Dania Abdel-aziz - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Dania Abdel-aziz
Journal of design studio, Jul 20, 2021
Learning in design studios is a complex process that overwhelms the students and results in commo... more Learning in design studios is a complex process that overwhelms the students and results in common mutual-misunderstandings between student-teacher. This research aims to tackle teachers' role in the design studio and explore how they can help students navigate the design learning complexities. The emphasis in learning design is primarily on students who are not aware of their learning. This puts teachers at a disadvantage, sometimes not knowing what to do or concentrating on students' learning but not knowing their teaching, or even focusing on their teaching but not aware of the importance of learning how to teach. What is the teacher-student interaction patterns that can help students get over/deal with complexities in design studios learning environments? Can building up awareness of the teachers' role help the students learn and enhance their teaching methods? The research carried out a literature review to draw a holistic understanding of the dimensions of complexities in design studios and teachers' role to solve these difficulties. It can be concluded the importance of the teacher's role in teaching design is as essential as the role of the students in learning design. Teacher-student interaction enhances the students' design learning and the teachers' design teaching. Students should be aware of their roles as learners and the role of their teachers. Agreeing with the students makes the teachinglearning journey more fruitful while students get rid of their uncertainty and be more confident.
Oriental Courier, 2019
Architectural preservation of historical buildings is an increasingly important civilizational as... more Architectural preservation of historical buildings is an increasingly important civilizational aspect, and dynamic environmental shaping is key to sustaining the integrity and vital functions of architectural monuments. The article looks at the revitalisation method, which, true to its literal meaning (breathing new life into something), envisages a way of sustaining the value of historical buildings by not merely restoring them but also imbuing them with new functions, thus adapting them to new demands of everyday use. A water mill in Iraq Al-Amir (Jordan) is a case study in this article.
Arts and Design Studies, 2014
Today`s building façades continuously lose connection to their local identities and contextual su... more Today`s building façades continuously lose connection to their local identities and contextual surroundings, more attention is required when designing façades in order to come up with designs that synergize with their unique surroundings. This does not imply that building façades should be approached in a typical traditional manner, but rather that their design should be a result of different factors, interacting and overlapping, and in respect to the physical and non-physical context. Façades should be designed in respect to high performance, aesthetics and efficient constructability for example, and this in return indicates that variations in façade designs are a positive indication that buildings are responding to their built and natural contexts. Architects and designers should respond to side effects of globalization resulting in the spreading of out of context styles, unresponsive and kitschy, in order to save the visual interest in the city and the beyond physical meaning of architecture. It is advised here that architects and designers articulate the very meaning of modernity within local architecture and environment. This article tries to discuss various factors impacting façade design generally, relating discussions to the current situation Amman, the metropolis, and its buildings are undergoing.
Pervious concrete is a new concrete with high porosity which usually used for flat work applicati... more Pervious concrete is a new concrete with high porosity which usually used for flat work applications in order to allow water to pass through it, and by that it reduces the volume of direct water runoff from a site and increases the quality of storm water and water pollution. Due to the high flow rate of water through Pervious concrete pavement, rainfall can be captured and percolate into the ground, recharging groundwater, supporting sustainable construction, reducing storm-water runoff, and providing a solution for construction that is sensitive to environmental concerns. In urban areas especially where the land is very expensive, Pervious concrete pavement and its sub-base may provide a good amount of water storage capacity which eliminates the need for precipitation runoff containment strategies. This study examines the advantages of using such material to maximize storm-water, minimize flooding and improve water filtration in Jordan by replacing a selected parking lot area in th...
Journal of Architectural Engineering Technology, 2015
This research addresses a modern-day major topic; sustainability, and although it is in fact a ve... more This research addresses a modern-day major topic; sustainability, and although it is in fact a very vast and wide topic and on every tongue at current times, some aspects of it seem to be left with little exploration in comparison to the other aspects, such as resource allocation. Mainly, this research will go into the importance of resource allocation for sustainable development, with emphasis on infrastructure, financial, human and information resources, and it will address topic related questions, questions like: how much effect has resource allocation on sustainable place promotion? And is it possible to allocate resources on the basis of any priority structure? And most of all, what can we do in Jordan to improve allocation of resources to achieve the desired integrated and long term development.
American Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2015
Several studies investigated the impact of urban forests on city micro-climate. Evapotranspiratio... more Several studies investigated the impact of urban forests on city micro-climate. Evapotranspiration, alone or in combination with shading, can help reduce peak summer temperatures by 1-5° C (19). Tree-shade alters building cooling loads by preventing incident solar radiation on building facades. Tree-sun-building interactions influence the magnitude of this effect. The objective of this paper is to present a simplified method for making these interactions effective for dwellings in Amman, the capital of Jordan, representing a Mediterranean climate. We selected two types of trees, commonly used in residential plantation. The location of these trees around the studied building as observed in real practice. The method of analysis depended mainly on how a tree can reduce direct solar absorption by the building's wall, when it casts shade upon a wall portion through day time. This is then subtracted from the overall cooling load; a total summation of the trees effect is then calculate...
Arts and Design Studies, 2014
Today`s building facades continuously lose connection to their local identities and contextual su... more Today`s building facades continuously lose connection to their local identities and contextual surroundings, more attention is required when designing facades in order to come up with designs that synergize with their unique surroundings. This does not imply that building facades should be approached in a typical traditional manner, but rather that their design should be a result of different factors, interacting and overlapping, and in respect to the physical and non-physical context. Facades should be designed in respect to high performance, aesthetics and efficient constructability for example, and this in return indicates that variations in facade designs are a positive indication that buildings are responding to their built and natural contexts. Architects and designers should respond to side effects of globalization resulting in the spreading of out of context styles, unresponsive and kitschy, in order to save the visual interest in the city and the beyond physical meaning ...
Electric lighting is one of the major energy consuming items in many non-domestic buildings. Usin... more Electric lighting is one of the major energy consuming items in many non-domestic buildings. Using day lighting schemes can help reduce the electrical demand and contribute to the visual comfort and green building development. Building energy saving for engineering structures have obtained the worldwide attention. There is an essential need to develop a new kind of building material, which can integrate green energy saving with self-sensing properties of functional material. This study presents a study on the impact of using light transmitting concrete on energy saving in office buildings by offering daylight scheme for the building. The results showed significant effects of using light transmitting concrete on reducing the electricity consume in office buildings by reducing artificial light demand. This will enhance the daylight indoor quality, worker's productivity and satisfaction. Further work needs to be done to explore the effects of light transmitting concrete on cooling ...
This paper is intended to examine and research a new way of planning on the Jordanian ground, reg... more This paper is intended to examine and research a new way of planning on the Jordanian ground, regional planning, a planning approach proven to be highly effective globally on multiple levels but unfortunately not widely practiced in the Arab World. This research paper tries to examine how the area of the Jordan Valley is being administered regionally, and attempts to breakdown and discuss the different elements of this process in a critical manner. Outcomes of the reserch indicate mainly that although this planning approach is implicated to a certain degree; still it is seen as being more sectoral in nature. Keywords: Jordan Rift Valley, Regional Planning, Dead Sea, Master Plan, Sustainability.
Pervious concrete is a new concrete with high porosity which usually used for flat work applicati... more Pervious concrete is a new concrete with high porosity which usually used for flat work applications in order to allow water to pass through it, and by that it reduces the volume of direct water runoff from a site and increases the quality of storm water and water pollution. Due to the high flow rate of water through Pervious concrete pavement, rainfall can be captured and percolate into the ground, recharging groundwater, supporting sustainable construction, reducing storm-water runoff, and providing a solution for construction that is sensitive to environmental concerns. In urban areas especially where the land is very expensive, Pervious concrete pavement and its sub-base may provide a good amount of water storage capacity which eliminates the need for precipitation runoff containment strategies. This study examines the advantages of using such material to maximize storm-water, minimize flooding and improve water filtration in Jordan by replacing a selected parking lot area in th...
Journal of environment and earth science, 2014
The importance of trees as an urban microclimatic modifier is well known, but little work has bee... more The importance of trees as an urban microclimatic modifier is well known, but little work has been done on semi-arid climates in general, while no similar studies have been done on a local level in Jordan. Conducting such studies, especially on the local level, will provide useful data on trees as a shading device and their role in mitigating the urban heat island effect and in minimizing the continuous rising temperature in city cores and dense areas. This study aims at providing professionals as well as architects with the impacts of shade trees on air conditioning electricity use for residential buildings in Amman, hence an awareness of this issue is encouraged reflecting on both professionals and city residents. The study suggests a tree planting design guideline based on the computer simulation results for new and existing residential construction. Based on the outcomes, energy savings calculated for 50 typical residential buildings in Al-Hashmi Al-Shamali district, indicate th...
