Volume 13 (2017): Issue 1 (December 2017)

Social engagement and public participation is perceived as emerging social concern and coincidental annoyance for architects during the design and building processes. In the development of objects of public importance, especially those of ambiguous assessments, the knowledge of participatory methods, institutional support options, and knowledge of public relations and media literacy becomes an important element in contemporary architectural practice. Latvia’s legislation ensures standard public participation procedure in a unified system within the attribute of “significant architectural object”. This study attempts to recognize the origin and structure of multi-layered topic when the involvement of a wider public is applied in the development of architectural objects. It collects generally known major failures and maps component attributes within three stages. The Conclusion presents several observations on main research question, – how the development of notable architectural objects in the local market is de facto affected by engagement of wider public.

The article describes a traditional one-story building named cardenha, which is a type of vernacular building in the village of Vale de Poldros and widespread in the northern region of Portugal. The author has done the comparative analysis of construction of cardenha and similar structures that have dry stone masonry walls and corbelled dome roofs in the territory of the Mediterranean Basin. Related construction systems of cardenha were identified in the basic types of corbelled domes and unique features of the structures in Vale de Poldros are described.

The issue of city modelling is very essential these days and it is important to analyse the legal framework and its practical implications in the process of city modelling. However, the practice of urban design in Lithuania is based on two-dimensional solutions and the artistic factor is overlooked. The article reviews the legal basis of Lithuanian urban planning and design and their practical implications and emphasizes the necessity of artistic factor during the process of city modelling.

The article is on the issue of standardized single-family houses introduced by the Soviet government in post-war Lithuania, which later were strictly prohibited. The relation between standardization and communist ideology and the Soviet law is analysed. The author argues that despite the significant influence of the Soviet law, standardized houses were symbols of welfare, modernist architecture and modern living. The lack and absence of them had a negative impact on the architecture of standardized houses in contemporary Lithuania.

The research focuses on the context of several issues, which are influencing housing demand and affordability of new built apartment complexes. Theoretical studies, statistical data analysis as well as housing affordability calculations were used. Research results indicate that in the current situation there are several threats, which do not allow to use full potential in order to increase sustainable housing demand and affordability of Riga 21st century apartment complexes.

Wood in general is a traditional building material in Northern Europe including Latvia and other Baltic countries, but nowadays it is used less in Latvia than in other EU countries. There are many forests in Latvia and a well-developed timber industry. Latvian society is enthusiastic about eco-materials, and qualified architects and engineers are ready to work with timber structures. However, wood is mainly used for small buildings and residential construction, but minimally in public and multi-apartment buildings. The study was carried out among architects and other stakeholders in Latvia to analyze their impact on the selection of building material. Thirty-eight interviews were conducted, questionnaire among 73 respondents carried out, and discussion in a focus group was held to find out the main reason and barriers for using wood for buildings in Latvia less than in other EU countries. During the research the main influencing factors for choosing wood constructions were identified and seven main barriers formulated. The study results were compared with the results of similar studies in other countries. Two of the seven barriers in Latvia – stereotypes and legislation – were not mentioned in other studies, nevertheless, these are the most frequently mentioned obstacles in the Latvian case.

The article aims at revealing the role of architecture in programming ethically significant content in the observer’s consciousness. The concepts of intext and metatext are very helpful in this situation. The knowledge about semantization levels, different types of metalanguage that work in the programming of mind, about the role of metalogic information that is adjusting attitudes is crucial. Original criterion system and certain instruments of such evaluation analysis were created using theoretical methods: abstraction, analogy, generalization, reasoning, synthesis. Moreover, methods of phenomenology and semantic analysis were applied.

The aim of this article is to interpret the discourse of residential areas of Riga through the films of the Soviet period and to examine essential changes in residential structure. Specific image of cinematic formal techniques is used in relation to the urban. The results of movie review are compared with changes in the residential development between 1945–1990. 124 movies display that residential areas are frequently portrayed in the Soviet cinema and they form an integral part of the Soviet urban perception.

The aesthetical and cultural features of Lithuanian architecture related to Postmodernism are closely connected to socio-political, socioeconomic and sociocultural transformations at the end of the 20th century. The article presents an interpretation of modernisation-related processes, which affected and shaped the Lithuanian architecture of the late socialism. The expression of Postmodernism is analysed as an alternative to industrialization, typification and mass production. The aim of the article is to establish and analyse the social factors that have determined the appearance of postmodern architecture and its functioning in society, and to reveal ideological and aesthetical intersections of architecture, and the relationship between late socialism and Postmodernism.

