ARCHive-SR

Impact of Global-Local Identity and Perceived Cultural Resilience on Sojourners’ Sustainable Uses of Cultural Heritage: Evidence from Dali

Wang Ke — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates how sojourners’ global-local identities influence their sustainable behaviors toward local cultural heritage, with a focus on the mediating role of perceived cultural resilience and the moderating effect of relative deprivation. Using a quantitative approach with 352 survey responses from sojourners in Dali, China, the research employs PLS-SEM to test a conceptual model. Results reveal that both global and local identities positively affect perceived cultural resilience, which fully mediates their relationship with sustainable heritage use. Relative deprivation negatively moderates the link between local identity and perceived cultural resilience, indicating that perceived inequities weaken the positive impact of local attachment on resilience perceptions. Notably, global identity’s effect on perceived cultural resilience remains unaffected by relative deprivation, suggesting a “cosmopolitan buffer” against deprivation. The findings contribute to cultural resilience theory in tourism and offer practical insights for heritage management, emphasizing the need for inclusive governance to leverage dual identity pathways for sustainable cultural conservation.

From tangible architecture to intangible cultural landscape: Tools for the protection and monitoring of cultural heritage

Marinella Arena, Sonia Mercurio — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The architectures of oriental matrix are the material and tangible testimony of a culture that for centuries has invested southern Italy, and in particular the eastern regions close to Greece, which had specific geographical and orographic configurations. The traces of this incredible story are, in some cases, striking, majestic, and complex architectural masterpieces; in other cases, minute and widespread, myriads of small artefacts, lined up along the ancient paths. The theme of this research aims to connect, in an organic network, the small artefacts that belong to the oriental tradition and which are present along the Sicilian and Calabrian eastern coasts The aim of the research is not to reconstruct medieval perceptions – a methodologically problematic operation, as well as scientifically risky in the absence of sources – but rather to investigate how contemporary communities reinterpret the Italian-Greek heritage, how they have tacitly assimilated it into the surrounding landscapes, and how digital tools (photogrammetry, participatory methods and mobile applications) can mediate this relationship and contribute to its intangible cultural value.

Public Space Privatization: A Catalyst for Urban Spaces Gentrification

Mariem Ali Abdeldayem, Ayman Mohamed Assem , Karim Bayoumi Ibrahim — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The initiatives adopted by the government to enhance the urban areas and quality of life may catalyze the gentrification phenomenon, which results in significant changes in the economic and demographic activities within a public space, and the replacement of one societal group with another. Involving the private sector in the development processes is one of the strategies the government proposed to satisfy the population’s needs and demands for leisure urban facilities. While initially encouraging diversity, privatization of public spaces eventually manifests as a form of segregation that excludes a particular socioeconomic group, affecting the publicness, accessibility, and usability of these spaces. This paper aims to uncover how privatization of public spaces contributes to the gentrification of the public space itself by proposing a model to measure the level of publicness and gentrification of the public spaces. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify the common variables of gentrification and privatization, followed by an analysis of international case studies using these variables to test the model. The results revealed that privatization is a silent gentrifying force that first transforms the public space before influencing the surrounding urban areas.

Cash or Clash: Evaluating the Financial Benefits of BIM Clash Detection

Gouda Mohamed Ahmed , Mohamed El-Wardany, Mohamed Nabawy — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The construction industry confronts persistent challenges related to inefficiencies, rework, and cost overruns, driving the need for advanced digital solutions like Building Information Modelling (BIM). This research appraises BIM clash detection's financial and operational benefits, emphasizing its pivotal role in improving project performance. Centered on case study projects, the research employs a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis framework, integrating quantitative data from BIM clash reports, project rework logs, and qualitative insights from stakeholder interviews. The analysis evaluates financial indicators such as Net Present Value (NPV), Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR), and Return on Investment (ROI) to determine the viability of BIM clash detection. Findings reveal that implementing this technology lessens rework frequency, enhances project timelines, and fosters stakeholder communication and coordination. A significant reduction in errors and rework also ensures higher cost savings and more efficient resource utilization. The study utilizes advanced techniques like federated BIM modelling, sensitivity analyses, and scenario-based evaluations to simulate real-world conditions and quantify outcomes. Results confirm a positive NPV, a BCR greater than 1, and a high ROI, underscoring BIM clash detection's economic feasibility and long-term value. The research illustrates how this technology mitigates construction risks, improves stakeholder satisfaction, and ensures superior project delivery quality. Through its rigorous methodological approach and robust analysis, this research demonstrates the transformative potential of BIM in modern construction. It offers actionable insights for stakeholders seeking to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and adopt innovative technologies to revolutionize project delivery and management processes.

