The main goal of this project is to achieve successful architecture regarding its creativity and authenticity. It is always the content, not the aesthetic, that forms the basis for the final evaluation of design. Thus, the main intention is to bring together -in a design- issues from three different circumstances: the 'present' situation -a personal view of femininity and women's permanency in dwelling, the 'past' cultural background -tradition in the "porteria" culture- and its evolution and the 'future' possible direction of society -the critical innovative thought through the project. The reaching of the 'concept' in the architecture makes a design authentic. "True architecture does not just agree with [essence] but also asserts the agreement." (Kaersten Harries, Representation and Re-presentation in Architecture, 1988). Ludwig Wittgenstein, an Austrian philosopher of the 1940's, defines architecture as the 'innovative critical thought' of a given situation summarized in a concept -idea, emotion, intention- which is translated and transformed into visual representation to be understood by the designer, and then communicated and shared with society."Remember the impression one gets from good architecture;that it expresses a thought "(Ludwig Wittgenstein, 1940's)The proposed approach concerns itself with the idea of un-veiling and re-vealing the hidden knowledge in the design actions that architects make in their search for realization. These actions are both conscious and unconscious, where accidents also occur allowing for the limitlessness characteristic of the design process. In this way, the objective of this journey of exploration is to find and visualize those steps that architects take while designing. The process of design is very rich in options and in alternatives. It is also rich in its detours and deviations. When all the stages are seen and visualized to the point of bringing them into the consciousness, the design in itself becomes richer and is taken to a further and more profound definition.The underlying ideas of the creative thesis is segmented into attitudes that give shape to the final project. Each attitude is a constituent concept of the end design. The blending and fusion of these diverse issues are perceptible in the final venture. These components begin appearing with the first attempt, evolve in the next various undertakings, and are finally intertwined in the last design."To explain howsbvctures come to hare specific designs[..) we must examine the design process. In particular, we mustidentify thegeneral causal factors (and their inteffeladonsfirp) that influence the decisions leadingto the designs for specific structures " (McGuire & Schiffer, 1938)The following is an enumeration of the attitudes or 'casual factors' that create the basis for the decisions taken along the design process. The basic foundation is the urbanity, the framework or system where the project takes place. This element comprises the urban context and the history of the place which eventually become the rules -the limits- set by the environment. The idea of dwelling also comes into play suggesting the need of permanency and the understanding of the concept of living and inhabiting a space. Next, the feminine component acts as a basis for reflections on femininity, where protection, subtlety and sensuality play important roles. This feminine attitude is carried not only thematically but also architecturally. Also, the culture is important in regards to tradition and contemporaneousness. The fact that the site is situated in Buenos Aires -Argentina- implies an understanding of its people and the values of its culture. Finally, the architectural component establishes personal beliefs toward architecture and the role of the architect in society along with the personal ability to realize the design. All these attitudes fuse together to become the final project: a house for a woman in Buenos Aires.In this way, the challenge is to work with and within the different limits and find the inherent freedom. "Architects are able to creatively play with these limitations and still achieve great responses to both their own intentions and today's society's needs" (previous research). This search carries various decisions regarding a balanced 'giving and taking', and a great deal of creativity. Certainly, it is in the creative 'way-finding' that architecture can express itself most gracefully and truthful. In conclusion, in this project there are limits regarding the contextual issues, rules and norms (urbanity), society's needs and beliefs (women issues), cultural constraints (tradition) and the architect's social responsibilities. In spite of these limitations and thanks to them, the intention is to 'seek for a solution' manipulating and creatively handling these limitations to achieve an architectural artifact. / Department of Architecture

