Architecture and Housing

Nagrada za arhitektonska ostvarenja „Borba“, koju je 1964. godine ustanovio beogradski dnevni list Borba, postala je najprestižnija arhitektonska nagrada u Socijalističkoj Federativnoj Republici Jugoslaviji (SFRJ). Uvedena je radi promocije arhitektonskih dostignuća u svim republikama, a kasnije, od 1975. godine, i u dve pokrajine Republike Srbije. Nagradom su valorizovana arhitektonska dela koja su doprinela estetskim, humanim i praktičnim uslovima života socijalističke države i društva. Nagrađena ostvarenja na republičkom i pokrajinskom nivou su ujedno bila i nominacije za saveznu nagradu. Savezni žiri je tokom godina uočavao potrebu za većom zastupljenošću stambenih objekata, međutim, posebna nagrada za ovu tipologiju nije bila uvedena. Nagrada „Borba“ je nakon raspada Jugoslavije 1991. godine dodeljivana u Srbiji i Crnoj Gori. Godine 1998. nagrada je pripala Darku i Mileniji Marušić za stambeni blok sa „dva lica“ na Bulevaru oslobođenja u Novom Sadu. Autori su koristili keramičke pločice na fasadama prema Bulevaru, a opeku prema unutrašnjosti bloka – pozivajući se na tradicionalnu arhitekturu Vojvodine. Iako je nagrada ukinuta zbog finansijskih problema, predstavljala je jednu od retkih platformi na kojoj su se vodile rasprave, kritikovale i slavile arhitektonske ideje, kao i dostignuća, ostavljajući značajan trag u arhitektonskoj istoriji regiona.

The “Borba” award, established in 1965 by the Belgrade daily newspaper Borba, became the most prestigious architectural accolade in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). It was introduced to promote outstanding architectural achievements across all the republics and recognize exceptional architectural works that contributed to the aesthetic, humane, and practical living conditions of the socialist state. Initially awarded at the republic level, top national projects were
nominated for a federal award. In several instances the Federal Jury acknowledged the need for better representation of housing projects, though no separate award for this typology was ever introduced. Following the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1991, the “Borba” award continued in Serbia and Montenegro. In 1998, the award went to Milenija and Darko Marušić for their “two-face” housing block in Novi Sad. The authors used façade ceramics referencing traditional architecture of Vojvodina. Despite its eventual discontinuation due to financial constraints, the award represented one of the few pan-Yugoslav platforms where architectural ideas and achievements were debated, critiqued, and celebrated, leaving a significant mark on the architectural history of the region.

Self-build housing projects (SBHPs) among middle and high income developers are faced with many challenges that cause delay in the delivery time of the house(s). The focus of this paper is to analyse the factors that cause delay in SBHPs in order to identify the critical delay factors. Review of literature and expert input revealed 20 variables which were used in a structured questionnaire for data collection from owners, consultants and builders in Wa Municipality. Reliability test, t-test analysis and mean ranking were used in the data analysis. The results revealed that "Delay in obtaining permit from Local Authorities" was the first delay factor followed by "Poor site management and supervision". The delay factor ranked least was "Inadequate cost estimation and related details" from consultants. The paper recommends that Government agencies that regulate physical development should intensify public education, particularly on responsibilities and obligations, especially among self-builders. The paper recommends further study into labour-related issues as well as communication and information management among participants and its impact on self-build project success.

The construction industry is a sector of the economy that transforms various resources into constructed physical economic and social infrastructure necessary for socio-economic development. Labour forms an integral part of the construction process and cannot be overlooked. The reward of labour wages has become a domain for agitation in recent times as a result of the differential pricing of labour across the country, ranging from city to city. The aim of this study is to explore the determinants that account for different rates of labour. A mixed method approach was used that involves semi-structure interview and closed-ended questionnaires. The target population for the data collection was contractors, labourers and consultants within Ghana. Data generated from the survey were analysed using relative importance index (RII). The study revealed that consultants, labourers and contractors take into account the level of skill of personnel, demand for labour competition among firms, use...

