Category: Architect

Abstract

As it has been widely underlined in recent years, Global warming is becoming a big problem and carbon emissions from a variety of sources are the cause of it. To control emissions, several carbon emission reduction policies, and schemes such as European Sustainable Development Goals, Green Deal & Paris Agreement have been reached and put in place. However not all countries participate in these global carbon mitigation treaties. One of the many reasons for the absence of participation in developing countries is due to their incapable financial status, so after studying various economic models, this paper is proposing a circular socio economic scenario as a way to solve the problem of responsibility ambiguity. As an instrument for change, which will assist this structure to control air pollution, we are looking into the capabilities that nature itself has in controlling air pollution and on ways which have been entered in the field of architecture with the use of biology through computational design. These capabilities have been studied within a classification system of various architecture showcases which are integrating bio-designed systems with numerous computational approaches. Each showcase has been analyzed regarding Aesthetics, Control, Performance and Efficiency giving us a future protocol, a design tool, for a better understanding of how bio-based architecture can promote air quality and reduce pollutants.

Framework

It is worth making a distinction at this introductory part at the global agenda of our research and how our protocol fits to a larger set of actions being applied on most countries around the world.

Global and local policies provide rules and guidelines for local city planners and project developers which inturn need novel solutions from research and design teams to meet these guidelines. The researchers in turn provide the needed insights of the effects and future trends to the policie giving authorities. Forming a triangle of forces and knowledge all looking to find solutions for our current problems.

First set of policies we considered on the design of our system is the Sustainable Development Goals which was defined by the UN in 2015. This multiscale set of goals tackles various ecological aspects of life regarding the flora and Fauna levels, access to energy sources and methods of waste management.

The European Green Deal set by the European Union sets that by 2050 europe should be climate neutral. To achieve this they set out a couple of subgoals like a circular economy action plan, establishing the right tools to regulate and control climate related policies. A Farm to fork strategy. Energy taxation, and a sustainable mobility strategy, a strategy for the forest and wildlife among others.

The Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development are funding researchers in europe. From FP7 to FP8 (Horizon2020) the focus shifted from technological advances to finding solutions to agendas set by governmental agencies. In total they are holding 80 billion euros to fund research projects that get split into different research fields ‘Building a low-carbon, climate resilient future’ (budget of €3.7 billion) being one or ‘Connecting economic and environmental gains – the Circular Economy’ (budget of over €1 billion) being another.

Leaving us with the last corner of the before mentioned triangle the project developers and designers.

Which need to work according to the policies set by the governmental agencies and are looking towards the researches for answers to the pressing problems.

Circularity

As a way for those policies to become an easier applicable scenario for all the developing countries and citizens to be aware of the needed ecological alteration, this paper is proposing an alternative socioeconomic system for sustainable development. A system which re-evaluates progress, in contrast to the ‘take-make-waste’ linear model (Ellen MacArthur), this system is regenerative by design and aims to gradually decouple growth from the consumption of finite resources. Within that scheme, social foundation lays within an ecological ceiling portraying that social equilibrium is the foundation for environmental sustainability. On an individual level, the role of both citizens and political leaders changes focus as each set of actions should be considered to have a planetary impact, affecting things on a global scale rather than unfocused individual actions.

Biology

In addition, the tools to empower a thriving socioeconomic system can be found in the communal ground of architecture and biology. The concept of those fields crossing paths isn’t new, from ancient Greeks and Romans seeking inspiration from nature and incorporating leaf motifs into the friezes of their structures to the entire Art Nouveau movement and Frank Lloyd Wright’s obsession of softening or even erasing the edges between architecture design and nature shows that this relationship goes way back. However is mainly a conceptual one,based on metaphors and rarely engaging the actual research protocols of biology or understanding building as living systems.

Currently we are seeing more and more architects, designers and researchers that are trying to merge architecture and biology boundaries even more using new methods and tools.

In this paper we will focus on an aspect of biology which is usually ignored by both architects and public which is the field of Cryptograms.

Cryptograms are a category of plants including algae, ferns, mosses and lichen. Their mutual ability is that they can reproduce by spores meaning they don’t need flowers or seeds.

For a large period of time cryptograms have been viewed as unpleasant organisms by architects and rarely considered as a design tool for green spaces even though their capacity for c02 absorption is really high.They are categorized into 4 main groups: moss, algae, lichen and ferns, having different abilities regarding CO2 absorption levels and the capacity to adapt to different environmental conditions. So we can already start to understand that choosing the right plant for the right site is crucial, and providing the plant with the right conditions is necessary for the plant to grow in an optimal way.

