The national qualification framework of a country requires a certain level of knowledge and complexity of skills for an academic degree to be recognized. For architectural programs, student workload is heavy on design courses. Therefore, each course must be carefully developed to ensure that students are not overloaded. Teaching and learning strategies have different implications for courses, which occasionally result in overloading the students. This research aims to study the three main pillars of teaching and learning strategies for each design phase in pedagogic design studios. The most appropriate model for each teaching and learning strategy, including a set of the three main pillars, is then identified for each design phase. A practical strategy for managing design studios is also determined. The aforementioned three pillars are as follows: teaching and learning methods, assigned tasks or study aspects, and design communication techniques. Two research methods, namely, a literature review and a survey among design educators, are adopted. The literature review examines aspects that contribute to the design process and its phases, teaching methods, design skills, communication methods, and studio management strategies. On the basis of the literature review, the background of developments and practices in the design education process are used as constructive tools to develop the survey for design educators. Through the survey, the pillars of teaching and learning strategies that are frequently practiced in design studios are evaluated. Results of this study are classified into three ranks using the nature break classification method for numerical values. Subsequently, three priority models that correspond to teaching and learning strategies, as well as to the required skills and capabilities, are established. A group-based strategy with an interdisciplinary approach is also determined to be the most suitable technique for managing the pedagogy of architectural design studios to achieve holistic designs

Introduction: Over the past few decades, there has been an increasing focus on Smart Building Projects (SBP) and the technologies associated with them. Numerous studies have been conducted globally to define smart building technologies (SBT), identify challenges, and explore areas for improvement. This study aims to examine the concept and terminology of SBT and the expertise and experience of participants in SBP in the Arab Gulf countries, specifically Saudi Arabia. The study also investigates the challenges faced by SBT throughout its life cycle.Methods: To identify and assess the challenges affecting the adoption of smart building technologies. This approach included a literature review, pilot-testing, and a questionnaire survey. The survey targeted a sample of 90 architects/engineers, managers, and contractors.Results: A total of 55 challenges were identified and categorized into four groups, corresponding to the key phases of the project life cycle. These phases include the programming and feasibility analysis phase, design phase, installation and commissioning phase, and operation and maintenance phase. The findings of this research expand the body of knowledge by providing architects/engineers, managers, and contractors in the architecture, engineering, construction, and facility management (AEC/FM) industry with insights into the influential challenges related to the adoption of SBT. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the concept and terminology of smart building technologies and explores the challenges faced by SBT during its life cycle. By identifying and categorizing these challenges, the study provides valuable information to AEC/FM practitioners, enabling them to overcome obstacles and improve the adoption of SBT.

The rapid growth of Natural Fiber Laminate (NFL) innovation is a direct response to environmental challenges, positioning these materials as superior alternatives to synthetic fiber composites. This paper delved into the outcomes of an extensive experimental study investigating the influence of sisal fiber (SLF), banana fiber (BF), and glass fiber (GF) on the mechanical and microstructural characteristics of concrete. The water absorption curves were established for sisal fiber concrete (SLFC), banana fiber concrete (BFC), and glass fiber concrete (GFC). Furthermore, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) observations were conducted to perform microanalysis and failure analysis of the tested specimens. The results revealed significant improvements in the concrete containing fibers compared to its counterpart in fiber-free concrete. For mixtures with a water-to-binder (W/B) ratio of 0.3, the most optimal mix (GF-30-135) showed improvements in compressive strength, flexural strength, and splitting tensile strengths by 4.13%, 8.93%, and 10.10%, respectively. On the other hand, for W/B of 0.4, mix GF-30-135 showed improvements of 5.05%, 8.55%, and 11.60%, respectively. Furthermore, as the fiber content increased, microscopic analyses revealed a weakening of the bond between the fibers and the rest of the matrix, contributing to the deterioration of the mechanical properties.

This paper aims to present and discuss phases of planning and designing campuses for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The authors argue that creating a taxonomy to control an environment conducive to learning is of the same order of importance as that for education as depicted by Bloom, given the size, financial burden, and influence on learning outcomes. A specific model is proposed for the taxonomy of planning campuses for HEIs with four ordered phases: educational programming, spaces programming, master planning, and detailed design. The researchers followed four methodologies to support the proposed model: A literature review to seek relevant knowledge and terms used in previous studies; a descriptive discussion of the proposed campus planning and design taxonomy model; a survey of experts in educational and campus planning to examine the proposed phases; and, a case study of the campus of Kingdom University in Bahrain where the phases of taxonomy were implemented. This latter case study further exhibits how the executed campus planning process is developed in adherence with state-of-the-art educational demands and trends. This paper is concluded with guidelines of HEIs campus planning as illustrated a diagram for the proposed model of taxonomy showing the process and illustrating the model domains, together with its phases and planning process considerations. The model also analyses the relationship between the domains that are ordered according to the process flow starting with educational programming up to the detailed design phases.

The escalating summer heat in the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) region, particularly in Bahrain, poses a significant threat to human health, prompting the use of water mist systems for immediate heat stress relief and heat stroke treatment. Although these systems are known for their rapid cooling effects, the impact of varying water temperatures on their efficiency is not well understood. This research addressed this gap by investigating the effects of different water temperatures on cooling performance and user comfort in a semi-outdoor environment in Bahrain. Field experiments, comparing mist fan system (MFS) zones with non-misted areas, were conducted alongside user surveys to assess perceived thermal comfort. The findings revealed that lower water temperatures significantly enhanced cooling, with a 7.7 °C water temperature achieving a 4 °C temperature reduction and improving perceived comfort. The MFS effectively shifted participant perceptions from “Hot” or “Slightly Warm” to “Natural” or “Slightly Cool”, confirming its rapid heat mitigation capabilities. Notably, 54.5% of participants preferred the system using the coldest water, citing immediate relief. Despite the substantial cooling benefits, achieving standard thermal comfort during peak heat remained challenging. Future research should explore nozzle optimization, wind effects, water usage, solar-powered system efficiency, and the impact of clothing on thermal comfort.

Urban system consists of six main components: urbanism level, land cover, urban tissue, urban governance, consumed energy, and natural resources. Those components are addressing in different approaches depending on historical, cultural, demographical, architectural, geographical, and economical characteristics of the urban system. History and culture usually play the main role to put the settlements in a specific urbanism level. The more prosperous countries can make ecological urban systems for all their urban settlements. This approach is not only easy to implement in the countries that have natural resources, but also the country that is in an advanced phase of development. Solar and wind energy are the main ecological energy, particularly in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries. Renewable energy is one of the advantages of the geographic characteristic of those countries. this research explores in depth of the sophisticated map of the ecological urban system to come out with principles of producing an ecological urban system in GCC countries. The author used secondary, subjective, and descriptive research approaches, in which a theoretical background has explored the ecology and urban system components with their addressing characteristics to find out the relationship in between them. SWOT analysis study of resources and potentials have been carried out to explore the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of developing an ecological urban system in GCC countries. This research has been ended with the main results of the analysis, which are formed as recommended actions to be taken by concerned authorities to develop comprehensive ecological urban system.