House me Tender Total Precast Cell Systems for Mass Customized Housing in Hong Kong and China (March 2014)

Mass produced precast elements are increasingly favored by the housing sector in Hong Kong and China largely to minimize construction time and labor on site and to ensure greater building quality of industrialized components. These elements often consist of semi-precast slabs, partition walls and façade plug-ins that externally embellish a still rudimentary cast in place column-slab system. The aspirations for such vertical housing models are more aimed at maximizing real estate profits for developers and reducing the construction cost for affordable housing. They often fall short to internally offer better spatial and living qualities to its prospective residents and to generate a vibrant community structure from within. The scale of these current housing models directly address the large scale of the surrounding urban context while bypassing the human scale altogether. A relentless repetition of the same living units across great heights portrays these glazed monoliths as socially isolated on large commercial podiums.While remaining competitive and efficient against current models, the paper proposes new environmentally enhanced housing prototypes developed at incrementing scales that reassert the individual as the main protagonist for the making of their own living environment. This is achieved through mass customization of precast volumetric units. Prospective residents are able to choose from a catalogue of variants, customized units that conglomerate into unique three dimensional living entities that make up for the overall identity of the building. Choices for each type of units are based on the desired types of openings, amount of semi outdoor terraces, location of glass enclosure and shaded and well ventilated spaces.To seek to implement mass customization in precast housing puts forward greater flexibility and adaptability over time in accommodating various types of living units for various social needs and ultimately challenges the supported tendency to segregate housing types for specific social groups

Quasi-Projection: aperiodic concrete formwork for perceived surface complexity

By disclosing long range order from few dissimilar tiles, aperiodic tilings can potentially diversify and spatially enrich the repetitive aspects of modular systems still pertinent in the production of architecture today. Such effective tilings have been discovered in quasicrystals and can be generated by the projection of higher dimensional grids in two or three dimensions. A Penrose tiling, for example can be derived from the projection of five dimensional grids onto a two dimensional plane. The thesis initially investigates if a program allowing the grids to be rotated parametrically can provide for numerous alternative tillings using the projection method for any dimensions. Some found tilings are then analysed and their assembly rules tested against the adaptation of other types of geometries in order to determine if a high level of diversity can still sustain the test of repetition of few different modules and field a spatial configuration of probable forces. It is further demonstrated that these initial tilings can in fact perform as efficient organizational scaffolds by letting more complex geometries free flowing past the tiles' edges and pass the test of mass production with the aid of a minimum amount of formwork

Relationship between self-reported dietary intake and physical activity levels among adolescents: The HELENA study

Background Evidence suggests possible synergetic effects of multiple lifestyle behaviors on health risks like obesity and other health outcomes. Therefore it is important to investigate associations between dietary and physical activity behavior, the two most important lifestyle behaviors influencing our energy balance and body composition. The objective of the present study is to describe the relationship between energy, nutrient and food intake and the physical activity level among a large group of European adolescents. Methods The study comprised a total of 2176 adolescents (46.2% male) from ten European cities participating in the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) study. Dietary intake and physical activity were assessed using validated 24-h dietary recalls and self-reported questionnaires respectively. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to compare the energy and nutrient intake and the food consumption between groups of adolescents with different physical activity levels (1st to 3rd tertile). Results In both sexes no differences were found in energy intake between the levels of physical activity. The most active males showed a higher intake of polysaccharides, protein, water and vitamin C and a lower intake of saccharides compared to less active males. Females with the highest physical activity level consumed more polysaccharides compared to their least active peers. Male and female adolescents with the highest physical activity levels, consumed more fruit and milk products and less cheese compared to the least active adolescents. The most active males showed higher intakes of vegetables and meat, fish, eggs, meat substitutes and vegetarian products compared to the least active ones. The least active males reported the highest consumption of grain products and potatoes. Within the female group, significantly lower intakes of bread and cereal products and spreads were found for those reporting to spend most time in moderate to vigorous physical activity. The consumption of foods from the remaining food groups, did not differ between the physical activity levels in both sexes. Conclusion It can be concluded that dietary habits diverge between adolescents with different self-reported physical activity levels. For some food groups a difference in intake could be found, which were reflected in differences in some nutrient intakes. It can also be concluded that physically active adolescents are not always inclined to eat healthier diets than their less active peers.The HELENA study took place with the financial support of the European Community Sixth RTD Framework Programme (Contract FOOD-CT: 2005-007034). This work was also partially supported by the European Union, in the framework of the Public Health Programme (ALPHA project, Ref: 2006120), the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS), the Spanish Ministry of Education (EX-2007-1124, and EX-2008-0641), and the Spanish Ministry of Health, Maternal, Child Health and Development Network (number RD08/0072) (JPRL, LAM)

Dietary animal and plant protein intakes and their associations with obesity and cardio-metabolic indicators in European adolescents: The HELENA cross-sectional study

