Reflection on modernism in contemporary Asian architectural thought: a study of the Architects Regional Council Asia's discourses

Purpose This study examines how Western-derived modernism was perceived and responded to within Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA), focusing on how these engagements contributed to regional identity in Asia and redefined local architectural knowledge within global discourse. Design/methodology/approach It hypothesises that modernism posed a cultural crisis in Asia and employs qualitative methods, including the KJ Method and Gradual Structuring Methods, to analyse 40 ARCASIA keynotes on “Reflection on Modernism” and refine the hypothesis. Findings The results show that modernism, rather than causing a cultural rupture, acted as a generative challenge that spurred critical reassessment and a reassertion of Asian identity. Although generally perceived negatively, modernism was viewed by ARCASIA architects as a formative force stimulating reflective engagement. They developed two interwoven trajectories: one reclaiming cultural identity and the other critically renewing modernist principles. These responses, manifested through ideological, theoretical, empirical, and pragmatic modes, converged into a conceptual framework grounded in cultural-regional and environmental-nature orientations. This framework re-conceptualises architectural knowledge in Asia as a hybrid field where modernist paradigms are reinterpreted through local epistemologies, positioning Asian architects as active agents in global modernity. Originality/value This study introduces new methodologies for analysing institutional architectural discourse and highlights ARCASIA architects' epistemic agency in critically reshaping modernism, showing how context-based epistemologies can inform diverse worldviews beyond the Western paradigm and contributing to global discussions on regionalism, identity, and architectural globalisation.