Academic literature on the topic 'Medium density residential'

In urban scale, solar energy utilization potential is closely related to residential density. Taking Xining City as an example, this paper explored how density of urban residential area affects solar energy utilization potential of urban housing. By changing density related design variables , including building layout, density rate, floor-site area ratio and the number of floors, 36 general models of residential areas with low, medium and high density are Abstracted. The results show that solar energy utilization potential of buildings varies greatly with different density related design variables. Comparison of a number of different scenarios reveals how density related variables affect solar energy utilization potential, based on which suggestions for optimization of solar energy potential for urban residential areas in their initial planning and design stages are proposed.

The effect of residential atmosphere environment generally gives environment stress to the life of the dwellers. One of the environment stress source is the unfulfilment of thermal comfort. The rapid development of residential at Denpasar City cause the variation on building density that are low, medium, high, and very high density classifications. Residential configuration of each classification gives very strong influence to status of urban’s thermal comfort. Purpose of the research is to understand the thermal index profile PET, to identify the status of thermal comfort and to analyze the influence of Tmrt to thermal index PET of residential atmosphere environment at West Denpasar Sub-district area. The research was performed at residential atmosphere environment of West Denpasar Sub-district area by using RayMan model simulation to obtain thermal index profile PET. Sampling technique used the stratified random sampling method with data diversity that is used based on the buildings density. The thermal index profile PET of residential of low density classification is the lowest thermal index profile PET compared to the other three classifications, which are the medium, high, and very high density. One hundred percent of status of thermal comfort of residential atmosphere environment is in hot thermal stress and based on average thermal index PET is on physiological stress level of “Strong heat stress”. Tmrt is the most influential variable to thermal index PET. The concept to increase the status of thermal comfort of residential atmosphere environment at West Denpasar area used the bioclimatic approach. Investigation of status of thermal comfort of residential atmosphere environment at West Denpasar Sub-district area has given the directive of urban planning in improving and revitalized urban spaces.

This study narrates environmental quality of residential areas in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria with a view to evolving policy response for planning and development of livable environment and others with similar characteristics. This narration is in terms of the environmental characteristics of the residential areas, the level of importance that the residents attached to the environmental characteristics and the level of satisfaction that they derived from them. The study made use of data collected from three hundred and twenty-one (321) residents systematically sampled across the three residential density areas (high-density, medium-density and low-density) of Lagos Metropolis. Data analysis was done using cross-tabulations and analysis of variance. Findings revealed that environmental quality in the metropolis was at the low ebb, especially in high and medium density areas. Residents attached high level of importance to environmental characteristics of the study area but derived low level of satisfaction from the environmental characteristics. Based on the study, it was recommended that there is need to put in place a workable legal framework to boost the condition of environment across the residential density areas of the metropolis. Also, through public enlightenments, and awareness, residents should ensure judicious use of the environmental amenities and be environmentally-friendly in their utilization.

<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">This paper contrasts high and low-density residential and functional environments through an assessment of the pleasure and arousal said environments elicit. The relationships between these affective dimensions and a measure of emotional well-being and personality traits are also explored. Two hundred thirty-eight university students assessed the degree of pleasure and arousal elicited by a series of images depicting high and low-density residential and functional environments. The findings clearly reveal that residential environments produce more pleasurable feelings than functional spaces, regardless of their density. However, as regards arousal, the feelings produced by residential and functional environments vary on depending on their density. It concludes that residential environments are more adaptable environments in terms of emotional well-being.</span></p>

The development called the ‘WGV precinct’ is a 2.2 ha medium density residential urban infill development in the Fremantle suburb of White Gum Valley, Western Australia. It was delivered by DevelopmentWA, the State Government development agency. DevelopmentWA and the project’s consultant team designed the WGV precinct to be an exemplar of urban water management in this type of development. Working within commercial constraints, the team established strategies to achieve ambitious reductions in mains water consumption compared to a business-as-usual approach. This paper discusses the process of establishing the precinct’s water related technologies and design features, a valuable case study in demonstrating water innovations in residential developments. Monitoring and transparently reporting on the real-world performance of the project is a key element. A comprehensive metering and data gathering system was put in place, which continues collecting data as the WGV precinct becomes increasingly established. Based on the design water strategies and early stage modelling, a target of 60–70% mains water reduction against the suburban average was set. The measured performance shows that a 65% reduction has been achieved. Barriers and constraints were observed that, if resolved, indicate that more ambitious targets can be considered for future projects. The paper includes discussion of opportunities for further work and compares some basic project qualities and outcomes to two other Australian residential development projects that had reduction in mains water consumption as an explicit objective.

