Volume 19 (2023): Issue 1 (January 2023)

Analysis of cultural heritage by non-destructive testing methods allows conducting an examination of the building while preserving its authenticity and integrity, as well as its historical and artistic values. As the material of this study, the Sivas Congress Museum, which witnessed a very important event in the history of the country, was discussed. The aim of the study is to determine the stone type, deterioration, hardness, and strength of the building and thus generate an idea about the quality of architectural practices in the 19th century. In addition, it aims to create a scientific basis for conservation measures and restoration works to be carried out in the following years and to determine whether there is any difference between the stone material used in the main building and the stone of the building annexed later on. At the end of the study, it was concluded that the poor economic conditions of the country have affected the quality of the building material, the stones – soft and low-strength limestone – have been exposed to atmospheric pollution and deteriorated. In addition, although one of the stones that had undergone black crusting was cleaned, it was found that mechanical cleaning was insufficient to eliminate the pollution.

Urban plazas provide opportunities for children to play, learn and explore. In particular, public art in urban plazas can be a medium to absorb more children. This research has developed the Inclusive Urban Plaza Design (IUPD) assessment tool, which complies with the principles and features of urban plaza design based on the children’s preferences, needs, wishes, and perceptions for their healthy growth. The AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) decision-making method was applied to measure the weights of the feature. AHP analysis determined that motor skills (W_C1.1 = 0.127) have the highest impact on children’s growth among all sub-criteria, followed by space shape and size (W_C2.1 = 0.100) and cognitive development (W_C1.6 = 0.097). The IUPD toolkit was implemented in Vivacity plaza in Singapore to be validated. The implementation analysis showed that Vivacity plaza was a ‘gold’ grade. It is a well-designed urban plaza that supports children’s growth through interaction with various shapes, colors, textures, and materials (like sand and water) that children love. However, it needs minor improvements in terms of inventiveness and creativity (WSM_C1.4 = 0.65), cognitive development (WSMC1.4 = 0.57), and time and program schedule (WSM_C2.7 = 0.65). The IUPD toolkit showed to be a universal tool that can evaluate the performance of urban plazas in children’s growth.

The aim this research was to develop and test the mapping methodology, that would be applicable in the process of community involvement into place-making process and would focus on functioning and usage of public spaces. The methodology is referred to a Present Map methodology and is structured as a one-day mapping workshop involving drawing from memory, fieldwork, identifying the locations in the geographical map, structuring of the collected information and entering data into interactive online Present Map. The application of the methodology in Sanciai historic district has demonstrated that this methodology allows both collecting the material about the people’s experiences in public spaces of the locality necessary for research and planning, as well as connecting community with the place and empowering it by providing the working tools for exploration and understanding of the place and platform for expression in a form of interactive online Present Map.

Art Nouveau architecture during the last century experienced drastic change of attitude – from complete denial to glorification. However, many publications still repeat the same stereotypes of style assessment, focusing on the decorative layer as the seemingly main feature of style. Some significant values of Art Nouveau heritage are still only partially or incompletely recognized. In this paper, several less known examples of Art Nouveau heritage in France, in particular, in the cities of Orléans, Dunkirk and Lille are analysed. The architectural-artistic qualities of these buildings are revealed in the context of both French and wider cultural heritage. Art Nouveau, having been the origin and basis of the entire stylistic system of modern architecture, completely meets the principles of contemporary Baukultur ideas.

This study examines ground-floor retail vacancies in Turku CBD in 2016–2021. It is based on a longitudinal database formed for the study, interviews, discussions with the stakeholders, and documentary analysis. The study found that three fourths of the vacancies were short-term. The long-term vacancies were spaces no longer meeting the requirements of contemporary retailing. In cases where property development was possible, planning disputes may prolong the vacancies for years or even decades.