|
Assessing the Physical Feature Attributes
of French Architectural Style in the Contemporary
Built Environment
at Puducherry: A Lens Model Approach
-- K Thirumaran and A Meenatchi Sundaram
This paper aims at revealing the physical attributes of the design which a potential to manifest the
contemporary French architectural style at urban level at Puducherry. In pursuit of this, Brunswik's Lens model is applied
to make the assessment. This study investigated: (1) To what extent the distal cues have the potential
in manifesting the French architectural characteristics among the contemporary built environment
in Puducherry; (2) to what extent the proximal cues have the potential in manifesting the French
architectural characteristics among the contemporary built environment in Puducherry; and (3) what is the
combined effect of both proximal and distal cues in manifesting the French architectural characteristics among
the contemporary built environment in Puducherry. The studies were conducted from selected nine urban
setting streets in puducherry where contemporary built environment was existing. Data collected from 251
respondents by questionnaire and interview methods were analyzed and applied in the Lens model for assessing the
overall effect of the physical attributes in manifesting the French architectural characteristics. As per our
findings, revealed that proximal cues have stronger potential in manifesting the French style and the combined
effect of both the proximal and distal cues would become a key factor while arriving at a framework of guidelines
for future development in order to keep up the connection of French style in Puducherry.
© 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Infill Proposals for Revival of Historic
Urban Core of Kolkata
-- Satyaki Sarkar
The Dalhousie Square of Kolkata later named Binoy-Badal-Dinesh (BBD) Bagh is one area of the city
which has been termed the historic urban core. Within this historic urban core, there exist numerous areas
which are under severe stress in terms of loss of historical character, rupture of historic fabric and
tremendous economic pressure trying to make an indentation into the historicity of the area. There also exist
numerous buildings of historical importance which are under bad state of preservation and utilization, many of
which are also dilapidated. This paper takes a look at one of the few identified areas within the historic urban
core and proposes sensitive infill which intends to establish the approach towards construction of
historically sensitive buildings such that the thriving historicity of the area may be maintained on the one hand but
on the other more economy may be generated adhering to the existing municipal byelaws.
© 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Integral Design Instead of Integrative Design
Between Engineering and Architecture
-- Wim Zeiler
Design is currently understood as a highly complex process that requires the support of
multidisciplinary design teams. In a recent work at the Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, in order to aid this
multidisciplinary process, a supportive design
approach. Integral Design (ID) has been developed. ID combines an
engineering design method with an innovation strategy, thus creating new possibilities for reflection in action for
building design. This synthesis between architectural concept and engineering functionality
is, as such, a good example of integrative design. The ID process approach results in transparency of the design steps and the design
decisions. Within this approach, during the design process the prescriptive methodology of ID, guided by the logic of
C-K theory, is used as a framework for reflection on the design process itself. Morphological Overviews (MO),
which are produced by combining morphological charts, provides a tool to structure and give an overview of
the communication and reflection between design team members, while C-K theory supplies the
theoretical framework for the reflection on the ID itself as an example of ID.
© 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
The Relationship Between Organizational Structure
and Innovativeness of Malaysian Housing Developers
-- A M Kamaruddeen, Y Nor Aini and I Said
Previous research has shown that several aspects of firm characteristics such as structure, culture, size,
and operational location will influence innovativeness of an organization. Underpinned by readiness
change theory and using a valid and reliable instrument, a pilot survey was conducted to examine the
statistical relationships between organizational structure and firm innovativeness of housing developers in
Penang, Malaysia. The regression analysis shows that formalization is statistically significant and negatively
relates with information technology innovativeness. Formalization and centralization have no statistically
significant relationship with product, process and business system innovativeness. The authors suggest that the
result could have been influenced by the small number of respondents. It is therefore concluded that based on
the results of the analysis, organizational structure will not influence firm overall innovativeness of
housing developers in Penang.
© 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
What is The Future and Vision
of Architectural Education
-- Michael Brazley and Merry Renate' Brazley
The famous book of Boyer and Mitgang (1996), Building Community: A New Future for Architecture Education
and Practice, has become the text for architectural education. They argue that architectural education lacked a
sense of purpose in connecting the profession to the current problems of society. `Building Community'
summarizes the goals of a design education as: helping students to develop the skills and competency to work within
the realities of the profession; preparing graduates to be able to adapt to the changing needs of the society;
and assisting students in developing their own analytical framework to envision and build a better environment
and community. Boyer and Mitgang contend that urban-based design studios through research should be
addressing the real issues of our society: the destruction of community, crime, homelessness, and urban decay. They
also argue that architecture schools should take a leadership role in preserving the planet's resources and
environment by teaching sustainable architectural design and using `real life' studio problems. This study examines the
role of architectural studio in the post-Katrina reconstruction of the Lower
9th Ward community. Survey data found that a majority of the students developed an understanding of the urban design and sustainability, and were
of the view that architectural studio should act as an advocate for underrepresented communities, and agreed
that there was value in the `interaction between studio and community'.
© 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
|