Purpose Rental housing is an important form of accommodation; evaluating its quality will improve the quality of designs, standard living of renters, new dimension to policy guiding rental housing and enhance the values of rental houses. This study aims to examine the factors influencing rental housing quality in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select tenants for the study. Residential areas were stratified into three densities: high, medium and low. Out of the 18 residential areas identified, six, eight and four were in the high, medium and low densities, respectively. Five residential areas were selected based on high concentrations of rental housing. The selected areas are Mokuro and Iloro (high density), Ife City and Eleyele (medium density) and Aladanla (low density). Systematic sampling technique was used to select 550 buildings where an adult tenant was selected per building for questionnaire administration. Findings The results of the principal component analysis established that four factors were generated for the high-density, nine factors for the medium-density and five factors for low-density areas as the major factors influencing rental housing quality. The variation in the number of factors generated and the percentage variance explained by the factors could be associated to the peculiarities across the densities in terms of the socioeconomic characteristics and housing characteristics of the renters. Originality/value This study examined the factors influencing housing quality for renters in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. It provides information on the three residential densities in terms of the variation in their housing morphology. The study went further to establish the relationship among the three musketeers such as socioeconomic characteristic of renters, housing characteristics and housing quality, under three dimensions environmental, internal building and external Building. Therefore, the contribution of this study strengthens the position that a minimum standard and schedule of upgrade and maintenance should be meted out for landlords to carry out repairs at interval, so as to make the housing unit and environment habitable for tenants.

Abstract Residential private open spaces are instrumental to the creation of pleasant residential environments, contributing to the individual character, identity, and appearance of the residential area. Therefore, the problem of inadequate percentage of the residential private open spaces prevents the urban residential environment from attaining city sustainability. This problem is rooted in the non-adherence to building regulation standards especially in cities in Nigeria. In metropolitan Lagos, a study of three selected medium density residential estates reveals a non-adherence to the building regulation for the private open space to building footprint coverage ratios in the residential estates. The research method used in this study is methodological triangulation employing both quantitative and qualitative methods. The sampling is based on multistage cluster sampling, and the data collection tools were high resolution satellite imagery, survey (through the administration of questionnaires). The results of the study reveal that in the medium density residential estates, a typical spatial pattern of the residential private open spaces from imagery classification data and ground truth data have ratios that indicate 70% of the Residential lot is for building footprint coverage while 30% is reserved for private open space as opposed to the specification by the Lagos state building regulation which specifies that 60% should be reserved for building footprint coverage and 40% for private open space. In conclusion, it is imperative that there be an introspection and a possible review of the Lagos state building regulation in the face of 21st century realities of the Lagos metropolitan population demands.

Residential districts account for the most common type of urban land coverage. Massive developments with high density have a huge impact on the urban climate. In this study, we explored the thermal environment optimization strategies of residential districts with different development intensities (plot ratios) from the perspective of urban renewal and residential district design in Xi’an, China. We selected residential districts with low, medium, and high plot ratios in Xi’an City for field measurements and environmental simulation according to five proposed optimization strategies. By comparing the air temperature, mean radiant temperature, and physiological equivalent temperature at the pedestrian height, 1.5 m from the ground, we explored the thermal environment optimization texture of each strategy. The results showed that the same strategy introduced different effects in different residential districts. Increasing the road reflectivity had the best effect on residential districts that had a low plot ratio, whereas planting trees was the best effect in districts with medium and high plot ratios. Planting lawns had a better effect in districts with high plot ratios. The findings of this study provide suggestions for the optimization and reconstruction of residential districts and contribute to future residential district development and design.

This study investigated how changes in land surface temperature (LST) during 2004 and 2014 were attributable to zoning-based land use type in Seoul in association with the building coverage ratio (BCR), floor area ratio (FAR), and a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). We retrieved LSTs and NDVI data from satellite images, Landsat TM 5 for 2004 and Landsat 8 TIRS for 2014 and combined them with parcel-based land use information, which contained data on BCR, FAR, and zoning-based land use type. The descriptive analysis results showed a rise in LST for the low- and medium-density residential land, whereas significant LST decreases were found in high-density residential, semi-residential, and commercial areas over the time period. Statistical results further supported these findings, yielding statistically significant negative coefficient values for all interaction variables between higher-density land use types and a year-based dummy variable. The findings appear to be related to residential densification involving the provision of more high-rise apartment complexes and government efforts to secure more parks and green spaces through urban redevelopment and renewal projects.

