European Journal of Architecture and Urban Planning

Post-Occupancy Evaluation of School Building Performance

Ahmed Mohamed Abdelrahman Shehata — 2025-04-06

School buildings are multifunctional structures that accommodate several functions and activities. Such activities require different environmental and functional characteristics for their hosting spaces. This comprehensive research aims to establish a multi-dimensional post-occupancy evaluation (POE) framework to assess primary school buildings’ functional and environmental performance. This framework provides a fast and easy tool to evaluate and improve school building performance. To achieve its objective, the study explores different POE models, design components, and functional criteria affecting school building performance. Moreover, it discusses the impact of design parameters such as location, spatial layout, classroom conditions, auxiliary spaces, finishing materials, and environmental elements on building performance. Three main factors were considered: first, child development and well-being, which means meeting the psychological, social, and safety needs of students; second is functional suitability, which means making sure that each part of the building is designed to fulfill its function and works well with other spaces; and thirdly, environmental suitability, which means creating a comfortable space that encourages learning. The research concludes with an evaluation framework with relative and absolute values for school building design parameters in several performance areas. The proposed model enables digital assessment and presents evaluation results both numerically and graphically.

An Overview to a Collaborative Project for the Conservation of Ottoman Period Wall Paintings in Albania and Türkiye

Aynur Çiftci — 2025-05-08

The bilateral research project “Conservation Problems and Preservation Methods of Wall Paintings in Monumental and Civil Architecture Examples in Albania and Türkiye during the Ottoman Period,” funded by TÜB˙ITAK and AKKSHI (15 April 2023–2015 April 2025), investigates the conservation challenges and preservation strategies for Ottoman-era wall paintings. These artworks, emblematic of the shared cultural heritage of Albania and Türkiye, face significant risks due to environmental factors, material degradation, and inappropriate restoration approaches. The study focuses on key sites in Türkiye (Istanbul, Bursa, and Safranbolu) and in Albania (Tiranë, Berat, Gjirokastër, and Krujë) employing a multidisciplinary methodology that integrates archival research, literature review, on-site surveys, and advanced conservation techniques. The research identifies patterns of artistic composition, deterioration mechanisms, restoration techniques and the impact of past restoration interventions. Results highlight the challenges of balancing authenticity with contemporary conservation practices and emphasize the necessity of culturally sensitive and scientifically informed approaches. Deliverables include scholarly publications, workshops, exhibition, online seminars, contributing to the dissemination of knowledge and awareness of Ottoman-era wall paintings. This research not only advances the understanding of conservation methodologies for historic murals but also establishes a replicable framework for preserving shared cultural heritage, fostering resilience, and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration in heritage conservation.

Future of Commissioning

Monier Madison Ouabira — 2025-04-09

The future of commissioning is bright; this is owing to the rapid advancement in technology that is changing how the construction process is aligned. A steep focus on green energy initiatives and smart city design requirements have further refined construction sector, and more changes are anticipated in the future (Singh & Anumba, 2023). Technology such as machine learning, robotics, and motion sensor technology is being used to automate and digitize building construction, helping to save on time, resources, and budgets. The construction sector is expected to push towards greener energy and smart building designs to help users achieve more comfort, reliability, and efficiency in the use of buildings and structures. As such, advancement in technology means that buildings will adopt more and more sophisticated devices and gadgets, as well as functionality, offering users greater usability, comfort, and reliability.

Managing the Cultural Heritage of Cities in Times of Climate Change: Case Study: Larissa, One of the Hottest Cities in Greece

Nikolaos Christos Samaras — 2025-01-31

Although cultural and urban environments are often seen as separate from the natural environment in planning and development by local authorities and governments, a transdisciplinary approach to cultural heritage is necessary—or at the very least a viable alternative—in today’s context of severe global challenges such as climate change. This perspective must encompass vital aspects of intangible heritage, including the practices, knowledge, and skills that communities, groups, and individuals recognize as part of their cultural legacy, which are passed down through generations in response to their environment, interactions with nature, and historical experiences. Within this framework, traditional knowledge, skills, and practices related to climate can become subjects of preservation, supported by the existence of old buildings as records of the historical continuity of the city and effective climatic management. As climate change is likely to increase the frequency and intensity of severe heat stress events, studies are examining the relationship between urban geometry and microclimate within city centers. The conservation of built heritage in historic centers helps promote local sustainable development by preserving both the historical character and urban geometry of the area. By turning this threat into an opportunity, the climatic factor can be seen as a key area of interaction between the natural, urban, and cultural environments of a city. This perspective is crucial for the sustainable development of cities like Larissa, where the main climatic challenge—high summer temperatures—diminishes the city’s appeal to residents, visitors, and investors.

Historical Physiognomy of the City of Volos, Recognized by New Residents, First Years’ University Students

Nikolaos Samaras — 2025-01-05

A city can be considered to have a historical physiognomy when the collective perception of it is mainly characterized by historical elements. The main hypothesis of the survey presented in this paper is the rate that ‘The City of Volos maintains its historical physiognomy and the most characteristic elements of the city, through which it can be identified by new residents, are related to its historicity.’ To carry out the survey, a questionnaire was addressed to a random sample of first years students of the Department of Planning and Regional Development of the University of Thessaly at Volos. There was followed the wording of Professor Joseph Stefanou, and the main aim was to obtain the most characteristic elements of the city’s identity-through the frequency with which they appeared in the respondents’ answers- and the hierarchical order in which they chose to indicate the elements or in which they were recalled in their memory. Questions about the historicity of the city’s physiognomy and its association with the decision to settle in the city for studies, and those concerning the intention to recommend the city to new residents and tourists/visitors, were divisive/dichotomous. Using the SPSS Statistics program, the results of all the combinations of answers and characteristics of the respondents were investigated, and statistically significant conclusions were revealed.