This thesis elaborates on the relationship between work and time and how it relates to quality architecture. Quality is a degree of excellence. The project proposed is aimed at promoting quality in the built environment through workmanship. Pretoria, in the Tswane Metropolitan area, is in Gauteng, the province responsible for most trade in South Africa. Hatfield in Pretoria is home to many students of various institutions, including the University of Pretoria. Many workers live in Pretoria and commutes daily between Pretoria and Johannesburg. The world is characterized by ever-changing aspects today, and especially in South Africa uncertainty prevails. Fluctuations in the economy have resulted in a feeling of insecurity. An unemployment rate of approximately 40% has caused many South Africans to become temporary, and often migrant, workers. This uncertainty also reflects in the built environment, where buildings have become "temporary", displaying a lack of workmanship in the planning and construction. The project discussed in this thesis is a result of intensive planning on the site, in collaboration with the proposed Hatfield Gautrans Station by Bernard Roccon (thesis proposal for MArch(Prof) degree, 2003), implemented to provide an efficient public transport link between Pretoria and Johannesburg. The functions of the project; a stable centre acting as a datum point and haven for temporary workers, is a result of this planning process. This thesis aims at re-establishing a trust in the built environment through quality architecture, by promoting work and workmanship. / Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Architecture / unrestricted

This project covers the methodology and process of landscape architectural design with emphasis on incorporating Function-based Habitat Design into conventional design processes. The Tshwane urban realm is characterised by the lack of wildlife habitat and serves as backdrop for the new design process demonstration. This new process aims to generate habitat for both humans and the natural ecology through a principled urban framework and ecological design. It creates the opportunity to enhance biodiversity throughout the city through interference on precinct, site and detailed level. / Dissertation (ML (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Architecture / unrestricted

