Author Guidelines

1. General Requirements

SOU: Journal of Structure, Spatial Order and Urbanity in Architecture welcomes original research articles, review papers, and conceptual studies related to architecture, built environments, spatial studies, and urban development.

Authors are invited to submit manuscripts that contribute to the advancement of architectural knowledge, design practices, technological innovation, and sustainable built environments.

All submitted manuscripts must meet the following requirements:

  1. The manuscript must be original and must not have been previously published.

  2. The manuscript must not be under consideration for publication in another journal or publication.

  3. The manuscript must be relevant to the journal's focus and scope.

  4. The manuscript must be written in English or Indonesian.

  5. The manuscript must follow the journal's formatting and submission requirements.

  6. All authors must approve the submitted manuscript and agree to its submission to SOU.

2. Focus and Scope

SOU publishes scholarly works in the fields of architecture and the built environment, including but not limited to:

  • Architectural Design and Theory

  • Building Technology and Structures

  • Urban Design and Urban Studies

  • Spatial Planning and Spatial Organization

  • Sustainable Architecture and Green Buildings

  • Housing and Human Settlements

  • Architectural Heritage and Conservation

  • Landscape Architecture and Public Spaces

  • Digital Architecture and Emerging Technologies

  • Regional Architecture and Local Wisdom

  • Built Environment and Human Activities

Manuscripts addressing interdisciplinary perspectives related to architecture and urban development are also welcome.

3. Types of Manuscripts

SOU accepts the following types of manuscripts:

a. Original Research Articles

Articles presenting original research findings based on appropriate research methods, data analysis, and relevant theoretical frameworks.

b. Review Papers

Articles providing critical reviews, systematic reviews, or comprehensive discussions of existing literature on specific topics in architecture and related disciplines.

c. Conceptual Papers

Articles presenting theoretical discussions, conceptual frameworks, innovative ideas, or critical perspectives that contribute to the development of architectural knowledge and practice.

4. Manuscript Preparation

Authors must prepare their manuscripts using the official SOU Article Template.

Manuscripts should be submitted in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) format.

The manuscript should generally contain the following sections:

  1. Title: Concise, informative, and representative of the manuscript's content.

  2. Author Information: Full names of all authors, institutional affiliations, and corresponding author's email address. Author details should be entered in the OJS submission metadata.

  3. Abstract: A concise summary of the research background, objectives, methods, main findings, and conclusions.

  4. Keywords: Relevant terms representing the main topics of the manuscript.

  5. Introduction: Research background, problem statement, relevant literature, research gap, and objectives.

  6. Literature Review / Theoretical Framework: Relevant theories and previous studies supporting the research, where appropriate.

  7. Methods: Research design, data sources, procedures, and methods of analysis.

  8. Results and Discussion: Presentation and interpretation of research findings in relation to relevant literature and theoretical perspectives.

  9. Conclusion: Main findings, contributions, limitations, and recommendations where relevant.

  10. Acknowledgments: Recognition of individuals or institutions that contributed to the research, if applicable.

  11. References: Complete list of sources cited in the manuscript.

The manuscript structure may be adjusted according to the type and methodology of the research.

5. Abstract and Keywords

The abstract must provide a clear overview of the manuscript and should include the research objective, methodology, principal findings, and conclusion.

Authors should provide 3–5 keywords that accurately represent the main topics of the manuscript.

6. Tables, Figures, and Images

All tables, figures, diagrams, photographs, maps, and other visual materials must:

  • Be numbered consecutively according to their order of appearance.

  • Have clear and informative titles or captions.

  • Be referred to in the manuscript text.

  • Be of sufficient quality and resolution for publication.

  • Include appropriate source information when reproduced or adapted from other works.

Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to use copyrighted images, illustrations, maps, or other materials when required.

7. References and Citations

All sources cited in the manuscript must be included in the reference list, and all references listed must be cited in the manuscript.

Authors should use a consistent academic referencing style in accordance with the official SOU Article Template.

Authors are encouraged to use reference management software such as Mendeley, Zotero, or EndNote to manage citations and references.

Authors should prioritize relevant and reliable scholarly sources, including peer-reviewed journal articles and academic publications.

8. Ethical Considerations

Authors must ensure that their research and manuscripts comply with applicable publication ethics standards.

Authors are required to:

  • Submit original work and properly acknowledge all sources.

  • Avoid plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, and other forms of research misconduct.

  • Provide accurate information about authorship and contributions.

  • Disclose any potential conflicts of interest.

  • Obtain appropriate ethical approval and informed consent when research involves human participants, where applicable.

  • Acknowledge funding sources and other relevant support.

Any use of third-party materials must be appropriately cited and, where necessary, authorized.

9. Authorship

All individuals listed as authors must have made substantial scholarly contributions to the research or manuscript.

The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all authors have reviewed and approved the final manuscript before submission.

Changes to authorship after submission must be justified and approved by all affected authors, subject to editorial consideration.

10. Originality and Plagiarism

All submitted manuscripts must be original and free from plagiarism.

SOU may screen submitted manuscripts using plagiarism detection software or other appropriate similarity-checking tools.

Manuscripts containing unacceptable levels of similarity or evidence of publication misconduct may be rejected or handled in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policies.

11. Submission Procedure

Manuscripts must be submitted electronically through the SOU Open Journal Systems (OJS) website.

Authors are required to:

  1. Register for an author account or log in to an existing account.

  2. Select the manuscript submission menu.

  3. Complete the required submission information.

  4. Upload the manuscript file in Microsoft Word format.

  5. Enter the complete metadata, including the title, abstract, keywords, and author information.

  6. Upload supplementary files when applicable.

  7. Confirm the submission and complete the submission process.

Authors should ensure that all required information and files are provided before completing their submission.

12. Peer Review Process

All manuscripts submitted to SOU are subject to an initial editorial screening to assess their relevance, completeness, and compliance with the journal's requirements.

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening will proceed to the journal's peer review process in accordance with the applicable review policy.

The editorial decision may include acceptance, revision, or rejection.

13. Publication Frequency

SOU is published twice a year:

  • July (Issue 1)

  • December (Issue 2)

The journal may announce submission deadlines and publication schedules through its official website.

14. Copyright and Licensing

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their submissions do not violate the copyright or intellectual property rights of others.

The applicable copyright and licensing arrangements for published articles are determined by the journal's official copyright and licensing policies.

15. Article Template

Authors are strongly encouraged to use the official SOU Article Template when preparing their manuscripts.

The template provides the recommended manuscript structure, formatting, heading styles, tables, figures, citations, and reference presentation.

Download the official article template: ---

For further information regarding manuscript submission, authors may contact the SOU Editorial Office through the journal's official contact information.