Self-build housing projects (SBHPs) among middle and high income developers are faced with many challenges that cause delay in the delivery time of the house(s). The focus of this paper is to analyse the factors that cause delay in SBHPs in order to identify the critical delay factors. Review of literature and expert input revealed 20 variables which were used in a structured questionnaire for data collection from owners, consultants and builders in Wa Municipality. Reliability test, t-test analysis and mean ranking were used in the data analysis. The results revealed that “Delay in obtaining permit from Local Authorities” was the first delay factor followed by “Poor site management and supervision”. The delay factor ranked least was “Inadequate cost estimation and related details” from consultants. The paper recommends that Government agencies that regulate physical development should intensify public education, particularly on responsibilities and obligations, especially among sel...

A poorly coordinated performance among stakeholders in the finishing phase can impair the performance of a high-rise building project. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze construction failure factors (CFFs) to stakeholder coordinating performance (SCP) in the finishing phase of high-rise building projects and to uncover their underlying relationships. CFFs to SCP in construction projects, especially in the finishing phase of high-rise building projects, have not yet been discovered. The study identified 30 CFFs to the SCP and ranked them according to the perspective of the stakeholders, including owners/consultants and contractors/subcontractors. Additionally, four factors of the CFFs, namely, traditional adversarial relationship, poor project planning and organization, incompetent parties, and delays of parties toward construction works were extracted by the factor analysis method. This study fills the gap in knowledge related to the coordination performance in construction proje...

Self-build housing projects (SBHPs) among middle and high income developers are faced with many challenges that cause delay in the delivery time of the house(s). The focus of this paper is to analyse the factors that cause delay in SBHPs in order to identify the critical delay factors. Review of literature and expert input revealed 20 variables which were used in a structured questionnaire for data collection from owners, consultants and builders in Wa Municipality. Reliability test, t-test analysis and mean ranking were used in the data analysis. The results revealed that "Delay in obtaining permit from Local Authorities" was the first delay factor followed by "Poor site management and supervision". The delay factor ranked least was "Inadequate cost estimation and related details" from consultants. The paper recommends that Government agencies that regulate physical development should intensify public education, particularly on responsibilities and obligations, especially among self-builders. The paper recommends further study into labour-related issues as well as communication and information management among participants and its impact on self-build project success.

Self-build housing projects (SBHPs) among middle and high income developers are faced with many challenges that cause delay in the delivery time of the house(s). The focus of this paper is to analyse the factors that cause delay in SBHPs in order to identify the critical delay factors. Review of literature and expert input revealed 20 variables which were used in a structured questionnaire for data collection from owners, consultants and builders in Wa Municipality. Reliability test, t-test analysis and mean ranking were used in the data analysis. The results revealed that "Delay in obtaining permit from Local Authorities" was the first delay factor followed by "Poor site management and supervision". The delay factor ranked least was "Inadequate cost estimation and related details" from consultants. The paper recommends that Government agencies that regulate physical development should intensify public education, particularly on responsibilities and obligations, especially among self-builders. The paper recommends further study into labour-related issues as well as communication and information management among participants and its impact on self-build project success.

This study investigates the causes of delay of building construction projects in Ghana to determine the most important according to the key project participants; clients, consultants, and contractors. Thirty-two possible causes of delay were identified from the literature and semi-structured interviews of 15 key players in the implementation process. These delay factors were further categorised into nine major groups. The list of delay causes was subjected to a questionnaire survey for the identification of the most important causes of delay. The field survey included 130 respondents made up of 39 contractors, 37 clients and 54 consultants. The relative importance of the individual causes and the groups were calculated and ranked by their relative importance index. The overall results of the study indicate that the respondents generally agree that financial group factors ranked highest among the major factors causing delay in construction projects in Ghana. The financial group factors were delay in honouring payment certificates, difficulty in accessing credit and fluctuation in prices. Materials group factors are second followed by scheduling and controlling factors.

