Place is space where life takes place. As distinct to space, place has specific characters. Plain and mountainous landscapes, warm and humid climates, sparse and dense urban environments determine physical characteristics of a place. Social structures, social interaction, rituals, cultural activities are those of non-physical that give life to a place. Places bring spirit and create their own language or expression, and therefore differ from one place to another.

Architecture as a man-made environment has to respond to place because it makes architecture meaningful. Architecture is a shelter when it takes physical environments such climate and topography into consideration. It can be symbolic when it has to represent social and cultural qualities. It should resemble nature if it requires minimum environmental degradation. And it can be progressive if it has to respond to ever changing qualities of a place. Place serves as a context for architecture.

Places might change over time and do resources, needs and life style. Contemporary architecture should then respond to all these changes in order to maintain their meaningful state and identity. Contemporary architecture can refer to the past by exploring architectural traditions, or can make a reference to current conditions of a place to ensure contextual representation.

Academicians, researchers, and students are invited to exchange their knowledge in this conference. This will be a medium where current theories, methods and researches on this field are discussed. On AR+DC 2016 in particular, professionals are also invited to share and discuss their design and knowledge specifically on dealing with place based design for contemporary needs.