Entre la fin des années 1960 et les années 1980, la ville de Paris a connu à la fois une période de grande transformation urbaine et un changement dans les stratégies de cette transformation par rapport aux héroïques Trente Glorieuses. L'analyse de ces modifications architecturales et urbaines et les processus de leur mise en œuvre sont souvent basés sur le point de vue de la morphologique ou des politiques urbaines. De plus, en France, l'étude des processus de décision et des transformations urbaines relève des sciences sociales. Cela a abouti à une malheureuse séparation des approches académiques: l'une portant sur la recherche du lien entre les politiques ou les théories de la communauté architecturale et les projets, alors que l'autre considère l'espace urbain déjà transformé comme un point de départ pour l'analyse sociale. Cette recherche vise à étudier l'écart entre ces deux approches méthodologiques influentes en France dans les années 1970 et 1980, grâce à une étude dans le domaine de l'histoire urbaine. Le principal objectif de la thèse est d'explorer le rôle de l'Atelier Parisien d'Urbanisme (ci-après APUR), une entité bureaucratique chargée de tâches multiples, dans le contexte du décalage entre rénovation et forme urbaine quant à la ville de Paris. Entre 1967 et 1989, l'APUR a joué un rôle essentiel dans la traduction du passage susmentionné en termes opérationnels, en créant un lien avec les institutions qui ont le pouvoir de transformer de vastes zones de la capitale française. Cela fut possible grâce au processus de négociation entre des institutions entre elles et avec les architectes et designers urbains dans lequel APUR a joué un rôle important. Dans ce contexte, la recherche étudiera également la relation entre les références culturelles et les processus par lesquels les espaces urbains sont convertis. Deux cas d'études nous permettent d'analyser ces changements urbains et le rôle joué par l'APUR: les transformations des Halles Centrales de Paris, et les projets pour le Secteur de la Villette, en particulier ceux de la place Stalingrad (Bernard Huet, de 1985 à 1989) et le Parc de la Villette au cours du premier concours organisé par l'APUR (1976).Ces deux cas sont liés. D'une part, ils illustrent un point de vue culturel; d'autre part, ils rendent compte des processus institutionnels et politiques, montrant une transformation qui s'est produite dans toute la ville. Enfin, ils croisent la trajectoire de certains des personnages les plus emblématiques de l'architecture française de l'époque. L'un d'eux était Bernard Huet, un enseignant, théoricien, critique et concepteur qui a joué un rôle fondamental dans la définition d'un nouveau paradigme culturel. La recherche montre un changement dans le processus de transformation de l'espace urbain à Paris. Les pratiques sont passées de projets qui ont été générés par un débat animé, fortement lié aux sciences sociales contemporaines françaises, à une normalisation successive des projets urbains et d'un imaginaire urbain ainsi qu'à une légitimation culturelle de l'APUR. Le rôle crucial de l'APUR dans les deux cas d'études est analysé en comparant les archives de l'Atelier, celles des architectes impliqués dans les projets urbains ainsi que les fonds ministériels et présidentiels. Les sources orales sont limitées à un rôle de contrôle. Enfin ce travail vise à mettre en évidence le processus de « faire la ville » en soulignant le rôle d'une bureaucratie publique dans les transformations urbaines qui mènent, entre 1967 et 1989,à la conception contemporaine de la ville de Paris / Between the end of the 1960s and the 1980s, the city of Paris faced a period of extensive urban transformation and a change in the strategies of this transformation at the same time, in comparison with the heroic Trente Glorieuses. The analysis of these architectural and urban changes and the processes of implementation, are often based on a morphological or a policiy-oriented perspective. Moreover, in France, the study of decision-making processes and urban transformation falls within the scope of social sciences. This has resulted in an unfortunate separation of academic approaches: one focusing on finding the link between the theories of the architectural community or policies and the projects, while the other taking the already transformed urban space as a starting point for social analysis. This research aims to investigate the gap between these two methodological approaches, both influential in France during the 1970s and 1980s, through an urban history-oriented study. The main goal of the thesis is to explore the role of the Atelier Parisien d'Urbanisme (hereafter APUR), a bureaucratic entity charged of several different tasks, within the shift from urban renovation to urban form, concerning the city of Paris.Between 1967 and 1989, the APUR had an essential part in translating the aforementioned shift into operative terms, in connection with those institutions that had the power to transform large areas of the French capital. This was possible thanks to a negotiation process involving different institutions , as well as architects and urban designers, in which APUR took a major role. In this context the research will also investigate the relationship between the cultural references and the processes through which urban spaces have been converted. Two case studies allow an analysis of these urban changes and of the role played by the APUR: the transformations of the Halles Centrales of Paris, and the projects for the secteur de la Villette, especially those for Place Stalingrad (Bernard Huet, 1985-89) and Parc de la Villette during the first competition organized by APUR (1976).These two cases are intertwined. On one hand, they illustrate a cultural point of view; on the other hand, they give an account of institutional and political processes, showing a transformation that occurred throughout the whole city. Finally, they cross the trajectory of some of the most emblematic figures in French architecture at that time. One of them was Bernard Huet, a teacher, theorist, critic and designer who played an fundamental role in the definition of a new cultural paradigm. The research shows a change in the process of transformation of urban space in Paris. The practices shifted from projects which were generated through vivid debate, strongly linked to contemporary French social sciences, to a later standardization of urban projects and urban imaginaire and a cultural legitimation of APUR. The central role of APUR in the two case studies is analysed by comparing the Atelier's archives, the ones of the architects involved in the urban projects as well as the ministerial and presidential ones. Oral sources are restricted to a control role. In the end this work aims to highlight the process of city-making trough the role of a public bureaucracy within urban transformations: an active contribution which led, between 1967 and 1989, to the definition of the contemporary conception of the city of Paris

Storgatan 2.0 is a study and design concept investigating the need for change of the main pedestrian street of the city of Växjö, in South Sweden. In order to propose a basis for discussions, and work as an inspiration for further renewal ideas, the design concept presents various, initial redesign visualisations of the site, Storgatan pedestrian street. The theoretical framework of this study leans on conducting urban studies with human-centred approach to city development. The exploratory research phase of the project was performed through several methods, including site observation, interview, and a survey for the local citizens. Also, relevant secondary research and necessary investigation of the context, Sweden, are part of the study. In the end, the project focuses on sorting and analysing the data, by using various visual thinking tools as a method. The outcome of the project is a proposal visualising the possibilities for Storgatan, based on the research results. The visualisations are not meant to provide detail-oriented final solutions, but defend the potential of Storgatan to become a stronger version of the main pedestrian street – an enjoyable, pedestrian-prioritised public place that is actively used and shaped by the citizens.

