The thematic call for the issue IV/2021 of the journal QuAD – Quaderni di Architettura e Design aims at stimulating research, investigations and considerations on the topic South. The term South does not only mean a steady geographical latitude, but also a theoretical or design condition of investigation or action. It therefore opens to submissions aimed at exploring historical, cultural, environmental conditions, or at outlining theoretical and design perspectives for a global, local or relative South. The number IV/2021 of the journal QuAD is open, therefore, to accept papers on the relationship that defines the term South in the different fields of Architecture and Design): as a cultural datum at the base of (regionalist, critical, globalizing) theoretic and design approaches and positions; as an economic-environmental condition related to the availability or absence of resources; as a changing perspective towards a North whose limits change in relation to the latitude in which we operate. Around and beyond these general arguments, the authors are therefore invited to submit papers on the following topics:
South: points of view | Fixed geographical condition vs changing point of view; Authors are invited to submit in this section original and critical essays or design works aimed at analyzing the relationship between influences and limits given by a fixed geographical condition, and the subjective perspectives of observation / interpretation of the condition itself;
Architecture and design at South | Local design vs culturally dominant areas; Authors are invited to submit in this section original and critical essays or design works aimed at analyzing architecture and design of the southern cultural areas with regard to the culturally dominant regions, in order to express a critical view of the differences;
Living the South. Forms and materials for the South | Authors are invited to submit in this section original and critical essays or design works aimed at defining forms, techniques, technologies and materials of architecture and design for urban and domestic landscapes of the South;
Landscapes of the South. Identity in the South | Authors are invited to submit in this section original and critical essays or design works aimed at analyzing and describing the relationship of identity between critical thinking and design, which underlies the layout of the territories of the South.
Studying the South | Criticism and history of architecture and design for the South; Authors are invited to submit in this section original and critical essays on the history and characteristics of architecture and design for and at South.