American Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture

Gendered Spaces and Human Interaction with the Built Environment: The Case of Rural Haryana, India

Namita Singh, Suruchi Modi, Mohammad Arif Kamal — 2026-05-15

Human relationships are shaped in great part by the physical environment, especially in gendered societies where spatial structure reflects and upholds social conventions. Architectural and urban planning in rural Haryana still heavily rely on patriarchal structures, which results in gendered spatial separation impacting women's access to public areas, social involvement, and mobility. The fundamental spatial hierarchies remain intact despite modernizing and infrastructure improvements, therefore restricting women's autonomy and involvement in community life. Focusing on how architectural design, spatial organization, and socio-cultural traditions affect human interactions, this study looks at the interplay between gender and the built environment in Rural Haryana. The study uses participatory mapping, ethnographic fieldwork, and qualitative interviews to investigate how created environments either limit or allow gendered experiences. The results show that although home designs have changed to incorporate enclosed courtyards, separate kitchens, and private sanitation facilities, these additions have not appreciably changed women's spatial mobility. Structural obstacles still exist for women that limit their visibility in public places including marketplaces, town centers, and communal gathering places. The paper also emphasizes the loss of female-centric communal spaces- such as village wells, temple courtyards, and unofficial gathering places that historically gave women chances for social contact and community involvement. Their absence has added further social isolation for women, therefore supporting patriarchal control over space. Furthermore, results show that urbanization has affected rural architecture but not always resulted in more gender inclusiveness in spatial design. This paper emphasizes how urgently gender-sensitive architecture and urban planning projects are needed to solve women's spatial marginalization in rural Haryana. Among the recommendations are rejuvenating public spaces, including gender-sensitive design into public areas, and making sure that contemporary infrastructure investments support inclusivity instead of aggravating already existing inequality. To conceptualize the space from a gender-equal viewpoint will help legislators and urban designers to create settings that encourage more mobility, involvement, and agency for women in rural communities.

Measuring Maturity and Ranking Barriers to Implementing Benchmarking of Construction Project Quality Management in Cagayan de Oro City

Mary Kaye Paquibot, Jonathan B. Calibara — 2026-05-20

Benchmarking is a recognized mechanism for continuous improvement in construction project quality management. This study evaluates construction quality management maturity and benchmarking readiness in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. It measures maturity using the Project Management Maturity Model, assesses stakeholder perception through Key Performance Indicators, and ranks implementation barriers. A descriptive quantitative design was employed using a structured questionnaire administered to 60 construction professionals involved in government-supported projects. The instrument showed strong validity and reliability, with S-CVI values of 0.833–1.000, Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.796–0.960, KMO values of 0.888–0.905, and Bartlett’s Test results of p < 0.001. Maturity was analyzed using the Maturity Index and Weighted Index, while stakeholder perception was evaluated using the Relative Importance Index. Results showed generally high but uneven maturity, led by Cost Management (Mi = 3.975; Wi = 0.117) and Quality Management (Mi = 3.872; Wi = 0.114). Stakeholders perceived benchmarking positively, with RII values ranging from 0.793 to 0.883. FAHP ranked inadequate quality management training as the top barrier (GW = 0.220), followed by lack of quality team commitment (GW = 0.181) and lack of technical expertise (GW = 0.118). The study recommends institutionalizing benchmarking, strengthening competencies, improving digital capabilities, and reinforcing leadership commitment.

Comparative Thermal Performance Analysis of Beam-and-Block Floor Systems Using Typha australis Earth Blocks and Conventional Concrete Blocks in Hot Semi-Arid Climates

Babacar Diouf, Bator CISSE, Mariama BA, Kadia Thilly, Cheikh Tidiane Seck — 2026-05-22

The building sector in Senegal faces significant energy and thermal comfort challenges, with approximately 60% of residential energy consumption devoted to cooling in a hot semi-arid climate where urban temperatures regularly exceed 35–40°C. Conventional construction materials such as concrete exhibit high thermal conductivity (typically >1.4 W m^-1K^-1), exacerbating indoor heat gain. This study presents a quantitative comparative analysis of the thermal performance of two beam-and-block floor assemblies: one incorporating Typha australis–earth hollow blocks and insulating panels, and a reference assembly using standard concrete hollow blocks. Steady-state thermal conduction calculations were performed in accordance with ISO 6946 and ADEME guidelines on multi-layer floor systems. Results demonstrate that the typha-based floor achieves a total thermal resistance of R_th = 2.932 K m² W^-1 and a thermal transmittance of U = 0.341 W m^-2 K^-1, compared to R_th = 0.197 K m² W^-1 and U = 5.076 W m^-2 K^-1 for the concrete counterpart. The total heat flux through the typha floor (733.37 W for a 215 m² surface) is approximately 13 times lower than that of the concrete floor (9822.06 W). These findings confirm Typha australis as a high-potential bio-sourced insulating material suitable for sustainable bioclimatic construction in West Africa, capable of substantially reducing cooling energy demand while supporting local circular economies.

Shopping Mall Architecture in Tropical Environment of the Republique of Congo

2026-06-01

The lack of multifunctional shopping centers is a major issue that hinders tourism and leisure activities in the Republic of the Congo. This work proposes architectural techniques for the spatial organization of three-level commercial and leisure centers. This methodology addresses the scarcity of such infrastructure in Congolese urban centers. The approach involved collecting and analyzing data on key climatic and geographical conditions, as well as drawing on construction feedback from hot and humid environments. The three levels of architectural and urban organization obtained include: (a) the urban planning level, which encompasses streetscape design and green spaces; (b) the building design level, which focuses on integrating the structure into the environment and creating protective elements against climatic factors; and (c) the spatial level, which involves the treatment of marshy areas and the creation of drainage channels for runoff water. The ultimate goal of this work is to establish conditions for comfort, urban hygiene, and safety within multifunctional shopping centers serving as public hubs.