International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design (IJAD)

Bridging Traditions: How an International Artist-in-Residence Exchange Ignited Cross-Cultural Craft Learning and Creative Sharing

Witiya Pittungnapoo — 2026-06-30

The global network of UNESCO Creative Cities of Crafts and Folk-Art functions not
merely as a registry of heritage, but as a living laboratory for international collaboration,
knowledge transfer, and mutual artistic enrichment. A shining testament to this active
partnership unfolded between February 12 and 23, 2026, when the ancient ceramic capitals
of Kanazawa, Japan, and Sukhothai, Thailand, joined forces to host a dynamic cross-cultural
learning and sharing initiative.
Centering on an immersive Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program and an
accompanying academic short course, this bilateral exchange showcased how traditional
craft practices and contemporary sustainable methodologies can expand the horizons of
modern artisans.

Culture-Led Urban Resilience: Baguio City's Model for Sustainable Development and Crisis Recovery

Leticia Clemente — 2026-06-30

Urban resilience has increasingly evolved beyond the traditional focus on
infrastructure and disaster preparedness to encompass social, cultural, and environmental
dimensions. In recent years, cities worldwide have recognized that culture serves not merely
as a repository of heritage but as a strategic resource that strengthens community resilience,
promotes sustainable development, and enhances adaptive governance. Baguio City, the first
UNESCO Creative City in the Philippines for Crafts and Folk Art, presents a compelling
example of how culture can be integrated into public policy and local governance to address
contemporary challenges. By embedding indigenous knowledge, creative industries, cultural
heritage, and community participation into its development agenda, the city has established
a holistic model that enhances environmental sustainability, economic resilience, and social
cohesion. This paper examines how Baguio City's culture-centred governance contributes to
resilience building, crisis recovery, and sustainable urban development.

Climate Risk and Urban Valuation: The Case of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico

Annel Martínez Hernández — 2026-06-30

Climate change has become a critical challenge for contemporary cities due to its
effects on urban infrastructure, territorial dynamics, and environmental sustainability. In
recent years, Tuxtla Gutiérrez has experienced an increase in urban vulnerability associated
with intense rainfall events, recurrent flooding, and accelerated urban growth processes.
These conditions have generated significant impacts on the functionality of urban spaces,
residential and commercial activities, as well as on the perception of environmental risk
within the city. This study analyses the relationship between climate risk and urban valuation
through a descriptive and documentary approach focused on urban resilience and spatial
transformation. This study examines how recurrent flooding influences the perception,
occupation, and economic valuation of vulnerable urban areas through descriptive,
documentary research design on urban spatial transformation. Likewise, the study highlights
the importance of integrating environmental criteria, climate adaptation strategies, and
territorial resilience approaches into urban planning and land management processes. The
findings suggest that climate change is progressively redefining urban spatial dynamics and
the socioeconomic perception of the built environment, particularly in cities exposed to
hydrometeorological risks. The case of Tuxtla Gutiérrez demonstrates the need to strengthen
sustainable urban planning strategies capable of reducing environmental vulnerability and
enhancing urban resilience in the face of future climate scenarios.

Heritage-centred Design: A Methodology for Community-Authored Knowledge Infrastructure in Creative Cities

Giuseppe Biagini — 2026-06-30

This paper reports on a methodology developed through field practice in the
UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN): an approach in which the material knowledge,
economic circumstances, and cultural authorship rights of living craft and gastronomic
communities constitute the governing constraints of every design decision — from the user
interface of a documentation tool to the governance architecture of a cluster-level digital
platform. The methodology, which the paper terms heritage-centred design, is
operationalized through a four-step framework — territory mapping, heri-telling, gamified
engagement, and structured digital implementation — and demonstrated across four case
studies spanning the C&FA and Gastronomy clusters: the C&FA digital hub
(craftsfolkart.org); a gastronomic heritage documentation project across the Arabian
Peninsula; the Bergamo Cheese Valleys project (two completed editions); and an
architectural restoration project in Latin America. A five-dimension impact framework
confirms measurable outcomes across social, economic, digital, educational, and
institutional dimensions. The paper examines the design dimensions of this field practice
and the questions it raises for knowledge infrastructure design wherever living cultural
knowledge intersects with digital systems, governance accountability, and community
livelihood.