The purpose of this thesis is to develop an effective design approach necessary in building a new city. The challenge is to assemble a... Show moreThe purpose of this thesis is to develop an effective design approach necessary in building a new city. The challenge is to assemble a background observations and research that will provide an understanding of the concepts required for developing new sustainable cities. It is hopeful that the ideas and design process can also be a framework to be applied on other undeveloped land that has the potential for new cities particularly in Malaysia. The main idea is to develop a thorough understanding of how the built environment plays an important role in shaping a community as well as identifying the technology involved. It specifically addresses the central issues involved with the art of place making, which determines the success of any particular urbanity. Environment then becomes the most important factor responsible for the physical, mental, and psychological development of an urban society. M.S. in Architecture, December 2011 Show less
While the negative effects of rapid urbanization is threatening cities and the environment, being more conscientious about the current... Show moreWhile the negative effects of rapid urbanization is threatening cities and the environment, being more conscientious about the current problems and future expansions of the cities and developing new visions and strategies for new cities is crucial. In this proposal, the aim is to develop a prototype of a sustainable new city in Turkey. Design area is called Carpanak, at the east shore of Lake Van. It is in the north of Van, the biggest city in the Eastern Anatolia district of Turkey. Eastern Anatolia is a mountainous district with a severe climate. The region is less developed than the other regions in every aspect. Severe climate and lack of job opportunities caused outmigration from this region to big cities or onshore regions with more developed industries. A city with sufficient infrastructure, efficient energy solutions, green areas, well-designed transportation, economic viability, and open social structure will help reverse the migration and rescue Eastern Anatolia from being abandoned. It is hoped that the design decisions, ideas, and the research can be applied as an outline to other underdeveloped areas in Turkey. M.S. in Architecture, July 2013 Show less
In the last two decades, mixed use has taken center stage in urban planning development in the United States. The research frequently cites... Show moreIn the last two decades, mixed use has taken center stage in urban planning development in the United States. The research frequently cites this development as a model that can address a variety of socioeconomic problems. Also, it has enjoyed a recent surge in popularity in redeveloping cities by providing more affordable housing opportunities, ensuring safety, reducing auto-dependency, and for providing a sense of place and community. However, its affordability, physical design, and outcomes are highly variable. This study is particularly interested in whether and how mixed use affects the socioeconomics configuration of the built environment. This study uses multilevel data from the county level to the zip code level that represents all US neighborhoods. I use different implementation methods of mixed-use development and different cultural and historical backgrounds to examine the data. The study adopts six mixed-use models that present different methodological interactions between socioeconomic spatial metrics and urban forms. These models represent the realistic constraints of urban geometry and of the socioeconomic structure that comprises the charateristics of race, income, accessibility, safety, adjacency, accessibility, environment, and density. This study finds that the built environment produces a rich landscape of information that appears to guide the opportunities for facilities. The analysis shows that mixed-use development may have certain effects on the number of facilities, housing, income, diversity, crime rate, employment, health, and environment. The analysis of this research works in two dimensions. First, urban models (Hybrid and Social Condenser in general and under two categories Metropolis and Neighborhood Community). The second dimension is the urban characteristics (zoning programming, land use mix, streets fabric), socioeconomics variables (Population density, occupied housing, median age, diversity of race, income, and employment rates), and location variation (states, and cities). The results confirm that mixing the facilities in hybrid communities create more jobs opportunities but limit the affordability of housing, social cohesion and the race diversity. But in Social Condenser models, there are more race diversity safety and healthy environment. These results reflect complexity demands more than mixed-use developments, beyond Jane Jacobs' requirements, and beyond the designation of selected mixed-use zones. This study contributes to the study of how mixed-use development models shift because of various social and economic conditions. The findings from this study can inform architects, investors, policymakers, economists, and planners about factors that sustain mixed-use neighborhoods in the United States and beyond. Urban designers will be able to inform how the seemingly necessary act of laying out mixed-use development can affect the socioeconomic structure of a city. Thus, this study is a useful source for more accurate planning ideas than generic abstract theories or slogans. Ph.D. in Architecture, December 2016 Show less
Motivated by a desire to create an architectural response to the environmental and social challenges of today, the following thesis project... Show moreMotivated by a desire to create an architectural response to the environmental and social challenges of today, the following thesis project attempts to offer new paths for the future development of the solar chimney energy plant concept originally developed by the German engineer Jӧrg Schlaich in the early 1980s. The starting point of this thesis was to analyze the solar chimney prototype completed in the Manzanares desert in 1982 in order to understand the parameters guiding the design. The analysis allowed me to better understand the potential of the concept and to recognize the opportunity that existed to push the technological boundaries to craft a new design that reflects the current socio-political, economical and environmental context we live in. In the following pages, I attempt to demonstrate that the concept could be made even more appealing through the use of technology and locally available resources. By doing this, I seek to reinvigorate the idea, opening paths for a new conversation about the potential of the project as a social agent for progress. Throughout this thesis, I remain respectful and aware of the accomplishments of the pioneers before me, simply taking cues from their work to suggest new alternatives and solutions to a problem that has been made even more pressing due to the world’s energy crisis and economic uncertainty. M.S. in Architecture, December 2012 Show less
Every experience of architecture is rooted in multi-sensory and embodied interactions with surroundings. All sensory modalities as well as... Show moreEvery experience of architecture is rooted in multi-sensory and embodied interactions with surroundings. All sensory modalities as well as linguistic paradigms are integrated in the sensorimotor cortex of brain where mirror neurons are originated therein. Neurological understanding, on the other hand, suggests that meaning is always contextually grounded. Metaphor, in its very essence, is an expression to convey meaning to spectator. It stimulates ventra premotor cortex of brain, wherein mirror neurons activate the embodied simulation of actions, emotions, and corporeal sensations. So conceptual metaphors in everyday language are highly based on bodily interaction and encountering with surroundings. Additionally, they are also rooted in context and primordial images. Metaphor creates an interactive atmosphere in which symbolic and literal meanings are conveyed to beholders. Atmosphere is the essence of a space, in other words, understanding this atmosphere is the most crucial for understanding architecture. Spatial experiencing in its complete entirely could be taken through the emissions of atmosphere. In general, interaction in the 6th sense is focusing on a methodology of design to facilitate immediate perception of spatial settings of architecture. Far from abstraction and intellectualism, an atmosphere conveyed meaning through sensual perceptions. In this case, several modalities of architectural design, including materializes and de-materialized qualities such as light, texture, geometry, reflection, smell, sound, air, have been identified as contributing to atmosphere. M.S. in in Architecture, May 2014 Show less
The purpose of this thesis is to develop an ideal environment for developing new cities, that are not just green and clean but also self... Show moreThe purpose of this thesis is to develop an ideal environment for developing new cities, that are not just green and clean but also self-sustainable. Current cities in world supports great infrastructure and accommodates approximately 6-7 Million people. According to UN, the population growth in next 15 years would be 10-15 million people will be living in the cities and that would increase loads on existing cities infrastructure. To avoid these inevitable circumstances we need new sustainable cities. In last two decades rapid urbanization and industrialization has caused indelible effects on our ecosystem. This thesis will provide in-depth insight on current urban problems and present a solution in form of new sustainable city. A holistic approach has been taken towards developing a new city at Dahej in Gujarat, India, which will be a prototype for new sustainable community development in future. It focuses on creating a perfect balance between environmental, social and economic sustainability. This new city will provide quality of life and environment. This thesis is a sincere approach to provide a strategic solution for post-carbon world and qualitative phenomena of the sustainable low-carbon future. M.S. in Architecture, July 2013 Show less