The tropical belt comprises of large areas of South East Asia, Africa, India and parts of North and South America - it forms the largest landmass in the world and has one of the highest numbers of rapidly developing cities. Perhaps coincidentally, architecture in tropical regions share common problems of which the most easily identifiable is the tropical conditions of climate and natural environment. The context of architecture in these regions is rife with two opposing forces: tradition vs. modernization, massive influx of the rural poor into urban areas, poorly managed rapid urban development, as well as the cultural and social strains of globalization.