To give an example how the environment affects the behaviour of a plant: Mosses for example need Moisture, Shade, acidic compacted soil

To understand plants in their environments and ecosystems we propose to use data science and computational tools to understand what the plant needs to as a result be able to simulate the plants behaviour. This in return gives designers the possibility to test countless options of ecosystems.

Computational Design

The communication medium between architecture and biology and a validating method for understanding the real value of the attempted iterations within the field lays into computational design. An optimum computational approach (one that not only mimics shape or form) requires the development of a novel design method that integrates environmental factors and influences as the modelling of behavior and the constraints of materialization process. This requires an understanding of form, material and structure not as separated elements but rather as complex interrelations that are embedded in and explored through an integral computation design process. According to Biomimicry Guild bio – design is divided into 3 levels which are form, process and ecosystem. These were then further developed by Zari (2007) defining the framework for a successful bio – design, to include the organism, behavior and the ecosystem. By organism is defined the specific animal or plant which we aim to “mimic” as a whole or just a part of it. Behavior is the system of computing organisms’ relations to their context and ecosystem is all the principles that enables the organism to function successfully.

Another factor in which computational design plays a major role is the time-based nature of those systems. Facilitating such systems requires a constant geometrical flexibility and adaptation. Both should not only be achieved during the design process, but also be able to dynamically adapt by sensing and responding to a changing environment and the possible requirements of the designed artifact. (Hensel et al.,2010)

Selected Biological Principles – Computational Setup

The approach is divided within 3 subcategories regarding adaptation levels (fitness) of the organism we are investigating, the evolution and survival levels ( diversity – ecosystem balance), form and behavior.

Adaptation

Bio – Design systems as well as living organisms are adaptive while adaptation is considered one of the most important criteria for sustainable life both by evolutionary genetic changes in species and by corresponding to environmental changes and different circumstances within the lifespan of the organism.(Gruber,2011).The ability of an organism to adapt and respond to environment conditions defines its fitness.

Evolution

Living systems and organisms are a result of ongoing evolutionary processes. Bio – Design can be considered as a human process where the evolutionary mechanisms of nature are able to assist in creating a diversity of species. These can survive the environment within which they are set then serve as a basis for further evolution and improved solutions. Using genetic algorithms this evolutionary design process aids in resolving multiple criteria by producing outputs that learn from experience of previous generations.

Forms and Behavior

Forms of living organisms are maintained by giving the ability to change their behavior as their needs require. This both way connection is always context dependent. The form of an organism will affect its spatial behavior and a certain behavior will have different outcomes in different environments. Form and behavior are always connected and affect each other.

A selection of examples showcasing some of the qualities described are listed below:

Bark topologies – UNiversity of Massachusetts: The technique uses the topology of scanned trees from a forest with the aim to create a dynamic dataset of barks. These then get categorised according to the periderm displacement.Best periderm fitness can be then selected according to different environmental qualities, creating a useful tool for designers who are willing to investigate the field.

Simulation of growth – Department of Computer Science of the University of Calgary: Researchers again by scanning tree barks and identifying patterns were able to simulate digitally the tree growth replicating different tree qualities such as leaves and internal bark properties.

The following diagram sums up the all the computational procedures we identified for a successful simulation and execution of a Bio – Design with respect to the actual research protocols of biology: Evaluation system

A number of case studies were analysed, where the previously stated principles and a few more were used as analysis criteria.All the case studies were analysed in the same manner but only the first one is presented in detail while the rest are briefly cited.

List of Parametres:

• Material System
• Adaptation
• Evolution
• Forms and Behavior
• Anisotropy
• Cost

User Experience

With the use of this analysis system we were able to compare case studies in more detail and draw conclusions regarding the different methodologies each designer used to approach every project. Out of these parameters we then created our own evaluation system for each of the projects related to the level As a visual medium for communication of the evaluation outcomes we used a rose diagram where each project gets rated on the 5 criteria regarding circularity, control, performance aesthetics and efficiency.

