About the conference:
Cities are living archives — shaped by histories, layered with identities, and constantly evolving through the lenses of those who inhabit, plan, design, and govern them. L.J.K. University with the support of L.J. School of Architecture, Planning & Design is hosting an International Conference on Multidisciplinary Dialogue on City Identity. The conference invites architects, planners, designers, students, scholars, practitioners, conservationists, and policy thinkers to engage in a dialogue on the complex and dynamic processes that shape urban life.
Under the theme the conference envisions a platform where multiple disciplines intersect — bridging architecture, urban planning, design innovation, heritage conservation, environmental resilience and city management. It seeks to foster collaboration and critical reflection on how diverse approaches can collectively inform sustainable, inclusive and identity-rich urban futures.
The subtheme “Cities as We See Them – Our City, Our Lenses” emphasizes the multiplicity of urban experiences and interpretations. Every city tells a different story depending on who perceives it — a planner, an architect, a designer, a citizen, or a visitor. Through these varied lenses, the conference aims to explore how cities can be better understood, designed, and managed — balancing tradition with transformation, conservation with innovation, and individuality with universality.
By facilitating interdisciplinary conversations, this conference aspires to uncover new pathways to reimagine city identity — as both a cultural construct and a design challenge — in the context of global change, local aspirations, and resilient urban futures.
This conference aims to:
· foster multidisciplinary collaboration among professionals, academicians, and researchers from architecture, planning, design, heritage, and management disciplines to address contemporary urban challenges.
· explore and redefine city identity through the lenses of heritage, culture, urban form, and community engagement, integrating both traditional and modern perspectives.
· promote innovative design and planning practices that contribute to sustainable, resilient, and inclusive city development.
· create a platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange on the intersections of architecture, urban design, environmental planning, and city management.
· examine the role of conservation and adaptive reuse in sustaining urban heritage while accommodating growth and modernization.
· encourage participatory and human-centric approaches in reimagining cities — focusing on the lived experiences and perceptions of citizens.
Technical Tracks
Track 1: City Identity, Heritage and Cultural Narratives
Focus:
Understanding how cities evolve as cultural expressions through time, space, and memory.
Sub-Tracks
1.
Heritage conservation and adaptive reuse in contemporary contexts
2.
Cultural landscapes and urban memory
3.
Place identity and the symbolism of built form
4.
Integrating tradition and modernity in urban design
5.
Community participation in preserving city character
Track 2: Urban Design, Form and Public Realm
Focus: Exploring spatial structures, design principles, and aesthetics that shape urban experiences.
Sub-Tracks:
1. Urban morphology and city form evolution
2. Public realm design- sports facilities, streetscapes, open spaces, recreational spaces etc.
3. Visual and spatial identity of cities
4. Design-led regeneration and placemaking 5. Design thinking for livable cities
Track 3: Sustainable, Resilient and Climate-Responsive Cities
Focus: Addressing
environmental challenges through sustainable planning, design, and resource
management.
Sub-Tracks:
1. Climate adaptation and resilient city planning
2. Green infrastructure and ecological urbanism
3. Energy-efficient and low-carbon design strategies
4. Urban mobility, compact city models, and sustainable transport 5. Blue-green
corridors and resource- sensitive design
Track 4: Water, Landscape and Environmental Interfaces
Focus:
Examining the interrelationship between natural systems and urban development.
Sub-Tracks:
1.
Waterfront development and city–water relationships
2.
Landscape design for ecological resilience
3.
Riverfront and coastal revitalization
4.
Integrating climatology and open space design
5.
Nature-based solutions for design identity and wellbeing
Track 5: Housing and Real Estate Development Shaping the City
Focus:
Housing systems, real estate markets, and development models influence urban form, livability, and socio-economic transformation.
Sub-Tracks:
1.
Affordable, Inclusive, and Social Housing Models
2.
Real Estate Dynamics and Urban Growth Patterns
3.
Sustainable and Resilient Housing Development
4.
Innovative Development Models, Redevelopment of housing, case studies.
5.
Regulatory Frameworks, Land Policies & Housing Governance
Track 6: Technology integration for futuristic cities
Focus:
Integrating technology, design innovation, inclusivity, and governance to build responsive, efficient, and people-centered
urban environments.
Sub-Tracks:
1.
Smart
/
Inclusive city frameworks, digital urbanism, data driven planning.
2.
Community-led design, policy frameworks and smart governance.
3.
Geospatial technology influencing city planning systems, Digital twin, 3-D cities, smart infrastructure.
4.
Implementation models, collaborative planning, stakeholder engagement.
5. Urban financing, universal design/planning, integrated city management systems.