Scientific Research Communications
Architecture and urbanism are disciplines based on knowledge of space. From this point of view, t... more Architecture and urbanism are disciplines based on knowledge of space. From this point of view, this research aims to study the challenges of dealing with hawkers (Street Vendors) in Jordan's urban centres generally by shedding light on downtown Amman. Although they succeed in acquiring and controlling space informally in Amman, hawkers have been ignored by local planners and even been harassed by local authorities for not being given space to operate their businesses. Rigid transformations should be carried in urban planning strategies in downtown Amman. Local policies need to be enforced to end this conflict and provide suitable conditions and capacities to read and respond to the hawkers' needs. They represent an integral part of the region's urban fabric. This study is based on reviewing related literature, field survey, and observations carried out for two months in the study area. In addition to several informal discussions held with the hawkers, pedestrians, merch...
Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Journal of Architectural Engineering Technology, 2014
Today`s building façades continuously lose connection to their local identities and contextual su... more Today`s building façades continuously lose connection to their local identities and contextual surroundings, more attention is required when designing façades in order to come up with designs that synergize with their unique surroundings. This does not imply that building façades should be approached in a typical traditional manner, but rather that their design should be a result of different factors, interacting and overlapping, and in respect to the physical and non-physical context. Façades should be designed in respect to high performance, aesthetics and efficient constructability for example, and this in return indicates that variations in façade designs are a positive indication that buildings are responding to their built and natural contexts. Architects and designers should respond to side effects of globalization resulting in the spreading of out of context styles, unresponsive and kitschy, in order to save the visual interest in the city and the beyond physical meaning of ...
This research discussed the importance of daylight as one of the major factors in sustainable arc... more This research discussed the importance of daylight as one of the major factors in sustainable architectural design and highlights the significant role of daylight in energy consumption reduction and enhancement of human health and performance due to the unique characteristics of daylight such as; spectral composition, quality, and variability which has demonstrated to make it a preferred source of lighting. A physical 1/20 scale testing model is built in real sky design conditions to evaluate the feasibility of utilizing light pipes to enhance daylight in deep plan studio and to reduce the need for electric lighting. Using the model in outdoor day-lighting condition helped to evaluate the daylight performance of different mirrored light pipe prototypes. The study provides insight about light pipes parameters and evaluated them in order to understand the relationship between those parameters and the amount of illumination delivered. The parameters include cross-section shape, cross-section area, internal angle and collector's size and inclination angle. The research proved that the light pipe system is the simplest advanced system that allows daylight to transport into the interior spaces where windows are restricted. Five horizontal pipes are sufficient to illuminate the studio by 750 Lux which are recommended in design studios.
This paper addresses the need for transformational changes and adaptations in city-design thinkin... more This paper addresses the need for transformational changes and adaptations in city-design thinking of today, on both local Jordanian and international levels; adaptations that are to make cities of today more inclusive, sustainable and resilient. The change in viewing conventional planning processes discussed is to further enhance global design and planning shifts towards participatory planning by embracing new input from different city users; also children, where their ideas are to be creatively channelled into creating quality living spaces and enhance place-making mechanisms. This research aims at shedding light on both the possibility and capability of integrating children in different design tasks regarding improving their environments. This research also emphasizes on the importance of giving children an opportunity to express their views and gain an understanding and appreciation of how planning is intimately linked to many aspects of their daily lives and the future of their communities, but also incorporating their imagination and experiences into making better places for happier people of all ages, on many city scales. Through a series of carefully designed workshops, children's perception of their built environments, their experiences, their judgement and decision-making on finding solutions and alternatives to problems of resource allocation for example, spatial relationships among different land uses, proximity of health facilities and educational services and environmental protection were explored, based on what they themselves would like to change in reference to their own daily lives. Qualitative observations were taken and analysed, and afterwards summarized and compared to prevailing planning and design practices and concepts.
