Editorial Guidelines

1- Editorial Guidelines for ArchUp Editors

About ArchUp

ArchUp is an independent bilingual platform for architecture, design, urbanism, construction, and the built environment.
It documents and preserves architectural knowledge as a comprehensive online archive — open to everyone connected to what gets built: architects, designers, engineers, contractors, developers, students, researchers, and anyone who cares about the spaces around them. ArchUp publishes in both English and Arabic for a global audience.

Our mission is to elevate architecture online by providing an accurate, neutral, and reliable resource that contributes to preserving architectural knowledge for future generations. Buildings may last 25 to 60 years physically, but through our platform, their stories and data can live much longer as part of a structured digital record.

We do not own the content related to news, competitions, or events. These materials are sourced externally, and our editorial responsibility lies in reviewing, rewriting, and publishing them in a manner that benefits readers without advertising intent. As part of this shared effort, offices and contributors whose work we feature are kindly asked to link back to ArchUp from their official website — a small gesture that strengthens the architectural record we build together. ArchUp operates as a public archive that serves society with verified, informative, and clearly labeled content.

Since our inception, ArchUp has grown organically without relying on paid ads inside editorial articles. This reflects our commitment to user comfort and editorial purity. Our primary focus is the website itself as the main publishing channel, while social media plays a secondary, supportive role.

Editorial Approach

At ArchUp, editorial work follows a structured methodology that ensures clarity, neutrality, and lasting value in every article. Editors should treat every piece as part of the long term architectural archive, not as a short term news item.

• Source Verification: All external content, such as press releases, announcements, and competition briefs, must be verified, reformulated, and published with informational value, never as direct advertising.
• Architectural Documentation: Articles must present architecture in a way that transforms physical structures into enduring digital records. This includes essential visual material, key technical data, and clear contextual framing.
• Tiered Language: ArchUp uses a tiered approach to language. News and Projects are written in clear, simple, accessible language for a general audience. Editorial Insight and signed analytical essays carry deeper, more critical language. Editors must match the language level to the content stream, and never write a simple news item in dense academic prose.
• Bilingual Publishing: Whenever possible, articles should be available in both Arabic and English. If one language is delayed, editors should plan to complete the second version as part of the publishing workflow.
• Editorial Neutrality: The tone must remain informative and neutral. We do not exaggerate, promote, or endorse projects, firms, or brands. We describe and analyze architecture without adopting marketing language.
• Architectural Critique: Criticism is a core part of our identity. When appropriate, editors are encouraged to add an analytical layer that addresses spatial quality, materials, urban impact, social relevance, and environmental performance. Critique must be respectful, evidence based, and focused on architecture, not individuals.
• Internal Linking: All articles should reference related content within ArchUp to guide readers and reinforce topic classification. Editors should link to relevant sections such as Architecture, Cities, Design, Projects, Building Materials, and Research.

Content Streams and Labels

To maintain clarity for readers and search engines, ArchUp content is organized into distinct streams. Each stream has its own purpose, expectations, and labeling rules.

• ✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight: In depth architectural criticism and editorial analysis produced by our team. These articles combine research, AI assisted investigation, and human expertise to expose projects, events, or phenomena to real architectural critique. This stream represents the highest editorial layer on ArchUp and carries the deepest analytical language.
• News and Feeds: Shorter, time sensitive updates from agencies, offices, and institutions, written in clear and simple language for a broad audience. Editors rewrite and verify these pieces to serve as part of the long term digital record, not as promotional announcements.
• Submitted Projects: Projects provided directly by architects or firms. Editors review them for clarity, relevance, and documentation value, then publish them with proper credits as part of the building’s timeline.
• Guest Voices: Contributions from professionals, academics, and researchers. These must be original, non promotional, and knowledge driven. They are edited to fit ArchUp’s tone and standards.
• Sponsored Content (AD): Paid material that supports the platform financially. It follows a separate workflow, uses a distinct layout, and is always labeled clearly as “Sponsored Content” and tagged under AD. Sponsored content never influences editorial decisions, and guest submissions that are primarily promotional are processed under this stream.

Editorial Review Process

Every item published on ArchUp passes through editorial review. No content is auto published and no article should appear without a responsible editor.

• Verification: Editors confirm basic facts such as project names, locations, dates, and authorship. When in doubt, they request clarification or supporting references.
• Rewriting and Context: Raw material from press releases or submissions is rewritten to remove marketing language and to add missing context. The goal is to inform, not to advertise.
• Consistency and Formatting: Text, headings, images, captions, credits, and internal links are checked against ArchUp’s standards. Articles should be easy to read, well structured, and aligned with the rest of the platform.
• Analytical Layer: Whenever possible, editors add an analytical or critical note that helps readers understand why the project or topic matters. This can be part of the main body or within the ✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight framework.
• Final Check: Before publishing, editors read the article in full, check links and images, and ensure that the piece respects neutrality, accuracy, and ArchUp’s editorial principles.

Editor Code of Conduct

• Confidentiality: Editors must not share internal data, website settings, or publication workflows with third parties.
• No Unauthorized External Communication: Editors do not represent ArchUp in private arrangements. All communication with offices, firms, or institutions goes through official channels or designated management.
• No Public Disclosure of Editorial Role: Editors should not use their role at ArchUp for personal gain, nor receive content directly through private contacts in a way that bypasses official processes.
• Content Responsibility: Each editor is accountable for the accuracy and integrity of the content they publish. Mistakes must be corrected promptly.
• Data Ethics: Editors must not embed tracking links, scripts, or promotional backlinks within articles. Any special tracking must be approved and implemented by the technical team.
• Conflict of Interest: Editors must avoid handling content where they have direct personal or commercial interest. Such items should be reassigned to another editor.

