In 1991, Peter Schwartz published a seminal book entitled The Art of the Long View: Planning for the Future in an Uncertain World. The book outlines a strategy called scenario planning, originally developed by Royal Dutch/Shell, which identifies multiple plausible futures—not to predict a preferred future but to provide a framework for making decisions that succeed regardless of whichever future comes to pass. Scenario planning was used to program and design a modest home for a middle-class couple in their 60s—empty nesters, still working, anticipating retirement within the next five years, with a desire to age in place. They are looking for ways to leverage the structure to generate supplemental income in retirement without compromising their quality of life. The site is a small subdivision located in Springdale, Utah, a town with approximately six hundred residents. The three-quarter-acre property is situated in a unique microclimate on the Virgin River, in the shadows of Watchman Peak, near the entrance to Zion National Park. Zion is the second most visited national park in the United States, attracting five million visitors each year from around the globe. This picturesque location presents several challenges and opportunities. The journal article will demonstrate the results of these converging forces—a modest home designed to adapt to ecological, economic, and programmatic uncertainty.
The environmental and economic case for the adaptive reuse of buildings over their demolition is well established; however, comparatively little research has distinguished the design logics that separate architecturally successful conversions from merely functional ones. This study addresses that gap by examining the primary characteristics that appear to contribute most to the successful adaptive reuse of buildings. It begins with the hypothesis that successful adaptive reuse projects typically exhibit either (1) a significant contrast between their former and current purposes, or (2) an underlying organizational similarity between the existing structure and its new program. It was also postulated that the most successful of all reuses would exhibit both of these characteristics. Analysis of six case studies broadly supported the importance of both factors, but not that the presence of both led to greater success. These findings suggest that there are two distinct pathways to successful adaptive reuse: one that minimizes design intervention by capitalizing on organizational correlations, and another that actively celebrates contrasts between the original and new use. The implications of this two-pathway model for practice and policy are discussed.
This study explores how specific interior design attributes influence emotional responses and perception of time. Utilizing virtual reality (VR) to simulate controlled interior settings, the research focused on three interior environmental factors: surface color, visual movement, and auditory stimuli. Based on insights from existing literature, two distinct virtual environments were developed: one room featuring cool colors, an animated wall display, and music; the other incorporating warm colors, a static wall display, and ambient noise. Thirty-eight participants experienced both environments in randomized order. Emotional responses were assessed using a 7-point Likert scale based on Mehrabian and Russell’s Pleasure–Arousal–Dominance (PAD) model, alongside physiological measures of heart rate variability (HRV) and galvanic skin conductance (GSC) to triangulate self-reported emotional data. Results indicated that the environment with cool colors, motion, and music enhanced pleasure and dominance, while significantly shortening perceived time. In contrast, the environment with warm colors, static visuals, and ambient noise elicited higher arousal and was associated with longer perceptions of time. Among all factors, sound was perceived by participants as the most salient factor influencing their temporal experience. These findings provide empirical evidence that multisensory environmental stimuli shape both emotional responses and temporal perception, consistent with the Stimulus–Organism–Response (S–O–R) framework as a coherent structure for understanding the relationships among multisensory stimuli, emotional responses, and temporal perception, and offer practical insights for interior designers seeking to modulate emotional and temporal experiences in contexts where perceived time is critical.
Rural areas in Colombia have historically been overlooked by both government and private planning, which, in many cases, has led to a loss of cultural identity and the failure to create spaces effectively adapted to these realities. The purpose of this study is to analyze how spatial design can contribute to the preservation of collective memory and identity. Time is a crucial factor in the design of spaces, especially in rural communities where territorial roots run deep; therefore, ignoring this dimension can result in designs that disregard the history and aspirations of their inhabitants. This work contributes to research on vulnerable rural territories as settings for reflection on habitat and housing and the theme “Design in Society—On the Social Sources of Design and the Social Effects of Design.” Based on an understanding of the place, the aim is to adopt a strategic, methodological approach to design that respects the local context, promoting responses tailored to needs and integrating local materials, ancestral knowledge, and contemporary dynamics. Interviews, field studies, and a review of references on materials, forms, and construction techniques are strategies for developing a dialogue between the environment and traditions. Adaptive participatory architectural design demonstrates how spaces respond to new needs, strengthening cultural identity and the transmission of intergenerational knowledge. Thus, architecture becomes an agent of change that revitalizes rural identity and sustainable construction, balancing tradition and modernity.
The significance of cultural heritage lies in its ability to embody both tangible and intangible dimensions of a region’s historical, cultural, and religious identity, contributing profoundly to the collective memory of communities and nations. Assam, a historically rich province in Northeast India, possesses numerous heritage monuments dating back to the Gupta period. However, many of these structures have undergone significant deterioration in recent times due to organic and environmental factors, placing invaluable relics at risk without effective preservation and restoration efforts. The architectural legacy of the Dimasa Kingdom stands as a clear example of this situation. This study examines the digital restoration of the architectural ornamentation and visual motifs that once adorned the heritage monuments of the Dimasa Kingdom in Khaspur, Assam. To structure the research process, a mixed-method approach was adopted, beginning with a descriptive phase that addressed the historical and architectural context, followed by a prescriptive phase that developed design workflows for digital restoration. The analysis concentrated on existing remains, remnant motifs, and recurring symmetrical patterns, which were digitally restored. The resulting 2D renderings provide accurate blueprints for lost architectural ornamentations, while the integrated datasets facilitate a comprehensive design workflow to achieve the study’s objectives. This research underscores the value of incorporating digital methodologies into heritage conservation, particularly in contexts where physical restoration is constrained. By preserving and visualizing cultural elements, it supports educational initiatives, strengthens regional identity, and creates new opportunities as a resource for researchers and archaeologists, particularly in the context of future restoration and conservation initiatives.
