscose fibers. The physical and mechanical characteristics of composite materials (based on epoxy, aluminum, carbon, magnesium, and nickel matrices) and traditional (steel, aluminum, brick, concrete) building materials are presented. The disadvantages of such composite materials as carbon fiber, fiberglass, organoplastics, textolite, carbon concrete, and polystyrene concrete are presented. Deformation diagrams of some types of fibers for composite materials are considered: high-modulus carbon fibers, high-strength carbon fibers, aramid fibers, glass fibers, and basalt fibers. The advantages of the system of external reinforcement of building structures with composite materials are described. Examples of reinforcement of building structures are considered: reinforced concrete reinforcement; reinforcement of floor slabs; reinforcement of columns; and reinforcement of brick walls.

Structural response of half-scale pumice concrete masonry building: shake table/ambient vibration tests and FE analysis

Seismic performance evaluation of masonry structures is of paramount importance for ensuring the safety and resilience of buildings in earthquake-prone regions. There are limited number of studies on pumice elements in the literature. In addition, there are almost no studies investigating the earthquake behavior of pumice masonry building as a whole structure. In this context, a comprehensive understanding of their seismic response and dynamic characteristics has been lacking. To address this knowledge gap, a shake-table experimental campaign was undertaken, wherein half-scale pumice masonry building was exposed to simulated seismic forces. To enhance the experimental findings, numerical simulations were performed to confirm and expand our comprehension of how the pumice masonry structure responds to dynamic forces. Integrating both experimental and numerical outcomes provides a holistic understanding of how pumice masonry buildings behave during seismic events. At the end of the experimental study, the frequency values of the pumice model were observed to decrease up to 23.5% in the modes compared to the undamaged state. In the numerical model, this value decreases up to 19.85%. For the undamaged and damaged model, the first three experimental mode shapes were similar to the numerical mode shapes. Both experimental and numerical results show that the expected damages occur in the same regions. These results show that nonlinear FE models can be helpful in determining potential damage model locations. The findings have implications for the seismic design and retrofitting of similar traditional masonry buildings, facilitating the development of resilient and sustainable engineering solutions in seismic-prone regions.

Digital Evolution in AEC industry: Bridging BIM, Building Codes, and Future Technologies

Abstract In recent decades, the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry has witnessed profound shifts driven by digital technologies. Central to this transformation is Building Information Modelling (BIM), which has offered a holistic approach to design, analysis, and documentation, yielding benefits in visualization, collaboration, simulation, and life-cycle management. However, the industry’s intricate regulatory landscape, primarily rooted in traditional text-heavy building codes, has lagged in digital adaptability. This paper explores the imperative to transition building codes and regulations into machine-friendly formats, capitalizing on structured databases, semantic annotations, and (Application Programming Interface) API-driven access. Such a transformation facilitates streamlined (Artificial Intelligence) AI-based compliance checks and augments the capabilities of BIM systems. Furthermore, the research delves into the convergence of BIM with other burgeoning technologies. Extended Reality (XR) promise enriched visualization and on-site integration. AI introduces automated analytics, optimization, and predictive facilities management. The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) proposes a real-time feedback loop into BIM, evolving towards dynamic Digital Twins. The discussion also touches upon the potential of XR technology use for enhanced workforce performance and quality control on the site. In conclusion, the AEC industry stands on the edge of a digital evolution, demanding integrated approaches to fully harness the potential of these technologies, ensuring not only efficient construction practices but also enhancing building safety and sustainability.

Analysis of fire protection design strategies for commercial renovation of villagers’ self-built houses

Abstract The current situation of self-built houses by villagers is prevalent in rural areas, where many villagers construct their own residential dwellings based on their personal needs and economic circumstances. These self-built houses are typically constructed using basic materials and traditional building techniques, often without adherence to strict building regulations and standards. As a result of the lack of professional knowledge and technical guidance, the structural integrity and safety of these houses are often compromised. In addition, the lack of firefighting facilities and fire prevention measures further increase the risk of fire accidents. This situation contributes to a higher incidence of fires in rural areas, posing a significant threat to the lives and assets of villagers. Therefore, it becomes imperative to improve the current state of self-built houses by villagers. Strengthening fire safety awareness and implementing robust fire prevention measures are vital in this regard. This paper aims to summarize the challenges involved in fire protection design for renovating rural buildings. Additionally, it proposes fire protection design principles specifically for the commercial transformation of self-built houses by villagers. By analyzing real-world engineering cases, this study puts forth specific fire protection measures concerning fire rescue, fire control zones (groups), evacuation design, and fire systems. To ensure the fire safety of these buildings, special fire protection design methods are employed. The effectiveness of the proposed fire protection measures are validated through the use of FDS fire and smoke numerical simulation analysis software and Pathfinder evacuation simulation software, ensuring the fire safety of the buildings. The results show that the available safe evacuation time that can be provided by this scenario is 1200 s as calculated by the FDS simulation, and the necessary safe evacuation time is less than the available safe evacuation time in case of a fire on the first floor of this building, and the safe evacuation of the people can be guaranteed. This study can provide a valuable resource for architects, engineers, and decision makers to implement effective fire protection measures during commercial remodeling of village-owned houses.

