The design profession is responding to the complex systems represented by architecture and planning by increasingly incorporating the power of computer technology into the design process. This represents a paradigm shift, and requires that designers rise to the challenge of both embracing modern technologies to perform increasingly sophisticated tasks without compromising their objective to create meaningful and environmentally sensitive architecture. This dissertation investigated computer-based fractal tools applied within a traditional architectural charette towards a design process with the potential to address the complex issues architects and planners face today. We developed and presented an algorithm that draws heavily from fractal mathematics and fractal theory. Fractals offer a quantitative and qualitative relation between nature, the built environment and computational mechanics and in this dissertation serve as a bridge between these realms. We investigated how qualitative/quantitative fractal tools may inform an architectural design process both in terms of generative formal solutions as well as a metric for assessing the complexity of designs and historic architecture. The primary research objective was to develop a compelling cybernetic design process and apply it to a real-world and multi-faceted case study project within a formal architectural critique. Jurors were provided a platform for evaluating design work and weighing in as practicing professional architects. Jurors' comments were documented and discussed and presented as part of the dissertation. Our intention was to open up the discussion and document the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the process we presented. First we discussed the history of generative and algorithmic design and fractals in architecture. We begin with examples in ancient Hindu temple architecture as well as Middle Eastern architecture and Gothic as well as Art Nouveau. We end this section with a discussion of fractals in the contemporary architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Organic school. Next we developed a cybernetic design process incorporating a computer-based tool termed DBVgen within a closed loop designer/algorithm back and forth. The tool we developed incorporated a genetic algorithm that used fractal dimension as the primary fitness criterion. We applied our design process with mixed results as discussed by the jurors whose feedback was chunked into ten categories and assessed along with the author/designer's feedback. Generally we found that compelling designs tended to have a higher FD, whereas, the converse was not true that higher FD consistently led to more compelling designs. Finally, we further developed fractal theory towards an appropriate consideration of the significance of fractals in architecture. We articulated a nuanced definition of fractals in architecture as: designs having multi-scale and multi-functional representations of some unifying organizing principle as the result of an iterative process. We then wrapped this new understanding of fractals in architecture to precedent relevant to the case study project. We present and discuss fractals in the work of Frank Lloyd Wright as well as Dean Bryant Vollendorf. We expand on how a theory of fractals used in architecture may continue to be developed and applied as a critical tool in analyzing historic and contemporary architecture as well as a creative framework for designing new architectural solutions to better address the complex world we live in.

The interplay between architectural design and human psychology is significant, yet it remains largely unnoticed or even ignored both in and outside the design industry. Moreover, the relationship between design and psychology is not only consequential, it is bidirectional. On the one hand, successful design has been shown to have clear psychological and physiological impacts; on the other, psychology, human experience, and the function of our neurological systems all play a significant role in what we perceive to be successful design. This thesis endeavors to create an understanding of how that complex relationship evolved and how it works in today's world. It does so by first exploring how the human brain and nervous system is structured and functions, how that structure and function benefited our human ancestors, and how modern society impacts that function. With that knowledge as a background, the interrelationship – both positive and negative – between design, psychology and our nervous system is explored. Successful design patterns are reviewed, including those that evoke the same sense of security sought by our human ancestors, as well as those whose specific patterns have a meaningful psychological basis. Similarly, reasons why some design forms and themes have not been successful are explored, as is the modern-day challenge of human stress that results from those poorly designed buildings and spaces. Finally, the importance of incorporating nature into the human built environment to take advantage of its positive psychological impact and restorative properties is explored.

Oklahoma is in the middle of Tornado Alley, a name resulting from the large number of tornadoes that hit the region yearly. These storms are costly to life and property. The housing in Oklahoma is currently not well enough engineered to withstand tornados. This thesis proposes a three stage response combining construction technology and the use of landscape to better protect the homes and residents of Oklahoma.

Noise can be defined as unwanted sound. There are many cases and applications that reducing noise level is of great importance. Loss of hearing is only one of the effects of continuous exposure to excessive noise levels. Noise can interfere with sleep and speech, and cause discomfort and other non-auditory effects. High level noise and vibration lead to structural failures as well as reduction in life span. The importance of noise issue could be well understood by looking at regulations that have been passed by governments to restrict noise production in society. Industrial machinery, air/surface transportation and construction activities are main contributors in noise production or "noise pollution". Noise Pollution is not only an annoyance; it is an environmental health hazard. Noise can be found anywhere that life exists, in forests, in the workplace, in homes acrossAmericaand even under water. A lot of research has been done about noise pollution in the last 40 years, but yet there is still more to learn about how to control and lessen the affects that noise has on human and animal life. Noise control is a major factor in the planning, design, and construction of transportation corridors. Architects, acoustical engineers and transportation planners are searching for creative ways to eliminate or greatly reduce noise levels. The challenge lies in attaining desired sound levels while simultaneously maintaining or enhancing the visual environment. I will be setting up an experiment to determine what kinds of materials absorb sound waves of varying frequencies most effectively.

In the Arabian Gulf countries, the majlis is a central part of the house. The most public space within it, the majlis represents the household’s occupants to society and its social and economic status. As the house reflects culture and civilization, so the family is understood as a micro-level society of individuals raised in its institutions. Hence, the house is a manifestation of family structure, religious beliefs, and individual needs and desires, reflecting the family’s economic, cultural, and social backgrounds and aspirations. The majlis offers a unique space in Arab societies, articulating cultural and social factors that directly impact identity Accordingly, the design of the majlis and meanings associated with its constituents are essential to the discussion about Qatari culture and society from past to present (Rapoport 1969). Since the discovery of oil in Qatar, there has been a noteworthy change in the way that houses have been designed, with a major transformation in the use of house and majlis over the last few generations, including social factors such as family social structure, the role of women, kinship and its relationship with privacy and proximity, and economic factors such as the availability of disposable income. This research explores the evolution of house architecture in Qatar with a focus on the design and social impact of the majlis. The physical and social changes in the period between pre-oil discovery until today have created gaps between the built form, climate, and sociocultural activities. This research attempts to bridge this gap, concentrating on the majlis.

