The International Association for the Study of Traditional Environments (IASTE) was established in 1988 with a bold and timely mission: to create a global platform for the critical study of tradition, identity, and the built environment. What began as a modest academic gathering has evolved over the past 36 years into one of the most respected and interdisciplinary conferences in the fields of architecture, urban studies, anthropology, and cultural geography.

At its core, IASTE emerged from a recognition that the study of “tradition” in architecture and urbanism had long been marginalized or essentialized within dominant academic and professional discourses. The founders envisioned a space where tradition would not be treated as a static artifact of the past, but rather as a dynamic, negotiated, and often contested force in the shaping of built environments across time and place. Since its inception, the conference has consistently attracted scholars and practitioners committed to interrogating how space, culture, and power intersect through architecture and urban form.

Held biennially, and becoming an annual conference in 2023, IASTE conferences have been hosted in cities around the world—from Berkeley to Cairo, from Hong Kong to Istanbul—each selected for its rich and complex relationship with tradition and transformation. These rotating venues provide more than just a backdrop; they become integral to the intellectual inquiry, offering participants opportunities to engage directly with local urban conditions, architectural practices, and heritage politics. The conference structure typically includes thematic paper sessions, keynote lectures, roundtable discussions, and walking tours, all designed to foster dialogue and collaboration across cultural and disciplinary boundaries.

Over the past three decades, IASTE has maintained a distinctive ethos: it resists academic silos, encourages critical thinking, and upholds a commitment to inclusive discourse. The conference has served as a launchpad for emerging scholars and a gathering space for established voices in the field. Many of its past themes—such as “Beyond the Modern,” “Whose Tradition?,” and “Legitimating Tradition”—have anticipated and shaped broader debates in architecture, heritage conservation, and postcolonial urban theory.

IASTE’s strength lies in its ability to respond to contemporary global challenges while grounding its discussions in historical depth and cultural specificity. As the world faces increasing pressures from globalization, displacement, climate change, and political unrest, the association continues to ask: What does tradition mean in today’s cities? Who defines it, and for whom? How can the study of traditional environments inform more just, sustainable, and inclusive urban futures?

Now, 36 years after its founding, IASTE remains more relevant than ever. With the upcoming 2026 conference in Shanghai—a city where rapid urban development coexists with layered histories—the association invites a new generation of thinkers to explore the theme of “Translating Traditions.” As always, IASTE promises not just a conference, but a space for critical exchange, intellectual community, and a shared commitment to rethinking how tradition is lived, built, and imagined across the world.