Global climate change and escalating temperatures disproportionately affect tropical and subtropical Southeast Asia (SEA). Coupled with rapid urbanization and the urban heat island effect in the already hot and humid climate, such increasing heat stress elevates risks of disasters and health issues for SEA inhabitants, especially the most vulnerable, such as the elderly and infants. We must urgently imagine, create, and build new styles and modes of urban living and housing together.

Looking back on the past, “Open-type dwellings” for residential houses were quite common across various regions. Natural breezes came into the high-ceiling houses, lowering the temperature, and the openness enhanced communication within urban communities. Passive cooling was the norm then. But now, more than passive cooling is needed to guarantee the comfort of living in a densed and hotter urban environment. Installing more than one electric fan is a norm for lower-middle and lower-class housing with few ACs in urban village areas called Kampung or squatter areas. The upper and rising middle classes tend to choose “closed-type dwellings” with ACs for safety and privacy, weakening the neighborhood’s sense of community.

Continuing urbanization and exacerbating global warming might accelerate the spread of these middle-class tailored housing all over Southeast Asia in ten years. This would endanger the resilient community network and counter the worldwide effort to achieve zero carbon emissions. Mass production of ACs at factories and mass utilization of ACs at home cause severe carbon emissions, significantly contributing to global warming. It is time for us to ponder critically upon the relevance and sustainability of keeping and expanding this spread and to foster a new urban habitat where people can enjoy quality living while upholding their cultural and communal values amid the challenges of climate change. Well-ventilated open-type dwellings might rekindle and strengthen the sense of community among the urban residents and contribute to advancing carbon-zero urban society.

In this seminar, in addition to experts in architecture and air conditioning, experts in energy-related fields and government and municipal authorities will be invited to discuss creating a new and innovative housing and air-conditioning value and culture suited to the world’s heating climate of tropical and subtropical regions. We strongly aim to compile recommendations that will lead to their societal implementation.

The following are key areas to be examined during the Indonesian fieldwork.

• • Suitable architecture and air conditioning model in Southeast Asia in the Carbon Neutral era
• • Possible combination of passive cooling and air conditioning in the development of heat islands
• • Comfortable thermal living environment in the development of global warming
• • Value and norm creation for sustainable urban life in tropical and subtropical areas