Enquiry The ARCC Journal for Architectural Research

Developing a Structured Framework for Enhanced Experience in KashiVishwanath Dhaam: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis

2025-08-22T23:47:15-04:00

Temple experiences are complex and multifaceted, encompassing spiritual, emotional, and social dimensions. Observing, understanding and analyzing these experiences can render important insights to authorities to make devotee journey memorable. There is abundant research done to explore the issues and experiences of devotees separately so there is already a strong background of parameters that influence the journey but no research is done holistically to study pleasant, spiritual encounters and devotee management in different temple spaces. Indeed, all these factors have magnificent capacity to influence cognitive behavior of its users. In a temple these constructs have a twofold role i) is being responsible for visit intentions, rituals, likeliness, temple shrine and precinct experience leading to ii) formation of memories. So, the researchers set out to identify the most dominant indicators of these constructs which would be organized during temple journey to intensify devotee interaction. To validate the efficacy of so formed model, in the temple complex of KashiVishwanath Dhaam, on a sample consisting of 200 devotees (both local & pilgrim) Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was employed. CFA is a technique that yields result for i) fitness of model with respect to data and ii) factor loadings, variance and covariance of the observed parameters. The aim of the study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the individual indicators, through structured questionnaire, that contribute to the complete journey experience categorized under pleasant, spiritual and devotee management constructs. The findings revealed that the questionnaire has substantial validity for evaluation of pleasant journey (PJ) with three-factor model of 12 indicators, spiritual journey (SJ) with four-factor model of 18 indicators and devotee management (DM) with three factor model of 15 indicators. The indicators used for the study are distinct yet interconnected reflecting the complex nature of temple experiences. The study significantly represents a progression in the existing literature that highlights the significant aspects for enhanced temple experiences.

ReGen Hall: A Scalable Model for Environmentally Sustainable, Affordable, and Compatible Student Housing

2025-09-29T10:48:33-04:00

Affordability is one of the most important factors in student housing development, especially in rapidly growing cities with increasing property prices. Beyond economic aspects, student housing needs to focus on environmental issues and community integration to create and maintain sustainability in the long run. ReGen Hall illustrates a unique approach to student housing projects aiming to demonstrate the viability of integrating ecological sustainability and affordability while preserving the community fabric. Located in Austin, Texas, the project incorporates advanced modular construction methods, Passive House design principles, and innovative net-zero energy strategies. This 62,000-square-foot residence hall integrates renewable energy systems, including a 320-kW photovoltaic array and rainwater harvesting infrastructure, to significantly reduce operational emissions and water dependency. Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of the building carried out over a projected lifespan of 100 years reveals a carbon footprint of 2,853 tons of CO2e. This analysis is calculated using verified data from One Click LCA and industry benchmarks to ensure rigorous methods. Economic evaluations show cost reductions through modular construction, bringing total project expenses well below local benchmarks. Moreover, community-focused design elements, such as shared spaces, green courtyards, and a free medical clinic, foster social cohesion while meeting the housing needs of a diverse student population. Employing a quantitative research approach and spatial analysis, this study evaluates the environmental, economic, and social impacts of ReGen Hall. The findings demonstrate that sustainable technologies can effectively balance affordability and environmental stewardship and offer a model for future student housing developments.

From School to Housing: A Typological Analysis for the Adaptive Reuse of Historic Public Schools in Oklahoma City, USA

2025-05-02T08:15:39-04:00

Abandoned historic schools in the USA have become a growing concern for urban communities, presenting a multifaceted issue that impacts social, environmental, and economic aspects of public life. Several factors contribute to the abandonment of historical public educational facilities, including demographic shifts, economic changes, and funding cuts. Since the postwar era, the economic and demographic decline of U.S. urban cores has left many interwar-period schools unmaintained and vacant. This neglect has led to informal occupation, declining neighborhood property values, increasing public maintenance costs, and, in many cases, demolitions. Focusing on Oklahoma City as a case study, this paper investigates the adaptive reuse viability of pre-World War 2 public schools. By analyzing 18 schools in the city’s urban core, we explore their typological characteristics through historical research, cluster analysis, and precedent study. Given the current housing affordability crisis in the USA, this study explores the possibility of repurposing historic school buildings into affordable housing, discussing the main design challenges associated with such conversions. Specifically, the reuse of historic schools into multifamily housing offers an opportunity to tackle housing affordability challenges while enhancing community values and meeting preservation goals.

