Proceedings of the International Conference on Architectural Research and Design (ARDC 2025)
Conference Name: International Conference on Architectural Research and Design (ARDC 2025)
Date: 3 November 2025
Location: Surabaya, Indonesia (Hybrid)
Website: https://www.events-arch-its.org/ardc2025 This proceedings volume presents a selection of peer-reviewed papers from International Conference on Architecture Research and Design (AR+DC 2025). The conference theme for this year, Voice from the Global South: Architecture from the Margins, also serves as the thematic focus of this proceedings volume. The conference provided a platform for scholars and practitioners to examine architectural and urban issues from perspectives rooted in regions commonly described as the Global South. Participants from the United Kingdom, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, China, Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia contributed to the conference, reflecting a wide range of academic backgrounds and contextual experiences. The Global South, as framed in this conference, is understood not merely as a geographical or economic category, but as a critical perspective shaped by historical processes of colonialism, imperialism, and enduring global inequalities. Within architectural and urban discourse, this framework allows for a shift away from dominant narratives toward approaches grounded in local agency, contextual knowledge, and geopolitical awareness. Rather than positioning the Global South as a peripheral subject of study, the conference emphasized its role as an active site of architectural thought, experimentation, and intellectual production. Discussions throughout AR+DC 2025 challenged the assumption that globalization inevitably leads to cultural and spatial homogenization. Instead, contributors highlighted the diversity of architectural practices emerging from the Global South, including informal urbanism, kampung and desa kota settlements, community-led initiatives, and adaptive spatial strategies. These practices were examined not as deficiencies, but as alternative modes of organizing space that demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and cultural continuity. The conference also acknowledged traditions of South–South exchange which continue to inform contemporary knowledge production beyond North-centric frameworks. The papers collected in this volume approach architecture and the built environment as arenas of negotiation between global forces and local realities. Both formal and informal environments are discussed as products of social, political, and economic processes, revealing how architectural practice in the Global South responds to structural constraints while generating context-specific solutions. In doing so, the volume seeks to move beyond comparative positioning and toward the articulation of architectural agency, creativity, and intellectual sovereignty. This proceedings volume is organized into five thematic chapters corresponding to the main areas of discussion at the conference. The chapter Urban Design in the Global South focuses on alternative interpretations of public space, informal economies, and community-led urban initiatives. Architectural Design: Cultural Resilience and Innovation examines design approaches that respond to local cultural contexts, material practices, and evolving social needs. Housing and Settlement: Narratives from the Margins addresses housing production under conditions of rapid urbanization, limited resources, and structural inequality, with particular attention to participatory and informal practices. The chapter History, Theory, and Criticism in Architecture brings forward critical perspectives on overlooked histories, decolonial theory, and the enduring influence of colonial frameworks in architectural discourse. Finally, Science and Technology in Architecture for Empowerment explores the adaptation of scientific and technological methods to support sustainability, climate responsiveness, and inclusive architectural practices. All papers included in this volume have undergone a peer-review process to ensure academic rigor and relevance to the conference theme. It is hoped that this collection will not only document the scholarly exchanges of AR+DC 2025, but also encourage further dialogue, collaboration, and critical engagement within the field. It is a pleasure to present this collection, reflecting the discussions and exchanges of AR+DC 2025 in Surabaya, where contributors came together to engage with architectural and urban narratives from the Global South. We would like to express sincere appreciation to the organizing committee, reviewers, and editorial team for their dedication throughout the conference and publication process. Gratitude is also extended to keynote speakers and all authors for their valuable contributions, which have made this proceedings volume possible. Murni Rachmawati
Editor of the ARDC 2025 Proceedings Khusnul Hanifati
Chairperson of ARDC 2025
Date: 3 November 2025
Location: Surabaya, Indonesia (Hybrid)
Website: https://www.events-arch-its.org/ardc2025 This proceedings volume presents a selection of peer-reviewed papers from International Conference on Architecture Research and Design (AR+DC 2025). The conference theme for this year, Voice from the Global South: Architecture from the Margins, also serves as the thematic focus of this proceedings volume. The conference provided a platform for scholars and practitioners to examine architectural and urban issues from perspectives rooted in regions commonly described as the Global South. Participants from the United Kingdom, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, China, Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia contributed to the conference, reflecting a wide range of academic backgrounds and contextual experiences. The Global South, as framed in this conference, is understood not merely as a geographical or economic category, but as a critical perspective shaped by historical processes of colonialism, imperialism, and enduring global inequalities. Within architectural and urban discourse, this framework allows for a shift away from dominant narratives toward approaches grounded in local agency, contextual knowledge, and geopolitical awareness. Rather than positioning the Global South as a peripheral subject of study, the conference emphasized its role as an active site of architectural thought, experimentation, and intellectual production. Discussions throughout AR+DC 2025 challenged the assumption that globalization inevitably leads to cultural and spatial homogenization. Instead, contributors highlighted the diversity of architectural practices emerging from the Global South, including informal urbanism, kampung and desa kota settlements, community-led initiatives, and adaptive spatial strategies. These practices were examined not as deficiencies, but as alternative modes of organizing space that demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and cultural continuity. The conference also acknowledged traditions of South–South exchange which continue to inform contemporary knowledge production beyond North-centric frameworks. The papers collected in this volume approach architecture and the built environment as arenas of negotiation between global forces and local realities. Both formal and informal environments are discussed as products of social, political, and economic processes, revealing how architectural practice in the Global South responds to structural constraints while generating context-specific solutions. In doing so, the volume seeks to move beyond comparative positioning and toward the articulation of architectural agency, creativity, and intellectual sovereignty. This proceedings volume is organized into five thematic chapters corresponding to the main areas of discussion at the conference. The chapter Urban Design in the Global South focuses on alternative interpretations of public space, informal economies, and community-led urban initiatives. Architectural Design: Cultural Resilience and Innovation examines design approaches that respond to local cultural contexts, material practices, and evolving social needs. Housing and Settlement: Narratives from the Margins addresses housing production under conditions of rapid urbanization, limited resources, and structural inequality, with particular attention to participatory and informal practices. The chapter History, Theory, and Criticism in Architecture brings forward critical perspectives on overlooked histories, decolonial theory, and the enduring influence of colonial frameworks in architectural discourse. Finally, Science and Technology in Architecture for Empowerment explores the adaptation of scientific and technological methods to support sustainability, climate responsiveness, and inclusive architectural practices. All papers included in this volume have undergone a peer-review process to ensure academic rigor and relevance to the conference theme. It is hoped that this collection will not only document the scholarly exchanges of AR+DC 2025, but also encourage further dialogue, collaboration, and critical engagement within the field. It is a pleasure to present this collection, reflecting the discussions and exchanges of AR+DC 2025 in Surabaya, where contributors came together to engage with architectural and urban narratives from the Global South. We would like to express sincere appreciation to the organizing committee, reviewers, and editorial team for their dedication throughout the conference and publication process. Gratitude is also extended to keynote speakers and all authors for their valuable contributions, which have made this proceedings volume possible. Murni Rachmawati
Editor of the ARDC 2025 Proceedings Khusnul Hanifati
Chairperson of ARDC 2025