This research is a small part of a bigger field of research made before by other authorsregarding the humans in the urban public space. It has a small context compared to otherstudies, but a big impact inside the community. It aims at finding answers to questions thatother researchers asked before, but under different circumstances and they displayed them through different ways such as documentary films (The social life of small urban spaces 1980, How to live in a city 1964).After experiencing the city life of Malmö and some questions have been raised, the concept of resilience intersected with the interest of social public life in a neighbourhood. In order to have the theoretical framework to answer the research question, the thesis follows a literature review, where the concepts of resilience, urban resilience, resilient urban design and social resilience have been explored.Next, after exploring the city of Malmö, some case studies have been chosen and studiedthrough direct observation in different months starting with March and various times of theday. In the methodological approach section the methods are explained as well as a detailed presentation of the biggest tool used for this research: observational drawing. The tools used for the observation are field notes, observational drawings and photographs. The cases are spread throughout the city and are located in neighbourhoods with different urban tissues. The results reveal all the observational drawings made during the field visits and the field notes written. They show how people use the spaces in all three case studies depending on the weather or other external factors.The discussion reveals the complexity of the relation between concepts and the empiricaldata, following the initial aim of the research throughout the discussion. This thesiscontributes with important outcomes to the field of urban studies creating awareness about the urban context and its influence on people. The findings of this study show a diversity and creativity of users in using the public space.

The aim of this thesis is to find a feasible form of urban structure for the site close to the historical center of the city. The work is based on a traditionalist approach to town planning. Proposed new city can be described as a city with mixing functionality, with a preference for non-motorized and public transport, environmental, but also economic, with lively streets with commerce and greenery, and a permeable barrier. Proposal seeking its own access to the site, differing from the zoning plan, which includes large areas of defunct industrial sites.

The goal of the diploma thesis is to design a form of redeveloped urban area adjacent to the historical city centre of Brno. The design follows the tradition of the compact city and its development from the medieval age until the 19th century. Mixed functions, preference of non-motorised and public transport, vital shopping streets with greenery, permeability and spaces without barriers are characteristics for the proposed city of short distances. The design has its own distinctive approach to the plot, conceptually differing from the valid local development plan. I do not believe that the important animating impulse for the underdeveloped district of Brno-Zábrdovice should consist of tearing down existing buildings and replacing them with a new thoroughfare duplicating the internal city ring road.

The subject of the master’s thesis is an urban solution of the area delimited by the streets of Sportovní, Drobného, Gen. Píky, Porgesova. The draft is based on restoring and enhancing the attractiveness of the area. The solution is to create a sports centre, a connection with Lužánecký park, ensuring transport links with surroundings and free access to the public. The result should be an efficient and effective area.

This thesis deals with urban design of Svitava river waterfront in Brno Husovice. The main target is to renew a island position and to show future potential built-up area of the island. The proposal focuses on the incorporation water flows into private and public space, multi-functionality, creating new public spaces and giving priority to pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

abstract: Moderate physical activity, such as walking and biking, positively affects physical and mental health. Outdoor thermal comfort is an important prerequisite for incentivizing an active lifestyle. Thus, extreme heat poses significant challenges for people who are outdoors by choice or necessity. The type and qualities of built infrastructure determine the intensity and duration of individual exposure to heat. As cities globally are shifting priorities towards non-motorized and public transit travel, more residents are expected to experience the city on their feet. Thus, physical conditions as well as psychological perception of the environment that affect thermal comfort will become paramount. Phoenix, Arizona, is used as a case study to examine the effectiveness of current public transit and street infrastructure to reduce heat exposure and affect the thermal comfort of walkers and public transit users. The City of Phoenix has committed to public transit improvements in the Transportation 2050 plan and has recently adopted a Complete Streets Policy. Proposed changes include mobility improvements and creating a safe and comfortable environment for non-motorized road participants. To understand what kind of improvements would benefit thermal comfort the most, it is necessary to understand heat exposure at finer spatial scales, explore whether current bus shelter designs are adequate in mitigating heat-health effects, and comprehensively assess the impact of design on physical, psychological and behavioral aspects of thermal comfort. A study conducted at bus stops in one Phoenix neighborhood examined grey and green infrastructure types preferred for cooling and found relationships between perception of pleasantness and thermal sensation votes. Walking interviews conducted in another neighborhood event examined the applicability of a framework for walking behavior under the stress of heat, and how differences between the streets affected perceptions of the walkers. The interviews revealed that many of the structural themes from the framework of walking behavior were applicable, however, participants assessed the majority of the elements in their walk from a heat mitigation perspective. Finally, guiding questions for walkability in hot and arid climates were developed based on the literature review and results from the empirical studies. This dissertation contributes to filling the gap between walkability and outdoor thermal comfort, and presents methodology and findings that can be useful to address walkability and outdoor thermal comfort in the world’s hot cities as well as those in temperate climates that may face similar climate challenges in the future as the planet warms. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Sustainability 2019