Human waste is as important to mankind as life itself. As people feed for survival, the process of digestion leads to the production of human waste. Lagos being a Mega city with a population of more than fifteen million, the human waste generated is significant. How the generated human waste is handled is worthy of assessment. This paper examines the methods through which human wastes are collected and disposed in Ikeja residential quarters. The case study has the three classified residential zones of high density, medium density and low density. Sample frame was based on the number of buildings. Findings reveal that, residents across the density zones rely basically on septic tanks for human waste storage, which leads to a recommendation that septic tanks and soakaways be kept at appropriate distances to boreholes and wells, to prevent water contamination.

Constant population growth creates demand for land resources including residential space. Population growth requires certain density of city environment and architecture with the correspondent qualities. Under the conditions of high density, architectural forms may be the most viable models of future architecture in general and residential buildings in particular.

This thesis reviews and quantifies the implementation of mains water reduction strategies in a medium density residential development in a city with a drying climate. WGV by DevelopmentWA (WGV) is a 2.2-hectare infill development in the Fremantle suburb White Gum Valley, Perth, Australia. WGV incorporates a number of mains water reduction strategies including water efficiencies, conservation and alternative sources. This thesis investigates the implementation of these mains water reduction strategies, providing understanding on the impact of the strategies for residents living in the development. Over 60 smart meters were installed at the site to record data on mains, bore and rain water consumption for three dwelling typologies including: - Detached dwellings: Assumed occupancy of 2.8 people per dwelling with an average of 105m2 per person with no common walls between dwellings. - Attached dwellings: Assumed occupancy of 2.8 people per dwelling with an average area of 45m2 per person with common walls between dwellings. - Multi-residential (Apartment) dwellings: Assumed occupancy of 1.8 people per dwelling with an average area of 55m2 per person. The results demonstrated that residents living in WGV reduce their total water consumption by 48% whilst reducing their mains water consumption by approximately 64% in comparison to the typical Perth home. This is an 8% difference to the preliminary modelling completed by Josh Byrne & Associates (JBA) which predicted a mains water savings of 72%. Attached dwelling residents were the lowest mains water consumers, using 20kL/person of mains water per year (81% reduction on Perth average) whilst Apartment residents consume 32kL per year (70% reduction) and Detached residents consume 52kL per year (51% reduction). The thesis also found that the community bore system had been implemented successfully. Direct on-site infiltration was determined to be greater than the groundwater abstraction rate, leading to the conclusion that the community bore at WGV is sustainably managed. Future policy implications following this study should include industry and governmental agencies investigating the implementation of small-scale decentralised alternative water sources and the water efficiencies and conservation strategies presented in this thesis. A number of further studies are recommended including a detailed analysis of the Design Guidelines provided to residents by Development WA to further understand the large variation in water consumption levels of resident living within the WGV precinct. This study would include household audits and surveys with residents to provide a breakdown of the effectiveness of each water reduction initiative implemented to better understand the influence of the Design Guidelines. Overall, WGV has been successful at reducing its mains water consumption by 64% which is within 10% of the predicted savings in the preliminary modelling completed by JBA.

Since the 1987 Brundtland Report, the development of urban areas has been considered a key determinant in achieving 'sustainability'. Greater residential density is increasingly advocated for and applied through policy statements around the world as a way of achieving this goal. Various tiers of New Zealand government are following international policy trends, developing programmes, protocols and strategies that promote sustainability and 'good' urban design practices through intensification, or concentration, within urban areas. Research shows that a policy framework of urban concentration, through greater residential density, is only successful where consumers and providers of housing support its practical application. Confrontation between policy and the market, and the acceptability of greater levels of residential density to residents, can jeopardise a policy's success. This research uses a mix of survey and interview techniques to determine the acceptability of "medium density" developments to residents, and to understand the practises and motivations of housing developers in Christchurch's "Living 3" zone. This zone is predominantly sited between the central business district and low-density suburban areas, making it ideally located to facilitate policies of intensification. The principle purpose of the zone is the development of medium-density residential accommodation, however greater residential density is relatively new to Christchurch where the potential for expansion is seemingly unbounded. The intention of this research is to assist the planning, production and performance of future developments. In conclusion, this thesis makes recommendations to improve the form and design of medium density residential developments in Christchurch's inner Living Three zone in terms of the market's producers and consumers.