The paper concludes with a set of design guidelines outlining key considerations for converting schools into residential use. The findings and recommendations can be generalized to similar contexts across the USA and other global cities facing concurrent issues of urban decay and housing shortage.

Opportunities of Nomadic Space

2025-05-15T15:03:48-04:00

The metropolitan city is characterized by a state of perpetual transformation, fostering a nomadic existence shaped by spatial mobility. This ongoing cycle of destruction and reconstruction generates “nomadic spaces,” where urban landscapes remain in flux. Beyond its spatial dynamics, the metropolis is also defined by the direct migration of people, particularly marginalized groups, who navigate and reshape the urban environment. Among these groups, paper collectors in Istanbul play a critical yet often overlooked role in the city’s recycling system. Despite their substantial contribution to urban sustainability, their work remains largely informal and is usually coded as illegal, positioning them as subaltern actors within the urban fabric.

This study examines the spatial practices and lived experiences of paper collectors, framing their activities as a form of urban act embedded within the ever-evolving nature of the metropolis. The primary aim of this article is to explore the mechanisms of existence in the nomadic city by deconstructing the language of paper collectors, who are represented as subalterns, using verbal and spatial instruments and deriving, multiplying, and articulating the subaltern, making their voices heard. Employing a mixed-method approach that integrates ethnography and grounded theory, the study utilizes qualitative data collection techniques, including participant observation of daily routes, in-depth interviews, and spatial analysis of warehouses where collectors work and live. The analysis and diagramatization of the data were conducted using MAXQDA software. Through this multi-layered analysis, the paper collectors deconstruct the spatial and experiential dimensions of subaltern urban actors, offering new insights into the intersection of informality, mobility, and sustainability in the contemporary city.

The Reductionist Implications of Outcome-Based Education in Malaysian Architectural Education

2025-09-29T10:28:48-04:00

Architecture is a discipline that requires the integration of a wide spectrum of knowledge. This holistic nature of architecture is reflected in earlier architectural education. However, the recent trend in pedagogical development in education is characterized by the admiration of a positivist outlook that favour a reductionist approach in education, specifically the introduction of Outcome-Based Education (OBE). The need to maintain a higher education status by architectural education providers in Malaysia requires adherence to the standards stipulated by the public higher education authority and the Malaysian Quality Agency (MQA). This paper argues that there is a reductionist tendency in the standards, specifically in its stipulation on the use of OBE and its mapping process, a trend in the 1990s arising out of a positivist outlook. The reductionist undertone of this mechanism affects the quality of architectural education, resulting in undesirable outcomes. The most pressing concern is the effect of a reductionist mindset on creativity and a holistic view.

A Grounded Theory of Dignified Design Informed by Residents and Staff in Permanent Supportive Housing

2025-09-12T20:28:25-04:00

This study addresses a critical and timely issue—how the built environment can support dignity for individuals experiencing housing instability. Common definitions of dignity include autonomy, respect, self-determination, freedom, and equality. For people experiencing housing and health instability, everyday life is extremely stressful, and the built environment can play a critical role in supporting psychological and somatic regulation (Devlin 2018). Ajeen and colleagues (2023) found that many participants perceived that trauma-informed design updates for homeless shelter bedrooms increased their experiences of dignity and safety. For this study, a practice-embedded research team collected observations of use at various supportive housing sites, documented through photos and note-taking, and conducted semi-structured interviews and focus groups in two phases with a total of 115 resident and staff participants. The team inductively analyzed this large dataset of text and images using grounded theory methods. Analysis revealed that the experiences of comfort, community, and control are deeply interdependent and together create a rich and layered sense of safety for participants. Key design attributes—categorized as sensory engagement, nested layers, and identity anchors—emerged as critical for creating an atmosphere of dignity, which significantly contributed to the overall experience of dignity for participants. Ultimately, the research resulted in a grounded theory model of Dignified Design, establishing a framework for architects, designers, and other creators of service-oriented spaces.

