What value do we place on our cultural heritage, and to what extent should we preserve historic and culturally important sites and artefacts from the ravages of weather, pollution, development and use by the general public? This innovative book attempts to answer these important questions by exploring how non-market valuation techniques - used extensively in environmental economics - can be applied to cultural heritage.The book includes twelve comprehensive case studies that estimate public values for a diverse set of cultural goods, including English cathedrals, Bulgarian monasteries, rock paintings in Canada, statues in the US, and a medieval city in Africa. The authors demonstrate the potential utility of these techniques, and highlight the important social values that cultural heritage can generate. Given limited resources, such studies can help set priorities and aid the decision making process in terms of their preservation, restoration and use. The authors conclude by reviewing the majority of cultural valuation studies done to date, and draw some general conclusions about the results achieved and the potential benefits, as well as the limitations, of valuing these types of goods. This highly original book will be of great use and interest to academics in the fields of environmental, resource, and cultural economics, as well as NGOs and policymakers involved in cultural heritage at the national, international and global level.

This is a true story of a little girl, Sibu, who was totally consumed by the beauty and the silence of the world of the unseen; nothing of this material world seemed to make sense to her. She kept secrets about her life and her spiritual relationship with God. She explored the spiritual world through dreams and visions, and that was her way of communicating with God. Her spiritual exploration denied her of her childhood and other life experiences that most children of her age had. Sibu spent most of her time in isolation communicating with her imaginary friend God . This book reveals how children can keep secrets about their lives, their personal and spiritual relationship with God. As she develops into a young woman, she gets married, and her life changes dramatically. She becomes trapped by the luxuries of the material world, and completely forgets about her imaginary friend. After some time, God seizes all the beauties and luxuries which separated Sibu from Him. Her whole luxurious life turns into a nightmare. Finally, Sibu repents and accepts God s calling. [email protected]

Is it possible for a group of the world's most respected environmental scientists to truly practice what they preach? Can their expertise in climate change help them in transforming an old house and its nine acres into their new office building and campus - a building that is as energy efficient as possible, uses local materials, and generates all of the energy it consumes? In this candid, charming, and informative book, the director of the renowned Woods Hole Research Center tells a story that will interest anyone who has ever thought about doing a "green" rehab, has tried to build green, or just wonders what's actually possible. The Woods Hole Research Center is an international leader in identifying the causes and consequences of environmental change. When the WHRC needed a new administration building, its scientists and staff decided that the building should utilize "state-of-the-shelf" green building techniques and materials. However, the new office had to conform with the laws and building codes of the time, and with materials that were then available - no matter how frustrating these requirements were to the resident scientists and contractors. The author, George M. Woodwell, founder of the WHRC, was intimately involved in the design and construction of the Gilman Ordway Campus, which was completed in 2003 in collaboration with McDonough + Partners. He details the challenges they faced, some of which are familiar to everyone who tries to "build green": the vagaries of building codes, the whims of inspectors, the obstreperousness of subcontractors, the search for appropriate materials, and the surprises involved in turning an old house into a modern office building. Woodwell puts the building in a larger context, not only within the work of the Center and the tradition of Woods Hole, but in the global need to minimize our carbon emissions and overall environmental impact. Building a world that works requires rethinking how we design, reuse, and live in the built environment while preserving the functional integrity of the landscape.

Has your church or ministry ever considered a building or expansion program? Have you ever stepped out in faith only to get bogged down in details? Is your master plan little more than a "pretty picture" to present to your congregation? In Master Planning: More than Pretty Pictures, author Timothy L. Cool provides a comprehensive primer to lead you through the myriad details, processes, steps, and decisions that must be considered as part of a church building project. With more than twenty-three years of experience working with churches, ministers, and their leadership, Cool addresses the issues churches must confront and the questions that must be answered at every critical step of the master planning process and facilities expansion project. It includes helpful information about topics such as land and site selection, zoning, funding and financing, the architectural review process, construction, and post-construction. Providing realistic and practical applications, Master Planning: More than Pretty Pictures communicates the importance of creating a master plan the right way. Crafted correctly, a solid master plan can bring unity, a renewed sense of purpose, and financial stability to the church.

Cultural heritage identifies and preserves past achievements for the benefit of future generations. Examining the extent to which heritage preservation is feasible in an era governed by modernism and globalization is essential for both regional development and cultural conservation. Conservation, Restoration, and Analysis of Architectural and Archaeological Heritage provides innovative insights into digital technologies that have produced important methodological changes in the documentation, analysis, and conservation of cultural heritage. The content within this publication represents the work of digital restoration, inclusive communication, and reality-based representation. It is a vital reference source for software developers, sociologists, policymakers, tourism managers, and academicians seeking coverage on digital technologies and data processing in cultural heritage.

In some post-industrial areas, re-designing structural interiors in an attractive way is becoming increasingly important to community members, as it helps promote local pride and a higher quality of life. Design Innovations for Contemporary Interiors and Civic Art examines novel techniques in structural designs in various cultural and social scenarios. Featuring innovative application methods, emergent trends, and research on tools being utilized in the field, this publication is a pivotal reference source for designers, researchers, practitioners, and professionals interested in interior design, urban culture, and structural aesthetics.

This book presents recent research in the area of construction pathology, hygrothermal behaviour of buildings, service life and diagnostic techniques, and highlights the latest developments in building physics, hygrothermal behaviour, durability and numerical models applied to building materials analysis. Discussing the state of the art in the field, and covering topics relevant to variety of engineering disciplines, such as civil, materials and mechanical engineering, it will appeal to scientists, students, practitioners, lecturers and other stakeholders.