Constant population growth creates demand for land resources including residential space. Population growth requires certain density of city environment and architecture with the correspondent qualities. Under the conditions of high density, architectural forms may be the most viable models of future architecture in general and residential buildings in particular.

AbstractThis chapter explores changes in attitudes and preferences—in other words, the underlying demand—for different types and locations of housing in Australia’s largest cities. Until recently, housing preferences have strongly favoured detached housing and low-density urban settings. This is now changing. This section reports on data from a major household survey that examined the attitudes of resident property owners in the middle suburbs of Sydney and Melbourne to neighbourhood change and medium-density housing development. It examines household preferences and trade-offs related to different ‘living arrangements’ (dwelling and location combinations) and attitudes to lot amalgamation and bottom-up redevelopment between neighbours. The survey identified clear shifts in ‘living arrangement’ priorities in the major capital cities that now reveal equivalent preferences for medium-density housing in established areas with good public transport versus detached housing in car-dependent suburbs.It highlights the lag in supply-side response by the property-development and building industries, as well as the missed steps by metropolitan and municipal governments in strategic planning and rezoning of established suburban greyfield precincts to accommodate medium-density housing at scale: in essence, GPR.

Abstract In this paper, energy conservation approaches for residential buildings in rural area of southeast China are studied. There used to be no heating habits in rural buildings of southeast China, which is due to the relatively warm weather in winter. However, as the stand of living is increasing, heating in winter has become more popular in recent years. It is quite important to choose proper heating conservation materials taking both initial cost and operating cost into consideration. In this paper, a typical house in southern part of Henan Province is selected for study. It is a two-level house made of bricks, which was built in 2014. A set of radiators were installed for heating in winter. Water, which is heated by electrical heater, is used as heating medium for these radiators. As compared with heat pumps, draft sensation problem is avoided and temperature in the heating space is more uniform. However, operating fee is very high, which makes this heating method less attractive. To reduce power consumption of winter heating, heating load needs to be reduced and the efficiency of heating equipment needs to be increased. In this study, researches are carried out as following. First, a model is built in DeST, which is a software that can calculate hourly heating load and room temperature. Then, the effect of thermal preservation quality of envelops on room temperature and heating load are investigated. Six models with different envelopes are simulated. Then, heating load as well as power consumptions of electrical heaters and heat pumps among the six envelopes are compared. Lastly, economic analysis is carried out for the energy efficient retrofit case so that the payback period is calculated. The results show that heating load capacity of case F, envelope of which made of 240 bricks plus foamed plastic and hollow glass windows, can be reduced to 1/3 that of case A, envelope of which made of 240 bricks and single glass windows. Considering power consumptions of both compressors and fans, energy consumption density (divided by area) can be reduced from 21.6∼25 kWh·m−2·year−1 of case A, which has the worst heat conservation property, to 6.7∼7.7 kWh·m−2·year−1 of case F. If the building is improved from case A to case F and heat pumps are adopted, the payback period is 3.3∼3.8 years. Because of high cost of window retrofit and small influence of its heat conservation property on the reduction of heating capacity, it is recommended to just improve walls. Air tightness of window is more effective than thermal quality.

