Special Session Ⅰ- Cultural Heritage Protection Towards A Green Future
Session Chair: Prof. Yifei Liu, Beijing Forestry University
Session Co-chair: Assoc. Prof. Ji Li, Southwest Jiaotong University
Special Session Information:
Our cultural heritage is not a relic of the past but a vital resource for building a sustainable tomorrow. We move beyond considering historic preservation as a barrier to progress, repositioning it as a cornerstone of climate action and ecological stewardship. The agenda explores the profound synergy between conserving our past and securing our future.
At the heart of our dialogue is the recognition that the most sustainable resource is the one that already exists. We will explore innovative strategies not only for retrofitting historic buildings with energy-efficient technologies, but also for enhancing the sustainability of diverse forms of built heritage — including traditional structures, industrial sites, and cultural landscapes. By drawing on the passive climatic wisdom embedded in vernacular design and applying circular-economy principles to the conservation of heritage properties, this agenda reframes existing cultural resources as catalysts for green transformation. The discussion will further illuminate how compact, walkable historic environments naturally model sustainable patterns of living.
This session brings together a global coalition of architects, urban planners, engineers, policymakers, scholars and community leaders to share transformative case studies and forge collaborative pathways. We will examine how protecting tangible and intangible heritage fosters the community resilience and timeless wisdom essential for navigating the climate era, discovering how our shared legacy provides the foundational blueprint for a truly green and resilient future.
Below is an incomplete list of potential topics to be covered in the Special Session:
•Protect built heritage with sustainability
•Build community resilience for historic urban landscapes
•Learn climate-adaption smartness from cultural heritage
•Identify heritage values through a sustainable perspective
•Advance low-carbon and innovative technologies
Special Session Keywords:
•Heritage Protection
•Sustainable Future
•Green Transformation
•Climate Action
•Resilient Communities
Special Session Ⅱ- Innovation and Future Trends
Session Chair: Assoc. Prof. Biao Wang, Soochow University
Special Session Information:
The "Innovation and Future Trends" sub-forum focuses on cutting-edge theoretical innovations and technological paradigm evolution in green building, covering key research areas such as future urban and architectural evolution, biomimetic architectural design, zero-waste construction guided by circular economy, digital twin-driven smart construction, biodiversity symbiosis, vertical farm, resilient buildings for extreme environments, and interdisciplinary integration. Centered on full life cycle carbon management, ecosystem coupling, and digital technology empowerment, the forum integrates interdisciplinary theories and engineering practices from architectural science, ecology, materials science, and artificial intelligence. It explores the industry's transformation path from "passive emission reduction" to "active carbon sequestration" and from "functional satisfaction" to "ecological gain." The forum aims to establish an academic exchange platform for global top scholars and innovators, reveal core driving mechanisms for green building development, and provide forward-looking theoretical support and technical references for sustainable industry transformation.
Below is an incomplete list of potential topics to be covered in the Special Session:
•Future City and Building Form Evolution Research
•Bionic architectural design theory and application
•Zero-waste construction system oriented by circular economy
•Biodiversity Synergistic Symbiosis Architecture
•Innovation of new functional materials and intelligent building materials
•Extreme environmental resilience building innovation
•Interdisciplinary Integration of Green Building Innovations
Special Session Keywords:
•Future Architecture and Cities
•Biosimilic architecture
•Zero-waste buildings
•Vertical farm
•Climate-adaptive buildings