Transportation Energy Analysis for Single-Family Residential Construction in California Tyler Langley Since the oil crisis of 1973, energy use in the United States of America has been a growing area of concern. Studies have shown that the construction industry is responsible for almost half of all annual energy consumption. With this awareness, the analysis of energy use within the related construction fields has become an emergent subject. One facet of construction energy use that has been less studied than others is that of the energy consumed in transporting building materials from manufacturing plants to construction sites. This thesis proposes a methodology for determining the energy consumed during the transportation of building materials to a construction site and applies this methodology to estimate the transportation component of the total energy consumed in the lifecycle of a residential building in California. Comparisons are then drawn among the embodied energy of the materials used in the construction of the building, the energy used to transport the materials and the products used in the on-site assembly of the building, and the energy consumed during the occupancy of the building. The first chapter covers the intent of the thesis, as well as a categorization and explanation of the main areas of energy usage in the construction industry. This is followed by a delineation of the methodology used to research transportation energy. Chapter 2 details the development of the framework that is discussed in Chapter 1. This includes the unique problem areas of calculating transportation energy, the resulting parameters that focus the area of study, and the general assumptions derived from those parameters. Chapter 3 is a case study of a single-family two-story house in northern California. First, the considerations and reasons for the choice are defined, establishing this as a representative residence for the area. The material choices and structural system choices are also discussed. Then, the framework introduced in Chapter 2 is applied in the case study. This introduces more case-specific problems in the types of calculations used for estimating transportation energy. Chapter 4 contains a summary of the findings as well as a reflection on the process followed by suggestions for future research and application for the subject of transportation energy usage. In this summary, it is shown that the energy used in transportation of materials to the site of the case study house amounts to 10.5 million Btu, which is roughly 2.5% of the embodied energy, and 21% of the occupational energy usage per year.

Scar: A lingering sign of damage or injury, either mental or physical. Technological advancement scars the landscape. It has been our practice to ignore, or worse, hide these marks that have been made as society continues to advance. Industries past left us relics and ruins of bygone eras of promise and production. The time we live in has recognized the untenable failures of past generations, however there are methods of industry that continue to injure the landscape. We will leave our scars. In this time we must rethink the scar, define it, and recognize its beauty. The first step of reclamation is acquiring awareness of where the scar came from. Whether it is an injury, an accident, or a natural disaster, some traumatic event caused lasting damage. Traumatic events whether natural - hurricanes, floods and earthquakes - or manmade - wars, genocide and assaults - can cause both physical and emotional scars. Human tissues can repair themselves leaving scars, but there are also the scars of repair. Even technological advancements in medicine cannot eliminate the scar. Scarring is the natural healing process, yet we view them as unnatural. Once recognized, we must accept the scar so that we do not destroy it. We must accept the traumatic cause/effect relationships, and be conscious of the healing process. The scar must be appreciated: the time that it takes to make it, the time that it takes to heal, the history it can teach, and the story that it can tell. To hide it would only be an injustice to those who came before us and to those yet to come. With acceptance a scar’s beauty can be seen. Every new era of technology, every successive generation, leaves a scar. The opportunity to aid the greatest healer – time – is now. Every scar tells a story. Reclamation: A restoration, as to productivity, usefulness, or morality.

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The architecture of Airport terminals is unique in nature as it is linked with a wide range of concerns that go hand in hand to demonstrate the efficient functioning of the building. From an inconvenient mode of travel to the city center to the congestions in the security screening, concerns varying from urban design to systems engineering have an impact on the user experience. Along with these concerns, the spatial organization of the airport terminals accommodates various commercial, leisure, retail, and service-based spaces in addition to the core function of aviation. Where the guiding parameters for determining the spatial requirements are dependent on the projected life span, security restrictions, and other socio-political influences. An airport terminal is bound to maintain a stable balance between all of the above parameters and disruption in any of the above can cause major fluctuations in the performance of the airport terminals. According to the United States department of transportation, federal aviation administration(advisory circular 2014) the initial stages of the design for any existing or new airport are derived from the ‘Master planning report’. This report is comprised of airport layout, environmental studies, analysis of runway orientation, land use plans, activity forecasts, capacity analysis, estimates of facilities, and more. To achieve a balanced environment capable of satisfying the concerns of various institutions it is important that the positioning of each amenity is carefully curated and is designed to perform as expected for several years. The vulnerability of terminal buildings to the technological and infrastructural changes is one of the main problems with the airports. This thesis attempts to analyze different components that cause airport terminals to be rigid to the changes. Following the performance analysis for airport terminals, this project proposed a design solution that exhibits a potential way of increasing the efficiency and life span of the airport terminals. While the flexibility of physical infrastructure is one of the ways to absorb the increasing congestions in the building, it also needs to be organized so that it can ease the tensions in a positive way and do not cause unnecessary complexities. To acknowledge this circumstance and find a fact-based resolution to this issue, this project proposes to work out a system of constants and variables where a series of elements can be retained for a comparatively longer period and be more stationary than the variables of the design that can be changed over a shorter period. Based on the analysis of airport terminals in general and a focused analysis of one particular location this project will propose a unique design solution for the medium hub airport terminals and provide a proof of concept by re-imagining the design of Bradley airport at Hartford.