It is evident that, due to population growth, future urbanization and urban growth are inevitable. It is estimated that the food supply demand of future urban centers will grow, which will place an additional burden on the agriculture sector to produce more food. It is projected that securing the food supply chain for future urban centers will be a challenge. Urban agriculture can be regarded as a remedy for possible future challenges that the global food system will face. It might be able to reduce the future burden on the agriculture sector. This research proposes that urban rooftop agriculture, as a subset of urban agriculture, can produce local fresh food in dense urban environments. The principal aim of this research is to suggest a series of design recommendations for architects interested in designing residential buildings capable of rooftop food production. This research attempts to highlight the specific design recommendations and the principal limitations regarding designing residential rooftop farms. To extract the data for developing the proposed design recommendations and limitations, a review of the literature within the fields of urban agriculture, building-integrated agriculture, and horticulture was conducted. Based on the literature review results, this research suggests that the following three types of farming methods can be developed on residential rooftops: (1) open-air rooftop food production, (2) “low-tech” rooftop greenhouses, and (3) “high-tech” rooftop greenhouses. In addition, factors that can be considered principal limitations are suggested. In sum, this research proposes that current and future residential buildings can be designed so that their rooftops are utilized as farms. In this way, such buildings can contribute to delivering local fresh food to current and future metropolitan dwellers.

The primary objective of this research is to define a pedagogy framework for architecture Graduate Design Studio. The proposed pedagogy framework pursues the following three principal objectives: The first objective focuses on buildings and landscapes and the interconnection between them. Such connectivity facilitates a ground for walkability. The second goal is to incorporate green elements within buildings and landscapes with regard to increasing the percentage of available green spaces within contemporary and future cities, which may encourage human respect for nature. The third objective promotes the notion that contemporary and future built environments should be envisioned as environments wherein fresh local food can be cultivated, processed and distributed. It incorporates urban agriculture within buildings and landscapes. The Graduate Studio pedagogy focuses on the concept of social sustainability. The three mentioned objectives of the framework are in line with the core concept of social sustainability, which includes improving the well-being and quality of life of contemporary and future urban dwellers. Overall, the Graduate Studio envisions buildings and landscapes as pedestrian environments, as grounds where green elements are incorporated and local fresh food is cultivated. The mentioned framework has been implemented within the Graduate Studio. Four design project samples are presented as successful precedents.

Slum formation is a visible outcome of population growth, rapid urbanization, economic and political policy. Currently, there are approximately one billion slum dwellers, representing approximately thirty percent of the global population. As evident, slums as a critical issue will remain in the upcoming decades. The discipline of architecture should consider the issue of a slum in its curriculum, especially within the design studios. This research attempts to integrate the slum topic within the fourth year undergraduate architecture curriculum and develop a pedagogical framework concerning architectural design projects that focuses on slum topic. The Graduation Research & Preparation (ARC 403) course and Graduation Project (ARC 402) course are modified in order to be responsive to the slum topic. The novelty of the framework can be categorized as follows: the proposed framework is context specific. It is based on an interdisciplinary approach to architecture and ethnography. It utilizes ethnographic tools for collecting data during fieldwork. It values research throughout the design process. A research-based approach prepares young architects for future complex challenges. It requires the young architects to utilize research and build an inventory of collected data, which can guide them during the design process as a reference point. It attempts to increase the awareness of the young architect regarding the discourse on social sustainability. It values social equity, quality of life, and well-being as core indicators of social sustainability and tries to integrate the indicators within the curriculum. The aforementioned indicators can guide young architects to reach strategic decisions to achieve sustainable design solutions.

Evidently, the global population is increasing. A decline in the stock of agricultural land per capita is becoming a global issue. The future agriculture output may need to grow in order to satisfy the future growing demands. Feeding the global population of 9.1 billion by the year 2050 requires growth in global agriculture output by approximately 60% to 110%. Urban agriculture as an alternative solution can reduce the future burden on agriculture sector. As a response to this issue, the interior architecture design studio-V (INT 401) proposes a futuristic vision which is based on the notion of urban agriculture. This vision requires a pedagogical framework to be defined for the interior design studio-V. The proposed pedagogy consists of the following three notions: (1) residential urban agriculture, (2) context-based and culture-based design approach, and (3) social sustainability. The proposed pedagogy follows a futuristic vision that advocates that future interior spaces and adjacent spaces should be capable of cultivating food. The proposed pedagogy tries to integrate the concept of residential urban agriculture within its core. The context-based and culture-based design approach highlights the importance of considering the local context during the design process. The interior design studio pedagogy should be valued, studied, and reflected in local traditions, practices, and values. The proposed pedagogy is based on the threefold schema of social sustainability that comprises development sustainability, bridge sustainability, and maintenance sustainability. The proposed design studio pedagogy highlights the following three points: (1) defining a vision for the interior design studio; (2) the interior design studio should be responsive to the contemporary and future social, environmental, and economic issues; and (3) the importance of considering the local context and reflecting it within the interior design studio pedagogy.

In an era in which more than half of the world’s population resides in urban centers, cultivating food within cities, close to consumers, is increasingly crucial. Given the limited availability of arable land in urban centers, food can be cultivated on a large scale within residential buildings equipped with balconies, in both current and future Mediterranean cities. This research defines the term “edible balconies” as a subtype of Zfarming and urban agriculture, indicating that the floors, walls, edges, and overhead spaces of edible balconies offer horizontal and vertical surfaces suitable for cultivating edible plants. The primary objective of this article is to propose a series of design guidelines for architects interested in designing edible balconies. It also highlights major obstacles that architects may encounter during the design process. To identify key design guidelines, determine significant obstacles, and develop design proposals, a comprehensive literature review was conducted on urban agriculture, horticulture, building-integrated agriculture, and Zfarming. By considering these suggested guidelines, architects can incorporate edible balconies into residential buildings. Such a design approach aims to develop a multifunctional housing typology that not only provides habitat but also promotes food cultivation.

The principal goal of this article is to study domestic artifacts in Masulih’s houses. This article points to the multidimensionality of domestic artifacts which can be categorized as being signifiers of research respondent’s beliefs and values, being part of the household’s social relations, and eliciting memories of the household. Research findings also highlight that some domestic artifacts have a life cycle and go through various phases in their life span. Qualitative research methods were used for data collection. Various extended field works were conducted in Masulih’s houses between 2008 and 2019. The principal techniques used for data collection were object interview, photo elicitation, and participant observation. The principal focus of interview sessions was on displayed objects and photographs in Masulih’s houses. During various interview sessions, respondents were asked to describe and narrate the stories of their domestic artifacts. Respondent narratives regarding their domestic artifacts highlight that the mentioned artifacts can be part of a complex web which mainly contains local inhabitants, houses, landscapes, memories, rituals, and values and beliefs. Furthermore, the study of domestic artifacts suggests that Masulih houses should not be considered solely as sites for the consumption of artifacts but places for the production of artifacts such as textiles. In this way, it can be said that local inhabitants are in constant connection with artifacts.