Amira Omer Siddig Osman is a Sudanese/South African architect/ lecturer/researcher. She is currently a professor in architecture at the Tshwane University of Technology. Amira studied at the University of Khartoum in Sudan in 1988 (B.Sc.) and 1996 (M.Sc.). In between the two she also studied at the Institute for Housing Studies in Rotterdam (IHS) in 1992 where she obtained a post-graduate diploma. She completed her PhD in Architecture at the University of Pretoria in 2004. She worked as an architect in Khartoum during the period 1988- 1997 with various practices on small and large projects and was a United Nations Volunteer (UNV) in Maseru, Lesotho 1997-1998, as an architect with the Department of Public Works. She practiced as an architect in the Sudan and has participated in a number of projects in South Africa including a hostel upgrade and designs for social housing in Pretoria. Amira is a registered Professional Architect with the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP) and while her focus is academic and research-oriented, she continues to practice on a small scale.
Setyo Nugroho is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS). He received his Ph.D. at Hiroshima University, Japan, in the field of urban design, mobility, and urban policy. He participated in an onsite project in a rural town in Japan to explore the residents’ perception of the place due to the rapid issue of depopulation and aging society. His research interests are how the built environment affects people’s emotions and decisions, including topics such as human dimension in urban design; place attachment; walkability studies; and urban design in Asian Border Towns and Cities.
Prof. Dr. Ing. Ir. Bambang Soemardiono, a distinguished academic, serves as the Head of the Urban Design Laboratory and holds the esteemed position of Professor in the Department of Architecture at ITS (Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember) in Surabaya, Indonesia. Prof. Bambang Soemardiono's remarkable achievements over the past five years stand as a testament to his significant contributions in the fields of urban design and architecture. His numerous publications in esteemed journals, each addressing critical aspects of contemporary urban planning and design, underscore his expertise and dedication to advancing the field. Furthermore, his authorship of several books, covering a wide array of topics, demonstrates his commitment to sharing knowledge and insights with a broader audience. Prof. Dr. Ing. Ir. Bambang Soemardiono remains a prominent figure in the academic and professional realms, continuously elevating the discourse and practices within architecture and urban design through his invaluable research and expertise.
Prof. Wanxiang Yao is a highly accomplished academic with an extensive academic background in heat, gas supply, ventilating, and air conditioning engineering. He has earned a Ph.D. from Tongji University and held various research positions in China and Japan. His research focuses on solar radiation theory and its efficient utilization, building energy efficiency and intelligent control, and indoor thermal environment and human thermal comfort. He has received recognition as a Young Expert of Taishan Scholars of Shandong Province, along with several notable awards and research project grants. His work has resulted in numerous publications and patents, contributing significantly to the field of energy and environmental engineering.