Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xiv, 184 p.; also includes graphics. Includes bibliographical references (p. 153-184). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

I examensarbetet Kvar på Koverhar- En berättelse om återväxt används en nedlagd stålfabrik i södra Finland som utgångspunkt för en undersökning av framväxten av ett samhälle i en imaginär framtid där råvaror omhändertas, konsumismen och synen på exploatering och hållbarhet med alla de begränsningar och möjligheter det innebär är mer än fina ord i politiska manifest. I mitt projekt går hållbarhetsprocesserna hand i hand - ju bättre miljön återhämtar sig och bevaras, desto mer kan samhället utvecklas och växa. Platsens icke-urbana läge gör bioremediering tacksamt att använda, en långsam, men ekonomiskt och ekologiskt effektiv process som får ta tid på en plats där exploateringstrycket är litet. Miljöarbetet skapar sysselsättning och mervärde utanför ramarna för ekonomisk vinning. Stadsstrukturen tar form genom ett visualiserat scenario med utgångspunkt i den omgivande miljön, infrastrukturen, den befintliga strukturen och lokal tradition. De befintliga konstruktionerna och husgrunderna, baserade på stålfabrikens produktionslogik, används för att skapa oväntade arkitektoniska rumssammanhang tillsammans med den renande växtlighetens upplevelsevärden. En idé om cirkulär resursanvändning gör exploaterade industritomter till guldkorn för återanvändning och återuppbyggnad, där varje råvara och infrastruktursatsning är en tillgång. Jag vill berätta en historia om en plats som ingår i det kretsloppet, där gårdagens fantomfabrik skapar en grund för en idé om en framtida urban/rural sammansättning. / In the thesis project Residual resource - A story of regeneration the remains of an abandoned steel factory become the breeding ground for sustainable future settlement. Situated on the shore of southern Finland the area of Koverhar is in the midst of the forrest, but exceptionally well-equipped with infrastructural connections to the country's main cities. I have explored an imaginary scenario where future needs are catered to through environmental care, sustainable political decisions, resource-saving productions and decreased consumerism. In my thesis the bioremediation process initiates the expansion of the built environment. The non-urban location of the site makes the slow and ecologically effective bioremediation process ideal - the immediate need for exploitation is low, instead a community is allowed to form over a long period of time, based on soil-treatment and visualized changes in societal ideals concerning habitual urban and rural lifestyles. The existing foundations left at the site after the extensive demolition, will be used to generate unexpected spatial qualities in the built environment. The core of the development will remain public throughout the remediation process, with dwellings influenced by local tradition forming around. Through Residual resource - A story of regeneration I have explored the notion of circularity in terms of both environmental regeneration and architectural  reuse. The future need for reclaiming post-industrial sites and remediation of contaminated environments are but a contemporary challenge a source of potential for reuse of resources and regeneration of ecosystems and rural settlements.

Abstract    This thesis explores the evolving relationship between architecture and the globally competitive city, specifically examining how architects are involved in the realization of market metaphors that underpin city-branding on global markets. Specifically, this research focuses on waterfront redevelopment projects of post-industrial cities. Post-Industrial cities responded to their shared period of economic despair and declining port-related activities through embracing market-led city planning. This would repurpose their old redundant port sites and attract further economic investment. Through this, post-industrial cities sought  to appear more attractive on global markets, and this would in turn attract investment and foster new knowledge-based economies. City-branding became a key tool in this effort, with the goal of attracting investors and skilled individuals. The city's framework for city-branding has since greatly guided the output of the urban environment, and this has had a major impact on the work of modern architects. The theoretical section of this paper argues that architectural firms are complicit in maintaining the market metaphors of the city, and act accordingly to city-branding in reinforcing the entrepreneurial ethos of the city.   The argument of this thesis is that the close relationship between architecture and fostering competitiveness within city planning of competitive cities is a result of the prioritization of commercial considerations over architectural autonomy. It is argued that due to globalization, the neoliberal ethos of competitive cities has restructured the development of the built environment globally to economically brand cities. This has resulted in a reproduction of the neoliberal critiques we see which are related to the social welfare of those a part of the neoliberal regimes. The hegemonic nature of neoliberalism ensures the freedom of global markets, which this thesis discovers to have ranging social effects on architecture. Overall, the neoliberal ethos of competitive cities now ensures that architecture should reflect the investment appeal of the city, and promote an entrepreneurial spirit in the urban environment to the dismay of architects.     The analysis section employs press release analysis and interviews with architects to test the proposed theoretical frameworks of city-branding and neoliberal architecture. The findings demonstrate that architectural firms and their flagship projects do align with marketised city branding. However, the insights from our interviews reveal disparities between marketized branding and architects' personal interpretations of their work. Architects perceive architecture as an artform which struggles to maintain balance amidst the demands of global markets.

Meroitic settlements had long remained on the periphery of scholarly interests, although there was still only a limited degree of our understanding of Meroitic society, economy and daily life. During past few decades, archaeological research carried out at many sites in the modern Republic of the Sudan brought to light new information on the form, function and dynamics of Meroitic urban centers. We have become better acquainted with principles involved in their planning and with architecture of civic buildings, and perhaps most importantly, with architecture of ordinary houses. There were obvious differences between settlements in different regions of the Meroitic kingdom, that seemingly stemmed from local ways of land exploitation and state control of local population. Yet these were only few of many influential factors. The data obtained by study of Meroitic settlements can be further used to estimate Meroitic population or evaluate the form and degree of social stratification.