Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1988. / Bibliography: v. 2, leaves 345-361. / While all buildings are a product of social and cultural conditions, the architecture of national capitals raises especially complicated questions about power and identity. The architecture of a national capitol, as the seat of government within a national capital, is often a continuation of politics by other means. Part One provides an overview of the "capital city" as a concept, drawing a distinction between "evolved" capitals and "designed " capitals. It investigates the social and geopolitical reasons that under lie the choice of location of several designed capitals built during the last two hundred years. In analyzing each city, the focus is on the relationship between the "capitol" and the rest of the capital. This discussion concludes with an analysis of two ongoing projects-- Abuja, Nigeria and Dodoma, Tanzania-- where the design of new capitals is intimately connected to the search for a post-colonial "national identity." Part Two begins with this concept of "national identity," and stresses that what is put forth by government leaders and their architects as "n ational" most often contains significant biases towards preserving or advancing the hegemony of a politically ascendant group . In cases where an entire new capital is not commissioned, much of these biases can get channeled into the design of a new capitol complex instead. "National Identity," when given architectural representation in a building designed to house a national legislature, is a product of these preferences. Moreover, what is termed "n ational identity" is also closely tied to both "international" identity and to the personal identities of the architects and sponsoring politicians. These issues are discussed in relation to four recently-completed capitol complexes, in Papua New Guinea, Kuwait, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Each national assembly building is a monumental edifice for a fledgling institution. Each has been designed to symbolize a highly plural post-colonial state, but reveals both subnational and supranational strains. Part Three compares and contrasts the spatial and iconographical treatment of cultural pluralism and democratic institutions in each of the four case studies, stressing the limitations of buildings that are either too literal or too abstract. It emphasizes that designers should recognize that these buildings play an ever-changing political role , and that they be conscious of the gap between their clients' (and their own) hegemonic preferences and the more inclusive promises implied by a building that is called a "national" assembly. It stresses that designers be aware of the ways that architectural idealizations may be used not to anticipate some more perfect future order but to mask the severe abuses of power in the present. It concludes with a discussion about how to improve the design of capitols, and offers suggestions for further research. / by Lawrence J. Vale. / M.S.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 61-62). / Based on the fact that architecture is, among other things, the crystallization of a mediation among design intentions (function), meaning and contextual constraints (performance), we as designers are obligated to produce morphologically flexible & adaptive design solutions; both during the design process and as a final outcome. In that sense this thesis is an open ended exploration of embedding rational adaptability to object design through computational tools. This thesis will speculate on the advantages of thinking architecture in terms of "adaptation" in an action-reaction fashion, evolving from the seed idea of "motion" in architecture but rather pushing and exploring the potential of digitally designed responsive buildings and the dissection of its methodological approach. Empirically, it will look into some of nature's responsive designs, arguing that buildings can be conceptualized as adaptable living organisms. It will also analyze the role of computational tools and programming languages as meaningful mediums that help designers to better understand, set-up, define and re-define design problems. It will argue that more than an automated provider of an endless number of design solution computers can work as a systematic tool, making us more conscious during the design process. / by Alejandro Zulas. / S.M.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 2011. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 223-233). / Design practitioners are increasingly using digital tools during the design process; however, building performance simulation continues to be more commonly utilized for analysis rather than as a design aid. Additionally, while simulation tools provide the user with valuable information, they do not necessarily guide the designer towards changes which may improve performance. For designing with daylighting, it is essential that the designer consider performance during the early design stage, as this is the stage when the most critical design decisions are made, such as the overall building geometry and faqade elements. This thesis proposes an interactive, goal-based expert system for daylighting design, intended for use during the early design phase. The system gives the user the ability to input an initial model and a set of daylighting performance goals. Performance areas considered are illuminance and glare risk from daylighting. The system acts as a "virtual daylighting consultant," guiding the user towards improved performance while maintaining the integrity of the original design and of the design process itself. This thesis consists of three major parts: development of the expert system, implementation of the system including a user interface, and performance assessment. The two major components of the expert system are a daylighting-specific database, which contains information about the effects of a variety of design conditions on resultant daylighting performance, and a fuzzy rule-based decision-making logic, which is used to determine those design changes most likely to improve performance for a given design. The expert system has been implemented within Google SketchUp along with a user interface which allows a designer to fully participate in the design process. Performance assessment is done in two ways: first by comparing the effectiveness of the system to a genetic algorithm, a known optimization method, and second by evaluating the success of the user interactivity of the tool, its use within the design process, and its potential to improve the daylighting performance of early stage designs. / by Jaime M. L. Gagne. / Ph.D.

Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-67). / In the advancement of commercial and economic interests, modern society continually litters the earth's landscapes with insensitive buildings. When I speak of the environment I mean not only the landscape in which the building sits, but also the environment of the people within the space. This lack of concern typically found in commercial habitation reflects an attitude of an individually oriented, commodity driven, society. With the changing values of society, we are obligated to review the needs of our "lesser" building types. Through a further evaluation of the potential behind commercial architecture, one might offer suggestions to create and habit these spaces in an educated manner. This thesis explores the potential which lies beyond stereotypical expectations of the traditional suburban commercial building. The exploration dreams of a place for people rather than commodity. A marketplace which suggests human activity in relation to nature, culture and experience. Through the introduction of these issues in relation to the supermarket, I propose an alternative view to shopping in an effort to enhance the experience and identity of the individual. / Marnie Lanore Boomer. / M.Arch.

Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 2013. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [104]-[105]). / Every year, China experiences the largest human migration in history during the 40 days of Chinese New Year (Chun Yun). It is a period when migrant workers travel from coastal industrial cities to inland rural areas for family gatherings. Just in 2012, over 235 million people migrated across the country during such short extent of event. In Guangzhou, an industrial city in China, the main rail station handles passengers of 900,000 in one week. Due to the large volume of passengers and infrequent train rides under severe winter condition, these passengers are detained for as long as a week. Waiting conditions are often harsh. Large scale of human and traffic congestions are resulted and mobility within city is greatly disturbed. An expansion of rail infrastructure and station is crucial during the high travel season. At the same time, China is experiencing a transitional economy as it is entering a post-industrial development. There is a huge need for the country to initiate a new kind of economy for further growth. Rail stations are often crucial in drawing economical developments to cities. This thesis investigates the indeterminate nature of rail stations which serves as a double agent: managing the sudden flux of Chun Yun and becoming an economical development initiator in the post Chun Yun period. / by Cecilia Siwai Ho. / M.Arch.

Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 2011. / This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. / Cataloged from student submitted PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 107-108). / With the global water crisis as catalyst, Water+Works acts as a model for a localized water initiative that will mitigate flooding and provide a freshwater resource in times of crisis, while enriching urban ecosystems and creating a vibrant recreational amenity for a new civic public. The new typology creates a gradual transition from land to water to contend with sea level rise and increased storm surge flooding. During calm weather conditions, the graduated edge of tidal estuaries will enrich the bay ecology, while creating a sustainable and resilient ecosystem that works to remediate the polluted harbor water. Urbanistically, this will open up the waterfront for recreational facilities including indoor and outdoor public pools, public boat docks and a new water taxi pier providing increased access to the area. This model becomes a new precedent for building civic amenities, where multiple issues are conflated to generate a richer, more dynamic urban condition. / by Lisa Kristin Hedstrom. / M.Arch.

Thesis (M.S.V.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, February 1990. / Videocassette is VHS format. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Shiva Ayyadurai. / M.S.V.S.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1987. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 36-38). / The retreat of Colonial rulers and the emergence of a new self identity among many of the once colonized nations of Asia, Africa and Latin America is one of the significant features of the current century. In the field of architecture, the expression of this independent spirit was delayed by the tenets of the Modem Movement that was sweeping the globe at about the same time. Now that this movement has run its course, leaving very little that is positive in the developing countries, architects from these nations are turning to their own history and culture to find guidelines for their work. As an architect from Bangladesh, that land where the mighty Ganges meets the sea, I feel a desire to do the same. The search for a basis of architecture in the spirit of Bangladesh can quickly become a progressively diverging inquiry encompassing questions like what is the purpose of architecture, what is the spirit of Bangladesh and why an architecture in the spirit of Bangladesh? Such an open-ended investigation, much beyond the scope of this thesis, has been given a manageable boundary by focussing on a museum design at the bank of the river Burhiganga in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A specific site offers the advantage of a much more tangible past and present to relate to and project a future from. The challenge was to connect these three timeframes without being simplistic. The zamindar-bari of Rupial, currently lying abandoned on the site, evokes the memory of a past typified by aristocratic rule. The life of the common people that permeates the site and its surroundings today is taken as a symbol of democratic spirit that one hopes would reign the present and the future. The Museum building sets up a dialogue between aristocracy and democracy where the later supersede the former. The process does not destroy the old but, rather, transforms it to serve the new; the past belongs to the present as the present to the future. / by Shamim Javed. / M.S.

Thesis (M.Arch.) Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture, 1955. / Bibliography: leaves 140-142. / by Ivan Dale Owen. / M.Arch.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. / The theory of auctions has grown dramatically over the last four decades; it offers guidance and insights into the conduct of efficient and optimal auctions in real estate, and other industries. In this thesis an auction process used to sell institutional real estate assets in the US is identified. This auction came into being during the 1990s, and is now in common use. The auction is recorded though surveys with industry representatives and is characterized. Problems with the auction are identified, and solutions are proposed, referencing this auction to the body of auction theory. The auction consists of two rounds of sealed bid submissions, with attrition in the number of competitive bidders. After competitive bidding is complete a preferred bidder is selected, and engages in due diligence, a practice that often uncovers new information and induces renegotiation. Bids are not binding during the bidding process, because the auction is informationally incomplete. Sellers analyze bids based on the perceived quality of the bidder as a contractual partner, as well as the bid's value, complicating the objective selection of the best bidder. The auction is bilaterally incomplete and unstable, potentially influencing efficiency and optimality. Recommendations to improve the process are made. Descriptive statistics are formed and presented of multi-round auctions for institutional real estate assets. / by J. Aidan Foley. / S.M.