Journal of Recent Activities in Architectural Sciences

Smart Green Infrastructure: Urban Design Strategies for Smart and Environmentally Sustainable Cities

Nawras Motathud Salih — 2026-06-03

This study examines the pivotal role of urban design in integrating smart green infrastructure (SGI) as a pathway to developing smart, environmentally sustainable cities. The research addresses unprecedented challenges posed by urban population growth, including deteriorating air and water quality, Urban heat island (UHI) effects, biodiversity loss, and increased stormwater runoff. In response to these challenges, the study investigates the concept of smart green infrastructure, which strategically combines nature-based solutions—such as urban forests, parks, green roofs, permeable pavements, and rain gardens—with smart technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and data analytics. The research explores diverse urban design strategies to leverage the synergistic potential of green infrastructure and smart technologies in addressing urgent urban challenges while enhancing environmental sustainability. It highlights how smart technology integration can optimize the monitoring, management, and performance of green infrastructure. Key focus areas include improving air and water quality, mitigating UHI effects, enhancing biodiversity, and ensuring effective stormwater management. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of human-centered approaches in planning and implementing smart green infrastructure to ensure inclusivity and community well-being. The study concludes that environmental sustainability, natural resource management, smart technological integration, urban resilience, social functions, participatory (human-centered) approaches, economic feasibility, aesthetic and architectural functions, along with transportation and location integration, serve as effective indicators for achieving successful smart green infrastructure implementation.

From Images to Archives: The Origins of Record-keeping and the Development of Writing Systems in Mesopotamia and Egypt

Nasrin Akhter — 2026-03-07

Record-keeping represents one of the foundational technologies of human civilization, enabling societies to stabilize memory, administer resources, and transmit knowledge across generations. This study examines the long historical evolution of documentation from prehistoric symbolic marking to formal writing systems and early knowledge institutions in Mesopotamia and Egypt. Using a qualitative, comparative, and historiographical approach grounded in archaeology, ancient history, and archival theory, the study argues that record-keeping developed through interconnected stages: proto-documentation, administrative accounting, formal script, and institutional preservation. Prehistoric visual culture demonstrates an early impulse to externalize meaning materially, while the administrative demands of complex agricultural societies accelerated the emergence of writing. Mesopotamian and Egyptian documentary systems reveal both shared structural pressures and culturally specific adaptations shaped by media, environment, and political ideology. The formation of early libraries such as the Royal Library of Ashurbanipal and the Library of Alexandria marks a decisive shift from record production to organized knowledge stewardship. By situating modern archives and libraries within a deep historical continuum, the study highlights documentation as an infrastructure of social continuity and collective memory. The findings suggest that writing did not merely record civilization—it enabled civilization to endure.

A Study on Integration of Hydroponics in Architecture: Qualitative Approach

Dheena Dayalan G. U. — 2026-06-06

Urban areas face major challenges such as limited green space, heat stress, and resource scarcity. Hydroponics offers sustainable potential through building integration, yet practical, low-cost strategies for varied scales remain underexplored. This study examines how system selection, integration location, and design approach affect the feasibility and performance of hydroponic building integration, comparing DIY residential setups with commercial installations. Using a qualitative comparative case study, it analyses two contrasting projects—RV Singh Hydroponic Farm (DIY residential, Bareilly) and One Central Park (commercial, Sydney)—across six criteria: system suitability, integration method, material choice, spatial use, accessibility, and climate response. A comparative framework evaluates six systems (NFT, DWC, Drip, Ebb & Flow, Aeroponics, and Wick) and four building locations (façade, roof, balcony, and interior). Findings show that DIY systems can achieve environmental and spatial benefits comparable to commercial ones at ~70% lower cost, disproving the notion that only professional systems are viable. NFT and Drip systems show the highest adaptability across residential and commercial uses. The study concludes with a decision framework linking system choice to building type, structure, cost, and maintenance ease.

An Integrated Architectural Model for Craft-based Cultural Infrastructure: Site Selection, Vernacular Strategies, and Programmatic Design for an Omani Craft Village

Ghufran Ahmad Khan — 2026-05-15

This study presents an integrated architectural framework for the development of an Omani craft village as a contemporary cultural infrastructure that supports the preservation and evolution of traditional handicrafts. Rather than treating heritage as a static exhibit, the research positions craft practices as dynamic systems that contribute to education, social interaction, and local economic development. The proposed model combines spatial programming, vernacular design strategies, and site-responsive planning to create an environment where artisans, visitors, and learners can engage in continuous cultural exchange. The project incorporates a range of functional components, including craft workshops, exhibition galleries, a heritage theater, and a central market, forming a cohesive ecosystem that reflects the diversity of Omani craftsmanship. Emphasis is placed on climate-responsive design through the application of passive cooling techniques, courtyard typologies, and the use of locally appropriate materials. A comparative site evaluation is undertaken to identify the most contextually suitable location, balancing accessibility, environmental conditions, and cultural authenticity. The findings demonstrate that architectural design can extend beyond physical form to act as a catalyst for sustaining intangible cultural heritage. By integrating traditional knowledge systems with contemporary spatial strategies, the proposed craft village contributes to broader objectives of sustainable development, cultural tourism, and community empowerment. The research offers a transferable framework for designing culturally embedded environments in arid and heritage-rich contexts.

The Evolution of Green Architecture Concept in Hot, Arid Urban Environments: An Analytical Review of Studies in the Arab Region between 2020-2025

Wurood Adeeb Khamees — 2026-02-16

This research will dwell on the development of the concept concerning green architecture in a dry and hot urban setting, besides highlighting developments which took place between 2020 and 2025. The study indicates the change from meeting basic energy needs to sustainable design solutions that entail harnessing renewable energy resources and utilizing eco-friendly materials and architectures that respond to extreme seasonal changes in the climate. It also examines Arab studies and concentrates on the particular conditions of arid and hot climates, namely those of Iraq and Gulf countries. This involves economic limitations and loopholes in the laws. The current study picks key knowledge gaps and trends, especially in smart tech and circular economic concepts. The findings and recommendations of this study will focus on conducting research that suits the hot and dry climates and will look to develop effective policies and approaches that ensure the effective and sustainable development of cities in hot and dry climates. This study will specifically focus on doing a systematic review of the analysis and assessment of scientific literature that has focused on the development of green concepts in the architecture of arid and hot urban climates. This will be done by using various databases to obtain the information needed. This study will focus on the years from 2020 to 2025 and will look at the past 25 years, as this is the latest time period that has included effective and innovative developments. This current study will focus on the Middle East, Africa, and Southwest Asia, as this geographical area specifically covers the hot and dry climates. This current study will be the introduction to a series of studies that will be released in succession. The next studies will look at the application of green architecture in educational and residential settings, as well as the effect it may have on users.