This research addresses a modern-day major topic; sustainability, and although it is in fact a ve... more This research addresses a modern-day major topic; sustainability, and although it is in fact a very vast and wide topic and on every tongue at current times, some aspects of it seem to be left with little exploration in comparison to the other aspects, such as resource allocation. Mainly, this research will go into the importance of resource allocation for sustainable development, with emphasis on infrastructure, financial, human and information resources, and it will address topic related questions, questions like: how much effect has resource allocation on sustainable place promotion? And is it possible to allocate resources on the basis of any priority structure? And most of all, what can we do in Jordan to improve allocation of resources to achieve the desired integrated and long term development. The results basically highlight incorporating the public for achieving equitable resource allocation, and its dependence on concepts of having a priority system not hierarchy for the process of allocation, planning with objectives and introducing new adaptable global concepts to alleviate the current resource allocation condition in Jordan.This research basically recommends that resources should be allocated according to the priorities and objectives concept, objectives that are predetermined and integrated with a holistic vision of how development should be in a certain area, facilitated by a proper national agenda. Also, these priorities and objectives should always be determined according to the locals in the concerned area, and in a way that is environmentally considerate, socially integrated and economically strengthening.
In recent years, researchers around the world have made large efforts to measure the effect of tr... more In recent years, researchers around the world have made large efforts to measure the effect of trees shade on thermal performance and energy consumption while no studies dealt exclusively with street trees in Jordan. This research studied the role of street trees in reducing energy consumption focusing on the effect of street trees crown geometry on pollution dispersion, air quality and pedestrian thermal comfort. Two main parameters were taken into consideration; contextual parameters which are fixed in all cases (street width, street orientation, pavements width, buildings form and height, side and front spacing), and trees parameters (trunk height, crown volume, crown shape and trees location). One row of street trees was planted at the opposite of each building on three scenarios; (1) at the north pavement, (2) at the central island, and (3) at the south pavement. This research used Autodesk® Revit® Architecture software for modeling and Design Builder software for simulation cooling and heating loads, the solar gain for both summer and winter and CO² emissions (Kg) from the air conditioner. Results showed a significant reduction in cooling loads resulted from planting deciduous street trees with high privileges for planting vase trees.
Journal of design studio, Jul 20, 2021
Learning in design studios is a complex process that overwhelms the students and results in commo... more Learning in design studios is a complex process that overwhelms the students and results in common mutual-misunderstandings between student-teacher. This research aims to tackle teachers' role in the design studio and explore how they can help students navigate the design learning complexities. The emphasis in learning design is primarily on students who are not aware of their learning. This puts teachers at a disadvantage, sometimes not knowing what to do or concentrating on students' learning but not knowing their teaching, or even focusing on their teaching but not aware of the importance of learning how to teach. What is the teacher-student interaction patterns that can help students get over/deal with complexities in design studios learning environments? Can building up awareness of the teachers' role help the students learn and enhance their teaching methods? The research carried out a literature review to draw a holistic understanding of the dimensions of complexities in design studios and teachers' role to solve these difficulties. It can be concluded the importance of the teacher's role in teaching design is as essential as the role of the students in learning design. Teacher-student interaction enhances the students' design learning and the teachers' design teaching. Students should be aware of their roles as learners and the role of their teachers. Agreeing with the students makes the teachinglearning journey more fruitful while students get rid of their uncertainty and be more confident.
Oriental Courier, 2019
Architectural preservation of historical buildings is an increasingly important civilizational as... more Architectural preservation of historical buildings is an increasingly important civilizational aspect, and dynamic environmental shaping is key to sustaining the integrity and vital functions of architectural monuments. The article looks at the revitalisation method, which, true to its literal meaning (breathing new life into something), envisages a way of sustaining the value of historical buildings by not merely restoring them but also imbuing them with new functions, thus adapting them to new demands of everyday use. A water mill in Iraq Al-Amir (Jordan) is a case study in this article.
