Magda Mostafa, guest editor for the Open House International Journal and associate professor at the American University in Cairo announced a call for papers for their special issue on the topic of built environments for special populations. More information on the call for papers including important dates and deadlines after the break.
Architecture, at its very essence, is the process of providing physical space and place for human activity. Primarily concerned with responding to the specific needs of users and their societies, the built environment plays a tremendous role in shaping and facilitating the every day world we live in. Although being inextricably concerned with this man-environment dynamic, architecture however seems to limit its mainstream practices, education and standards to the conventional spectrum of “normal”. This leaves numerous user groups and victims of social circumstances largely excluded from the luxury of an architecture that deems itself specifically to serve them.
Such exclusion from the mainstream spectrum may be due to unique spatial needs and requirements of specific groups, or social phenomena which arise from particular transient or non-transient socio-political circumstances. Such marginalized include, but are not necessarily limited to, individuals with special needs and disabilities; displaced persons due to natural or socio-political circumstances such as refugees and the homeless; minority groups; the elderly; the poverty stricken; victims of natural disaster etc.
By encouraging research in this area we may create a much needed body of information and a number of methodologies and policies required to address the architectural and urban needs of such special populations. In this issue of Open House International authors are encouraged to submit research that helps bridge this informational gap through evidence based design research, case studies, policy evaluation and other forms of scientific research that address the relationship between special populations and their existing, and required, built environments.
Important dates:
Call for Papers: December 2011 Communication of Interest: December- January 2011/12 Abstract Submission (1000) words: February 15th 2012 Acceptance of Abstract Notification: March 15th 2012 Full Paper Deadline: June 1st 2012 Review Process and Comments: July-August 2012 Full Paper Deadline after review: November 1st 2012 Publication: March 2013
Abstracts should be sent to Magda Mostafa at m_most@aucegypt.edu and Mariam Abdelazim (editorial assistant) at memozimo@aucegypt.edu