The residential landscape of a city is key to its economic, social, and cultural functioning. Following the collapse of communist rule in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in the late 1980s and early 1990s, urban residential dynamics and household mobility have been critical to urban change under new economies and political systems. This article explores neighbourhood perception, which is a link in the chain to better explanation of socio-spatial processes (and their interruption by the socialist system). We use a novel data set – opinions expressed on one of social media (Twitter), and a novel empirical method – neural network analysis, to explore people’s current attitudes and perceptions about the neighbourhoods and districts in Tartu, Estonia. The findings suggest that Twitter comments about urban neighbourhoods display attitudinal and perceptual commentary, which is subdued compared to other subjects. The socialist goal of homogeneity in neighbourhoods is not reflected in present day perspectives about urban neighbourhoods, 25 years after the disintegration of the USSR. Ambivalence about neighbourhoods persists, but this ambivalence may be in flux. Older, formerly neglected neighbourhoods, the subject of positive perception on social media, are currently experiencing increased investment, and the observed trends in our data support a narrative of neighbourhood transition.

The massive modernist urbanization of the Soviet era in Lithuania had brought new urban lifestyle models, caused the expansion of built-up areas and affected previously organically developing urban structures. Hence, its analysis and understanding are essential for further sustainable urban development. The research presents an outline of methodology for complex analysis and evaluation of modernization of Lithuanian cities during the Soviet era and its influence on Lithuanian past and present urban development as a socio-spatial phenomenon.

Architect Augusts Malvess is well-known in history of Latvian architecture in general and in architecture education in Latvia in particular, but so far not all of the buildings designed by him have been identified and architecture of his creations has not been evaluated in the context of artistically stylistic and theoretical principles. The article presents the analyses of the architect’s specific creative approach based on the use of various building materials with the purpose of achieving artistic expression. Several until now unknown, but significant facts in the history of Latvian architecture have been explored.

In order to give reasons for further advanced multi-faceted research of geothermal utilization, geothermal energy utilization and its integration in urban planning in the long run in the City of Nis were analysed. Regional aspect of this utilization is considered, which is novelty in the planning of the city. The arguments are supported by expert opinions on geothermal utilization acquired abroad and in Serbia that suggest geothermal use within proposals for an eco-city.

Expansion of cities and their impact areas extend also the semantic boundaries of urban ecentres, while public open space in the city centres maintain attractivity, especially within the medieval cores. The diverse functional processes that satisfy the needs of all users of urban space in general, on the one hand carry the function of circulation or communication, and on the other – relaxation or recreation. Elements of spatial organization and environment planning essential for the realization of each function differ, and depending on which of the functional processes prevails in the particular place, open space acquires either priority of communication or of recreation.

The paper focuses on the interests and needs of main groups of users of the historical city centre – Riga Old Town, states availability of adequate space, as well as sets the criteria of high-quality public open space.

This article discusses the usage of advanced modeling techniques in architectural design education from the viewpoint of CAD/CAM paradigm that is setting new standards for the teaching and the industry. Parametricism is one of the main driving forces in architecture that exercises complexity possible only through 3D modeling tools and using generative algorithms. Most of the design skills are being learned by applying the obtained knowledge in academic design projects and their supplementary classes.

The research focuses on the sustainability of Riga 21^st century apartment complexes, including the context of Riga, as well as sustainability assessment, results of the survey and SWOT analysis. Theoretical studies as well as empiric research methods were used. Research results show that there are some weaknesses, which do not allow achieving the best results, and should be improved in order to increase sustainability of residential environment and the city.

This paper highlights the current critical business challenges in the architecture industry. The initial study reviews the latest statistics of the architecture industry, research findings in the discipline of architecture management, knowledge and education gaps, as well as current business needs and development perspective. The review of the Latvian architecture industry based on publicly available data and the opinion of professionals concerning the business needs of the architecture industry is used as a case study.

The main recommendations for architecture industry professionals are related to necessity to improve the architects’ awareness and understanding of the influence of critical business functions to the company performance results, and application of most advanced management tools in architecture industry for ensuring business viability. The paper is highlighting the need for further research on critical business functions directly linked with specific aspects of architecture industry in different business contexts.