Arts and Design Studies, 2014
Today`s building façades continuously lose connection to their local identities and contextual su... more Today`s building façades continuously lose connection to their local identities and contextual surroundings, more attention is required when designing façades in order to come up with designs that synergize with their unique surroundings. This does not imply that building façades should be approached in a typical traditional manner, but rather that their design should be a result of different factors, interacting and overlapping, and in respect to the physical and non-physical context. Façades should be designed in respect to high performance, aesthetics and efficient constructability for example, and this in return indicates that variations in façade designs are a positive indication that buildings are responding to their built and natural contexts. Architects and designers should respond to side effects of globalization resulting in the spreading of out of context styles, unresponsive and kitschy, in order to save the visual interest in the city and the beyond physical meaning of architecture. It is advised here that architects and designers articulate the very meaning of modernity within local architecture and environment. This article tries to discuss various factors impacting façade design generally, relating discussions to the current situation Amman, the metropolis, and its buildings are undergoing.
Pervious concrete is a new concrete with high porosity which usually used for flat work applicati... more Pervious concrete is a new concrete with high porosity which usually used for flat work applications in order to allow water to pass through it, and by that it reduces the volume of direct water runoff from a site and increases the quality of storm water and water pollution. Due to the high flow rate of water through Pervious concrete pavement, rainfall can be captured and percolate into the ground, recharging groundwater, supporting sustainable construction, reducing storm-water runoff, and providing a solution for construction that is sensitive to environmental concerns. In urban areas especially where the land is very expensive, Pervious concrete pavement and its sub-base may provide a good amount of water storage capacity which eliminates the need for precipitation runoff containment strategies. This study examines the advantages of using such material to maximize storm-water, minimize flooding and improve water filtration in Jordan by replacing a selected parking lot area in th...
Journal of Architectural Engineering Technology, 2015
This research addresses a modern-day major topic; sustainability, and although it is in fact a ve... more This research addresses a modern-day major topic; sustainability, and although it is in fact a very vast and wide topic and on every tongue at current times, some aspects of it seem to be left with little exploration in comparison to the other aspects, such as resource allocation. Mainly, this research will go into the importance of resource allocation for sustainable development, with emphasis on infrastructure, financial, human and information resources, and it will address topic related questions, questions like: how much effect has resource allocation on sustainable place promotion? And is it possible to allocate resources on the basis of any priority structure? And most of all, what can we do in Jordan to improve allocation of resources to achieve the desired integrated and long term development.
American Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2015
Several studies investigated the impact of urban forests on city micro-climate. Evapotranspiratio... more Several studies investigated the impact of urban forests on city micro-climate. Evapotranspiration, alone or in combination with shading, can help reduce peak summer temperatures by 1-5° C (19). Tree-shade alters building cooling loads by preventing incident solar radiation on building facades. Tree-sun-building interactions influence the magnitude of this effect. The objective of this paper is to present a simplified method for making these interactions effective for dwellings in Amman, the capital of Jordan, representing a Mediterranean climate. We selected two types of trees, commonly used in residential plantation. The location of these trees around the studied building as observed in real practice. The method of analysis depended mainly on how a tree can reduce direct solar absorption by the building's wall, when it casts shade upon a wall portion through day time. This is then subtracted from the overall cooling load; a total summation of the trees effect is then calculate...
Arts and Design Studies, 2014
Today`s building facades continuously lose connection to their local identities and contextual su... more Today`s building facades continuously lose connection to their local identities and contextual surroundings, more attention is required when designing facades in order to come up with designs that synergize with their unique surroundings. This does not imply that building facades should be approached in a typical traditional manner, but rather that their design should be a result of different factors, interacting and overlapping, and in respect to the physical and non-physical context. Facades should be designed in respect to high performance, aesthetics and efficient constructability for example, and this in return indicates that variations in facade designs are a positive indication that buildings are responding to their built and natural contexts. Architects and designers should respond to side effects of globalization resulting in the spreading of out of context styles, unresponsive and kitschy, in order to save the visual interest in the city and the beyond physical meaning ...
Electric lighting is one of the major energy consuming items in many non-domestic buildings. Usin... more Electric lighting is one of the major energy consuming items in many non-domestic buildings. Using day lighting schemes can help reduce the electrical demand and contribute to the visual comfort and green building development. Building energy saving for engineering structures have obtained the worldwide attention. There is an essential need to develop a new kind of building material, which can integrate green energy saving with self-sensing properties of functional material. This study presents a study on the impact of using light transmitting concrete on energy saving in office buildings by offering daylight scheme for the building. The results showed significant effects of using light transmitting concrete on reducing the electricity consume in office buildings by reducing artificial light demand. This will enhance the daylight indoor quality, worker's productivity and satisfaction. Further work needs to be done to explore the effects of light transmitting concrete on cooling ...
