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More than half of the world’s population now lives in urban regions, mostly in cities. The vulnerability of these cities has significantly increased due to the complexity of new challenges, which range from economic to social to ecological. According to several studies, ongoing stressors and unexpected hazards can worsen social breakdown, economic hardship, and even cause physical collapse. Even though many cities have endured for centuries, the more recent emergence of urban-related stresses and shocks, such as climate change, major natural disasters, diverse complicated conflicts, and a lack of natural resources, is causing a need for more resilience than ever before. When populations are subjected to hazards and stressors, they may become a risk, and when infrastructure, buildings and communities lack the resilience to deal with, adapt to, and recover from their effects, they may become “vulnerable.” Therefore, it is plainly evident that urban environments and communities, including the architecture of cities, must become more resilient and sustainable.

One of the most urgent of the several looming dangers that threaten cities is the threat posed by climate change and the catastrophic repercussions it produces. The issues brought on by climate change, which we are only now beginning to directly feel, must be addressed with a multi-paradigm resilient approach to design and urbanization.

The fifth edition of the International Conference on “Resilient and Responsible Architecture and Urbanism (RRAU)” will feature informative discussions of various topics among researchers and architects about incorporating resilience in architecture, city, urban, and community design; including how to apply effective resilience and sustainability techniques to improve the resilience of architecture, cities, urban areas, and communities.

Accepted papers/articles will have the chance to be published in the Scopus-indexed “Advances in Science, Technology, and Innovation” book series.

Architecture sits at the heart of cities’ development. It is the main discipline through which we provide shelter and safety to the inhabitants of cities around the globe. It is also much more than that, it is seen by most as an art form, a tangible expression of a city’s identity and culture. How cities shape their buildings tells the story of their upheaval through time, and shows the world what it means to be an individual that belongs in that city. It is, therefore, most apparent that the sustainability and resiliency of cities’ architecture, and the urban environments that house them is of utmost importance.

Many threats are looming on the horizon that can negatively impact cities, the most pressing of which, is the threat of climate change, and the devastating effects it brings. A green initiative to architecture and urbanism is crucial to combat the threats of climate change that we are now only beginning to witness firsthand. Overcoming the challenge of climate change requires a multi-paradigm approach, through which we solve multiple issues and effectively tackle the challenge ahead.

On the architectural front, efforts are being made to streamline energy usage rates, aiming towards a net-zero goal. This is achievable through renewable energy generation within the building itself, utilizing solar panels on the roofs, and in some cases, wind turbines incorporated in high rises that contribute to the building’s energy demands. The continual advancements of modern simulation and modelling techniques empower engineers and designers around the globe, making the goal of net zero energy buildings a very real possibility today. These modern developments also contribute to the resiliency of architectural constructs, through the use of composite and nano materials.

On a broader, city-wide scale, a green approach to urbanism holds the promise of mitigating the effects of climate change through the incorporation of greenery and lush gardens in cities, promoting community inclusivity and mental well-being. A notion that promotes resilience is also needed to withstand environmental disasters such as flooding and earthquakes, ensuring the safety and longevity of cities and urban environments, while meeting required energy demands, and prioritizing recycling and a good sense of waste management.

The fifth edition of the International Conference on “Resilient and Responsible Architecture and Urbanism (RRAU)” presents informative discussions of various topics among researchers and architects on various perspectives and probable future scenarios to understand the reasons behind disasters and the proposed techniques to bring efficient resilience and sustainability techniques to architecture.

Accepted papers will have the chance to be published in the Scopus-Indexed ASTI book series “Advances in Science, Technology, and Innovation.