Contemporary architecture stands at a critical crossroads. Faced with rapid urbanization and an escalating climate crisis, the built environment requires far more than aesthetic innovation—it demands resilience, inclusivity, and deep technical expertise.
 
Redefining the Built Environment: Material, Design and Optimization addresses these urgent challenges by offering a transformative blueprint for the future of sustainable architecture. Bridging timeless wisdom with modern technology, this comprehensive volume explores how the Indian Knowledge System (IKS)—from seismic-resistant traditional construction in Northeast India to the geometric principles of temple architecture and Vastu Shastra—can actively inform cutting-edge, low-carbon design.
 
The chapters in this collection address several critical themes in contemporary architectural discourse: traditional wisdom and cultural foundations, passive design and thermal performance, material innovation and the circular economy, technology—including Building Information Modelling (BIM) and smart urbanism—as well as bio-science and environmental engineering. The volume highlights a range of innovations, from the influence of Odisha’s Ikat weaving traditions on design to the technical performance of high-volume ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) concrete. Analyses include the examination of Sick Building Syndrome through the framework of Vastu Shastra and the establishment of visual comfort criteria for architectural studios. The overarching objective is to create environments that are healthy, efficient, and culturally meaningful. We intend for this work to equip architects, engineers, and policymakers with strategies to reduce carbon emissions and promote human well-being. By advancing passive design strategies, the book aspires to contribute to a sustainable legacy for future generations.