Resumen: Los proyectos para la Sainte-Baume y para Cap Martin retoman el hilo de varias de las investigaciones realizadas previamente por Le Corbusier en torno a la vivienda de densidad media construidas a partir de muros de carga, como son las Maisons Loucheur (1929), las Maisons Murodins (1940), las Maisons pour Maîtres et Contremaîtres de la S.P.A (1940) y las Unités Transitoires (1944). No obstante, es posible afirmar que en ellos se opera una búsqueda nueva que tiene que ver con la asociación de estos módulos residenciales en pro de formar un conjunto coherente y unitario, analizando las implicaciones que ello tiene con respecto al paisaje. A la par que Le Corbusier reflexiona sobre la métrica y optimiza la distribución de estos espacios residenciales, continúa trabajando de manera intensa con la sección para intentar encontrar la manera adecuada de llegar al suelo y de relacionarse tanto con el entorno natural sobre el que el edificio se apoya, como con el paisaje lejano con el que se pretende dialogar. A esta búsqueda se suma otra que ahonda en la necesidad de una definición material acorde. A partir de estas premisas se orquesta un diálogo a varias bandas que recoge reflexiones sobre forma y proporción, sobre materialidad y sintaxis constructiva, así como sobre el entendimiento de una relación deseada entre el hombre y la naturaleza.Abstract: The projects for the Sainte-Baume and Cap Martin take up the thread of several previous investigations by Le Corbusier about the medium density housing built from load-bearing walls, as they are the Maisons Loucheur (1929), the Maisons Murodins (1940), the Maisons pour Maîtres et Contremaîtres of the SPA (1940) and the Unites Transitoires (1944). However, one can say that in them lies a new search that has to do with the association of these residential units in favour of forming a coherent and unified whole, analysing the implications that those create with the landscape. At the same time that Le Corbusier makes a reflexion on metrics and optimize the distribution of these premises, he continues to work intensively with section in order to try to find the appropriate way to reach the ground and to relate both to the natural environment on which the building rests, as well as with the distant landscape. In parallel to this work appears a search that delves into the need for a consistent material definition according to it. From these premises he establishes a dialogue that gathers several bands reflections on form and proportion, about materiality and constructive syntax, as well as the understanding of a desired relationship between man and nature.Palabras clave: Le Corbusier; paisaje; búsqueda; Cap Martin; Roq et Rob; Sainte-Baume.Keywords: Le Corbusier; landscape; search; Cap Martin; Roq et Rob; Sainte-Baume.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4995/LC2015.2015.586

La densidad poblacional de Bogotá es bastante diversa al decir de la amplitud de su rango, siendo el mínimo una persona por hectárea y el máximo de 622/ha. Las densidades más elevadas serían la opción más eficiente y socialmente deseable ante la disyuntiva de la densificación o la expansión metropolitana. El problema radica en si tal opción está dotada de la mejor calidad. El objetivo es demostrar que esto no ocurre pues al vincular tres factores que determinan la calidad de la ocupación del espacio residencial –las dotaciones de bienes públicos, la proximidad a espacios verdes y parques metropolitanos, y la mezcla social–, se encuentra que hay una relación inversa entre la densidad poblacional y la calidad urbanística. Se propone como medida de la divergencia de las densidades un índice de calidad de la densidad que integra tanto la densidad bruta como los tres determinantes mencionados. The population density of Bogotá is quite different to say the breadth of its range: the minimum one person per hectare and up to 622 / ha. The highest densities would be the most efficient and socially desirable faced with the dilemma of densification or metropolitan expansion. The problem is whether such an option is provided with the best quality. The aim is to show that this occurs not thus linking three factors that determine the quality of residential space –the allocations of public goods, proximity to green spaces and metropolitan parks, and social mix–, is that there is an inverse relationship between population density and urban quality. It is proposed as a measure of the divergence of the density a quality index of density that integrates both gross density as the three aforementioned determinants.

This is a comparative study of two heritage neighborhoods with high market values, adjacent to the central areas in two intermediate Argentinean cities. Both have large vacant buildings, where individual actors and land use regulations have determined different scenarios. In Córdoba, Maipú keeps the suburbia model, which causes informal micro interventions in order to increase its density. In Rosario, Pichincha induces building rehabilitation, completion and renovation processes through a special development plan. At first, the historical development of each section is described, emphasizing the similarities and differences found (built heritage, connections to the city, functional role). Afterwards, the current land use regulations (regarding protection policies of heritage and urban renewal) are exposed. Subsequently, features are described in the residential market. Finally, urban processes product both of the socio economic conditions and land use regulations are analyzed. El presente es un estudio comparativo de dos barrios patrimoniales con alto valor inmobiliario, aledaños a las áreas centrales en dos ciudades intermedias de Argentina. Ambos cuentan con construcciones de grandes dimensiones vacantes de uso donde los actores individuales y el Estado determinaron escenarios diferentes. En Córdoba, Maipú continúa con la antigua normativa de zonas suburbanas, lo que provoca intervenciones informales de densificación de media densidad. En Rosario, Pichincha induce procesos de rehabilitación, completamiento y renovación edilicia a través de un plan especial. En primer lugar, se describe el desarrollo histórico de cada barrio, haciendo énfasis en las similitudes y diferencias encontradas (patrimonio construido, conexiones con la ciudad, rol funcional). Luego, se exponen las normativas vigentes en relación a las políticas de protección del patrimonio y renovación urbana. Posteriormente se enuncia las características del mercado residencial. Por último, analiza los procesos urbanos producto de las condiciones socioeconómicas y normativas planteadas.

