In recent years, multi-functional lecture halls have developed rapidly and become a symbol of contemporary public spaces and places. This kind of spatial facility that brings together the advantages of land intensiveness and multi-functional integration also faces feedback such as poor acoustic effects. However, current research rarely involves the architectural design perspective, which is actually the root consideration of this problem; that is, how to set up corresponding spatial layout measures to optimize acoustic performance in a relatively economical and simple way. This study uses the academic lecture hall of the School of Architecture and Planning of Yunnan University as a case to try to solve these problems. The research is based on holistic considerations, starting from site selection, architectural design, aesthetic considerations, and environmental noise assessment, and combining simulation results with actual measurement results. Using a prediction–comparison–verification method, key acoustic parameters such as speech intelligibility, loudness, and reverberation time were calculated and evaluated to understand the acoustic design problems of the hall. The study found that the out-of-control reverberation time was the main cause of poor acoustic feedback, and based on this, optimization and transformation were carried out from an architectural perspective. Finally, a renovation suggestion was made that the application of sound-absorbing materials on the rear wall can achieve better acoustic effects inside the hall. Among the space combination methods, the combination of “rear wall, central ceiling, and front ceiling” has the best effect. Practical insights are provided for improving the acoustic performance of the multi-functional lecture halls while taking into account the acoustic design and feasible requirements.

Urban rail transit systems significantly influence land use patterns in newly developed areas, yet their impact on spatial organization and functional characteristics remains understudied. This research examines Wuhan Metro Line 11, analyzing land use within an 800 m radius of stations using Point of Interest data, ArcGIS spatial analysis, and locational entropy methods. The study reveals three station types, i.e., single-function, mixed-function, and underdeveloped, each exhibiting distinct spatial differentiation patterns. On this basis, a novel “core-diffusion” model emerges, with the highest density of functional elements observed at approximately 600 m from station centers, challenging conventional proximity assumptions. Three spatial organization modes are identified: single-core independent in two-level axis, single-core continuous in single-level axis, and double-core continuous in two-level axis. These findings contribute to the Transit-Oriented Development literature, offering sustainable insights into optimizing land use around metro stations in rapidly urbanizing contexts. This study also provides a methodological framework applicable to similar urban environments, enhancing the understanding of the complex relationships between metro development and surrounding land use patterns. These results have significant implications for urban planning and policy-making, particularly in emerging economies seeking to balance transit efficiency with sustainable urban growth.

Seismic disasters pose major challenges to urban resilience, particularly in high-density cities where the concentration of people, buildings, and infrastructure amplifies disaster risk. This study establishes a GIS-based analytical framework to evaluate the spatial distribution and fairness of seismic emergency shelters in Seoul, using built-up neighborhoods (called dongs in Korean) as the basic analytical unit. Three dimensions are assessed: (1) 500 m walking accessibility based on the road network; (2) redundancy, representing the number of shelters simultaneously reachable; and (3) fairness analysis, integrating spatial and population-based dimensions to reveal disparities between shelter provision and population demand. The results indicate that overall accessibility in Seoul is relatively high, with more than 50% of dongs achieving coverage levels above 50%. However, distinct spatial disparities remain. Central and mountainous areas, such as Jung-gu, Jongno-gu, and southern Seocho-gu, show coverage rates below 20%, while districts in the southwest and northeast exhibit higher redundancy. Fairness analysis further reveals inequality in shelter capacity relative to population: excluding null values, the median coverage ratio is 0.92 and the mean is 1.29, with only 44.97% of dongs achieving sufficient or surplus capacity (coverage ≥ 1). Notably, 44 dongs fall into the Low–High category, representing areas with large populations but limited shelter access, mainly concentrated in Jungnang-gu, Gangbuk-gu, and Yangcheon-gu. These dongs should be prioritized in future planning. Policy implications highlight strengthening shelter provision in high-population but low-coverage zones, incorporating evacuation functions into urban redevelopment, promoting inter-district resource sharing, and improving public awareness. The proposed framework provides a transferable model for optimizing seismic shelter systems in other high-density urban contexts.