Background: Previous studies suggest that dietary protein might play a beneficial role in combating obesity and its related chronic diseases. Total, animal and plant protein intakes and their associations with anthropometry and serum biomarkers in European adolescents using one standardised methodology across European countries are not well documented. Objectives: To evaluate total, animal and plant protein intakes in European adolescents stratified by gender and age, and to investigate their associations with cardio-metabolic indicators (anthropometry and biomarkers). Methods: The current analysis included 1804 randomly selected adolescents participating in the HELENA study (conducted in 2006-2007) aged 12.5-17.5 y (47% males) who completed two non-consecutive computerised 24-h dietary recalls. Associations between animal and plant protein intakes, and anthropometry and serum biomarkers were examined with General linear Model multivariate analysis. Results: Average total protein intake exceeded the recommendations of World Health Organization and European Food Safety Authority. Mean total protein intake was 96 g/d (59% derived from animal protein). Total, animal and plant protein intakes (g/d) were significantly lower in females than in males and total and plant protein intakes were lower in younger participants (12.5-14.9 y). Protein intake was significantly lower in underweight subjects and higher in obese ones; the direction of the relationship was reversed after adjustments for body weight (g/(kg.d)). The inverse association of plant protein intakes was stronger with BMI z-score and body fat percentage (BF%) compared to animal protein intakes. Additionally, BMI and BF% were positively associated with energy percentage of animal protein. Conclusions: This sample of European adolescents appeared to have adequate total protein intake. Our findings suggest that plant protein intakes may play a role in preventing obesity among European adolescents. Further longitudinal studies are needed to investigate the potential beneficial effects observed in this study in the prevention of obesity and related chronic diseases

Ideal cardiovascular health and inflammation in European adolescents: The HELENA study

Background and aims Inflammation plays a key role in atherosclerosis and this process seems to appear in childhood. The ideal cardiovascular health index (ICHI) has been inversely related to atherosclerotic plaque in adults. However, evidence regarding inflammation and ICHI in adolescents is scarce. The aim is to assess the association between ICHI and inflammation in European adolescents. Methods and results As many as 543 adolescents (251 boys and 292 girls) from the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) study, a cross-sectional multi-center study including 9 European countries, were measured. C-reactive protein (CRP), complement factors C3 and C4, leptin and white blood cell counts were used to compute an inflammatory score. Multilevel linear models and multilevel logistic regression were used to assess the association between ICHI and inflammation controlling by covariates. Higher ICHI was associated with a lower inflammatory score, as well as with several individual components, both in boys and girls (p < 0.01). In addition, adolescents with at least 4 ideal components of the ICHI had significantly lower inflammatory score and lower levels of the study biomarkers, except CRP. Finally, the multilevel logistic regression showed that for every unit increase in the ICHI, the probability of having an inflammatory profile decreased by 28.1% in girls. Conclusion Results from this study suggest that a better ICHI is associated with a lower inflammatory profile already in adolescence. Improving these health behaviors, and health factors included in the ICHI, could play an important role in CVD prevention

Evaluation of iron status in European adolescents through biochemical iron indicators: the HELENA Study

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To assess the iron status among European adolescents through selected biochemical parameters in a cross-sectional study performed in 10 European cities. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Iron status was defined utilising biochemical indicators. Iron depletion was defined as low serum ferritin (SF8.5 mg/l) plus iron depletion. Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) was defined as ID with haemoglobin (Hb) below the WHO cutoff for age and sex: 12.0 g/dl for girls and for boys aged 12.5-14.99 years and 13.0 g/dl for boys aged ≥15 years. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used as analytical method for SF, sTfR and C-reactive protein (CRP). Subjects with indication of inflammation (CRP >5 mg/l) were excluded from the analyses. A total of 940 adolescents aged 12.5-17.49 years (438 boys and 502 girls) were involved. RESULTS: The percentage of iron depletion was 17.6%, significantly higher in girls (21.0%) compared with boys (13.8%). The overall percentage of ID and IDA was 4.7 and 1.3%, respectively, with no significant differences between boys and girls. A correlation was observed between log (SF) and Hb (r = 0.36, P < 0.01), and between log (sTfR) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (r = -0.30, P < 0.01). Iron body stores were estimated on the basis of log (sTfR/SF). A higher percentage of negative values of body iron was recorded in girls (16.5%) with respect to boys (8.3%), and body iron values tended to increase with age in boys, whereas the values remained stable in girls. CONCLUSIONS: To ensure adequate iron stores, specific attention should be given to girls at European level to ensure that their dietary intake of iron is adequate.status: publishe

Concrete approximations: material responsiveness for an augmented experience of space

Through the lens of a specific material, concrete, and the interaction with its active properties, the research focuses on alternative procedures of construction that challenge typical generic forms of building. In developing unique methods of fabrication, the aim is to create designs that have the potential to impact and influence the monotony of mainstream construction systems. Each design is considered as a prototype that adheres to the limitations of material and structural logics, as a productive space for design-research innovations. &amp;nbsp; The research work begins with laboratory experiments with concrete material on smaller size objects. It then applies knowledge gained from different types of material experiments and prototyping techniques and tests their ability to scale up via design-build structures. The projects further investigate the capacity for some of the invented prototypes to address and influence the building of larger size projects, either through the actual industrial production practices found in the Pearl River Delta or through site-specific architecture projects related to particular building cultures and technologies.&amp;nbsp; The research begins with a series of nine columns, extends to design-built structures and concludes with a house currently under construction. The overarching research trajectory, spanning from material to spatial responsiveness, is driven by how some of the conducted material experiments and invented prototyping techniques are able to intensify the spatial experience of built architecture, demonstrated in the building of a live project; a house titled `Casa Trevo&#039; (`Trefoil House&#039;) sited in Lisbon, Portugal

The Deep Blue: Experiment in Architectural Design and Making

目前的高校建筑教育多受制于繁復的大學體制,通常課程十多年都沒有改變。面對信息社會技術的飛速發展和知識的持續更新,高校從原本的探索者降格為跟隨者。反倒是很多企業為了生存,對新技術和新知識有更敏銳的嗅覺,并快速付諸行動。另一方面,學校之間的交流也讓學生們可以有更多的機會接觸其他高校不同的教學內容和方式。面對新技術、新知識,教師需要通過'教'他們不了解、不熟悉的領域,帶著學生一起摸索嘗試的方式來'學