Graph-Theoretic Analysis for Sustainable Urban Structure

2025-09-11T12:43:25-04:00

A significant challenge arises in the characterization of urban systems, especially regarding the intricate structures of Central Business Districts (CBDs). Conventional models seem insufficient, failing to comprehend the non-linear, network-oriented structure of the city's economic and social dynamics. This creates a disparity between the city's physical, geographical structure and the unseen processes occurring within it. The fundamental inquiry is thus configurational: how can we systematically examine the inherent spatial logic of the CBD to develop a more efficient and predictive planning model? This paper presents a theoretical and methodological model to explore this inquiry, which focuses on Lower Manhattan as the primary subject of analysis. The aim of the research is to develop an analytical model that fosters a relational comprehension of the city as a system. The methodology combines graph-theoretic mathematical coding with spatial syntax analysis to elucidate the fundamental structure of dynamics in the Central Business District. We evaluate vulnerability as an intrinsic characteristic of network topology, apply Prüfer’s code to determine its distinctive structural signature, and employ various syntactic methods to examine its spatial configuration. Q-analysis, Zipf's law, Markov chains, and fractal analysis elucidate the interconnectedness of shape, function, and temporal change in various dimensions. The findings indicate that the layout of Lower Manhattan possesses a complex, robust, and well-structured network topology. We observed correlations between spatial integration indices and economic activity patterns; that is, the grid is an essential component of the economic functionality. The proposed model is both predictive and quantitative, which activates the comprehension of urban complexity. The systematic relationship elucidates the connection among geographical form, economic function, and susceptibility to potential threats. This framework offers a model for urban planners and designers to enhance connectivity, pinpoint structural deficiencies, and devise solutions that promote sustainable, resilient, and economically viable urbanism.

Energy-Efficient Retrofitting Strategies for Research Laboratory Buildings

2025-10-03T09:47:38-04:00

This research study examined building performance and retrofitting strategies for reducing energy consumption in existing research laboratories. Research laboratory buildings are one of the most energy-intensive building typologies due to their high energy demands, complex building systems, and significant loads for mechanical cooling and ventilation. Retrofitting may extend building lifespan and improve their performance, energy consumption, carbon footprint, and occupants’ comfort. The study examined an existing research laboratory building at the University of Utah campus, utilizing a combination of research methods, such as archival and observational studies, field measurements, building envelope and HVAC systems assessment, and whole-building energy modeling and simulations. Actual energy consumption data was collected for three years and compared against simulated data. Five different retrofitting options were considered, where four options represented low-impact retrofits (improvements to the building envelope and interior lighting) and one option represented a deep-impact retrofit (improvements to the building envelope, interior lighting, and HVAC systems). These investigated retrofit options were simulated and compared to the building’s actual and simulated energy consumption data. The results show that the deep-impact retrofit option would have the highest impact on energy use savings (more than 50% energy savings), while the four low-impact retrofit options would have lower, but comparable results (between 22% and 27% energy savings). Therefore, improvements to the mechanical systems are necessary to significantly reduce energy consumption and the associated carbon footprint of existing research laboratory buildings, besides building envelope and lighting improvements.

Understanding the Spatial Needs of Transgender Individuals

2025-11-07T13:53:22-05:00

This study investigates the spatial requirements of transgender individuals in urban and sacred contexts, with particular reference to pilgrimage sites in Saundatti. It addresses how entrenched heteronormative planning practices contribute to exclusion from public, residential, and religious spaces. The research adopts a literature-based methodology, integrating geospatial mapping, participatory design principles, and intersectional planning frameworks to analyze spatial barriers and identify opportunities for inclusion. The findings highlight how architectural design can mediate issues of accessibility, safety, and cultural belonging, especially in sacred settings shaped by binary traditions. By reframing transgender spatial needs as both an architectural and cultural concern, the study contributes to architectural scholarship through a conceptual framework that informs inclusive design strategies for urban planning and sacred site development.