• For the DEB rating we are looking at where the project balances itself and if it is helping to lower the ecological footprint or goes more on the Cultural side, costing the social foundation.
• The CONTROL rating stretches from controlled to uncontrolled. Indicating if the natural element in the system is free to evolve and adapt to its surroundings. Or if the different states of the NE are pre designed and controlled by the designer.
• For PERFORMANCE we are mainly looking into the behaviour of the system as an ecosystem service. So we first need to identify which functions it is providing and then estimate how well it performs as a whole.
• As AESTHETICS we define how well the support structure and natural system are connected and woven together. Also if the design fits its cultural surroundings is taken into account.
• Lastly we also try to rate the EFFICIENCY of the projects. Looking into the materials that are used from an ecological standpoint. And how well the ecosystem is balanced in its climate context.

Conclusion

The presented methodology aims to achieve certain biological principles during the design process to produce a more sustainable output and blur even more the boundaries between architecture and biology. The wider framework which will facilitate such a system lays within a circular socioeconomic context, a decentralized system where social equilibrium leads to ecological stability.Individuals need to familiarise themselves with the idea that their everyday actions have a larger impact and societies stability as a whole is the foundation for ecological solidity.

Our methodology defines a certain array of sequential events during the design process although those events have no clear line underlining the end of one and the beginning of the next one. This paper is describing an architecture that is developed as a result of the chosen environment, materialization, and spatial requirements and therefore specifically specified to its location, needs and conditions. It also supports imagination and unpredictability due to the difficulty of dealing with living systems regarding their complexity, entropic nature and time-based character. It is also important to note that the application of a living bio – designed system on a full scale is not yet feasible although it can be applied on temporary small scale installations, pavilions and furniture. We also need to state that this paper is a part of a theoretical approach scratching the surface on a field which is vividly complex and tangible result will need more time and experimentation to absorb and apply in reality but can be considered as an initial milestone for further development.

Human rights are some of the basic rights that provides freedom to people to live peacefully. It comes in effect not only in the time of constitutional crisis but also on everyday basis, where architectural work is usually conducted. Spaces connect people to architecture not only physically or mentally but also socially. Henry Lefebvre states that “Social space is the lived space which refers to the use of space by human beings and also the transformation of space while its usage”. Any space can be used to torture human beings, it does not have to stand out as solitary isolation cell or prison. Even though prisoners have committed some heinous crimes or have broken the law, their rights do not depend on what they do. Society can maintain a standard of morality and decency.

The construction of a new execution chamber at San Quentin, California was totally violating the human rights. It consisted of chambers that were four times larger than the old ones, three witness viewing rooms, four telephones with different telephone lines in case of some last minute pardons and a speaker so that the prisoner ,to be executed, would be able to share his final words. Basically, it was used for killing the prisoners violating the Code of Ethics. According to AIA Code of Ethics (1.4): “Members should uphold human rights in all their professional endeavours”. Apart from this, human rights were never mentioned in the code of ethics. So, the architects were left by themselves to interpret what it means and how to use it.

Earlier, the prisons were called as penitentiaries and the people who went there were known as penitents .So the main motive was to send the penitents to the prison and give them a Bible to study so that they could return to the good community. Later, it started becoming worse by the formations of reformatories which were no less than hellholes. The name of the prison was constantly changing but the condition inside was worsening.

Recently, there are organisations made to encourage the architects not to take up projects like forming inhumane prisons and execution chambers. Architects on their own cannot make a transformation to the criminal justice system but at least not take part in it.

References

1. https://www.architectural-review.com/essays/discipline-and-punish-the-architecture-of-human-rights?blocktitle=top-stories&contentid=11483o&utm_medium=website&utm_source=archdaily.com
2. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/humanrights/2016/07/25/the-architecture-of-a-human-rights-violation/
3. https://bioneers.org/architects-stop-building-prisons-fighting-human-rights-abuses/

Introduction

Architecture is a field that skillfully combines science and art. I’ve always been interested in it because it has the power to change lives and surroundings. This essay goes into detail about how I came to see building as more than just a job, but as a passion and a calling. It makes me think about all the things that make me want to work in this field, from the thrill of being artistic to the deep satisfaction of leaving a lasting mark. Every part of design fits with who I am and what I want to become, which makes it the perfect way for me to grow professionally and personally.

Unleashing Creativity

One amazing things about building is that it can make people creative. I want to be an architect, and I like the idea of using style to show who you are. Architecture is an art form that lets people express their own style and creativity. It’s not just about making things. Thanks to my job, I can be creative in everything I do, from the clothes I wear to the way I live my life. Thinking about making buildings that are both useful and artistically expressive excites me a lot.