Under the dual challenges of global energy crisis and climate change, the building sector, as a major carbon emitter consuming 33% of global primary energy, has seen its energy efficiency optimization become a critical pathway towards achieving carbon neutrality goals. The Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR), serving as a core parameter in building envelope design, directly influences building energy consumption, with its optimized design playing a decisive role in balancing natural daylighting, ventilation efficiency, and thermal comfort. This study focuses on the traditional One-Seal dwellings (Yikeyin) in Kunming, China, establishing a dynamic wind field-thermal environment coupled analysis framework to investigate the impact mechanism of window dimensions (WWR and aspect ratio) on indoor thermal comfort under natural wind conditions in transitional climate zones. Utilizing the Grasshopper platform integrated with Ladybug, Honeybee, and Butterfly plugins, we developed parametric models incorporating Kunming’s Energy Plus Weather meteorological data. EnergyPlus and OpenFOAM were employed, respectively, for building heat-moisture balance calculations and Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations, with particular emphasis on analyzing the effects of varying WWR (0.05–0.20) on temperature-humidity, air velocity, and ventilation efficiency during typical winter and summer weeks. Key findings include, (1) in summer, the baseline scenario with WWR = 0.1 achieves a dynamic thermal-humidity balance (20.89–24.27 °C, 65.35–74.22%) through a “air-permeable but non-ventilative” strategy, though wing rooms show humidity-heat accumulation risks; increasing WWR to 0.15–0.2 enhances ventilation efficiency (2–3 times higher air changes) but causes a 4.5% humidity surge; (2) winter conditions with WWR ≥ 0.15 reduce wing room temperatures to 17.32 °C, approaching cold thresholds, while WWR = 0.05 mitigates heat loss but exacerbates humidity accumulation; (3) a symmetrical layout structurally constrains central ventilation, maintaining main halls air changes below one Air Change per Hour (ACH). The study proposes an optimized WWR range of 0.1–0.15 combined with asymmetric window opening strategies, providing quantitative guidance for validating the scientific value of vernacular architectural wisdom in low-energy design.

Traditional villages in ecologically fragile and multi-ethnic frontier regions are increasingly threatened by rapid urbanization and socio-economic transformation. Northwestern Yunnan, located in the longitudinal valleys of the Hengduan Mountains, represents a key cultural landscape of plateau agropastoral civilization and ethnic interaction, yet its spatial organization and clustering mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. This study develops a four-dimensional analytical framework integrating four dimensions—spatial morphology (village distribution patterns and density), geomorphological conditions (elevation, slope, and terrain features), cultural attributes (ethnic composition and historical-cultural corridors), and architectural typologies (dominant residential structure types) to examine 246 officially recognized traditional villages. Using GIS-based spatial statistics, kernel density estimation (KDE), spatial autocorrelation, and a hierarchical overlay model, the study identifies the spatial structure (distribution patterns and density gradients), environmental adaptability (relationships with elevation, slope, and hydrological conditions), and multidimensional clustering characteristics (integrated clustering intensity across four analytical dimensions) of settlements. The results reveal a highly uneven and a statistically significant clustered spatial pattern ($R$ = 0.606, Moran’s $I$ = 0.251, p < 0.05) characterized by a “two corridors–six clusters–multiple nodes” structure. Settlement distribution demonstrates strong coupling with mid-elevation plateau basins, river valley systems, and trade-cultural corridors shaped by the Ancient Tea Horse Road. Multidimensional integration further classifies villages into three typologies—comprehensive, specialized, and general clusters—reflecting different levels of coordination among spatial, environmental, cultural, and architectural dimensions. These findings reveal the spatial regularities and multidimensional clustering characteristics of officially recognized traditional villages in Northwestern Yunnan, and suggest that environmental setting, historical corridors, and cultural-architectural features jointly shape the current recognized heritage landscape. The proposed framework provides a context-sensitive basis for differentiated heritage conservation and rural management in mountainous multi-ethnic regions.