No abstract

The energy problem, one the most important on a global scale, greatly affects the environment. Much of the current energy consumption occurs in existing buildings, including heritage buildings with varying protected status. Energy intervention and heritage conservation conflict to some extent, as research focuses more on the search for improved energy efficiency solutions for materials and systems than on their application to heritage buildings. This study describes experimental research on environmental conditioning techniques in spaces of worship in a temperate climate in southern Spain. Buildings were monitored and assessed in the implementation of different environmental techniques—active and combined (passive and active)—with the aim of improving the thermal comfort conditions of the faithful while preserving the cultural heritage of these buildings. The need for a control system of RH and the air system was concluded, as well as radiant floors and radiators, which, in the considered case studies, would barely affect the artworks. 24- and 12-h operation are better suited to heritage preservation than occasional use. All operation schedules are valid for thermal comfort.

The problem of shelter in developing countries is the shortage of affordable housing especially for the urban poor. This housing shortage exposes the citizens to live in inadequate housing conditions. This study presents evidence of the factors affecting the shortage and or provision of sustainable affordable housing in Cross River State, Nigeria. Primary data was collected from semi-structured interviews and unobtrusive observations. This data was then analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency counts and simple percentages). The study findings revealed that, many interviewees suggested that rural-urban migration 98% (n=48), and lack of planning, maintenance and management 90% (n=45) as the main factors leading to the shortage of affordable housing. The interviewees suggested that poor implementation of government housing policies 84% (n=42), difficulty in purchasing land 94% (n=47), the high cost of building materials 96% (n=48), and lack of finance and access to credit facilities 80% (n=40) were significant challenges hindering the provision of sustainable affordable housing. The study concludes that affordable housing shortage and or provision can be minimised and enhanced by encouraging building developments that are; flexible and smart with minimal usage of non-renewable energy, use of durable and locally available building materials that respond appropriately to environmental factors and forces, availability of housing for the target population and a switch to a more sustainable way of planning, design, construction and maintenance of buildings.

This article is about an investigation exploring the vernacular environment of the villages adjacent to the rice fields of Mazandaran in order to identify the configuration and characteristic of its dwellings towards designing new vernacular dwellings. This is according to the combination of two models including 'shape grammars' and 'culture as model system'. In this regard, based on case study research, 4 villages and 44 houses within them have been investigated employing different methods including measurement, mapping, visual recording, one on one and focus group interviews. Houses have been analysed based on the framework that shape grammars provided towards identification of compositional rules. Some appropriate rules have been selected based on the achievements of the cultural study according to the culture as model system framework, and according to the climatic study that when applied generated new vernacular houses likely conforming to culture, vernacular architecture and new demands of local residents. This process has been successfully carried out for two real lands within two different villages. In this regard, two new vernacular houses have been created. The result shows that, the model contributed by this research can be efficient for generation of new vernacular houses within the region of this study.

Los edificios religiosos son una parte importante del patrimonio cultural, son documentos de nuestra herencia y tenemos la necesidad de preservarlos. Las condiciones ambientales en el que están inmersos estos edificios son determinantes para la preservación y conservación del patrimonio mueble que contiene.  Originalmente, la mayoría de estos espacios no estaban acondicionados, pero actualmente, estos edificios están siendo climatizados para proporcionar el confort térmico a los feligreses y para mejorar las condiciones del clima interior y la preservación del patrimonio mueble. El objetivo principal de esta investigación ha sido analizar las condiciones ambientales de edificios religiosos en un clima Mediterráneo, mediante el uso de monitorización y simulación para evaluar y mejorar la preservación del patrimonio cultural de estos edificios. Este estudio aporta las herramientas para la optimización de la calidad ambiental para la preservación y conservación del patrimonio mueble e inmueble y para su aplicación en futuros proyectos de rehabilitación patrimonial.