Current Issue

Data Politics in the Built Environment

Guest Editors: Andrew Karvonen (Lund University) & Tom Hargreaves (University of East Anglia)

Deadline for abstract submission: 26 September 2022

How are data reconfiguring life in buildings and cities? Who are the subjects and objects of data-driven buildings and cities? What are the implications of data-driven buildings and cities for social equity and justice? How do these powers and associated practices align with policies and regulation?

The aim of this special issue is to improve our collective understanding of the practices, politics, and power implications of data-driven buildings and cities. How is data generated, metabolised, and gathered in the built environment? Who designs and governs these data flows and to what end? Who and what is enrolled in the datafication of buildings and cities? What forms and types of data are collected and what gets ignored in data flows at and across different scales? What are the broader implications for social justice and equity? We invite social scientists, planners, designers, building scientists, data scientists, and environmental scientists to shine a critical spotlight on the motivations, methods, and consequences of data-driven buildings and cities.

For the full submission details and further information, visit the B&C Community Website: https://www.buildingsandcities.org/calls-for-papers/data-politics.html

Alternatives to air conditioning: policies, design, technologies, behaviours

Buildings & Cities is pleased to announce our latest Special Issue Alternatives to air conditioning: policies, design, technologies, behaviours is now complete and available to read in full.

This special issue explores alternative approaches to providing thermal comfort and ventilation in different climatic zones across the world at the scales of building, neighbourhood and city.

In urbanised areas, there is an opportunity to break the current dependency on air conditioning. The design of cities, neighbourhoods and buildings can ensure ventilation and thermal comfort by climate friendly means. Retrofit opportunities for the existing building stock can make existing buildings comfortable without increasing energy demand. The design of new buildings and their environs can reduce or eliminate the need for air conditioning.

The collection considers the implications of these alternatives across a range of issues: health, wellbeing, air quality and heat stress; technical / design solutions; social expectations and practices; climate change; policy and regulation; supply chain and procurement; education and training.

Urban systems for sustainability and health

Buildings & Cities is pleased to announce that we've just completed our latest Special Issue Urban systems for sustainability and health and the full collection is now available to read in full.

This special issue provides new evidence on how to achieve the transformation of cities to address vital environmental imperatives for population and planetary health in the 21st century.

It is also necessary to understand how best to use this research evidence to inform decision-makers and the public about the pathways of development that provide the greatest opportunities for health and sustainability, and to track progress towards the fulfilment of agreed goals.

Additionally, identifying methods and factors crucial to successful implementation of development strategies must take full account of the complex interactions between different urban systems.