Extended Abstract and [has] the potential to stimulate local and regional economies” (p.3). A city centre or town centre has been recognised as the beating heart and public legacy of an urban fabric either in a small town, medium-sized city, metropolis or megalopolis. Within this spectrum of scales, city centres’ scopes significantly vary in the global context while considering the physical as well as the intangible and the spiritual features. Concerns such as the overall dimensions, skyline, density and compactness, variety of functions and their distribution, comfort, safety, accessibility, resilience, inclusiveness, vibrancy and conviviality, and the dialectics of modernity and traditionalism are only some examples that elucidate the existing complexities of city centres in a city of any scale (overall dimension) (for further details see for instance Behzadfar, 2007; Gehl, 20210; Gehl and Svarre, 2013; Hambleton, 2015; Lacey et al., 2013; Madanipour, 2010; Roberts, 2013). Regardless of the issue of the context, Gehl (2010) define city centres as interconnected with new concepts such as “better city space, more city life” and “lively and attractive hub for the inhabitants” (pp. 13–15). Roberts (2006) explains the notion of a city centre or town centre as a space “in which human interaction and therefore creativity could flourish”. According to her, the point can realise by creating or revitalising 24-hour city policies that can omit the “‘lagerlout’ phenomenon, whereby drunken youths dominated largely empty town centres after dark” (pp. 333–334). De Certeau (1984) explains that a city and subsequently a city centre is where “the ordinary man, a common hero [is] a ubiquitous character, walking in countless thousands on the streets” (p. V). Paumier (2004) depicts a city centre particularly a successful and a vibrant one as “the focus of business, culture, entertainment … to seek and discover… to see and be seen, to meet, learn and enjoy [which] facilitates a wonderful human chemistry … for entertainment and tourism These few examples represent a wide range of physical, mental and spiritual concerns that need to be applied in the current and future design and planning of city centres. The term ‘concern’, here, refers to the opportunities and potentials as well as the problems and challenges. On the one hand, we —the academics and professionals in the fields associated with urbanism— are dealing with theoretical works and planning documents such as short-to-long term masterplans, development plans and agendas. On the other hand, we are facing complicated tangible issues such as financial matters of economic growth or crisis, tourism, and adding or removing business districts/sections. Beyond all ‘on-paper’ or ‘on-desk’ schemes and economic status, a city centre is experienced and explored by many citizens and tourists on an everyday basis. This research aims to understand the city centre from the eyes of an ordinary user —or as explained by De Certeau (1984), from the visions of a “common hero”. In a comparative study and considering the scale indicator, the size of one city centre might even exceed the whole size of another city. However, within all these varieties and differences, some principal functions perform as the in-common formative core of city centres worldwide. This investigation has selected eight similar categories of these functions to simultaneously investigate two different case study cities of Tehran and Belfast. This mainly includes: 1) an identity-based historical element; 2) shopping; 3) religious buildings; 4) residential area; 5) network of squares and streets; 6) connection with natural structures; 7) administrative and official Buildings; and 8) recreational and non-reactional retail units. This would thus elaborate on if/how the dissimilarities of contexts manifest themselves in similarities and differences of in-common functions in the current city centres. With a focus on the age-gender indicator, this investigation studies the sociocultural aspect of inclusiveness and how it could be reflected in future design and planning programmes of the case study cities. In short, the aim is to explore the design and planning guidelines and strategies —both identical and divergent— for Tehran and Belfast to move towards sociocultural inclusiveness and sustainability. In this research, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the studies of the current situation of inclusiveness in Belfast city centre have remained as incomplete. Thus, this presentation would like to perform either as an opening of a platform for potential investigations about Belfast case study city or as an invitation for future collaborations with the researcher for comparative studies about age-gender inclusiveness in city centres worldwide. In short, this research tries to investigate the current situation by identifying unrecognised opportunities and how they can be applied in future short-to-long plans as well as by appreciating the neglected problems and proposing design-planning solutions to achieve age-gender inclusiveness. The applied methodology mainly includes the direct appraisal within a 1-year timespan of September 2019 – September 2020 to cover all seasonal and festive effects. Later, however, in order to consider the role of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the direct appraisal was extended until January 2021. The complementary method to the direct appraisal is the photography to fast freeze the moments of the ordinary scenes of the life of the case study city centres (John Paul and Caponigro Arts, 2014; Langmann and Pick, 2018). The simultaneous study of the captured images would thus contribute to better analyse the age-gender inclusiveness in the non-interfered status of Tehran and Belfast. Acknowledgement This investigation is based on the researcher’s finding through ongoing two-year postdoctoral research (2019 – 2021) as a part of the Government Authorised Exchange Scheme between Fulmen Engineering Company in Tehran, Iran and Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland. The postdoctoral research title is “The role of age and gender in designing inclusive city centres – A comparative study of different-scale cities: Tehran and Belfast” in School of Natural and Built Environment of the Queen’s University of Belfast and is advised by Dr Neil Galway in the Department of Planning. This works is financially supported by Fulmen Company as a sabbatical scheme for eligible company’s senior-level staff. Keywords: Age-gender, Inclusiveness, Sociocultural, City Centre, Urban Heritage, Tehran, Belfast