The aim of the project is to reduce urban sprawl by increasing housing density while preserving existing buildings. Solving different problems of accessibility in public and domestic spaces, relating to architectural, social, programme diversity and building sustainably in different scales, from urban to ergonomic dwelling. Little strategies with urban continuity, such as, programmatic accessible walkways which connect both sides of the building and mutable spaces along time. The project is located in the Poblado Dirigido in Fuencarral, north of Madrid. It was constructed in 1960 by Jose Luis Romany and Luis Miquel Suarez-Inclán. To summarize in three strategies: The first one is to reactivate existing markets abandoned by generating activity plug-ins with equipments and showing public space at the surroundings. The second one is to preserve existing dwelling by improving the quality of domestic spaces proposing new commons and better privates spaces by adding flexible inputs to residential blocks. The third and principal one is to propose a growth in phases controlled by reactivating existing urban spaces at all scales. To summarize, the project in three phases, first phase to reactivate public space solving accessibility. Second phase to generate activity and plug-ins with equipments such as primary commerce reusing the existing markets. The third and last phase to create services by adding flexible space to residential blocks.

The integration of renewable energy technologies in buildings across Africa is low. Enormous improvements to intrinsic cost drivers affecting their affordability are therefore prerequisite to achieve diffused adoption. In a search for the relevant strategies to improve the adoption of these technologies, this paper appraised critical cost factors inhibiting the affordability of solar photovoltaic (PV) in Nigeria. The research adopted a structured questionnaire survey administered to 480 stakeholders in the building sub-sector and PV value chain. Data reduction tool (factor analysis) determined the components of principal factors critical to the affordability of PV in the research environment. The result showed that the dearth of local competencies, lack of skilled labour, lack of research, lack of locally accessible technologies, high cost of maintenance, foreign exchange fluctuation, and inflation are important drivers of PV costs that must improve to facilitate PV integration in buildings. The strategies to improving PV adoption must stimulate affordability by mitigating technical and economic cost factors. The study recommends strong government incentives using waivers on tariff, education and awareness, training in requisite skills, and local manufacturing of components as prerequisite drivers needed to improve affordability.

This study investigates the causes of delay of building construction projects in Ghana to determine the most important according to the key project participants; clients, consultants, and contractors. Thirty-two possible causes of delay were identified from the literature and semi-structured interviews of 15 key players in the implementation process. These delay factors were further categorised into nine major groups. The list of delay causes was subjected to a questionnaire survey for the identification of the most important causes of delay. The field survey included 130 respondents made up of 39 contractors, 37 clients and 54 consultants. The relative importance of the individual causes and the groups were calculated and ranked by their relative importance index. The overall results of the study indicate that the respondents generally agree that financial group factors ranked highest among the major factors causing delay in construction projects in Ghana. The financial group factors were delay in honouring payment certificates, difficulty in accessing credit and fluctuation in prices. Materials group factors are second followed by scheduling and controlling factors.

In surveying and analyzing the energy landscape of Nigeria this paper notes that in spite of its reliance on a sole power source, hydroelectricity , it is incapable of meeting its growing energy needs. In recommending solar energy technology as a viable and quite profitable alternative, the paper explores the initial pains and possible obstacles that can mitigate against its successful take off and sustenance, countering these with the win-win capacity of solar energy and the numerous benefits the nation, investors, industrialists, researchers and the end-users will enjoy should they invest in and adopt the affordable energy, energy security, job creation, clean environment, greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions reduction and future development that solar energy offers and guarantees.

