This research paper has defined and applied a new approach to develop and optimize augmented reality-based metaverse environments for learning construction and rehabilitation in architectural studies. This research paper is part of a broader project that aims to improve the learning process of architectural students by approaching construction and rehabilitation realities to the classroom in a feasible and pedagogical way. The approach has been applied successfully to develop a new environment with augmented reality that allows teachers to carry out activities using computers, tablets, cellphones and smartphone headsets in classrooms. Students’ satisfaction regarding the new environment is high, though there is room for improvement. The assessment of this new environment has involved both questionnaires and a multicriteria decision-making method which have holistically evaluated the new proposal by achieving complementary results. The main advantages of this new environment are in terms of application and inclusion, while its weaknesses will be solved in future steps that will introduce both mixed reality, to enlarge students’ perception and comprehension, as well as neuroeducation, to diminish students’ potential annoyances and dissatisfaction.

This article reviews rehabilitation programs in Barcelona, focusing on aspects such as the intervention model, actual public investment, and results. Programs of this type are not exclusive to Barcelona; however, similar examples can be found in other European cities, especially where European Union (EU) funding is present. After analyzing these models, we reached a series of general conclusions that may be of interest. Thus, an eminently practical and reflective analysis is presented, aimed at technicians and those responsible for the design of intervention policies in urban regeneration. Rehabilitation programs are increasingly focused on vulnerable settings, and in this context, the participation and service function of public administrations are particularly relevant. The general model for rehabilitation subsidies rarely takes into account the specific characteristics of disadvantaged urban settings, as the article will show. After analyzing the different policies presented in this research, we identified two essential requirements: detailed knowledge of the affected neighborhood, and ongoing evaluation of the development of programs—beyond simple management indicators—so negative effects can be corrected in time such as gentrification, real estate speculation, and other by-products that the intervention itself can promote. This study confirms that not all public investments have the expected results.

Traditional residential architecture is more than a historical form; it is a repository of lived experiences, cultural identity, and socio-spatial organisation. However, scholarly understanding of its social life and spatial logic remains disjointed. This study aims to identify existing research gaps in the spatial configuration of historic houses by systematically reviewing the social life of residential architecture. Using the PRISMA framework, 534 peer-reviewed articles were retrieved through a rigorous screening process from the Scopus database. A combination of bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer term mapping and SankeyMATIC visualisations was employed to categorise thematic concentrations and reveal methodological and regional distributed trends. The findings identified ten dominant thematic clusters: sustainability, restoration and conservation, gender role, vernacular architecture, space syntax, semantic values, spatial characteristics, cultural studies, environmental psychology, and adaptive reuse. The strong quantitative presence in spatial metrics and qualitative dominance in cultural and gendered perspectives suggested a rich yet segmented field ripe for future mixed-method development. The findings expose pervasive research gaps in traditional residential architecture, from a lack of real-time empirical data and fragmented interdisciplinary knowledge to underutilised innovative methodologies and insufficient representation of diverse user groups, collectively highlighting the urgent need for integrated approaches to understand evolving socio-spatial dynamics.

This article presents the methodology and results of a pioneering investigation in the determination and mapping of socio-residential vulnerability in the city of Barcelona according to a multi-criteria synthetic analysis. The methodology followed is based on a system of indicators elaborated from the exploitation of habitual statistical Open Data complemented with specific unprecedented data elaborated and supplied by the Barcelona City Council. The analysis is based on secondary data and it is structured in georeferenced axes, components, and indicators, which allow determination of the sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and urban and residential space characteristics at neighborhood, population census unit, and urban block level. The objective of the research was to detect, determine, and establish a measure of differentiation relative to the degree of residential vulnerability of some neighborhoods with respect to others, in order to seek prioritization measures for action in the most vulnerable areas. The results of the research provide a series of maps that allow us to define the areas where the highest levels of vulnerability indicators coincide according to a synthetic multi-criteria analysis.

This research investigates the relationship between socio-cultural reflections of residents and spatial diversity in historic Persian residential architecture. Despite the rich architectural heritage of Persian houses, there is limited understanding of how residents’ socio-cultural background influences their spatial arrangements. To address this gap, this study employs space syntax analysis, including axial, visibility graph analysis (VGA), agent-based analysis, and isovist approaches, to explore the genotype of 15 recognized Persian historic residential architectures. The findings reveal that the spatial configurations of these houses are deeply rooted in socio-cultural values, reflecting the diverse societal roles of residents. Variations in spatial arrangements highlight the adaptability of Persian historical houses in balancing privacy and sociability, influenced by the socio-cultural attributes of their occupants. The study also emphasizes the significance of transitional spaces in controlling social interactions with strangers to support cultural practices. This research contributes to the body of knowledge by providing a syntactic analysis of the socio-cultural underpinnings of Persian architectural typologies, offering insights that extend beyond Shiraz to the broader central Iranian context. The study concludes by advocating for practical policy implications and culturally rooted architectural design guidelines for Iranian construction engineering organizations to implement in their housing design projects. These insights can ultimately inform the development of contemporary housing in Iran, fostering a new wave of housing that is both culturally resonant and functionally innovative, while supporting socially sustainable living environments.