Architectural Design, Urban Science, and Real Estate
A section of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309).
Section Information
Architecture is more than the art of constructing individual buildings; it is also the creation of an environment. Buildings do not exist in isolation. Indeed, they not only impose their character on their surroundings but also have an incalculable effect on the lives of the human beings who inhabit them. Homes, workplaces, and infrastructure are the principal components of the built environment, serving the basic human needs for shelter, warmth, and communication, while providing water and removing waste. Too often buildings are seen as costly static containers rather than as an investment which, if healthy and sustainable, can add value.
Smart buildings respond to the demands of the human sensory system in terms of physical, psychological, and social needs, becoming havens for work, learning, and life in general. In today’s world, featuring an increasing population, climate change pressures dominate our thinking. As such, smart buildings need to be resilient and interconnected with the web of evolving circumstances, whilst also providing healthy contentment to their occupants. This Section discusses various ways in which this can be achieved by valuing lessons from vernacular architecture and nature. Beyond this, there is a debate on how to use technology wisely to enable smart operations that can be helpful for both humans and the environment.
Editorial Board
Topical Advisory Panel
Special Issues
Following special issues within this section are currently open for submissions:
- Advances in the Implementation of Circular Economy in Buildings (Deadline: 30 April 2025)
- Timber in the City: Interior Design and City Environment Development with Wood Materials (Deadline: 30 April 2025)
- Advanced Technologies for Urban and Architectural Design (Deadline: 30 April 2025)
- Human-Centric Space Design: Occupant Comfort, Wellbeing, and Post-occupancy Evaluation of Multi-Scale Built Environment (Deadline: 30 April 2025)
- Engineering Problems and Legal Challenges in Urban and Rural Low-Carbon Development (Deadline: 20 May 2025)
- Optimal Design of Lighting/Daylighting in Buildings (Deadline: 25 May 2025)
- Advancements in Adaptive, Inclusive, and Responsive Buildings (Deadline: 30 May 2025)
- Housing Price Dynamics and the Property Market (Deadline: 30 May 2025)
- Contemporary Applications of Wood in Architecture and Construction (Deadline: 30 May 2025)
- Research on Promoting the Social Sustainability of Urban Neighbourhoods (Deadline: 31 May 2025)
- Advanced Studies in Urban and Regional Planning—2nd Edition (Deadline: 31 May 2025)
- Research on Smart Healthy Cities and Real Estate (Deadline: 31 May 2025)
- Architectural Design Supported by Information Technology: 2nd Edition (Deadline: 31 May 2025)
- Planning for Sustainable Land Use and Built Environment in High-Density Cities (Deadline: 15 June 2025)
- Low-Carbon Urban Development and Building Design (Deadline: 20 June 2025)
- Climate-Responsive Architectural and Urban Design (Deadline: 20 June 2025)
- Urban Wellbeing: The Impact of Spatial Parameters—2nd Edition (Deadline: 30 June 2025)
- Future Cities and Their Downtowns: Urban Studies and Planning (Deadline: 15 July 2025)
- Real Estate, Housing and Urban Governance (Deadline: 20 July 2025)
- Human-Centric Architectural Design: Neuroarchitecture as a New Tool to Shape Futureproof Inclusive Buildings (Deadline: 20 July 2025)
- Art and Design for Healing and Wellness in the Built Environment (Deadline: 20 July 2025)
- Sustainable Preservation of Buildings and Infrastructure (Deadline: 20 July 2025)
- Sustainable Urban and Buildings: Lastest Advances and Prospects (Deadline: 30 July 2025)
- Advanced Studies on Housing Energy Efficiency, Net Zero Developments and Real Estate Values (Deadline: 31 July 2025)
- Universal and Age-Friendly Design in Urban and Rural Built Environment Creation (Deadline: 31 July 2025)
- Advances in Urban Planning and Design for Urban Safety and Operations (Deadline: 31 August 2025)
- Multi-Dimensional Organic Conservation of Historical Neighborhood Buildings in the Context of Sustainable Urban Renewal—2nd Edition (Deadline: 31 August 2025)
- Study on Real Estate and Housing Management—2nd Edition (Deadline: 31 August 2025)
- Harmonizing Nature and Mind: Biophilic and Neuroarchitecture Synergies for Intelligent Buildings Enhancing Human Well-Being (Deadline: 10 September 2025)
- Research on Health, Wellbeing and Urban Design (Deadline: 30 September 2025)
- Sustainable Housing and Urban Planning: Enhancing Well-Being Through Environmental Design (Deadline: 30 September 2025)
- Urban Mobility and Transport Systems: Challenges and Innovations for Sustainable Cities (Deadline: 30 September 2025)
- Community Resilience and Urban Sustainability: A Global Perspective (Deadline: 30 September 2025)
- Building Resilient Cities: Architecture and Urban Planning for Combating Extreme Hot and Cold Weather (Deadline: 30 September 2025)
- Urban Infrastructure and Resilient, Sustainable Buildings (Deadline: 30 September 2025)
- Nature-Based Solutions to Mitigate the Effects of Urban Heat Islands and Urban Flooding (Deadline: 20 October 2025)
- Resilience of Urban Underground Space: Planning, Design, Assessment and Enhancement (Deadline: 30 October 2025)
- Forensic Earthquake Engineering, Natural and Manmade Disasters (Deadline: 31 October 2025)
- Sustainable Buildings and Cities: Integrated Research on Smart Strategies for Renewal and Resilience (Deadline: 31 October 2025)
- Renewal Design and Challenge of Urban and Rural Livable Environments in the Age of Population Shrinkage (Deadline: 31 October 2025)
- Emerging Trends in Architecture, Urbanization, and Design (Deadline: 25 November 2025)
- Advances of Healthy Environment Design in Urban Development—2nd Edition (Deadline: 30 November 2025)
- Artificial Intelligence in Architecture and Interior Design (Deadline: 30 November 2025)
- Sustainable Urban Development and Real Estate Analysis (Deadline: 30 November 2025)
- Architectural Design Innovations for Health and Wellness: Leveraging AI and Digital Technologies (Deadline: 20 December 2025)
- Advances in Urban and Construction Management Under the Sustainable Development Goals: Interdisciplinary Perspectives and Evidence (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- New Challenges in Digital City Planning (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Urban Sustainability: Sustainable Housing and Communities—2nd Edition (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Sustainable and Resilient Affordable Housing in Architecture Design and Urban Plans (Deadline: 15 April 2026)
Topical Collections
Following topical collections within this section are currently open for submissions: