Assessing the effectiveness of architectural design communication through public participation methods

The range of communication methods available to architects to present design development has expanded over recent years. With an increase in competition between architectural practices and the resulting reduction in professional fees, it is becoming increasingly important to deliver quality projects in an efficient manner. A greater understanding of user interaction is invaluable for architects in order to assess specific requirements and produce design solutions. Effective design communication is also beneficial in the reduction of backtracking during the design phase and remedial work to buildings during construction. As a result, Architects are required to make difficult decisions about which method to use to present work at specific stages of the design process. Principles from public participation processes provide an underpinning for data collection from stakeholder representatives of an educational refurbishment project in the UK. Three forms of media were used to present the design: 2D drawings; a 3D model; and a VR (virtual reality) model. The stakeholders were divided into three groups with the environment, presentation and method of expressing opinion controlled. The results showed that a similar number of opinions were expressed in each presentation although with reference to different aspects of the design. The balance between positive and negative opinions also differed between each of the media. The findings of this paper suggest several themes, including that a balance of media should be used at different stages of the architectural design process. 2D drawings appear essential in representing the arrangement of spaces; the 3D model encourages a balanced view, providing architects with information to aid critical design decisions; and finally, the VR model could be used for marketing purposes as critical analysis appears to be adversely affected by high quality rendered images

Implementation of a Local Authority workplace strategy

Purpose - This paper aims to examine the implementation of a workspace strategy within Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council. It identifies the efficiencies that were achieved through the increase in office workspace numbers, as well as the associated advantages of locating more people within the Civic Centre. Equally, this study examines the users’ perspective. Design/methodology/approach - A survey was carried out in 2013, with Property and Design Services as a sample Council Department, to identify employees’ level of satisfaction with the implementation of the strategy. A paper-based questionnaire was handed to all participants. The primary comparison was their experience before and after changes to the workplace. Findings - The results show that government targets for office space utilisation have been exceeded, thus supporting more efficient property asset management. The research has also established that the employees are generally satisfied with their new workspace. Research limitations/implications - The issues are whether the reduced space per person can be mitigated by the design, and whether efficiency gains can be introduced without adversely affecting the users’ perception of their workplace. Practical implications - The findings can guide future trends within the Council, as well as informing the implementation of similar workspace strategies in other organisations. Originality/value - The originality of the study lies in a workspace strategy where the responses of users were taken seriously. Despite some concerns about distractions and lack of privacy, the employees responded that their overall satisfaction, and perceived productivity were unaffected by the strategy and reduced space per person

Pirmie inženieri un arhitekti, kas dzimuši pašreizējās Ziemeļmaķedonijas teritorijā

Rakstā sniegts ieskats par pirmajiem inženieriem un arhitektiem tagadējās Ziemeļmaķedonijas teritorijā, kuri absolvējuši augstskolu pirms valsts izveidošanas 1944. gada 2. augustā, kā arī pirms pirmās Tehniskās fakultātes dibināšanas Skopjē 1949. gadā. Lielākā daļa apzināto inženieru un arhitektu ir vīrieši, kuri starpkaru periodā absolvējuši 1846. gadā dibināto Belgradas Universitātes (Serbija) Tehnisko fakultāti. Sievietes inženierzinātnēs un arhitektūrā ienāca pagājušā gadsimta 30. gados. Daži no pirmajiem absolventiem savu profesionālo karjeru turpināja citviet. Noskaidroti trīs Rīgas Politehniskā institūta (RPI; Latvija) absolventi, kuriem Belgradas Universitātes Tehniskā fakultāte ir atzinusi iegūto grādu, kā arī viena serbiete, inženiere un arhitekte, kura apskatāmajā periodā neilgu laiku dzīvoja Rīgā. Pētījums atklāj līdz šim maz zināmus Ziemeļmaķedonijas inženierzinātņu un arhitektūras vēstures aspektus.This article presents the initial results of the ongoing research into the early engineers and architects born in the past on the territory of present North Macedonia, who graduated before the establishment of the country on 2 August 1944, prior to the founding of the first Technical Faculty in Skopje in 1949. The majority of the identified engineers and architects were men who graduated within the interwar period from the Technical Faculty at the University of Belgrade (Serbia), founded in 1846. Women started entering engineering and architecture in the 1930s. Some of the early graduates pursued their professional careers elsewhere. Three graduates of Riga Polytechnic Institute (Latvia) were identified, who had their degrees recognized by the Technical Faculty in Belgrade, as well as one Serbian woman, an engineer, and an architect who briefly lived in Riga within the researched period. This study contributes to the history of engineering and architecture in North Macedonia

Early Engineers and Architects Born on the Territory of Present North Macedonia

This article presents the initial results of the ongoing research into the early engineers and architects born in the past on the territory of present North Macedonia, who graduated before the establishment of the country on 2 August 1944, prior to the founding of the first Technical Faculty in Skopje in 1949. The majority of the identified engineers and architects were men who graduated within the interwar period from the Technical Faculty at the University of Belgrade (Serbia), founded in 1846. Women started entering engineering and architecture in the 1930s. Some of the early graduates pursued their professional careers elsewhere. Three graduates of Riga Polytechnic Institute (Latvia) were identified, who had their degrees recognized by the Technical Faculty in Belgrade, as well as one Serbian woman, an engineer, and an architect who briefly lived in Riga within the researched period. This study contributes to the history of engineering and architecture in North Macedonia