Coastal landscape can be defined as a transition area in which land-meets-water as well as two sets of ecological or environmental characters coexist and interact with each other. Besides its ecological characteristics, the coastal landscape is considered a rich landscape for understanding changing lifeways (in terms of influx of migrants, formation of villages, topography and typology, living spaces in vernacular settlements, use of local materials, resilience to disasters) in relation to coastal resource management from the local perspectives. It is a dynamic area characterized by architectural features shaped by many factors. Therefore, built structures in coastal areas often reflect a strong connection to both land-based and maritime activities and traditions, shaping the social characteristics of the communities that live there. These structures, like port facilities, shipyards, and buildings adapted for fishing and trade, demonstrate a unique identity rooted in the coastal environment. Furthermore, coastal heritage in modern times can be instrumentalized to foster a sense of community, cultural identity, and even economic opportunities through productive landscapes, eco-cultural tourism, and related activities. 

Studying architecture in a coastal area offers unique opportunities and challenges to consider various, multi-disciplinary aspects including some of the major objectives such as 1. learning to design for coastal conditions from vernacular structures; 2. understanding the impact of pollution and climate change on coastal communities; 3. exploring innovative sustainable passive-design solutions; 4. appreciating the cultural and historical context of coastal architecture and landscape; 5. engaging with the natural beauty and recreational aspects of coastal environments and 6. evaluating the effectiveness of regenerative action-research initiatives. Therefore, in this special issue, we are looking for experiences from these participatory action research projects at various coastal locations give rise to debates on the approach in strategizing and implementing measures to address the dynamics in the communities, identify research opportunities and common interests, work towards regeneration of physical spaces and cultural values, and set forth multidisciplinary research on reviving traditional landscapes.