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The subsequent data, analysis and case study is an attempt to clarify architectural approaches to meeting housing shortages in developing nations. This thesis is directed towards providing a greater understanding of the Third World building environment by examining unforeseen constraints, design parameters and the architect's new role vis-a-vis housing design for developing countries, as well as design approaches and strategies related to the housing problem in the developing world. These aspects of low-cost housing design in developing nations have been distilled into a process of design which is intended to further define a direction an architect can pursue in order to arrive at a feasible design solution regarding low-cost housing in developing countries. As a conclusion, the thesis provides a frame of reference to the previous analysis with a case study of the Dominican Republic, describing the country itself, its housing problem and some design proposals put forward by regional architects as a part of an international seminar on housing sponsored by the Dominican housing organization, CII-VIVIENDAS. Chapters one, two and three approach the topic of low-cost housing in developing countries as an analysis of the broadest architectural considerations. Chapter one, "Design Constraints for Low-Cost Housing in Developing Countries" introduces the initial design considerations of building conditions in the developing world from the perspective of an architect trained in the construction practices of the more advanced industrial nations. In comparison to the conventional architectural environment of the developed nations, the limited construction resources of developing nations constitute severe building constraints. These constraints are examined. Chapter two, "Summary of Design Parameters for Developing Countries" derives design guidelines from the architectural constraints of chapter one. Chapter three. "Housing Design for Developing Countries: New Architectural Roles, New Design Approaches & New Design Process" supplements the analysis of the first two chapters with a review of current architects' design responses to the rigid building parameters inherent in low-cost housing design for developing countries. Chapter four, "A Case Study of the Dominican Republic: Country & Housing Characteristics" provides a frame of reference for the previous analysis with information concerning the country, the architectural influences and the housing data of the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic suffers from housing problems typical to most developing countries. Chapter five. "Dominican Low-Cost Housing Seminar: Possible Low-Cost Housing Solutions for the Dominican Republic" concludes the thesis with a synthesis of the analysis and the case study. The synthesis is presented in terms of the diverse solutions to the housing shortage of the Dominican Republic reached by the participants of a low-cost housing seminar in the Dominican Republic. The seminar held in the winter of 1985 included foreign participants from both developed and developing countries in addition to the native Dominican participants. The design options described at the conclusion of chapter five are reflective of the current paths of low-cost housing development. / Master of Architecture

This thesis outlines and undertakes a phenomenological investigation of dwelling in Harlan County, Kentucky, which is located in the central Appalachian coal region. After comparing the phenomenological method of inquiry to other methods of landscape evaluation, this method proved to be a useful tool for understanding dwelling, a concept that is difficult to define or pinpoint through the other methods. Experiencing the front yards of homes in this county was deemed an appropriate vehicle for undertaking this study. Empirical findings, derived from the phenomenological method of inquiry, were used to elucidate the emergence of patterns concerning dwelling. A conserver pattern emerged from the patterns observed. This conclusion is used to support the recommendation that phenomenological investigations be used in the classroom to aid students in the process of the reading the landscape for clues to more appropriate design decisions for dwelling. / Master of Landscape Architecture

Due to factors such as rising energy costs, diminishing resources, and climate change, the demand for high performance buildings is on the rise. As a result, several new building standards have emerged including the Passive House Standard, a rigorous energy-use standard based on a super-insulated and very tightly sealed building envelope. The standard requires that that air infiltration is less than or equal to 0.6 air changes per hour at a 50 Pascal pressure difference, annual heating energy is less than or equal to 15kWh/m2, and total annual source energy is less than or equal to 120 kWh/m2. A common complaint about passive houses is that they tend to overheat. Prior research using simulation suggests that the use of Phase Change Materials (PCMs), which store heat as they melt and release heat as the freeze, can reduce the number of overheated hours and improve thermal comfort. In this study, an actual passive house duplex in Southeast Portland was thoroughly instrumented to monitor various air and surface temperatures. One unit contains 130kg of PCM while the other unit contains no PCM to serve as an experimental control. The performance of the PCM was evaluated through analysis of observed data and through additional simulation using an EnergyPlus model validated with observed data. The study found that installation of the PCM had a positive effect on thermal comfort, reducing the estimated overheated hours from about 400 to 200.

The building of the Maori displaced by European designs, methods of construction introduced by the French and British settlements and the influences resulting in the subsequent development of domestic architecture.

