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Resilience and Sustainability in Architecture and Urban Planning: Policies, Practices,...
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Resilience and Sustainability in Architecture and Urban Planning: Policies, Practices, Strategies and Visions, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Architecture (ISSN 2673-8945).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2026) | Viewed by 5186

Editors

Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed

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Guest Editor
School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Interests: disaster risk reduction and resilience; post-disaster housing; climate change adaptation; sustainable development; urbanization in the Asia-Pacific; community-based approaches
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Sandra Carrasco

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Humanitarianism and Development, Faculty of Arts and Education/School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC 3125, Australia
Interests: community resilience; disaster management; incremental housing; post-disaster housing recovery and reconstruction; governance and city planning; informal settlements; migrants and refugees studies; women empowerment and resilience
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ranit Chatterjee

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
Interests: disaster risk reduction; disaster policy; architecture; heritage; innovation; disaster governance; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Thomas Cooper-Johnson

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Interests: disaster risk reduction and resilience; temporary shelter; disaster vulnerability in displacement

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The production and development of the built environment relates strongly to the fields of architecture and urban planning. The built environment experiences severe impacts from disasters: these have become both more frequent and intense around the world due to climate change and other human actions such as urbanization, requiring research on architectural design and urban planning that contributes to resilience. On the other hand, the built environment itself causes environmental impacts through the consumption of energy, land-use change, and pressure on ecosystems, among a variety of other factors. Thus, research-informed policies, practices, and strategies relating to the built environment are necessary, requiring innovative and forward-thinking visions for a resilient and sustainable future. The built environment is multifaceted, with its manifestations determined by economic levels, political systems, demography, and natural resources. Therefore, contextual approaches and solutions in architecture and urban planning are essential to produce a diverse range of research findings. This Special Issue serves as a platform to assemble such recent and innovative research findings relating to resilience and sustainability in the fields of architecture and urban planning, and, through being open access, can disseminate this knowledge widely at a time when the world is facing critical challenges posed by disasters, climate change, and environmental transformation. The discussions in this Special Issue will focus on (but are not limited to) the following thematic areas:

  • Hazard-resistant design and construction;
  • Sustainable design and building materials;
  • Building codes and regulations for disaster resilience and sustainability;
  • Sustainable urban planning and development;
  • Disaster-resilient and strategic land use planning;
  • Infrastructure planning for disaster resilience;
  • Post-disaster planning of resettlement and reconstruction;
  • Post-disaster housing with ‘building back better’ strategies;
  • Design and planning for marginal and vulnerable populations;
  • Housing and infrastructure in informal settlements;
  • Social, cultural, and political factors in architecture and urban planning for resilience and sustainability;
  • Public, private, and not-for-profit investments and partnerships for disaster-resilient and sustainable architecture and urban planning.

Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed
Dr. Sandra Carrasco
Dr. Ranit Chatterjee
Dr. Thomas Cooper-Johnson
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Architecture is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • hazard-resistant construction
  • post-disaster reconstruction
  • sustainable design and planning
  • urban planning for disaster resilience
  • building codes
  • planning regulations
  • infrastructure planning
  • housing design

