VITRUVIO - International Journal of Architectural Technology and Sustainability

Scientific mapping of digitalization in architectural education for sustainability

Zeynep Kamile Cenk, Semra Arslan Selçuk — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In today’s world, where digital technologies are being used more and more every day, architectural education is one of the fields experiencing radical changes. Although many studies in the literature investigate digitalization in architectural education or sustainable architectural education, there are few studies on the digitalization of architectural education to ensure sustainability. This research aims to identify the scientific production on digitalization in education for a sustainable architecture indexed in the international databases Scopus and Web of Science and to determine the maturity of the research on this subject. The results consist of 100 articles published between 2007 and 2024. The data obtained in the study were visualized and analysed with Biblioshiny, VOSviewer, and SankeyMatic programs. The articles obtained were categorized and evaluated to determine which keywords indicated which research topics. In the study results, various research areas such as BIM, simulation, digital fabrication, AR-VR technology, and artificial intelligence from digital technologies have been prominent topics in recent years. The results of this review emphasize the need for more research on the subject and the importance of multidisciplinary studies.

AI-Driven generative prototyping for the reconstruction of Gaza

Graziella Bernardo, Luis Palmero Iglesias — Fri, 09 May 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Rafael Leoz (1921–1976), Spanish architect and theorist, made a pioneering yet underacknowledged contribution to modular and participatory architecture through his HELE module (Habitación Expandible Lineal Evolutiva), a combinatorial system based on polyhedral logic and open-ended design. Originally conceived as a response to post-war housing shortages in Spain, the HELE system promoted structural flexibility, user autonomy, and community participation. Despite receiving praise from figures like Le Corbusier and a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1968, Leoz’s work remains marginal in architectural historiography. This article repositions his legacy within the framework of contemporary humanitarian and environmental challenges. Through critical study of technical and scientific literature and AI-driven design, we reinterpret the HELE module as a framework for ethical and context-sensitive architecture. The paper proposes a speculative reconstruction model for Gaza that integrates AI-driven parametric design, sustainable materials such as compressed earth blocks and recycled rubble, and participatory construction practices. The outcomes underscore the potential of systemic, modular design to support resilience, collective agency, and spatial justice in post-conflict territories. The study demonstrates how AI can function not as a substitute for human creativity but as an ally in realizing adaptive, inclusive, and materially grounded architectural futures, extending Leoz’s vision into the 21st century.

Preserving heritage through a novel framework for the adaptive reuse of Mediterranean earthen houses

Ihab Khalil, Doğa Üzümcüoğlu — Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 +0200

The adaptive reuse of Mediterranean earthen houses presents a critical challenge in balancing heritage preservation with contemporary functionality. This study proposes a novel framework for adaptive reuse, integrating theoretical principles with case-based analysis. Four representative cases —Alhambra in Spain, Ghadames in Libya, KTMMOB Chamber of Architects Main Building in North Cyprus, and Sheikh Hilal Beehive Houses in Syria— were analyzed based on six key dimensions: preservation of structural and aesthetic integrity, functional adaptation and minimal intervention, environmental efficiency and structural reinforcement, flexibility and adaptability, community engagement and cultural relevance, and compliance with documentation and economic revitalization. The study adopts a case study methodology, utilizing architectural documentation, photography, and existing datasets for data collection. The findings highlight that while these structures inherently support environmental efficiency and cultural significance, challenges such as structural vulnerabilities, modernization pressures, and limited economic integration hinder their adaptive reuse. The proposed framework provides a systematic approach for evaluating and guiding future preservation efforts. This research contributes to the field by bridging theoretical models with practical applications, offering valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and conservation professionals aiming to sustain and repurpose Mediterranean earthen heritage.

Renovation of prefabricated buildings: historical analysis, digital model, energy retrofit. A case study in Calabria, Southern Italy

Francesco Spada, Laura Greco, Natale Arcuri — Thu, 29 May 2025 00:00:00 +0200

This paper presents some results of a current research project on the knowledge, monitoring and requalification of the light prefabricated built heritage of the second half of the twentieth century in the regions of Calabria and Lazio, funded by European Union Next Generation EU, developed by the University of Calabria and by the University of Roma Tor Vergata. In the case study presented in this paper, the research group of the University of Calabria applied the methodology used in the research project. The case concerns a public housing complex built in Cosenza (Calabria) in the 1970s. Starting from the analysis of historical documents, the HBIM model of one of the buildings was developed, and then the energy analysis was conducted. The HBIM model was developed connecting the three-dimensional visualisation of the building to archival sources, selected and organised in databases. Then, starting from the present building, with a reverse investigation process, studies, evaluations and measurements were conducted to increase the level of information on the various parts of the building, underlining that the industrialised built heritage, also if combined with parts built on site, matches contemporary digital tools. Historical analysis and HBIM support the requalification, with the definition of solutions for plant updating and energy saving, outlined in a way that is conscious of the building’s technical value.