This paper is intended to examine and research a new way of planning on the Jordanian ground, reg... more This paper is intended to examine and research a new way of planning on the Jordanian ground, regional planning, a planning approach proven to be highly effective globally on multiple levels but unfortunately not widely practiced in the Arab World. This research paper tries to examine how the area of the Jordan Valley is being administered regionally, and attempts to breakdown and discuss the different elements of this process in a critical manner. Outcomes of the reserch indicate mainly that although this planning approach is implicated to a certain degree; still it is seen as being more sectoral in nature. Keywords: Jordan Rift Valley, Regional Planning, Dead Sea, Master Plan, Sustainability.
Pervious concrete is a new concrete with high porosity which usually used for flat work applicati... more Pervious concrete is a new concrete with high porosity which usually used for flat work applications in order to allow water to pass through it, and by that it reduces the volume of direct water runoff from a site and increases the quality of storm water and water pollution. Due to the high flow rate of water through Pervious concrete pavement, rainfall can be captured and percolate into the ground, recharging groundwater, supporting sustainable construction, reducing storm-water runoff, and providing a solution for construction that is sensitive to environmental concerns. In urban areas especially where the land is very expensive, Pervious concrete pavement and its sub-base may provide a good amount of water storage capacity which eliminates the need for precipitation runoff containment strategies. This study examines the advantages of using such material to maximize storm-water, minimize flooding and improve water filtration in Jordan by replacing a selected parking lot area in th...
Journal of environment and earth science, 2014
The importance of trees as an urban microclimatic modifier is well known, but little work has bee... more The importance of trees as an urban microclimatic modifier is well known, but little work has been done on semi-arid climates in general, while no similar studies have been done on a local level in Jordan. Conducting such studies, especially on the local level, will provide useful data on trees as a shading device and their role in mitigating the urban heat island effect and in minimizing the continuous rising temperature in city cores and dense areas. This study aims at providing professionals as well as architects with the impacts of shade trees on air conditioning electricity use for residential buildings in Amman, hence an awareness of this issue is encouraged reflecting on both professionals and city residents. The study suggests a tree planting design guideline based on the computer simulation results for new and existing residential construction. Based on the outcomes, energy savings calculated for 50 typical residential buildings in Al-Hashmi Al-Shamali district, indicate th...
Scientific Research Communications
Architecture and urbanism are disciplines based on knowledge of space. From this point of view, t... more Architecture and urbanism are disciplines based on knowledge of space. From this point of view, this research aims to study the challenges of dealing with hawkers (Street Vendors) in Jordan's urban centres generally by shedding light on downtown Amman. Although they succeed in acquiring and controlling space informally in Amman, hawkers have been ignored by local planners and even been harassed by local authorities for not being given space to operate their businesses. Rigid transformations should be carried in urban planning strategies in downtown Amman. Local policies need to be enforced to end this conflict and provide suitable conditions and capacities to read and respond to the hawkers' needs. They represent an integral part of the region's urban fabric. This study is based on reviewing related literature, field survey, and observations carried out for two months in the study area. In addition to several informal discussions held with the hawkers, pedestrians, merch...
Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Journal of Architectural Engineering Technology, 2014
Today`s building façades continuously lose connection to their local identities and contextual su... more Today`s building façades continuously lose connection to their local identities and contextual surroundings, more attention is required when designing façades in order to come up with designs that synergize with their unique surroundings. This does not imply that building façades should be approached in a typical traditional manner, but rather that their design should be a result of different factors, interacting and overlapping, and in respect to the physical and non-physical context. Façades should be designed in respect to high performance, aesthetics and efficient constructability for example, and this in return indicates that variations in façade designs are a positive indication that buildings are responding to their built and natural contexts. Architects and designers should respond to side effects of globalization resulting in the spreading of out of context styles, unresponsive and kitschy, in order to save the visual interest in the city and the beyond physical meaning of ...