Category Guidelines

Below is a summary of each category with a brief description and expected content type. Editors must adhere to these guidelines when categorizing articles. Each category link contributes to SEO optimization by reinforcing thematic consistency.

Role of the Editorial Board

• Review and validate submitted content for quality, relevance, and compliance with this guideline.
• Ensure technical and structural consistency in formatting, category selection, and internal linking.
• Coordinate with the technical support team for publication requirements, performance, and user experience.
• Communicate with contributors for clarification, missing data, or improvements to the submitted material.
• Monitor content across the platform for thematic accuracy, removing or editing material that conflicts with ArchUp’s principles.
• Maintain ArchUp’s editorial tone, public integrity, and clear separation between editorial and sponsored content.

Corrections & Updates

ArchUp treats the platform as a living archive. Corrections and updates are part of our responsibility toward accuracy and public trust, and apply to both editors and external contributors.

• Mandatory Corrections: Documented factual errors such as incorrect project names, locations, dates, client names, or technical data must be corrected promptly once verified.
• Editorial Judgment: Requests to change tone, add praise, emphasize or remove names, or shift the angle of an article are optional and subject to editorial decision. The editor may accept or decline such requests to protect editorial independence.
• Additional Material: Updated images or project data can be integrated if they add genuine value and maintain consistency with the original article.
• Official Channel: For all readers and contributors — corrections, updates, or additional information should be submitted through the comment section at the bottom of the article. This is our official channel for handling revision requests, ensuring transparency, documentation, and proper editorial review. Supporting references, such as official websites, press releases, or technical sheets, help editors assess the request.
• Attribution: Offices and institutions are encouraged to link back to ArchUp as the original source when they reference our coverage. This supports transparency and strengthens the integrity of the wider architectural record.

2- Publication Guidelines for Contributors and Content Owners

Who Can Submit to ArchUp

ArchUp welcomes submissions from architects, designers, engineers, researchers, students, institutions, competition organizers, and cultural entities working in the built environment. The key requirement is that the material contributes real architectural value, not just visibility.

Submitting content does not guarantee publication. All material is subject to editorial review, and acceptance depends on clarity, relevance, and alignment with ArchUp’s mission and standards. As part of our shared documentation effort, featured offices and contributors are kindly asked to link back to ArchUp from their official website once their work is published.

What We Publish

We consider the following types of submissions for editorial coverage:

• Architectural projects at any scale, from small interiors to large urban interventions, provided they carry a clear concept, technical clarity, or urban significance.
• Research based articles and essays that explore materials, construction methods, urban phenomena, or design theory.
• Competition announcements and results, especially those with public impact or innovative briefs.
• Event information, such as exhibitions, lectures, conferences, and workshops related to architecture and cities.
• Guest opinion or reflective pieces, if they are analytical and grounded in experience rather than purely personal promotion.

Purely promotional content, brand catalogues, or texts whose main purpose is self presentation rather than architectural knowledge may be redirected to Sponsored Content options.

Technical Submission Requirements

To help our editors work efficiently and to maintain high quality, contributors are requested to follow these basic technical requirements:

• Text File: Submit the main text in an editable format such as Word (.docx) or similar. PDF files are accepted only as reference and cannot replace an editable text file.
• Language: You may submit in Arabic or English. Bilingual submissions are welcome but not required. Editors may translate or adapt the text as needed.
• Images: Provide high quality images in JPG or PNG format, preferably at least 2000 pixels on the long edge when possible. Include floor plans, sections, diagrams, and site photos when relevant.
• Captions and Credits: Each image should have a short caption and a clear credit line (for example: Architect, Photographer, Office, or Institution). Indicate if there are any copyright restrictions.
• Project Data: Include basic project information such as project name, location, year, client type, main program, approximate area, and key materials or systems used.
• Contact Information: Provide a clear contact person and official email address, ideally from a verified domain associated with the office or institution.

Incomplete submissions may be delayed or declined if editors are unable to verify or properly document the project.

Rights, Credits, and Responsibilities

By submitting content to ArchUp, contributors confirm that they have the right to share the material and that all credits provided are accurate to the best of their knowledge.

• Contributors remain the owners of their original work, but grant ArchUp the right to publish, edit, and archive it on the platform.
• Editors may adjust titles, structure, and language for clarity, neutrality, and consistency with ArchUp’s standards.
• ArchUp does not guarantee that submissions will appear unchanged. The editorial team retains the right to adapt content.
• If serious issues arise regarding rights, credits, or ownership, ArchUp may temporarily remove or revise content until the matter is clarified.

Sponsored Content and Guest Articles

ArchUp offers two different paths for external contributors:

• Guest Articles: Knowledge based contributions selected for their architectural value. They must follow editorial tone, contain no hidden promotional backlinks, and any promotional element will be removed or adapted by the editors.
• Sponsored Content: Paid features designed for promotion. These are processed through clear agreements, use a different layout, and are always labeled as “Sponsored Content” or “AD”. They do not influence editorial coverage.

Contributors who mainly seek promotion or brand exposure should discuss Sponsored Content options through our Contact Page.

Final Notes

This editorial guideline is both a quality standard and a trust framework. It protects readers, contributors, and the integrity of the architectural record we are building together.

By documenting architecture with care, neutrality, structure, and a consistent critical lens, ArchUp aims to preserve the meaning of the built environment far beyond its physical lifespan.