Singapore Good Class Bungalow traces the development of stand-alone residential architecture in Singapore from its early days as a colony to the present. Expertly researched by noted academic and author Robert Powell, it is also a partial history of the architectural profession in Singapore, mentioning many of its eminent practitioners and their works. Alongside the iconic Singapore Shophouse and the 'Black and White' house, Singapore Good Class Bungalow brings the history of the island's detached residential architecture up to date. A detailed introduction is followed by a study of the evolution of the bungalow - from early plantation residences, through the late Victorian and Edwardian styles, Arts and Crafts and Art Deco inspired bungalows to post-Independence residences. The latter includes a history of how the Good Class Bungalow emerged through a planning and preservation initiative into a triumph for the architectural profession in Singapore. Featured in this ambitious book are singular examples of Modern Tropical Bungalow design together with sympathetic and expert restoration projects, linking architectural heritage with modern best practice.Singapore Good Class Bungalow showcases over 100 bungalows, mostly extant, and contains references to all the major phases of construction in the city-state. Beautifully photographed by award-winning photographer, Albert Lim KS, this is a welcome addition to the historical literature on Modern Singapore.

This book presents a selection of recent research works that provide best practice solutions, case studies and practical advice on the implementation of sustainable construction techniques. The topics covered include innovations in building sustainability assessment, sustainable construction and materials, service-life prediction, construction 4.0, digitalization of the construction process, and circular economy. Reviewing the current state of knowledge, the book will benefit scientists, students, practitioners, lecturers and other interested parties in a range of scientific and engineering disciplines, e.g. civil, materials and mechanical engineering.

Shaping Terrain shows how the physical landscape and local ecology have influenced human settlement and built form in Latin America since pre-Columbian times. Most urban centers and capitals of Latin American countries are situated on or near dramatically varied terrain, and this book explores the interplay between built works and their geographies in various cities including Bogota, Caracas, Mendoza, Mexico D. F., Rio de Janeiro, Santiago de Chile, and Valparaiso. The multi-national contributors to Shaping Terrain have a broad range of professional experience as urbanists, historians, and architects, and many are globally renowned for their design work. They examine how humans negotiate with the existing environment and how the built form expresses that relationship. The result is a wide-ranging representation of the unique legacy of Latin America's urban heritage, which is a repository of possibilities for future cities.

The social sciences have mostly ignored the role of physical buildings in shaping the social fabric of communities and groups. Although the emerging field of the sociology of architecture has started to pay attention to physical structures, Brenneman and Miller are the first to combine the light of sociological theory and the empirical method in order to understand the impact of physical structures on religious groups that build, transform, and maintain them. Religious buildings not only reflect the groups that build them or use them; these physical structures actually shape and change those who gather and worship there. Religious buildings are all around us. From Wall Street to Main Street, from sublime and historic cathedrals to humble converted storefronts, these buildings shape the global religious landscape, "building faith" among those who worship in them while providing a testament to the shape and duration of the faith of those who built them and those who maintain them. Building Faith explores the social impact of religious buildings in places as diverse as a Chicago suburb and a Guatemalan indigenous Mayan village, all the while asking the questions, "How does space shape community?" and "How do communities shape the spaces that speak for them?"

Smart Technologies and Design for Healthy Built Environment connects smart technology to a healthy built environmentthat builds upon the sustainable building movement.It provides an overall summary of the state-of-the-art technologies that are applied in the built environment. The book covers a broad spectrum of smart technology categories ranging from dynamic operability, energy efficiency, self-regulating and self-learning systems, and responsive systems. The foreseeable challenges that are associated with smart technologies are discussed and outlined in the book. Firstly, this book provides a snapshot of state-of-the-art smart technologies being applied in the built environment. It covers a broad spectrum of smart technology categories, ranging from dynamic operability, energy efficiency, self-regulating and self-learning systems, to responsive systems. Secondly, this book provides in-depth analysis of the four primary components of health (biological, physical, physiological and psychological); their effects on wellbeing and cognitive performance are introduced as well. Thirdly, it connects smart technologies to those health-influencing factors by reviewing three completed smart building projects. This book can also serve as a basis for education and discussion among professionals and students of diverse backgrounds who are interested in smart technologies, smart building, and healthy building. Smart Technologies and Design for Healthy Built Environment serves as the basis for education and discussions among professionals and students who are interested in smart technologies, smart building and healthy building, as it bridges the gap between smart technologies and a healthy built environment. The book also provides a foundation for anyone who is interested in the impact of smart technology on the health of built environment.

Each century has its own unique approach toward addressing the problem of high density and the 21st century is no exception. As cities try to cope with rapid population growth - adding 2.5 billion dwellers by 2050 - and grapple with destructive sprawl, politicians, planners and architects have become increasingly interested in the vertical city paradigm. Unfortunately, cities all over the world are grossly unprepared for integrating tall buildings, as these buildings may aggravate multidimensional sustainability challenges resulting in a `vertical sprawl' that could have worse consequences than `horizontal' sprawl. By using extensive data and numerous illustrations this book provides a comprehensive guide to the successful and sustainable integration of tall buildings into cities. A new crop of skyscrapers that employ passive design strategies, green technologies, energy-saving systems and innovative renewable energy offers significant architectural improvements. At the urban scale, the book argues that planners must integrate tall buildings with efficient mass transit, walkable neighbourhoods, cycling networks, vibrant mixed-use activities, iconic transit stations, attractive plazas, well-landscaped streets, spacious parks and engaging public art. Particularly, it proposes the Tall Building and Transit Oriented Development (TB-TOD) model as one of the sustainable options for large cities going forward. Building on the work of leaders in the fields of ecological and sustainable design, this book will open readers' eyes to a wider range of possibilities for utilizing green, resilient, smart, and sustainable features in architecture and urban planning projects. The 20 chapters offer comprehensive reading for all those interested in the planning, design, and construction of sustainable cities.