Code for sustainable homes: opportunities or threats for offsite manufacturing and mass-customization?

This study intends to, firstly, discuss current status of zero carbon homes in the UK, and secondly, to investigate the feasibility of using offsite construction methods to deliver mass customised zero carbon homes. The study concludes that mass customised offsite housing could be an answer to overcome the current barriers to achieve zero carbon homes in the UK; however, more work is required to increase the confidence of stakeholders including clients, designers, and housebuilders in offsite manufacturing in order to increase the share of such methods in the construction industry

A critical analysis of urban regeneration programmes in Europe

Urban regeneration is informed and driven by the causes and effects of globalization, climate change, the global economic crisis, and lifestyle changes. In Europe, there is currently a pressing demand to redevelop brownfields areas, inner-city heritage sites, post-conflict and post-disaster areas, and large-housing estates. Housing regeneration strategies range from large-scale to micro-scale interventions that lead to a complete change to the physical features of neighbourhoods and the life of their residents. This paper presents activities and cases studied in the OIKONET Erasmus Lifelong Learning Project, by highlighting that regeneration is an important issue driving the production of contemporary housing in Europe. The presented review is part of wider research and pedagogical work aimed at identifying significant conceptual, contextual and policy changes affecting housing regeneration demand. Examples of urban regeneration programmes on different urban areas in selected European countries, i.e. the UK, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia and Russia are examined. As a result of the comparison between the cases analysed, some conclusions can be drawn to inform future research and set up pedagogical programmes to be carried out within the OIKONET project

Design drivers for affordable and sustainable housing in developing countries

Current demand for housing worldwide has reached unprecedented levels due to factors such as human population growth, natural disasters and conflict. This is felt no more so than in developing countries which have experienced disproportionate levels of demand due to their innate vulnerability. Many current approaches to housing delivery in developing countries continue to utilize inappropriate construction methods and implementation procedures that are often problematic and unsustainable. As such affordability and sustainability are now vital considerations in the international development debate for housing the poor in developing countries in order to meet the long term sustainable development goals and needs of housing inhabitants. This paper utilized an extensive scoping study to examine the various facets impacting on design decision making relative to sustainable and affordable housing delivery in developing country contexts. Aspects of affordability, sustainability, design decision making, appropriate technology use, cultural awareness, as well as current barriers to affordable and sustainable construction in developing countries are examined in detail. Results highlighted the capability of indigenous knowledge, skills and materials as well as selected appropriate technology transfer and cultural awareness by foreign bodies can be utilized in innovative ways in addressing current housing needs in many developing country contexts

Healing the liminal space: a student project on the Nicosia buffer zone

On 17th October 2008 twelve sixth year architecture students from the School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering at the Queen’s University Belfast were granted unprecedented access by the United Nations to enter the buffer zone of Nicosia’s walled city. This was a unique opportunity to experience and survey the selected sites for their senior theses design proposals which targeted the liminal space contained in the buffer zone since its complete physical division in 1974 and aimed at reuniting the walled city through urban design and architecture. This paper firstly explains the context of the study and the role of the Nicosia Master Plan in reshaping Nicosia’s urban growth. It then summarizes students’ experience conducting the two the field trips to Nicosia. And finally it presents the design contributions from the 12 students, the design challenges they faced and the important topics that emerged

Pengaruh Pendidikan dan Pelatihan terhadap Kinerja Pegawai pada Bank Sumsel Babel Syariah

Tujuan penelitian–Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh pendidikan dan pelatihan, baik secara parsial maupun bersama-sama terhadap kinerja pegawai pada Bank Sumsel Babel Syariah. Desain/Metodologi/Pendekatan– Data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah data primer dengan menggunakan kuesioner sebagai instrumen untuk mengukur variabel penelitian. Kuesioner disebarkan kepada responden, di mana responden dalam penelitian ini adalah pegawai Bank Sumsel Babel Syariah sebanyak 152 orang. Data yang dikumpulkan dari instrumen kuesioner diolah dengan menggunakan program SPSS untuk selanjutnya dilakukan uji regresi linier berganda. Temuan– Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pendidikan berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap kinerja pegawai. Hasil penelitian juga menunjukkan bahwa pelatihan berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap kinerja pegawai, serta pendidikan dan pelatihan secara bersama-sama berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap kinerja pegawai. Keterbatasan penelitian– Penelitian ini memiliki keterbatasan dalam jumlah responden, cakupan unit analisis, dan jenis variabel. Penelitian ini diharapkan dapat menjadi referensi bagi peneliti selanjutnya dengan menambah jumlah responden. Peneliti selanjutnya juga diharapkan dapat memperluas cakupan unit analisis, bukan hanya pada bank pembangunan daerah namun juga pada bank nasional maupun organisasi lainnya serta menambah jumlah variabel penelitian, seperti motivasi, komitmen organisasional,kompensasi dan sebagainya.Originality/value– Penelitian ini menggunakan proposisi konsep variabel pendidikan dan pelatihan kemudian menganalisis pengaruhnya terhadap kinerja pegawai, di mana konsep penelitian tersebut jumlahnya masih cukup terbatas khususnya di unit analisis Bank Sumsel Babel Syariah

Promoting ageing-in-place: Design of residential buildings for older people in China

Ageing-in-place is the most common ageing model in China. Therefore, design of age-friendly residential buildings and neighbourhoods becomes an important factor leading to improvement in older people’s health and quality of life. This paper presents the current situation of the ageing population in Chinese cities by qualitatively analysing existing literature, design standards and conducting stakeholder interviews to understand older people’s housing choices as well as establish physical design factors, challenges and potentials of residential design for older people. The findings will fill the knowledge gap of age-friendly residential models in China and guide better design to meet older people’s needs