This study presents a teaching/learning framework based on parallels between problem-based learning (PBL), constructivist pedagogy, and design, which enables students to learn technical courses in a way that promotes sustainable and self-directed learning. The study used qualitative content analysis of literature surveyed from scientific databases to determine thematic codes and find the relations. The theoretical framework was implemented in a case study conducted in a second-year course in building construction technology at Tishk International University, Sulaimaniya, Iraq. The results indicate that solving ill-defined problems increased student enjoyment in learning various subjects through several teaching methods including self-directed learning. The instructor’s role is to facilitate learning rather than to provide knowledge by showing the solutions. This stimulates the students’ curiosity toward understanding problems and approaching solutions through a game-based scheme. The suggested framework can be a guide for instructors teaching technical courses of any kind. This method equips students with technical knowledge that benefits them in their studies and their professional lives after graduation, as they can integrate both their design and technical knowledge.

Architectural planners must give due consideration to seismic events as they present substantial hazards to both critical infrastructure and human well-being. This research investigates the fundamental concepts and methodologies employed by architects to enhance seismic resilience in buildings and ensure the safety of occupants. It emphasizes the importance of seismic hazard assessment, design standards, structural systems, and cutting-edge technology in reducing earthquake-related dangers. A mixed method has been adopted: surveying the literature, applying inductive reasoning, and conducting a case study. This research highlights the value of interdisciplinary cooperation between structural engineers, geotechnical experts, and architects to design resilient built environments that can survive the pressures unleashed by seismic occurrences. The findings demonstrated that architectural design solutions and approaches might significantly impact earthquake risk reduction techniques in seismic and non-seismic locations. In the cases taken, different techniques—in some cases multiple techniques—had been applied based on the buildings’ geographical locations, sizes, and shapes. Finally, we prepared a checklist for these strategies, including mass distribution, openings, rooftop structures, and other considerations to be applied by architects to make the solutions easier.

As an ancient plant from thousands of years ago, Hemp has been used as the most prominent sustainable material in buildings and other fields. Hemp has great potential to be used as a building material and can be grown in Cyprus weather with less cost than other imported building materials. Hemp’s initial cost is mostly cheaper than the other insulation materials; in the long term can save almost 50% of the total energy cost. It is being used as a load-bearing construction material, the best insulator. This study proposed a detached house where Hemp can be used for walls as structure (load-bearing) and floors and roofs as plastering layers.

This study examines the symbolic use of stone beyond its basic function as a construction material in architecture. It investigates the meaning of stone using Iraqi Kurdistan residential architecture as a case study. The theoretical framework of the study is developed through the content analysis method, by applying Hershberger’s basic model of meaning, and by exploring Krampen’s writings on semiotics in architecture. The relevant theoretical framework was tested through systematic physical observation of selected houses in Iraqi Kurdistan and by using the inductive reasoning method. The study recognises that stone, beyond being a construction material, conveys the symbolic meaning of “power,” “wealth,” and “belonging” in contemporary houses of Iraqi Kurdistan. Based on that, a meaningful situation model was created to evaluate the phenomenon. The model can also be useful in analysing similar cases and research situations.

The application of Internet of Things (IoT) technology is a significant step toward improving the sustainability and responsiveness of the built environment. The current work introduces the Adaptive and Sustainable IoT Integration Model (ASIIM), a novel framework designed to enhance the dynamic sustainability and adaptation of IoT in architecture in order to maximize its potential. Through a comprehensive review of the literature, this study analyzes the current state of IoT applications in architectural professions, highlighting the key benefits of IoT in improving building performance, occupant comfort, and energy efficiency. The ASIIM framework emerges as a comprehensive approach that encompasses key strategies for combining user interface systems, sustainability measures, IoT-enabled adaptive features, and fundamental design principles in order to promote a more responsive and sustainable architecture design. The paper identifies key obstacles to IoT integration, such as interoperability, data protection, and device sustainability, and offers collaborative ways to overcome them. The findings demonstrate the transformative potential of IoT in architecture, suggesting a future in which buildings will become dynamic systems that can adapt to the needs of both the surrounding environment and their occupants rather than static structures. This study contributes to the expanding body of knowledge on sustainable architecture by offering insights and a theoretical foundation for further study and practice in the integration of IoT technology in architectural design.