Campus of the University: Spatial Evolution, Societal Response, and Design Innovation

Dear Colleagues,

Since its inception in 2001—launched in celebration of the 90th birthday of renowned geographer Professor Hou Renzhi—the Cross-Strait “Campus of the University” academic symposium has been held for over two decades. It has evolved into a high-level interdisciplinary and interregional academic platform focused on the spatial and cultural dimensions of university campus planning and building design. The symposium has been hosted in rotation by leading Chinese institutions such as Tsinghua University, Taiwan University, Tongji University, Chung Yuan Christian University, and Tianjin University. It covers a wide range of topics, including architecture, planning, geography, education, culture, and history, and has long promoted the theoretical and practical development of campus design and research.

In response to the rapid evolution of university campuses—marked by both achievements and setbacks—amidst the backdrop of digital transformation and social change, this forum continues to address the growing complexity of campus environments. This includes increasing demands for pluralistic, human-centered, green, healthy, ecological, intelligent, and interdisciplinary learning spaces, as well as the interplay between campus development and urban transformation. To reflect on emerging challenges and future opportunities in campus design, and to explore more competitive and sustainable spatial strategies, the continued discourse of experts from within and beyond the field is urgently needed.

Building on the legacy of this forum, this Special Issue aims to gather cutting-edge research on the spatial evolution, functional transformation, technological adaptation, and heritage protection of university campuses. Contributions are welcome from scholars in architecture, planning, geography, education, and environmental studies, offering a systematic and comparative academic overview of campus development across regions.

Suggested areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the below topics.

Urban–Campus Relationships

• The leading role of universities in urban regeneration;
• Social integration mechanisms between campus and neighborhood;
• Spatial comparisons between urban and suburban campus models.

Campus Planning and Architectural History

• The evolution of campus master planning and spatial logic;
• Comparative studies of campus typologies across the Strait and globally;
• Monumental architecture and narrative space within campuses;
• Historical campus preservation and identity continuity in redevelopment.

Spatial Forms and Architectural Systems

• Organizational typologies: axes, courtyards, and open boundaries;
• The influence of academic zoning on built morphology;
• Adaptive reuse and heritage conservation strategies;
• Cross-cultural design approaches and the internationalization of campus architecture.

Sustainability and Green Transition

• Climate-adaptive strategies in campus design;
• Ecological systems and green infrastructure in academic environments;
• Low-carbon construction and behavior-oriented design solutions;
• How the campus can play a role in regional green planning.

Digitalization and Learning Model Transformation

• Spatial frameworks for smart campuses and digital twins;
• Architectural responses to hybrid learning and flexible pedagogy;
• Governance and spatial planning in the context of educational informatization.

Cultural Perspectives and Mental Well-being

• Spatial articulation of campus cultural identity;
• Inclusive design, accessibility, and mental health-supportive environments;
• The role of campus landscapes in emotional regulation and community belonging.

Submissions focusing on regional, urban, ecological, and landscape-scale issues related to campus environments are encouraged to submit to Land, while contributions emphasizing architectural design, spatial typology, and building-scale innovation should be directed to Buildings.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Buildings.

Prof. Dr. Gang Feng
Dr. Fei Chen
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. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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.

• urban-campus relationship
• campus planning and architectural history
• spatial forms and architectural systems
• sustainability and green planning
• digitalization and learning model transformation
• cultural perspectives and mental well-being