Volume 32, Issue 1 (2026)

Hassan ABDEL-SALAM - Editor-in-Chief

With the release of this volume, Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ) carries forward its mission in creating a diverse and open arena for dialogue and exchange of experiences and insights. It continues to stand as a source of knowledge and visions on multiple issues of immediate significance to many groups and parties involved in the design, planning, and control of built environments. The inter-related topics found in the work of our contributors reflect an expanding spectrum of interests, considerations, concepts and the complexities of our ever-evolving field.

Coming from a broad geographical extent (Kenya, Nigeria, Libya, Egypt, and Yemen) a group of six authors / researchers and writers contribute their views, ideas and thoughts. Their input makes this new issue of APJ a valuable resource, serving researchers, academics and students within the dual domain of Architecture and Urbanism.

The contents in this issue generally belong to four main tracks of research and studies:

1. Economic Development and Management
2. Analysis of architectural works and directions
3. Preservation of the Urban Heritage and Identity
4. Sustainability, Environmental Design and Energy Consumption.

The first research paper discusses the role of local economic development (LED) and upgrading within informal settlement. It reviews the relevant case of one of the densely populated informal communities in Nairobi, Kenya.

The second paper draws insights from peer-reviewed journal articles sourced from established databases. It presents the findings of a bibliometric analysis investigating how the current research landscape of machine learning in the discipline of architecture has evolved between 2020 and 2024.

The next two research papers explore the topic of Urban Identity and Conservation of old architecture as an extension of history that helps in understanding places and lifestyles in a chronological sequence. The third article addresses the preservation of urban heritage, as a priority since the past constitutes a rich legacy in terms of urban form and cultural diversity. It reviews important strategies and different experiences related to the procedures used in sustainable preservation, applicable in the case of Al-Marj town in Libya. This is followed, in the fourth research paper, by a review of the reconstruction project of the dynamic City Centre of Beirut, Lebanon. The study explains the approach, components, and lessons drawn from applying the concept of New Urbanism, which was employed in a wider scheme of post-conflict urban regeneration.

Combining environmental and health benefits through detailed architectural design, the fifth research paper focuses on residential facilities within a university campus in southwest Nigeria. It presents the ways in which spaces can incorporate the principles of biophilic design to enhance the occupant’s closeness to nature while also enhancing spaces connectivity and place conditions.

Finally, the sixth study examines compact housing projects in in Sana’a, Yemen, not only in terms of urban design and social well-being, but also in relation to energy consumption and efficiency. The research establishes a case for more equitably accessible policies on density and proposes that high-density urban fabrics must have a social connector code.

Together, the six research studies presented in this issue emphasize insightful lessons and requirements for holistic design / planning strategies that integrate ecological, technological, and socio-economic dimensions in order to serve the pursuit of a more human and responsive built environments.

We invite our readers to engage deeply with the diverse perspectives and focused ideas presented in this issue. As you delve into the findings and insights shared by our authors, we encourage you to reflect on their implications and potential applications in real-world contexts. We hope this issue sparks meaningful dialogue and inspires further research that pushes the boundaries of our understanding onto new horizons.