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 12819 KB  
Article
Everyday Pedestrian Infrastructure Resilience in High-Density CBDs: A Multi-Source Walkability Assessment of Beijing Guomao
by Yingjie Wang, Ziqin Xu, Yuhao Du, Zhanyi You, Dongye He, Bo Zhang and Xiaoran Huang
Architecture 2026, 6(3), 135; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture6030135 - 12 Aug 2026
Viewed by 164
Abstract
High-density central business districts (CBDs) often appear highly walkable because they combine transit accessibility, functional density and active frontages. Yet their pedestrian environments may lose usability under routine disturbances such as crowding, e-bike encroachment, blind-path obstruction and effective-width erosion. This study reframes walkability [...] Read more.
High-density central business districts (CBDs) often appear highly walkable because they combine transit accessibility, functional density and active frontages. Yet their pedestrian environments may lose usability under routine disturbances such as crowding, e-bike encroachment, blind-path obstruction and effective-width erosion. This study reframes walkability as baseline pedestrian capacity and everyday resilience as the ability of that capacity to remain safe, continuous, inclusive and comfortable under ordinary urban stressors. Taking Beijing Guomao as a case, we integrated a field street audit, sidewalk-width measurement, route timing, traffic-interference observation, POI-based vitality assessment and 145 valid questionnaires. The objective indicator table produced a capacity-oriented score of 0.868 on a 0–1 scale, while the perception index was 3.17/5. The gap was explained by weak disturbance-sensitive indicators: non-motorized vehicle intrusion (0.46), blind-path continuity (0.60), motor-vehicle encroachment (0.67) and acoustic comfort (0.72). Field measurements showed mean physical and effective sidewalk widths of 3.62 m and 2.36 m, respectively. The mean section-level width loss was 30.9%, while the maximum loss of 88.2% occurred at one severely obstructed section, where the effective width was 0.50 m. The findings suggest that CBD pedestrian improvement should shift from facility provision to operational resilience through width recovery, micromobility governance, barrier-free continuity and last-mile route integration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resilience and Sustainability in Architecture and Urban Planning: Policies, Practices, Strategies and Visions, 2nd Edition)
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25 pages, 13968 KB  
Article
Spatial Mismatch and Educational Spatial Injustice: Enhancing Urban Resilience in a Mexican Intermediate City
by Jesús Abelardo Licón-Portillo, Karen Estrella Martínez-Torres, Gabriela Carmona-Ochoa, Peter Chung-Alonso and Adaliz Catalina Martínez-Hernández
Architecture 2026, 6(3), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture6030117 - 22 Jul 2026
Viewed by 357
Abstract
Fragmented urban growth in Latin American intermediate cities has increasingly displaced low-income populations to peripheral areas, creating spatial mismatches between residential areas and educational opportunities provided by public higher education institutions. These patterns reflect inequalities that constrain educational accessibility and limit urban resilience. [...] Read more.
Fragmented urban growth in Latin American intermediate cities has increasingly displaced low-income populations to peripheral areas, creating spatial mismatches between residential areas and educational opportunities provided by public higher education institutions. These patterns reflect inequalities that constrain educational accessibility and limit urban resilience. To examine these dynamics, this study applies a geospatial framework to develop an Educational Spatial Injustice Index (ESII) that quantifies disparities in Chihuahua, Mexico. Mobility metrics derived from Google Maps API are combined with census microdata, to analyze 108 high-demand census tracts (AGEBs) linked with seven public higher education institutions. The ESII is constructed through a multi-criteria weighting scheme based on travel time, monetary cost and network distance. Results show a clear north–south pattern, with higher ESII values concentrated in southern peripheries (0.85/1.0), where mean daily travel time reaches 3.45 h. Statistical analysis shows that the Social Lag Index (IRS; ρ = 0.729) has the strongest association with the Global ESII. Furthermore, spatial regression modeling reveals that while operational transit connectivity (bus routes) is a significant mitigating factor (p < 0.001), the mere physical presence of infrastructure (bus stops) is not. These findings suggest that spatial injustice in educational accessibility is more deeply rooted in structural urban growth patterns and socio-spatial inequalities than in simple infrastructure provision. The results support targeted planning strategies to improve accessibility and strengthen urban resilience in intermediate cities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resilience and Sustainability in Architecture and Urban Planning: Policies, Practices, Strategies and Visions, 2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 752 KB  
Article
The Ecological Cost of Post-Disaster Reconstruction: Environmental and Public Health Risks of Temporary Concrete Plants and an Integrated Assessment Framework
by Rozelin Aydın and Fatma Seda Cardak
Architecture 2026, 6(2), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture6020083 - 29 May 2026
Viewed by 335
Abstract
Post-disaster reconstruction generates extraordinary demand for construction materials, often necessitating the rapid deployment of temporary concrete production facilities. While these systems are operationally essential for rebuilding, their environmental and public health impacts remain insufficiently examined through structured and reproducible analytical approaches. This study [...] Read more.
