Abstracts due July 31. See below for submission details.
The 15th Annual Symposium of the Forum on Architecture, Culture, and Spirituality will be held in Varanasi, India, in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (IIT BHU). The symposium will be hosted by the Department of Architecture, Planning, and Design, IIT BHU, from January 9- 11, 2026.
Varanasi, as the spiritual capital of India and one of the oldest living cities in the world, is the perfect venue for exploring the connection between places, primeval myths, and living traditions. Varanasi, as an ancient seat of learning, will be a stimulating environment for thought-provoking presentations and dialogues. The symposium’s venue is the century-old historic IIT BHU campus, in proximity to the Ganga Riverfront and its majestic temples and palaces. We anticipate ACSF 15 to be an exciting and enriching event with participants from across the globe presenting their work on the theme of “Myths and Placemaking” and related topics.
Established in 2007, the Architecture, Culture, and Spirituality Forum provides an international forum for scholarship, education, practice, and advocacy regarding the cultural and spiritual significance of the built environment. ACSF believes that the design and experience of the built environment can assist the spiritual development of humanity in service of addressing the world’s most pressing issues.
Submissions
Within the overarching theme of “Myths and Place-making”, sessions will be organized around the following subthemes:
Sacred architecture as a celebration of place myths: Places are anchors of powerful narratives of gods and goddesses, heroes and sages, and social origins. In what ways does architecture commemorate these narratives and reify the sacrality of the place? How does architecture embody divine immanence?
Visual culture, architectural form, and mythology: Myths are a recurring theme in visual cultures constituted of varied art forms in traditional and modern societies. How are myths and their settings represented in contemporary visual cultures? Specifically, how are architectural forms depicted in myths?
Place stories and their re-enactments in place-making: Narratives, when re-enacted, become ritual practices that carry profound meanings about life and death, self and community. How do these cultural practices create and transform places? How does place-making change the place narrative?
Nature veneration, spatial practices, and climate resilience: Contemporary eco-spiritual beliefs resonate with animism, pantheism, and other forms of nature worship practiced in the past. What forms does nature veneration take today, and how can these practices play a role in developing strategies to combat the current climate crisis?
HOWEVER, as in past ACSF Symposia, submissions outside the conference theme will be considered for the OPEN SESSIONS.
Submission Categories
Interested individuals are invited to submit proposals for either the SYMPOSIUM THEME or an OPEN SESSION. Proposals may be submitted in one of three categories: paper, panel, and/or practice/research project.
Paper: a traditional 500–1000-word paper abstract (for 20-minute presentations)
Panel: a 1000-word description of the topic, participants, rationale, presentation style, theories, and other necessary information (for a 60-minute presentation).
Projects: three images + 250-500 words providing background information and an indication of the (professional, scholarly, or pedagogic) study/project’s main ideas, intentions, purposes, theories, etc (for 10-minute presentations)
Very important: Authors should indicate the category under which their proposal should be considered (paper, practice/research project, or panel). A proposal should be treated like an expanded abstract and include a summary statement, topic, scope, method, case study (ies), if appropriate, and intended conclusions/outcomes.
Individuals may submit up to two proposals (i.e., Paper and Project). Proposals should NOT reveal the author(s)’ personal identity or institutional affiliation.
April 22, 2025 ………………. Call for papers and participation
July 1, 2025…………..………. Abstract Submission deadline
July 1—Aug 14, 2025…..… Peer Review Process
September 1, 2025………. Approval/Rejection of abstracts (authors contacted)
September 21, 2025.…… Deadline to confirm author participation
October 1, 2025…..….…… Room Reservation deadline for Authors (payment due) —after this date, rooms will be open to non-author attendees. Foreigners start process to get VISAS to enter India (this is a quick process).
November 1, 2025………… Revised abstract Submission
Jan 9—11, 2026……..….…. ACSF 15 Symposium in Varanasi