Beyond the Human: Exploring AI Creativity through the Works of Daniel Bolojan Studio and Coop Himmelb(l)au.

sami kamoun — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Context: This study examines the co-creativity between human and non-human agents that influences certain contemporary architectural and artistic trends. It focuses on two significant works generated through artificial intelligence programs: Machine Perceptions: Gaudi + Neural Networks, designed by Daniel Bolojan Studio in 2018, and Deep Himmelb(l)au, developed by the Coop Himmelb(l)au agency in 2019.

Method: The research is based on an in-depth scientific review of these two projects as well as on the use of artificial intelligence - particularly deep learning techniques - in design and architecture. It also integrates a visual analysis relying on photographic and videographic material drawn from key conferences.

Results: Machine Perceptions: Gaudi + Neural Networks seeks to develop a prototype AI algorithm capable of recognizing and reinterpreting geometric and aesthetic compositional principles inspired by Antonio Gaudí’s Sagrada Família. By contrast, Deep Himmelb(l)au explores the acceleration of Coop Himmelb(l)au’s architectural design process through the use of a generative program capable of autonomous and continuous reinterpretations inspired by the agency’s projects.

Conclusions: Both projects, grounded in the training of digitized image banks, go beyond the capacities of conventional text-based artificial intelligence programs such as DALL-E or Midjourney. The work of Bolojan and Vermisso, based on CycleGANs, produces a two-dimensional “hallucination” of architectural space, whereas Coop Himmelb(l)au exploits a diversity of collaborative neural networks to engage with the third dimension. Although still emerging, these initiatives demonstrate the potential of artificial intelligence to open new creative frontiers that transcend the artist’s creation.

The Role of Smart Materials in Future Architecture: Self-Healing, Adaptive, and Sustainable Innovation

Aida Al Hosni — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The integration of smart materials into architecture is redefining the built environment by introducing innovations that are self-healing, adaptive, and sustainable. (Nicolay et al., 2021a; Wang et al., 2025) These advanced materials react dynamically to external stimuli such as temperature, humidity, and stress, improving resilience, energy efficiency, and user comfort. Among the most significant examples are self-healing concrete and thermochromic glass, which enable buildings to repair minor damage and adapt to changing climate conditions. The implications of these materials extend beyond single structures, influencing urban planning and sustainable development strategies aimed at creating resilient, energy-efficient cities.

Self-healing concrete, developed through bacterial processes at Delft University of Technology, exemplifies how biological mechanisms can extend structural lifespan and reduce maintenance costs. Likewise, thermochromic glass, featured in projects such as The Edge in Amsterdam, regulates light and heat transfer, reducing dependence on artificial systems. These technologies represent the shift from static to dynamic architecture capable of real-time environmental interaction. (Jonkers & Schlangen, 2008; Garshasbi & Santamouris, 2019)

However, the adoption of smart materials faces challenges, including cost, durability verification, and limited awareness in professional education. This paper analyzes key categories of smart materials, case studies of self-healing and adaptive technologies, and their broader implications for sustainable design and urban planning. It also introduces the need for specialized academic coursework integrating materials science and architecture to equip future designers with the knowledge required for sustainable innovation. Ultimately, smart materials pave the way toward cities that are not only efficient but also regenerative and responsive to their environments.

Correction/Erratum: Strategies for the Conservation and Valorization of 20th-Century War Landscapes: The Case of the Mediterranean Wall Ruins

Giancarlo Sanna, Andrés Martinez-Medina, Andrea Pirinu — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

No abstract available.