This research discussed the importance of daylight as one of the major factors in sustainable arc... more This research discussed the importance of daylight as one of the major factors in sustainable architectural design and highlights the significant role of daylight in energy consumption reduction and enhancement of human health and performance due to the unique characteristics of daylight such as; spectral composition, quality, and variability which has demonstrated to make it a preferred source of lighting. A physical 1/20 scale testing model is built in real sky design conditions to evaluate the feasibility of utilizing light pipes to enhance daylight in deep plan studio and to reduce the need for electric lighting. Using the model in outdoor day-lighting condition helped to evaluate the daylight performance of different mirrored light pipe prototypes. The study provides insight about light pipes parameters and evaluated them in order to understand the relationship between those parameters and the amount of illumination delivered. The parameters include cross-section shape, cross-section area, internal angle and collector's size and inclination angle. The research proved that the light pipe system is the simplest advanced system that allows daylight to transport into the interior spaces where windows are restricted. Five horizontal pipes are sufficient to illuminate the studio by 750 Lux which are recommended in design studios.
This paper addresses the need for transformational changes and adaptations in city-design thinkin... more This paper addresses the need for transformational changes and adaptations in city-design thinking of today, on both local Jordanian and international levels; adaptations that are to make cities of today more inclusive, sustainable and resilient. The change in viewing conventional planning processes discussed is to further enhance global design and planning shifts towards participatory planning by embracing new input from different city users; also children, where their ideas are to be creatively channelled into creating quality living spaces and enhance place-making mechanisms. This research aims at shedding light on both the possibility and capability of integrating children in different design tasks regarding improving their environments. This research also emphasizes on the importance of giving children an opportunity to express their views and gain an understanding and appreciation of how planning is intimately linked to many aspects of their daily lives and the future of their communities, but also incorporating their imagination and experiences into making better places for happier people of all ages, on many city scales. Through a series of carefully designed workshops, children's perception of their built environments, their experiences, their judgement and decision-making on finding solutions and alternatives to problems of resource allocation for example, spatial relationships among different land uses, proximity of health facilities and educational services and environmental protection were explored, based on what they themselves would like to change in reference to their own daily lives. Qualitative observations were taken and analysed, and afterwards summarized and compared to prevailing planning and design practices and concepts.
This research addresses a modern-day major topic; sustainability, and although it is in fact a ve... more This research addresses a modern-day major topic; sustainability, and although it is in fact a very vast and wide topic and on every tongue at current times, some aspects of it seem to be left with little exploration in comparison to the other aspects, such as resource allocation. Mainly, this research will go into the importance of resource allocation for sustainable development, with emphasis on infrastructure, financial, human and information resources, and it will address topic related questions, questions like: how much effect has resource allocation on sustainable place promotion? And is it possible to allocate resources on the basis of any priority structure? And most of all, what can we do in Jordan to improve allocation of resources to achieve the desired integrated and long term development. The results basically highlight incorporating the public for achieving equitable resource allocation, and its dependence on concepts of having a priority system not hierarchy for the process of allocation, planning with objectives and introducing new adaptable global concepts to alleviate the current resource allocation condition in Jordan.This research basically recommends that resources should be allocated according to the priorities and objectives concept, objectives that are predetermined and integrated with a holistic vision of how development should be in a certain area, facilitated by a proper national agenda. Also, these priorities and objectives should always be determined according to the locals in the concerned area, and in a way that is environmentally considerate, socially integrated and economically strengthening.
In recent years, researchers around the world have made large efforts to measure the effect of tr... more In recent years, researchers around the world have made large efforts to measure the effect of trees shade on thermal performance and energy consumption while no studies dealt exclusively with street trees in Jordan. This research studied the role of street trees in reducing energy consumption focusing on the effect of street trees crown geometry on pollution dispersion, air quality and pedestrian thermal comfort. Two main parameters were taken into consideration; contextual parameters which are fixed in all cases (street width, street orientation, pavements width, buildings form and height, side and front spacing), and trees parameters (trunk height, crown volume, crown shape and trees location). One row of street trees was planted at the opposite of each building on three scenarios; (1) at the north pavement, (2) at the central island, and (3) at the south pavement. This research used Autodesk® Revit® Architecture software for modeling and Design Builder software for simulation cooling and heating loads, the solar gain for both summer and winter and CO² emissions (Kg) from the air conditioner. Results showed a significant reduction in cooling loads resulted from planting deciduous street trees with high privileges for planting vase trees.