Hablar de periferia hoy implica deber revisar el significado mismo de la palabra. La de frontera parece la definición más apta para describir la periferia contemporánea, pudiéndose aplicar a todos los asentamientos a baja densidad que, en las últimas décadas, inexorablemente rodearon las grandes ciudades - y, no solamente las grandes - yendo a ocupar territorios casi siempre ex agrícolas. Una periferia que se caracteriza básicamente por ser “incompleta”, obvio efecto del incumplimiento de los procesos, tanto espontáneos como planificados, que la produjeron. La escena romana es un extenso colector de periferias, diferentes y no homogéneas, por lo general deterioradas, nacidas a partir del final de la Segunda Guerra Mundial y el crecimiento de las cuales llegó hasta hoy siguiendo parcialmente el dibujo de un plan urbanístico. Sin embargo la periferia espontánea posee casi siempre rasgos afirmados de una “calidad” que en ésas planificadas es escasa o totalmente ausente. Son periferias heterogéneas sobre todo de carácter ilegal que unen la ausencia substancial de espacios públicos de relación, de “lugares centrales”, a una provisionalidad que acentúe el carácter de periferia de las mismas. Las primeras periferias nacen de la “necesidad” - vivir, trabajar, descansar - en un momento en el cual la administración pública no puede o no quiere hacer frente a la cuestión de la vivienda; en el curso de los años este modelo de asentamiento se consolida y comienza a auto reproducirse, cambiando peligrosamente sus características hasta perder su carácter de “necesidad”. La casa individual con jardín, lejos del centro de la ciudad, se transformó en uno de los desiderata más difusos de los últimos años, de donde las ciudades comenzaron a ser contaminadas verdaderamente en gran parte - en círculo vicioso - por el trafico generado de aquellos que viven en las periferias lecha y deben llegar cotidianamente al centro de la ciudad con medios privados. La gente se ha “acostumbrado” a vivir en estas periferias heterogéneas y el problema de la “ausencia de ciudad” no viene mas percibido como un problema primario pero las exigencias se limitan a más servicios y mejor movilidad, pública y privada. Entonces, en treinta años se transformó el concepto de vivienda, el de ciudad y el de periferia. Pero a este fenómeno se acompaña una decadencia sensible de la calidad de la vida y, por lo tanto, del ambiente. Hay un vínculo muy estrecho entre nacimiento y difusión de las periferias e inicio del proceso, aun en acto, de difusión y dispersión urbana. El punto de ruptura de la tradición del asentamiento, esa cultura de orígenes antiguas y casi universales que se transmitió probablemente oralmente de padre en hijo y que era, por todos, conocida, se pone a fines de los años sesenta e inicio de los setenta. Una transformación que lleva a un asentamiento difuso de carácter residencial, con densidad muy baja (menos de 15 hab/ha. y menos de 1 m3/m2), unido a los centros principales por medio de algunas rutas o, en los casos más afortunados, de infraestructuras ferroviarias con las cuales fueron garantizadas las conexiones con los lugares del estudio y del trabajo y del tiempo libre. Se transformaron las modalidades de vivir, trabajar, descansar, adaptándose a lo que venía de vuelta en vuelta ofrecido por las ciudades. Frecuentemente la población se organizó para remediar, incluso ilegalmente, a las decisiones o las no-decisiones de las públicas administraciones, yendo así a diseñar un sistema territorial que es cada vez más difuso e menos poli céntrico que pero se caracteriza por gravitar sobre las grandes áreas urbanas y para manifestar en modo cada vez más acentuado los caracteres de mono funcionalidad difícilmente manejable en términos de eficacia de servicios y equipamientos públicos. Esta investigación sobre la periferia italiana y en particular romana se desarrolló utilizando técnicas de diagnósticos tradicionales soporte de ayuda de medios innovadores que ahora entraron a formar parte de las herramientas del urbanista: fotos satelitales, videos, internet. El recurso a tales medios permitió poder seguir mejor las transformaciones del territorio mismo en vivo, permitiendo al mismo tiempo la comparación con distintas fuentes informativas. Técnicas y fuentes innovadoras que no pueden sustituir al hombre pero que pueden facilitar mucho el