[ES] El trabajo aquí desarrollado pretende sacar a la luz un valioso patrimonio de 1.018 casas-cueva existentes en la comarca del Vinalopó Medio en la provincia de Alicante, con escasas referencias publicadas hasta el momento por los investigadores dedicados a la materia. Abordar el conocimiento de este extenso conjunto excavado ha supuesto un extraordinario reto para el que ha sido necesario estructurar la investigación en diversas fases, la primera, ineludible, la localización y censado de todas ellas. A partir de esta primera etapa se desarrolla toda una labor que tiene como fin último la puesta en valor de las casas-cueva de la comarca y sentar las bases para lograr el reconocimiento y la debida protección patrimonial por parte de las administraciones. Así, el estudio llevado a cabo se centra en la identificación de las características de los núcleos de cuevas hasta definir la tipología propia de los asentamientos de la zona y la morfología interna del espacio excavado, para, seguidamente, establecer un análisis comparativo con otros conjuntos de España. Se completa la investigación con la evaluación del estado actual de conservación de estas viviendas a través de la identificación de los daños y lesiones y con la aportación de técnicas y actuaciones de restauración. Igualmente, se verifican las extraordinarias condiciones de confort ambiental interior de las casas-cueva. El trazado de todo este trabajo culmina con la propuesta de dos estrategias de intervención que procuran aprovechar los recursos de la comarca y promocionar la recuperación del uso como vivienda de estas cuevas. / [CA] El treball ací desenvolupat pretén traure a la llum un valuós patrimoni de 1.018 cases-cova existents a la comarca del Vinalopó Mitjà a la província d'Alacant, amb escasses referències publicades fins al moment pels investigadors dedicats a la matèria. Abordar el coneixement d'aquest extens conjunt excavat ha suposat un extraordinari repte per al qual ha sigut necessari estructurar la investigació en diverses fases, la primera, ineludible, la localització i censat de totes elles. A partir d'aquesta primera etapa es desenvolupa tota una labor que té com a fi última la posada en valor de les cases-cova de la comarca i establir les bases per a aconseguir el reconeixement i la deguda protecció patrimonial per part de les administracions. Així, l'estudi dut a terme se centra en la identificació de les característiques dels nuclis de coves fins a definir la tipologia pròpia dels assentaments de la zona i la morfologia interna de l'espai excavat, per a, seguidament, establir una anàlisi comparativa amb altres conjunts d'Espanya. Es completa la investigació amb l'avaluació de l'estat actual de conservació d'aquests habitatges a través de la identificació dels danys i lesions i amb l'aportació de tècniques i actuacions de restauració. Igualment, es verifiquen les extraordinàries condicions de confort ambiental interior de les cases-cova. El traçat de tot aquest treball culmina amb la proposta de dues estratègies d'intervenció que procuren aprofitar els recursos de la comarca i promocionar la recuperació de l'ús com a habitatge d'aquestes coves. / [EN] This work has the aim of bring to light a valuable heritage of 1.018 cave-houses located at the Vinalopó Medio in the province of Alicante, with few published works to date by researchers in the field. To address the knowledge of this huge excavated complex has led a tremendous challenge and, in consequence, it has been necessary to divide the research along different phases, first of all, unavoidable, the location and census of all of them. After this first stage, a long task has been carried out with the ultimate goal of calling attention to the value of the cave-houses at this area and lay the basis to achieve the recognition and the correct equity protection by the public administrations. In this way, the work performed is focused in the identification of characteristics of the cave areas to define the representative typology of the settlements in the area and the internal morphology of the excavated complex and, then, carry out a comparative analysis with other cave areas in Spain. The thesis work is completed with the evaluation of the current conservation status of these dwellings through the identification of damages and the proposal of techniques and actions for their restoration. In the same way, the extraordinary indoor environmental comfort conditions of cave-houses are confirmed. All this work finalizes with the proposal of two intervention strategies which seek to leverage the resources of the area and facilitate the original use of these cave-houses as dwellings. / Martínez Antón, A. (2021). Casas cueva de la Comarca del Vinalopó Medio (Alicante) [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/171457