Structure and regional optimization of a phase change material Trombe wall system

Trombe walls (TW) have been an effective passive solar technology for enhancing building energy efficiency. Considering the thermal storage and regulation capabilities of phase change materials (PCM) in solar energy utilization, TW with PCM (PCMTW) were designed and optimized to further improve building energy performance. This study investigated the combined effects of PCM phase change temperature, PCM location and ventilation strategies on a single-layer PCMTW. Moreover, a novel double-layer PCMTW was proposed and evaluated across various climate regions of China in consideration of the effect of PCM phase change temperature combinations. Results show that the single-layer PCMTW with PCM22 placed next to inner surface and ventilation achieved the lowest annual energy consumption. The selection of PCM phase change temperature was crucial for various climatic conditions. Compared to the traditional building, the highest heating energy-saving was 118.16 kWh/m2 achieved in Changchun with PCM22 + 28, and the highest cooling energy-saving was 45.71 kWh/m2 achieved in Haikou with PCM25 + 28. Additionally, the double-layer PCMTW was recommended for climate regions where the daily average temperature and the daily average solar emissivity were 20–25 °C and below 4 kWh/m2 in summer, and below 10 °C and 2–6 kWh/m2 in winter.

An Examination of the Renewal Process of Traditional Diyarbakır Suriçi Houses within the Scope of Environmental Sustainability Principles

While traditional houses were produced with public experience and environmental qualities in the past, since theend of the 20th century, the negative effects of the construction sector on the environment have been realized, andthe relationship between buildings and the environment has begun to be examined on an international level. Theregion where the Traditional Diyarbakır Houses are located, which is the focus of this study, entered a transformationprocess following conflicts in 2015. Literature reviews have revealed a lack of studies on the examination of newhouses built in place of demolished traditional structures on a building scale. This study aims to identify principlesof environmental sustainability and energy-efficient building design parameters through literature review and toexamine new houses in accordance with these parameters. The results indicate that the new building productionprocess was developed to adapt in form to traditional houses whose relationship with the environment was foundto be successful but remained weak in its relationship with environmental sustainability principles. In today'scontext, where environmental sustainability studies are accelerating, it is crucial to reveal the characteristics of therelationship between traditional buildings and new buildings with the environment on the same site.

Investigating the impact of building facades and finishing materials on the sustainable architectural identity of housing: A case study of Kabul

The architectural identities of a city and its surroundings are crucial for maintaining its quality and preserving its unique features. The cities of Afghanistan have undergone significant changes in their identities due to various internal and external factors. These factors have altered or destroyed the identity of the city, leading to the loss of architectural identity and increased confusion in numerous cities in Afghanistan. Throughout history, the city of Kabul, the largest city, has struggled to maintain an identifiable architectural style due to the rapid growth of informal settlements. Recently, large glass and synthetic material facades have become prominent features of Kabul’s urban landscape. These structures represent a new era of modernity, in contrast to the traditional mud-colored buildings that have long dominated the city’s architecture style. The purpose of this research is to explore the influence of building façades and finishing materials on Kabul's sustainable architectural identity, with the goal of studying the relationship between residential building design features and the city's cultural, social, and historical environment. The study utilizes a mixed-methods approach, which involves conducting a comprehensive literature analysis and a field study that involves collecting data through observations, interviews, and questionnaires to achieve its objectives. The findings indicate that the selection of building façades and finishing materials has a significant impact on the sustainable architectural identity of Kabul. This study offers valuable insights for policymakers, architects, urban planners, and other stakeholders involved in shaping a sustainable built environment for Kabul and other similar cities in Afghanistan.