Tangible Impact and Legacy

Architecture gives people the unique chance to make things that will last longer than their makers. The idea of building things that will be there to show how hard I worked long after I’m gone is very inspiring. Buildings are more than just structures; they show what kind of impact you have made to society. They come from concrete, glass, and steel. As an architect, I will be able to leave a lasting mark—a physical story of my life and work—which is a powerful and long-lasting way to leave a memory.

Diverse Educational Experience

As I work toward becoming an architect, I’m not just learning how to plan buildings; I’m also learning about a lot of other things at the same time. People know that architecture school is active and cross-disciplinary, combining ideas from computer science, social work, philosophy, and even economics. I’m excited about this variety of learning because it helps me get a full picture of how architecture affects different parts of society and the world. I’m excited about the chance to work with a lot of different topics in my architecture, which will make my schooling as varied and rewarding as the field itself.

Versatility in Knowledge and Skills

The appeal of architecture lies in the fact that it requires a wide range of skills. I will always be learning and studying new technologies, theories, and building methods as an architect. Architects are experts at everything because each job gives them a chance to learn more about a different subject. This part of my job interests me because it fits with my natural curiosity and desire to keep learning. The wide range of skills needed in architecture, from understanding how engineering systems work to caring for the environment, means that my job will always be changing and challenging me mentally.

Defending Design Choices

Architecture also involves the art of articulating and defending design choices. This field encourages not just creativity but also critical thinking and persuasive communication. I am drawn to the challenge of transcending the subjective appreciation of ‘beauty’ to make a compelling case for each design element’s role in the experiential articulation of the built world. Engaging in vibrant debates and written discourse within the architectural community will push me to refine my ideas and develop a strong, well-informed design philosophy.

Managing Stress and Resilience

There are some difficulties and stresses that come with wanting to be an architect, but these things make you stronger. The tough path through architecture school and into the working world teaches people to think about themselves and be strong. I know that these difficulties are necessary for my personal and professional growth, so I am ready to face them. Getting over these problems will not only make me a better builder, but it will also give me the strength to deal with the stresses of life. I believe in always getting better and learning from mistakes, and this part of building fits with that.

Lifelong Passion and Career Longevity

You can follow a lifelong passion as a job in architecture. Famous architects are examples of people who stay busy and influential in their later years despite having reached traditional retirement age. This ongoing involvement motivates me and makes me hopeful for a job that isn’t limited by age but is driven by continuous passion. In my opinion, the idea of having a job that is so closely related to your interests that it feels like an extension of yourself is very attractive.

Social Esteem and Recognition

The profession of architecture is held in high regard due to its historical significance and impact on society. Architects often interact with clients from diverse backgrounds and are respected for their expertise and creativity. This social esteem and recognition are motivating, as they underscore the importance and influence of an architect’s work. Being part of a profession that commands respect and admiration aligns with my desire for a career that is not only fulfilling but also esteemed by society.

Improving Lives and Societal Contribution

As an architect, one of the most rewarding things is the chance to make people’s lives better and make a good difference in the world. The idea behind modern architecture that buildings should make places better for everyone keeps inspiring new builders. Being able to help shape communities and change how people live and connect with their surroundings is a very appealing thought. My desire to make a real change in the world through thoughtful and innovative design is what made me want to become an architect.

Personal Reasons for Choosing Architecture

I chose to become an architect because I love working on projects and I’m interested in how people connect with their surroundings. I enjoy seeing a job through all of its stages and the sense of accomplishment that comes with finishing it. I’m also really interested in how people act, how different cultures affect each other, and how building changes people’s lives. Architecture is the right career for me because it combines project-based work with human-centered design, which is what I’m interested in and what I want to do professionally.

Conclusion

To sum up, my drive to become an architect comes from a mix of personal interests, educational curiosity, and a strong desire to leave a lasting impression. My goals are perfectly matched by architecture, which offers a unique mix of creativity, a lasting impact, learning across disciplines, and service to society. It offers not only a job, but also a journey of growth, new ideas, and happiness for life.

Introduction

‘What is architecture’? This question concludes many different answers. Architecture can be defined as both the process and product of planning, designing, and constructing buildings or any other structures. It is a very broad and humanistic field that is at the same time technical and artistic. It requires a certain sensibility to arts, aesthetics and social understanding.

