Themes and Tracks – SHAPE 2026

Themes and Tracks

Theme 1:Inclusive Cities, Equity & Human-Centred Habitats

In the rapidly urbanizing era, cities are expected to be inclusive, equitable, and responsive to diverse needs. Integrating SDG 11 (Sustainable, Inclusive Cities), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 5 (Gender Equality), this theme explores how design, policy, community action, and technology can foster urban ecosystems that prioritize social justice, accessibility, participatory design, and housing equity. With a focus on housing, mobility, and public space, research papers are invited that reimagine cities not just as infrastructures, but as human-centric spaces, ensuring to deal with poverty issues responding to SDG 1 (No Poverty), such that no one is left behind in the journey towards sustainable urban futures.

Track 1A

Topics

Affordable. Inclusive & Mixed-Income Housing

Revitalizing informal settlements; incremental and cooperative housing

Policy, zoning, and governance frameworks for equitable housing

Secure living for vulnerable groups: elderly, migrants, gender sensitive design

Track 1B

Topics

Mobility, Justice & Connected Communities

Universal access transit; walkable and cycling cities

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) for inclusion and reduced inequalities

Gender responsive and child-friendly mobility planning

Digital & AI-enabled tools for mobility equity

Track 1C

Topics

Public Spaces & Social Cohesion

Secure, inclusive, and culturally rooted public spaces

Participatory co-design for community empowerment

Heritage-led urban regeneration and identity building

Demilitarization of the urban realm and resilience to man-made events

Theme 2: Architecture for Climate Resilience & Environmental Stewardship

This theme explores how architecture and planning can actively address the climate crisis by fostering resilient, low-carbon, and energy-efficient built environments. Integrating SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 7 (Affordable & Clean Energy), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), it invites discourse on passive design, renewable energy integration, disaster-resilient construction, and climate-adaptive planning.

Track 2A

Topics

Climate-Responsive & Passive Design Approaches

Vernacular wisdom, bioclimatic design, heat stress mitigation

Low-impact materials and lifecycle analysis

Designing for heat stress mitigation

High-performance envelopes; energy modeling and simulations

Track 2B

Topics

Clean Energy Architecture & Net-Zero Futures

Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), solar façades, decentralized energy systems

Upgrading existing/heritage buildings for energy efficiency

Economic feasibility and policy-driven clean energy adoption

Track 2C

Topics

Disaster-Resilient Built Environments

Disaster-resilient building typologies and strategies

Nature-based solutions: green infrastructure, sponge cities

Coastal and climate-risk-sensitive design strategies

Post-disaster reconstruction and community resilience planning

Theme 3: Water, Resource & Environmental Systems for Sustainable Living

This theme invites papers that explore an integrated approach to managing water, natural resources, and ecosystems for future generations, including sustainable water management practices, water security, alongside implementing policies for energy sustainability, circular design, and resource efficiency utilizing technology, and fostering community participation to protect ecosystems in line with directives outlined by SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), along with SDG 7, 12 & 13.

Track 3A

Topics

Urban Water Security & Blue-Green Infrastructure

Sustainable water management and wastewater reuse

Flood mitigation through ecological planning

Track 3B

Topics

Circular Economy & Responsible Consumption

Low-impact materials, lifecycle assessment, reuse, and adaptive strategies

Construction waste minimization and circular urban systems

Track 3C

Topics

Energy Efficiency & Sustainable Infrastructure

Integration of renewable energy in built systems

Smart grids, building automation, IoT-enabled sustainability

Theme 4: Health, Well-being & Liveable Environments

This theme explores interconnections between health, well-being, & liveable environments that directly contribute to human comfort, mental health, environmental health, and an improved quality of life with quality education. In alignment with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), it emphasizes the power of collective action—bringing together academia, industry, government, civil society, and local communities to co-create resilient, inclusive, and context-sensitive environments working on SDG 4 (Quality Education) & SDG 11.

Track 4A

Topics

Healthy Buildings & Biophilic Design

Indoor environmental quality, daylighting, thermal comfort

Nature-integrated design for physical and mental well-being

Liveability, fear of crime, and terror

Track 4B

Topics

Education for Sustainable Futures

Integrating UNSDGs and broader definitions of sustainability into architectural pedagogy

Studio culture, mental well-being, and inclusive teaching

AI, BIM, and digital technologies shaping learning environments

Track 4C

Topics

Urban Liveability & Environmental Health

Pollution mitigation, clean mobility, green open spaces

Age-friendly and disability-inclusive planning

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) in urban planning, urban design, and architecture

Theme 5: Partnerships, Governance & Collaborative Futures

This theme explores how meaningful collaborations across disciplines, institutions, communities, and borders can accelerate sustainable architectural and planning solutions. In alignment with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth, it emphasizes the power of collective action, promoting multi-stakeholder engagement, global collaboration to create resilient, inclusive, and context-sensitive environments. The theme calls for strengthening knowledge exchange and governance innovation to ensure that sustainability goals are not pursued in silos, but through shared responsibilities and inclusive networks for long-term impact.

Track 5A

Topics

Cross-Sectoral and Transdisciplinary Partnerships

Architecture + technology + social sciences collaboration

Co-creation with NGOs, government, and local communities

Role of security considerations in contemporary architecture, codes, and practices

Track 5B

Topics

Global Alliances for Sustainable Development

Collaborative research clusters focused on SDGs (climate action, sustainable cities, heritage conservation, renewable energy, etc.)

Role of global platforms (UN-Habitat, UIA, UNESCO)

Partnerships with global think tanks, development agencies, and multilateral institutions for policy-driven research

Track 5C

Topics

Governance, Policy & Institutional Innovation

Aligning practice with SDG-focused national and global frameworks

Strengthening institutions and enabling equitable urban governance

Relevance of codes, guidelines, and their enforcement

* The above list of domains is suggestive but not limited to only these*