Thesis (Ph.D)--Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Thesis (D.Phil.)--University of Oxford, 2008. / Supervisor: Dr Janet DeLaine. Bibliography: leaves 246-259.

Thesis (doctoral)--Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Bonn, 1977. / Spine title: Familienloggien. Includes index. Includes bibliographical references (p. 744-752).

Slightly revised version of the author's dissertation as acccepted by the Universität Stuttgart in 2005. / Copyright 2006 Archiv der Stadt Stuttgart. Includes bibliographical references (p. 625-640).

Thesis--Leipzig. / Vita.

'Allegories of the Veil' analyses the relationship between architecture and clothing as architecture. It expands the meaning of dwelling and of dwelling places (as they have been defined and conceptualised by scholars such as Martin Heidegger and Edward Casey) from architecture to women's dress. People's awareness of space and their interaction with it are crucially mediated by where and how they dwell. Moreover, dwelling greatly influences behaviour. This study interrogates the way in which building belongs to dwelling. It conceptualises specific women's clothing (the traditional dress and the veil [chador in Farsi]) as a dwelling place that influences (limits) women's spatial awareness and movement in space. It argues that once women's clothing has shaped the behaviour and awareness of women (mirroring the organisation of social relations) it becomes like a habitus. In that sense, clothes are not only physical but also generative spaces which can be translated into social space (and vice versa). Last but not least, this study explores how the changing architectural cityscape of Iran has altered the meaning of private and public space in the country. It argues that contemporary domestic architecture in Iran has disturbed the continuity of design and architectural forms, which previously had been an inherent feature of all architectural spaces in the country, including women's clothing. These new forms disrupted the complementary relationship between the chador as an enclosed space and as an extension of the domestic sphere, as well as facilitating the fast encroachment of modernity on traditional architectural places, including the 'chādor'.

Current regulatory and other policy trends in housing refurbishment relating to low-carbon performance standards tend to involve complex technologies and systems as well as innovative solutions to achieve 80% emissions reduction in line with the UK national target for 2050. Indicators of domestic energy performance tend to assume ideal performance of materials, complex systems and services, and that they are installed to high standards and under specific conditions, as well as rational occupant behaviour and interactions. Previous studies exploring the influence of socio-technical factors on the UK's domestic energy use highlight that one of the main reasons for under-performance of individual projects is the lack of understanding of how people interact with domestic technology. Considering this, and given that there is still little evidence on deep refurbishments that implement low-carbon 'whole house' approaches in the UK, this research explored occupants' interaction with heating and ventilation measures as these were designed, installed and operated. The main concern was to identify the type of interactions that occur between occupants (social housing tenants) and building systems (mainly low-carbon heating and ventilation systems), and how that influences actual energy use. Using a sample of 26 social housing properties involved in the Retrofit for the Future competition in the UK, the study employed an socio-technical mixed methods approach, in which qualitative and quantitative empirical data were explored together, cross-checking occupants' 'doings' and 'sayings'. A combination of theories was used to analyse the complex interrelated factors involved in users' interaction with building systems. The analysis identifies key factors that affect significantly occupants' everyday practices and their interactions with the new measures: thermal comfort and pastexperiences with measures and controls; knowledge and skills (of both occupants and those involved in the project); design of the technical interventions (systems/measures) and quality of their installation. The findings from this research showed that active measures (such as intelligent and conventional heating controls, MVHR boosters, etc.) fostered direct interaction with active users when there were no design or installation faults. On the contrary, low-carbon measures that are designed and installed to be passive (such as MVHR systems operation) tend, in practice, to involve indirect interactions with active users. The research findings provide an insight into the 'in-use' factors, demonstrating to policy makers and implementers of mass refurbishment programmes the need for a framework where critical combinations of different measures and design solutions are targeted on specific house types, locations and households, in order to achieve maximum savings. Higher standards in installation of the new measures and improved quality control are also found to be a key part of refurbishment policies.

No description available.

This essay is divided roughly into two main sections; in the first I have discussed the Tswana as a whole, their environment, their origins and their more recent history. In addition to this, I have tried to give a clear picture of their tribal political structure and economic activities, as well as their domestic activities, all of which are integrally linked to the kind of house form adopted by the Tswana. The last, and most important, part of the first section is a presentation of some of the earliest written descriptions of Tswana dwellings made by the first white travellers to enter Tswana territory. The second section takes the form of a presentation of findings observed during the course of personal field research undertaken in the Tshidi-Rolong village outside Mafikeng. This research was done by means of a number of questionnaires drawn up by myself and filled in on the spot with information supplied by house owners and sometimes the builders themselves. This survey was carried out largely at random, with several of the houses chosen arbitrarily because of an interesting feature which set them apart from other dwellings. This written information is backed up by a large bulk of visual information in the form of photographs taken personally, both of the dwellings in general, and of details of the houses. Although this essay may appear to be rather fragmented, my aim is to give a graphic account of changes in Tswana dwellings by comparing features of contemporary dwellings with those observed in the early nineteenth century. The fact that among the Tswana , the building style of one sub-tribe may vary slightly from that of another subtribe, has not affected my study to any large extent , since I was fortunate enough to have done my field research among a branch of one of the original groups, namely the Rolong, whose houses, along with those of the Tlhaping, were the first to be documented. Therefore, most of the differences which have occurred between the dwellings of the contemporary Tshidi-Rolong and those from the early nineteenth century are a direct result of the process of westernisation.

The basic intention of this study is to show that the research findings in the field of restorative environments can be used in the design of high-density housing to develop healthy living environments. This study explores the possibility that providing public, semi-public and private landscaped open spaces in and around the dwelling units, can improve the living conditions in a low-rise, high-density housing design. It is primarily concerned with the relationship which people in the high-density settings have with their outdoor environment and explores the possibilities of design and management of the nearby natural area in ways that are beneficial for people and appreciated by them. The study uses the literature on restorative benefits of nature and housing to develop criteria for the design and management of housings at high densities and illustrates the significance and implementation of the design criteria through comparative analysis of the existing and the proposed housing design. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), School of / Graduate