—Issue no. 2: Emergence

Looking around the built-unbuilt environment, we encounter elements that initially seem trivial small details, forgotten techniques, or mundane materials and objects. Once relegated to obscurity, they begin to take on new meaning as they are repurposed and redefined. This process of rediscovery emphasizes the importance of continuous reflection, adaptation, and the repurposing of the overlooked trinkets around us.  

For the second issue of hyphen, we invite you to engage with the theme of ‘Emergence’ by identifying, rethinking, and unveiling constructs that call for our renewed attention.  Your paper could be about spatial practices, an unpopular opinion, or an innovation in building materials or techniques. Whether it’s a tangible object with historical significance or an intangible concept with future potential, these constructs are open for reinterpretation.  

We ask: What are the overlooked facets that could transform our understanding of space, design, or community? How might focusing on these emerging ideas lead to new insights, applications, or ways of thinking in design fields? How can re-emerging elements, whether they are mass-produced or unique, influence the future of our discipline? Your submission could be a thought-provoking commentary on global challenges, an unconventional critique of societal norms, a critical inquiry into pressing concerns, or an innovative solution to enduring problems. 

We welcome papers that speculate on the potential of these emerging and re-emerging ideas to inspire multidimensional perspectives within our field. Uncovering and unveiling these items is not just about finding new uses but also about redefining their role and significance within architecture and design. Whether your approach is theoretical, practical, or speculative, we invite papers that highlight the significance of the underappreciated in the built environment.

—hyphen Editorial Team

Sana Ahrar, Editor
Houman Riazi Jorshari, Assistant Editor 
Keerthana Govindarazan, Assistant Editor 
Joshua Conroy, Graphic Designer

Summer 2025