Dr. Hazwan Ariff Hakimi is an architect and academic specialising in architectural history, theory, and philosophy, with a sustained research focus on architectural and cultural heritage and Islamic art and architecture. He holds a PhD in Architecture from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Graduate on Time with Excellent Thesis) and a Master of Arts in Architectural History (Distinction) from The Bartlett, University College London. His academic training reflects a strong commitment to critical historiography, theoretical inquiry, and interdisciplinary scholarship. Dr. Hazwan’s research investigates architecture as a spiritual, cultural, and ethical practice, with particular attention to Islamic and non-Western contexts. Through peer-reviewed journal articles, scholarly book chapters, and conference publications, his work advances contemporary debates on meaning, memory, and continuity in the built environment. In teaching, Dr. Hazwan plays an active role in shaping architectural education at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He encourages students to integrate theoretical reflection, historical understanding, and cultural sensitivity into architectural thinking and design practice, foregrounding intellectual coherence across theory, research, and studio work, and fostering critical inquiry and scholarly rigour. Alongside his academic career, Dr. Hazwan has professional experience as a design architect, with contributions to projects including Rica Residence in Kuala Lumpur and City International Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. He is a registered member of the Board of Architects Malaysia (LAM), the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM), the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), and the Historians of Islamic Art Association (HIAA). He also serves in editorial, reviewing, and academic service roles, reflecting his commitment to advancing architectural scholarship and supporting the next generation of researchers. Dr. Hazwan actively welcomes research collaborations and postgraduate supervision in architectural history, theory, and philosophy, architectural and cultural heritage, and Islamic art and architecture. His ongoing work seeks to bridge philosophy and practice, tradition and modernity, and theory and place, contributing to an architectural discourse that is historically grounded, culturally attuned, and intellectually rigorous.