In order to know the truth about “what architecture is” and its impact on human, its evolution throughout the ages must be studied. In the first place, architecture began as a need (Antiquity). Early humans needed places to protect themselves against natural phenomena such as sun, rain, storms, etc. or against and other humans. In other words, architecture was considered as a shelter.

Next, architecture moved to a functional stage. Buildings were constructed to help develop a particular function. This stage has evolved in time, including what is called “economic reflection”. Later, sustainability came as an emerging new paradigm in architecture seeking to minimize the negative environmental impact on buildings by favorizing energy efficiency, material use and space management within a larger ecosystem. It came as a new type of architecture that harmonizes with the environment.

But, over time, most architecture became plain soulless and random. Today buildings are constructed in a continuous and boring way (e.g. imitation of western architecture…) as extruded boxes that are not related to the context and have no impact on their users, or even any objective other than meeting a particular function. The issue at hand is not simply the “modern box” aesthetic, it is also that these structures lack an authentic connection to cultures and contexts in which they exist. This, in turn, leaves us feeling disconnected, isolated and longing for true connections to each other and our communities. This stage is one of the most important problems facing architecture today (Logothetis, 2017).

Today, rapid urbanization, real estate speculation, and booming of mega projects are increasingly transforming the urban fabric of our cities and changing their social and economic structure. This is what contributes to the dilemma concerned with the loss of traditional references, and sense of identity, which is one of the most important problems facing architecture today.

Thus, what makes an inclusive and responsive architecture, and how context can contribute to its identity? The answer is not in the buildings acting as stand-alone elements detached from everything around. It is not about star architects who tend to implement their visions discarding the main question: for whom are they designing, and where? In what context? “There is no logic that can be superimposed on the city; people make it, and it is to them, not buildings, that we must fit our plans”. Janes Jacobs.

It is us, architects, citizens, humans, more specifically it is our self-reflection on what we build that gives this specification, this subjectivity, activates urban spaces, and reinforce the identity of place. Identity is strongly connected to the context, it is not only about the physical space, but also the social place. The process of identification is faithfully related to the space where it takes place. However, it leads to the creation of “symbolic spaces” instead of approving conventional ones. Identity should serve the purpose of a distinctive place in which social structures are challenged by the communities (Khademi, 2014). What makes a special place is not only throughout groups of individuals who share a common outlook, but also through familiar performative repertoires that are expressive and embodied like ritual processes, where common values motivations and interests form the spirit of a place in a society.

It is also the self that reflects the general social taste that has become part of the artist taste. Art does not reflect the truth as it is, but it reflects it as seen by the artist and by the spectators. It is subjective; therefore, the pieces of art differ from each other according to the characteristics and views of their owners and users. Similar to the different fields of arts, it is also in architecture this notion no longer serves and reflects our context, heritage and belonging, in an artistic approach.

Thus, what relation exists between art and architecture in that matter? Architecture is major subject of art work. It is when in physical space, imagination would transform it into fantasies of visual languages that are familiar enough to enter into, yet can offer another spatial experience. This vision originates from cultures and contexts, that its people should be aware of and preserve its foundations, because this what represents a unique and contextual identity. This is lost when citizens are deeply immersed in the cultures of others, when affected by the trend of globalization, they lose their very specific civilizational existence, and this is exactly what is happening in our cities.

Cultures and civilizations are mostly concerned with history, tradition and memory of space. It is people’s practices and uses that shape spatial meanings in territories. Today, this subject became passive and irrelevant to all architectural works, which urges the need to reconsider this subject and shed the lights on.

As Jane Jacobs said: “We expect too much of new buildings, and too little of ourselves.” We can design the best buildings, streets, public spaces, etc., but they are nothing without users. If human-self and its context are better understood, these buildings, streets, and even cities can be managed in a more strategic way to optimize attractiveness and improve their economies.

The human self to perform, it needs a context that is meaningful, that holds memories, in which this self can relate to. This brings traditional architecture and heritage into play, where subject of modernization and regeneration are mostly concerned. This does not mean to look at tradition and imitate it or even restore old architecture as it is, but it is to add the finest that art can bring into architecture, without discarding its traditional unique characteristics that makes it so specific to the story of its context.

