This study investigates the enhancement of condition and the extension of service life in architectural structures of shopping malls through the application of a hybrid methodological framework that integrates Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Service Life Planning (SLP). Thisresearch identifies key parameters related to physical performance, sustainability indicators, and functional characteristics of architectural systems that are subject to deterioration and shifting market conditions during the operational phase. The methodology encompasses a theoretical synthesis of LCA/SLP principles and advances in modeling for both the integrated design of new facilities and the monitoring and renewal of existing ones—from data collection and early-stage planning, through construction, use, and maintenance, to end-of-life phases. A second component of the model focuses on quantitative assessment and condition forecasting, based on Markov chain modeling, applied to the case study of the “Deva 1” shopping mall in Serbia. The results demonstrate the model’s ability to correlate physical condition indices with predictive service life scenarios.This study further contributes by integrating time-dependent impact categories, usage profiles, and planning parameters into a unified evaluation matrix, which can be applied to the development and improvement of systems aimed at enhancing the structural, functional, esthetic, and indirectly economic value of shopping mall buildings throughout their entire life cycle—from an architectural perspective.

Historic hospital buildings and complexes represent a specific category of built heritage whose obsolescence is related not only to medical function, but also to inherited spatial organisation, layout form, technical requirements and urban position. Although many no longer meet contemporary healthcare standards, they often retain significant architectural, urban and heritage value. The objective of this paper is to develop a comparative coding framework for analysing adaptive reuse of historic hospital buildings and complexes. The research is based on 43 international examples of former healthcare buildings and complexes converted predominantly to non-medical functions. Each case is coded according to current use, original healthcare function, hospital layout form, urban position, construction period, architectural style, heritage status and data reliability. The database is analysed through descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation, exploratory association testing and interpretative pattern analysis. The results show that cultural, hotel and residential functions are the most frequent reuse directions. Older and highly valuable hospital buildings are more often associated with cultural or museum reuse, while later, larger and more spatially adaptable complexes tend to support hotel, residential or mixed-use transformation. The framework provides a structured basis for comparing inherited hospital characteristics and contemporary programme selection.

The adaptive reuse of historic hospitals requires comparing prospective functions against inherited architectural configurations, heritage constraints and contextual conditions, often under incomplete documentation. This study develops and internally verifies HARP v1.1, a hospital-specific rule-based decision-support framework designed to make preliminary reuse assessments transparent and traceable. Drawing on 43 comparative cases, 15 supplementary cases and iterative architectural modelling, the framework connects evidence-supported inputs, derived indicators and conditional rules to eight prospective reuse directions. Rule-normalised compatibility scores are reported separately from Evidence Adequacy. The original 19 software-conformance tests were passed, and deterministic replay reproduced the Pirot reference assessment. Mixed Use ranked first in the reference assessment, while sensitivity analyses and alternative scoring controls identified modelling dependencies that could have affected the rankings. The developmental coding pilot informed protocol refinement; a separate, focused, independent-coder check of the final 35 inputs for Pirot yielded 32/35 exact agreements (91.4%; unweighted Cohen’s κ = 0.859), with three one-level disagreements. The findings demonstrate the implementation consistency and reproducibility of the reference assessment, while the framework’s traceable computational structure supports the inspection of its assumptions and dependencies. Further evaluation across independent assessments and additional hospital cases is needed. HARP v1.1 is proposed as a research prototype for preliminary architectural screening and briefing, rather than as a validated predictor of optimal reuse.

Previous studies in the field of architectural and interior design of patient rooms in secondary and tertiary healthcare institutions in the Republic of Serbia have highlighted the need for access to regulatory documents that legally define the requirements for the planning, design, and construction of such facilities. A key issue identified is the absence of a unified and comprehensive list of easily accessible legal and regulatory acts. The aim of this paper is to compile a complete inventory of the relevant legal frameworks and to evaluate both the scope and quality of their content. The research methodology combines literature review, analytical and synthetic approaches, and comparative analysis. The findings point to an urgent need for reform of the existing regulatory system governing the planning and development of healthcare institutions in the Republic of Serbia.

Visual elements in the design of architectural forms are crucial in shaping space and creating the final architectural composition. The shape and proportion of the object determine how the architectural form will fit into the environment and how users will perceive the space. The colors and materials used in construction can significantly influence the visual dynamics, creating contrasts or harmony within the space. Lighting and the shadows that are created have an important role in highlighting details, creating visual depth and atmosphere within the object. Good architectural design not only meets technical requirements but also carefully balances these elements to create a space that satisfies aesthetic needs. The aim of this paper is to explore the impact of each of these elements on the form of the built object. By examining these elements, the paper will provide a deeper understanding of their interrelationship and how they all contribute to the final appearance and functionality of the object.

The paper presents a study on the transformability of architectural form under the influence of light and shadow as key elements of visual perception, experience, art, and architecture. Through the analysis of examples where these factors are the primary determinants of the appearance of architectural form, the study demonstrates the principle of shaping ambiance and evoking specific emotions. The study of the transformability of form perception is illustrated through a series of photographs of the same architectural structures (or their segments) taken at different times of the day. These photographs served as the primary means of expression in the research on the influence of light and shadow on architectural form. Visual perception, as a complex process of experiencing shape and space, although primarily linked to the sense of sight, does not function in isolation from other senses, previously acquired knowledge, experiences, and emotions. It consists of a set of impressions and understandings of the observed object, which change depending on the movement of the observer. Among the numerous factors that influence the visual perception of architectural form, light and shadow stand out as dominant, playing a crucial role in its transformability and experiential quality.