Post-disaster reconstruction generates extraordinary demand for construction materials, often necessitating the rapid deployment of temporary concrete production facilities. While these systems are operationally essential for rebuilding, their environmental and public health impacts remain insufficiently examined through structured and reproducible analytical approaches. This study develops an integrated qualitative-dominant environmental risk assessment framework combining systematic documentary analysis, environmental pathway modeling, semi-quantitative risk scoring, and comparative benchmarking against established environmental health standards. Focusing on the reconstruction process following the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes in Türkiye, the study identifies and evaluates major environmental exposure pathways, including particulate matter emissions, wastewater discharge, soil degradation, and noise pollution. A semi-quantitative risk assessment model based on probability, severity, and exposure duration is applied to classify the relative intensity of identified environmental risks under post-disaster operational conditions. The findings demonstrate that accelerated reconstruction processes, emergency regulatory flexibility, and rapid industrial deployment substantially amplify cumulative environmental pressures in already vulnerable post-disaster environments. In response, the study proposes an integrated governance and engineering framework aimed at reducing environmental impacts while maintaining reconstruction efficiency. Methodological transparency is ensured through explicit documentation of data sources, screening procedures, analytical criteria, and risk classification logic. The study also acknowledges the limitations associated with restricted access to primary field measurements in post-disaster environments and therefore adopts a triangulated documentary and comparative analytical strategy. The proposed framework offers a transferable model for evaluating temporary industrial infrastructures in post-disaster reconstruction systems globally. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resilience and Sustainability in Architecture and Urban Planning: Policies, Practices, Strategies and Visions, 2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 1288 KB  
Article
Criteria-Driven Evaluation Framework for Assessing the Adaptability of Public Buildings for Post-Earthquake Sheltering
by Muhammed Cemil Doğan, Melike Kalkan and Ayşenur Doğan
Architecture 2026, 6(1), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture6010037 - 4 Mar 2026
Viewed by 989
Abstract
The transformation of public spaces to meet the need for shelter in the post-disaster situation is a practice observed in many countries. However, these temporary alterations are meticulously planned and executed within a defined timeframe following the disaster. This approach hinders the effective [...] Read more.
The transformation of public spaces to meet the need for shelter in the post-disaster situation is a practice observed in many countries. However, these temporary alterations are meticulously planned and executed within a defined timeframe following the disaster. This approach hinders the effective utilization of available space. The objective of the study is to reach design decisions by determining the adaptive use potential of sports facilities for temporary shelter in the post-disaster process. In addition, the study will reveal which adaptability strategies can be used to adapt spaces with different functions. The design decisions are reached by comparing sports facilities and temporary shelter needs programs based on eleven adaptability strategies (adjustability, versatility, transformability, scalability, portability, flexibility, expandability, dismountability, reuse, modularity, independence). The conversion of sports facilities into temporary shelters was achieved by employing adaptability strategies, thereby demonstrating the potential for a space with 15 different functions to undergo transformation. A transformability strategy has been employed, whereby changing rooms have been converted into laundry rooms, and grandstands into training areas. A scalability strategy has been employed to facilitate the reuse of cafe-restaurant areas as dining halls. The transformation of the playground into sleeping areas is facilitated by strategies of portability and dismountability. Flexibility and expandability strategies are employed in the transition from the first aid room to the infirmary area. A reuse strategy is employed for administrative units, parking areas, restrooms and prayer areas, ensuring that spaces with similar needs are utilized with minimal intervention. By examining a range of adaptability strategies, analogous adaptability applications can be developed for other public spaces. The study contributes a transferable, criteria-driven framework that supports decision-making for the adaptive reuse of public buildings in post-disaster contexts, offering a structured basis for extending similar transformations to other building typologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resilience and Sustainability in Architecture and Urban Planning: Policies, Practices, Strategies and Visions, 2nd Edition)
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25 pages, 6505 KB  
Article
Community-Based Risk Analysis: Assessing Multi-Hazard Vulnerabilities in Urban Kampungs in Surabaya, Indonesia
by Dewi Septanti, Iftekhar Ahmed, Wahyu Setyawan, Sarah Cahyadini and Tisya Surya Narida
Architecture 2026, 6(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture6010026 - 11 Feb 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1696
Abstract
Urban kampungs in Surabaya, Indonesia, face layered vulnerabilities due to overlapping environmental hazards, socioeconomic precarity, and limited infrastructural support. Despite being central to the city’s cultural and spatial fabric, these communities are often excluded from formal risk governance frameworks and mischaracterized as homogenous [...] Read more.
Urban kampungs in Surabaya, Indonesia, face layered vulnerabilities due to overlapping environmental hazards, socioeconomic precarity, and limited infrastructural support. Despite being central to the city’s cultural and spatial fabric, these communities are often excluded from formal risk governance frameworks and mischaracterized as homogenous informal settlements. This paper explores how multi-hazard risks, such as tidal flooding, electrical hazards, and social insecurity, manifest in three kampungs: Kampung Nelayan Kenjeran, Kampung Kue Rungkut, and Kampung Kota Ketandan-Kebangsren. Using qualitative methods including interviews, field observation, and participatory risk mapping, the study examines local adaptation strategies, collective resilience, and everyday practices that mitigate risk. The findings emphasize the value of a community-based risk analysis approach that centers on resident knowledge and social networks. Such bottom-up strategies not only complement existing urban policies but also offer contextually relevant insights for inclusive and adaptive resilience planning in rapidly urbanizing environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resilience and Sustainability in Architecture and Urban Planning: Policies, Practices, Strategies and Visions, 2nd Edition)
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