Today’s historical contexts are facing the contemporary trends of new constructions causing cultural heritage that was once crucial to an urban identity to vanish. Thus, how to recall and re-center the discourse of heritage through the self? What meanings does heritage have in the context of the new societies and what architecture form can empower the legacy of self?

Therefore, the problematic of this research lies in knowing how architecture can stand as inclusive artistic tool to rethink heritage through the human self and what intervention procedures shall be taken to achieve an economically and socially a healthy environment in the study context? ‘We do not have to live in the novelty of a bright future any more than we must hide behind reassuring pastiches of the past. We must live in a perpetually evolving present, motivated by the possibilities of change, with the baggage of the past and the experience as a safeguard’ (Chipperfield, …).

Based on the above statement, how to face the different types of intervention forms including restoration, and rehabilitation? some questions must be asked: How can an old city be revived through modern architectural interventions on a neighborhood scale? Where does the self-stand in this type of architecture? How to improve these human selves on the personal level and society level? And finally, how the outcome shall be a sensitive and inclusive tool that respond to the social and cultural need which current architecture do not address?

The purpose of this study is to rethink regeneration through a modern design approach in an old neighborhood within a heritage setting, based on a social, cultural and economic strategy. The architecture will initiate from a contextual and a human self-centered approach, to retrieve the missing identity or what is called “our architecture”.

Heritage and the built environment

In order to define the traditional city, the built heritage must be defined first. To begin with, heritage could be anything valued by previous generations and is still treasured today, it is defined in the national planning policy as “A building, monument, location, place, zone or landscape that is identified as having a degree of importance that deserves consideration for planning decisions, as being part of heritage” (reference).

The Built heritage consists of all aspects of the man-made historic environment, it can be buildings, places of worship, cemeteries, monuments, built infrastructure, or a piece of land, inherited or not through generations that constitute part of the city’s culture. It may exist in the countryside, cities or suburbs, and is mainly manifested in the traditional city. The built heritage is one of the most important city’s cultural assets, where it constitutes the physical proof of its cultural development and it describes the origins and informs the understanding of people’s identity. It defines a sense of place, an identity for a community. It contributes to feelings of belonging, with community pride and confidence.

Built heritage is not only about buildings and monuments of exceptional value, but also includes small modest vernacular buildings that embody other equally important historical, social or even archaeological values rendering them as significant. Heritage can excite curiosity about the past and enrich daily lives. Many heritage buildings uses were not functional when they were built. The richness of places and people’s attachment to them grows from their everyday use. This heritage presents an active, living cultural resource with social meaning, they are ingredients of collective sentiments, of the feeling that ‘this is people’s place’.

Traditional city, its elements and its problems

The traditional city differs from the modern city by the nature of its spaces, materials, buildings, markets…etc. These differences result from variations in population densities and urban developments, which have changed today the concept of the city and the way of living in it.

Today, most modern cities have witnessed urban transformations of their historical image. Their surviving traditional assets integrate with the developing role of the modern city, thus, form a source of attraction for tourists and investors, which promotes the city’s economic growth.

However, nowadays, traditional cities undergo different challenges due the modern context, in which they are located, some of these problems are:

• Environmental problems: Water pollution, air pollution caused by various means of transport, plus noise pollution caused by traffic.
• Social problems: With the growing social polarization, the degree of social adaption depends on the economic conditions of the urban center, on one hand, and on the individual’s adaptability on the other.
• Service problems: Location and accessibility of traditional cores constitute a major element in reaching out services in the city. Despite the increase and pressure of demand on services in the cities most established projects fail in a short time to meet the actual need of the population.
• Infringements: In the face of accelerated urban growth in developing countries and the phenomenon of displacement, many encroachments arise on the outskirts of cities without adherence to any laws and regulations, mentioning the irregularities on heritage buildings such as the concrete floors extension.

Society, culture and identity

Identity is a common constituent that brings together a group of people and identifies them. There are therefore many types of identities such as national identity, religious identity…etc. Human beings form a variety of societies, languages, religions and customs, where different identities take shapes, in which people play different roles. Nevertheless, identities are personalized, where they differ from one person to another.

Every person according to his/her tendencies is determined by his/ her identity. Thus, a person with a nationalist tendency feels that the language forms his own identity, where he belongs to societies that speak this same language. When an Arab, for example, lives in European countries, he feels disconnected, due to linguistic, cultural, and urban differences. This constitutes an obstacle against adaptation and communication. Individuals and communities are related in a constant mutual dependency; on one hand the specific behavior of individuals give the community its cultural boundaries and identity, on the other hand, the normative standards of the community regulate the practices of individual and groups within it.

Culture is part of a society; it when the individual positions himself within his environment and his community. In this case, it provides orientation, stability and creates identities. Reflecting this on Buildings and monuments, these cultural objects do not possess a meaning by themselves, they literally are what people make of them and what they see in them. For that reason, cultural objects give a society a sense of stability, duration and lasting values, something that many human beings long for, especially in times of growing uncertainties. Cultural objects like heritage buildings frequently are an expression of achievement, prosperity and success.

Architectural interventions and the revival of old city’s spaces

Interventions strategies

Humanity witnessed during the current century many destructive wars that ruined the urban and human heritage. With the disappearance of many traditional buildings during the Second World War, man began to realize the importance of preserving urban heritage from annihilation, adding to the impact of time and effect of natural corrosion, such as earthquakes and floods, on cities’ traditional legacy.

The human impact was bigger, the technology affected the provision of rapid urban development methods and the disappearance of many traditional buildings and archaeological areas to offer some space for new roads, public and large industrial projects. From here arise the importance of intervening on heritage sites to preserve and revive them. Thus, it is essential to look and learn from different methods of intervention, the most important of which are:

• Preservation: Where the change in the heritage is critical, some changes are allowed like adding some materials that are not visible to preserve the condition of the building. The removal or alteration of the original use of the building is not permitted, because the main objective is to keep the building in its original form.
• Conservation: Such like the addition of supporting materials that maintain the structure of the building as it is, to ensure its continuity and non-damage.
• Repair: It is the process of treating damage or defects of the building that actually occurred or is about to occur. Repairs could be in the form of crack repair, insulation works…etc., which aims to improve the general appearance of the building. However, the repair of damage may lead to greater risks if the treatment is delayed, where repair is a periodic work that must be followed regularly to maintain and protect the building.
• Restoration: Returning the building to its original state by rebuilding what was demolished, or repairing it as the situation requires. This method is applied on individual cases of historical buildings that were exposed to deformation or amendment.
• Reconstruction: This method includes rebuilding traditional buildings, as they were built in the past.
• Reuse, reconversion, adaptation and rehabilitation: Re-use operations are considered one of the modern directions for intervention in the traditional city, it is related to improving the current situation of the building through light, medium or heavy interventions. It highlights the historical value of the region and its natural and environmental constituents.

The concept of revival: It is based on the introduction of contemporary or new architecture in historical environments. Adding to the above, other types and methods of interventions are considered, such as improvements in public spaces such as new squares, streets, or infrastructure, which may also significantly affect the historical meaning of a given environment.

Levels of Preservation

The preservation levels vary according to the size and type of the architectural heritage and its importance as follows:

• Preserving the heritage items: It is when museums preserve the artifacts and archeological items after restoration and treatment in a scientific manner that guarantees their survival and safety.
• Preserving a single building: Such as restoration and renovation of heritage buildings by turning them into touristic attractions, or by adapting them through new functions.
• Preserving a group of buildings: It is when a set of adjacent buildings are preserved together as a group, where their heritage value reflects the importance of each building individually.
• Preserving an urban corridor: When a group of heritage buildings demarks the connection between one area and another on either side of a path or road.
• Preserving a heritage area: This includes buildings, heritage corridors, urban cores, etc. where countries have used the means and mechanism to implement protective legislations through schemes and regulations, assessed through organizational and technical measures.

Pros and cons of architectural interventions

The success rate of modern architectural interventions varies with the extent to which the local community accepts this modern architecture and the relative degree of meeting the needs of society.

One of the most important positive effects of architectural interventions is the desired goal which is reviving the city through the development of the economy, leading to the obtainment of sustainable development. Whereas, negative effects of such interventions are found in the distortion of heritage and the inadvertent removal of identity.

As a result, intervening on a local heritage should be part of a manifestation of planning principles and generalized design strategies that integrates urban cultures and communities. Thus, Inclusion of the attributes that people want to preserve, adapt, rehabilitate, or even reconstruct, might lead to missing opportunities to produce specific image. Careful approaches to existing historical or traditional structures provide a sense of continuity, comprehensibility, meaningfulness, and coherence. Placemaking practices advocate for more sustaining, organized complexity, and reconciling new urban communities within adaptive places full of character and identity.