Cities' Identity: The Innovative Dialogue Between Art and Architecture

Through cultural mapping and design methodologies, this book illuminates the role of architecture in preserving collective memory while adapting to contemporary needs. The focus on memory and history brings attention to the restoration and reinterpretation of historic sites, including cemeteries, villas, and classical facades. The heritage preservation section highlights innovative approaches to safeguarding historic structures, such as ancient city walls in Xi’an and ecclesiastical sites in Italy, emphasizing the challenges and methodologies in maintaining architectural authenticity. Addressing modern challenges, the segment on identity and sustainable architecture bridges tradition with ecological innovation. Case studies illustrate the creation of eco-cultural spaces, the sustainability of traditional marketplaces, and new typologies for housing programs that respect cultural heritage. Digital art and virtual realities bring a contemporary dimension to the discourse, exploring how technological mediums allow for new expressions of identity and creativity, with a particular focus on modern Emirati women’s contributions to this evolving field. Finally, architecture’s potential to advance social justice and inclusivity is explored through projects that reimagine settlement patterns, promote universal design in public spaces, and integrate marginalized communities into urban landscapes.

Dr. Mohd. Fairuz Shahidan is currently an associate professor under the Department of Landscape Architecture in the Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). He obtained his Ph.D. in architecture from Cardiff University, UK. His research interests include energy-efficient architectural and landscape design and planning, urban heat island mitigation, urban greening, and outdoor and indoor thermal comfort. He has published numerous papers in renowned local and international journals. He specialized in research and design, and he wrote several books about them. He has also had vast experience as a reviewer for several journals, such as Building and Environment, Journal of Landscape and Urban Planning, Energy and Buildings, and Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. At the national level, he has evaluated numerous conference papers and books. In 2013 and 2015, he served as the conference's editor-in-chief.

Alessio Cardaci obtained a Master Degree cum laude in Building Engineering (University of Messina, Italy) and a Ph.D. in Building Engineering: Restoration Design (Department of Drawing and Design, Faculty of Engineering, University of Messina, Italy). Since 2008, he holds the chair of Drawing at the University of Bergamo, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Design and Technologies. His main research interests are based on the assessment of the capabilities of laser scanning technologies with special regard to cultural heritage survey, structural testing and diagnostic, 3D visualization, and virtual reality.

Rui Alexandre Castanho holds an International Ph.D. on Sustainable Planning in Borderlands. Nowadays, he is a vice-dean for Sustainable Development at the WSB University, Poland, and a visitor professor at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He is an European Climate Pact Ambassador. Besides, he completed a post-doc researcher on the GREAT Project, University of Azores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal. Moreover, he has graduated in Green Spaces Engineering and Agricultural Engineering and holds a Master's Degree in Planning, Audit, and Control in Urban Green Spaces. He is also the author and/or editor of 20 books, more than a 130 indexed peer review papers, 90 indexed book chapters, 90 conference papers, and made several presentations worldwide academic events as keynote speaker. Also, he was awarded the Doctor Honoris Causa title in Lima-Peru by (UPCI).

Ayse Ozcan-Buckley is an adjunct faculty at the School of Planning, Design and Construction, Michigan State University (MSU) since 2016 with post-doc research on ecological planning within the public policy context. Ayse Ozcan-Buckley received Ph.D. with a dissertation on Urban and Environmental Policies of Turkey and the roles of universities under the mentorship of a professor in the Department of Economics from Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey. Ayse Ozcan-Buckley has over 13 years of teaching and researching environmental issues and sustainability within the urban context. Ayse Ozcan-Buckley has experience in creating project frameworks, working with NGOs, managing international projects, and providing consultancy to institutions and research companies at different levels.

Dr. Gasim Hayder is an Associate Professor at the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Architecture, University of Nizwa. He received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Malaysia. He is MIET and Chartered Engineer (CEng) from the Engineering Council (UK). He teaches, conducts research and provides short courses and consultancy services to industry, especially in the field of water and wastewater assessment and monitoring. He is the research clusters coordinator and the chairman of clean water and environment at college of engineering and architecture – University of Nizwa. He was the Head of Water & Environmental Engineering Unit at the Department of Civil Engineering – Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) and also served as the Head of Environment and Sustainable Development Cluster at the Institute of Energy Infrastructure (IEI). He has extensive practical engineering, teaching, and management experiences. He has several publications of journals and books, reviewer for many top journals, member committee for several conferences, holds patents, and has received national and international awards.