Abstract
Self-build housing projects (SBHPs) among middle and high income developers are faced with
many challenges that cause delay in the delivery time of the house(s). The focus of this paper is to
analyse the factors that cause delay in SBHPs in order to identify the critical delay factors. Review
of literature and expert input revealed 20 variables which were used in a structured questionnaire
for data collection from owners, consultants and builders in Wa Municipality. Reliability test,
t-test analysis and mean ranking were used in the data analysis. The results revealed that “Delay
in obtaining permit from Local Authorities” was the first delay factor followed by “Poor site management
and supervision”. The delay factor ranked least was “Inadequate cost estimation and related
details” from consultants. The paper recommends that Government agencies that regulate
physical development should intensify public education, particularly on responsibilities and obligations,
especially among self-builders. The paper recommends further study into labour-related
issues as well as communication and information management among participants and its impact
on self-build project success.
Keywords
Delays, Self-Build, Housing Projects, Ghana

This study investigates the causes of delay of building construction projects in Ghana to determine the most important according to the key project participants; clients, consultants, and contractors. Thirty-two possible causes of delay were identified from the literature and semi-structured interviews of 15 key players in the implementation process. These delay factors were further categorised into nine major groups. The list of delay causes was subjected to a questionnaire survey for the identification of the most important causes of delay. The field survey included 130 respondents made up of 39 contractors, 37 clients and 54 consultants. The relative importance of the individual causes and the groups were calculated and ranked by their relative importance index. The overall results of the study indicate that the respondents generally agree that financial group factors ranked highest among the major factors causing delay in construction projects in Ghana. The financial group factors were delay in honouring payment certificates, difficulty in accessing credit and fluctuation in prices. Materials group factors are second followed by scheduling and controlling factors.

This study investigates the causes of delay of building construction projects in Ghana to determine the most important according to the key project participants; clients, consultants, and contractors. Thirty-two possible causes of delay were identified from the literature and semi-structured interviews of 15 key players in the implementation process. These delay factors were further categorised into nine major groups. The list of delay causes was subjected to a questionnaire survey for the identification of the most important causes of delay. The field survey included 130 respondents made up of 39 contractors, 37 clients and 54 consultants. The relative importance of the individual causes and the groups were calculated and ranked by their relative importance index. The overall results of the study indicate that the respondents generally agree that financial group factors ranked highest among the major factors causing delay in construction projects in Ghana. The financial group factors were delay in honouring payment certificates, difficulty in accessing credit and fluctuation in prices. Materials group factors are second followed by scheduling and controlling factors.

The continuous emphasis on the prevalence of communication ineffectiveness in mass housing delivery inherent from the unique particularities of mass housing projects remains a
critical challenge towards the needed improvement in project management efficiencies and planning in housing and infrastructural delivery in developing countries. Against this,
continuous research in communication performance measures is critical towards managerial and communication effectiveness needed in MHPs delivery especially in developing countries. In this paper, the development of a suitable research instrument (RI) is presented towards the evaluation of the contribution of the unique features to mass housing projects (MHPs) on project team communication performance. It also presents the underling theoretical background and the conceptual model that outline the two main attribution factors of communication performance on MHPs. However, the RI is designed to focus on
the project related (external) factors. Drawing on the main philosophical underpinning of the study, the adopted and developed dependent and independent variables have been
operationalized to reflect the unique mass housing project (MHP) environment as well as the practical and the theoretical perspective of developing country like Ghana. It is anticipated that by focusing on the projected related factors, a significant contribution will be made towards addressing the communication performance challenges inherent from the
unique project environment in developing countries in MHPs management.

This study investigates the causes of delay of building construction projects in Ghana to determine the most important according to the key project participants; clients, consultants, and contractors. Thirty-two possible causes of delay were identified from the literature and semi-structured interviews of 15 key players in the implementation process. These delay factors were further categorised into nine major groups. The list of delay causes was subjected to a questionnaire survey for the identification of the most important causes of delay. The field survey included 130 respondents made up of 39 contractors, 37 clients and 54 consultants. The relative importance of the individual causes and the groups were calculated and ranked by their relative importance index. The overall results of the study indicate that the respondents generally agree that financial group factors ranked highest among the major factors causing delay in construction projects in Ghana. The financial group factors were delay in honouring payment certificates, difficulty in accessing credit and fluctuation in prices. Materials group factors are second followed by scheduling and controlling factors.