The School of Architecture, Planning and Policy Development, Institute of Technology Bandung, is pleased to present the Proceeding of HABITechno International Seminar, held in the Institute of Technology Bandung campus, Bandung, 11 November, 2013. This is the first HABITechno seminar, and we plan to hold the seminar every two year.

This seminar has a focus to discuss and gather knowledge on the technological innovations that can respond to the contemporary challenges in the development of housing and human settlements, particularly for the low-income in the developing world. The word “technology” used in this seminar, and as well as for future HABITechno Seminars, has a wide definition. It ranges from “hard technologies” (e.g., appropriate building technology) to “soft technologies” (e.g., institutional setting) for a more sustainable housing and human settlement development.

Between the 1970s and 1990s attention was intensively given for the development of housing and human settlement in the developing world. Between these periods, there were numerous innovative ideas and concept on housing and human settlement development for the low-income in developing countries. However, the world has changed ever since and so have the challenges as well as problems in the development of housing and human settlements. The rapid rate of urbanization in the present era has brought challenges for the developing world to provide housing in an increasing rate, affordable to the target population, and in a quality that can sustain, at least, a decent life.

In current decades, the information era and the democratization processes in many countries of the world have also given challenges in housing provision and settlement development because of rapid changes in the socio-cultural conditions of the people to be housed. These conditions have changed people’s needs, preferences, responses, and perceptions or views towards their housing and living environment.

Also becomes challenge of the present era is the “man-made” and natural disasters that become a threat to human beings because of rapid population growth. Disasters have occurred because of competition amongst people and between people and nature to find space for their respective life. Most of disasters affect low-income people in developing countries because of weaknesses in the technology and regulations for their mitigation.

The various challenges stated above need to be faced and positively responded toward more sustainable development of housing and human settlements. HABITechno seminar becomes part of these responses and addresses topics related to housing and settlement, focusing on innovations in the concepts, solutions, and technical aspects related to the soft and hard technologies in housing and human settlements development.

In this international seminar, the academic communities, from universities and other research institutions as well as from various disciplines, have been invited to discuss the response to challenges in the development of housing and human settlement based on academic research and to share knowledge with others. Since HABITechno seminar will be held regularly, in the future it is planned that through this seminar a network between academicians and practitioners can be established to develop knowledge on the technological innovations in housing and human settlement development and to implement their application.

In this publication, papers are compiled to provide an insight for reflection and sharing the result of researches and best practices.

We would like to express our thanks and appreciation to all presenters, participants, the members of scientific committee, the members of advisory board, and sponsors as well as our colleagues for their contributions in this seminar.

We hope that this seminar can be fruitful to all involved, and give intellectually engaging knowledge to the participants.

We look forward to meeting you all again in our next HABITechno seminar.

The Committee
HABITechno International Seminar