Call for Papers for the18th ARCASIA Forum 2015

The Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage (ASA) is pleased to announce that the 36th Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA) and 18th Forum 2015 will be held in Ayutthaya in November 2015. Using the main theme from ARCASIA Forum 18: “Future of the Past”, ASA would like to invite papers from architects from all member countries of ARCASIA on the theme taken for the Call for Papers, the ARCASIA Design Analysis Forum 2015, is “Re-Articulating the Past.” The full-day Symposium will be held in November 2015. A keynote lecture under the same theme by a prominent architect in Asia will commence the event.

ARCASIA 2015’s main theme “Future of the Past” inspires further rethinking and critical dialogues in Design Analysis Forum 2015 “Re-Articulating the Past,” which not only questions places, roles and interpretation of history in tomorrow’s context, but also search for definition, notion and representation of the past itself. From process to product, the development of built environment is frequently established on aspects of information and elements of earlier times as a starting ground to examine and think beyond. The past is all around. The presence and sense of the past in design theory and practice are signified through intangible and tangible elements in the form of history, tradition, context, existing fabrics in built environment, school of thought, styles, and knowledge and technology that have been accumulated and advanced through time. Likewise, terms including reference, precedents, and critiques also imply design processes and approaches involving a perception, a categorization and a manipulation towards objects from the past in a way. Historic preservation, sustainability and urban planning are among theories and practical approaches within the discipline that suggest values and roles of the past by preserving and providing a continued use of old buildings to safeguard heritage, utilize available resources and enhance diversity in the built environment. Originality in design deals with creative solutions beyond what is already available in history. Ideas of permanence and adaptability of structure also tackles capability of architectural transformations through time.

On the one hand, such embodied historical languages are appreciated by being protected, and narrated in a straightforward way to retain precision of information transfer. On the other hand, appropriation and re-articulation of the earlier periods reflect a contrast approach and interpretation to handle the past and celebrate its achievements by a newer generation. However, while envisaged future is often clearly addressed and manifested through theoretical approaches and building innovation in a straightforward way, the existence of near and far pasts articulated in built forms is occasionally compromised or even disguised rather than openly narrated. In the rapid development in building design and innovation where the present moment in architecture will soon become a recent past, and objects of far pasts seems to be very present in the physical and scholarly context, how do -- or how should -- architects define, perceive and re-articulate such languages of the past into architectonic form, if any? Is the past to remain untouched and be cherished as is, or is it to be critiqued, manipulated and perfected for the advancement of the profession? How much can the past be creatively bended without being falsified? How are the languages of the past narrated through practice which confirms its places and roles in later periods? Is it possible to classify and redefine the past for today’s and future reference? If past is not a foreign country, when it comes to practice, how can its underrated theoretical presence be acknowledged and smoothly integrated into design?

In examining the re-articulation of the past, ARCASIA Design Analysis Forum 2015 seeks to provoke critical perspectives and interpretation towards the re-articulated past through four dialectic sub-themes as follows:

Static Past | Dynamic Past
The Past in Theory | The Past in Technique
Formal Past | Informal Past
Single Past | Multiple Pasts
Affirming the Past | Critiquing the Past

The ARCASIA Design Analysis Forum 2015 calls for papers critically investigating the multifaceted roles history plays in the way architects re-articulate the past through built environments. It is expected that the papers should exemplify the ever dynamic connection between theory and practice as evident in the works in the region.

Guidelines
Proposals addressing one or more of the sub-thematic areas under “Re-Articulating the Past” as outlined above will be considered. Please submit a 250-word abstract, along with the author’s brief bio, to the address below.

The length of the final paper should be no more than 3000 words, figures and references included. Further details regarding the format and submission of the final paper will be provided with the abstract acceptance letter.

Deadline for Abstract Submission: 30 April 2015
Announcement of Abstract Acceptance: 31 May 2015
Deadline for Full Paper Submission: 15 August 2015
Announcement of Full Paper Acceptance: 30 September 2015

Selected papers will be published by ASA in the ARCASIA Journal

Abstracts or any enquiry should be sent to asaarcasia18@gmail.com

Secretariat
ARCASIA Design Analysis Forum 2015,
The Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage
248/1 Soi Soonvijai 4, Rama IX Road,
Bangkapi, Huay Kwang, Bangkok 10310
THAILAND
Phone: +662-319-6555
Fax: +662-319-6419 press 6
Email: asaarcasia18@gmail.com