trabajo de los operadores del sector, incluso en términos didáctico y de difusión de los conocimientos. *** ENG: To talk about periphery today implies the need of reviewing the meaning of the word itself. “Border” seems to be the most appropriate definition to describe the contemporary periphery, being it applicable to all the low density settlements that, in the last decades, inexorably surrounded big cities - and, unfortunately, not only those - occupying territories that generally used to be for agriculture. A periphery that is characterized basically for being “incomplete”, as a natural consequence of the interruption of the processes, as much spontaneous as planned, that produced it. The Roman scene is an extensive collector of peripheries, different and non homogenous, generally deteriorated, born since the end of World War II and which are still growing, only partially according to a general urban plan. Nevertheless the spontaneous periphery shows almost always established characteristics of a “quality” that are little or totally present in those planned. They are heterogeneous peripheries mainly of illegal character that unite the substantial absence of public spaces for social relation, of “central places”, to a provisional state that stresses their character of periphery. The first peripheries were born from the “necessity” - to live, to work, and to rest - in a period when the public administration could not or did not want to address the problem of settlements; during the years, this model of settlements have consolidated and begun to replicate itself, dangerously changing its typical features until losing its character of “necessity”. The private house with garden far from downtown, has become one of the most diffuse desiderata of the last years, when the cities began to be polluted because of - in a vicious circle - the traffic generated by those living in the peripheries and obliged to reach downtown every day. People get used to live in these heterogeneous peripheries that combine the absence of spaces for social relation and a provisional state stressing the character of periphery. And they do not perceive the “absence of the city” as a major problem, but only ask for more services and better mobility, both public and private. In thirty years, the idea of living, city and periphery was transformed. But this phenomenon goes with a sensible decay of the quality of life and of the environment. There is a very strict relation between birth and diffusion of the peripheries and the beginning of the process, still in place, of urban diffusion and dispersion. The breakthrough point of the settlements tradition - that culture of old and almost universal origins that was transmitted probably orally of father in son and that was by all well-known – can be put by the end of the Sixties and beginning of the Seventies. A transformation that brings to a diffuse settlements of residential character, with very low density (less than 15 hab/ha and less than 1 m3/m2), connected to the main cities by means of some routes or, in the most lucky cases, of railway infrastructures ensuring the connections with the places of study, work and spare time. The patterns of living, working and resting changed and adapted to what was offered by the cities. Frequently, the population was ready to remedy, even illegally, to the decisions or the not-decisions of the public administrations, thus creating a territorial system that is more and more widespread and less polycentric, which is characterized for weighing on the great urban areas and for showing in a more and more marked way the characters of hardly manageable mono functionality in terms of effectiveness of services and public infrastructures. This investigation on the Italian, and in particular Roman , periphery was carried out by using techniques of traditional analysis together with innovative tools that are now considered of normal use for the city planner: photos satellite, videos, Internet. The use of such means allowed following the transformations of the territory better and in real time, at the same time allowing the comparison with different informative sources. These innovative techniques and sources cannot replace the human resource but can very much facilitate the work of the operators of the sector, also in terms of teaching and diffusion of knowledge.