Architecture Engineers Award

Over the past few decades, architecture has been profoundly reshaped by unprecedented global transformations, including climate change, pandemics, natural disasters, escalating carbon emissions, and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. These forces have challenged traditional architectural thinking and raised critical questions about the preparedness of architects to design resilient buildings and cities. This study positions architecture within this evolving context and argues that a lack of comprehensive theoretical grounding limits the discipline’s ability to respond effectively to contemporary challenges. Conceptual Foundations of Architectural Theorization The paper begins by establishing a clear conceptual framework through an in-depth literature review. It defines and distinguishes between the notions of architectural trend , contemporary architectural trend , and theorization . By clarifying these foundational terms, the research sets the intellectual groundwork necess...

Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Architectural Design (AI4SAD) has emerged as a transformative force addressing global pressures such as resource depletion, climate vulnerabilities, and widening urban health disparities. As architecture shifts from experience-based to intelligence-driven methods, AI provides a powerful pathway toward evidence-based, optimized, and environmentally conscious design. This study synthesizes insights from 408 global publications to examine how AI contributes to sustainability goals across different stages of architectural design, revealing both the potential and challenges associated with its adoption. Global Spatiotemporal Landscape of AI4SAD A systematic review of existing literature highlights a rapidly expanding global research footprint, with notable growth over the past decade. The distribution of studies demonstrates significant geographical clustering, where technologically advanced regions contribute heavily to algorithmic development, whil...

Climate change has intensified the challenges associated with maintaining indoor–outdoor thermal comfort, prompting the need for advanced, data-driven design approaches. This study introduces an integrated framework combining Multiobjective optimization (MOO) and explainable machine learning (ML) to analyze how spatial morphology affects indoor–outdoor thermal comfort (IOTC). By merging global optimization capability with transparent interpretability, the framework supports climate-responsive architectural decision-making and delivers insights that improve both design quality and environmental performance. Multiobjective Optimization for Thermal Comfort The framework employs a genetic algorithm (GA)–based MOO model to optimize nine morphological parameters related to building and courtyard forms. These parameters serve as decision variables for the simultaneous optimization of predicted mean vote (PMV) and the universal thermal climate index (UTCI) during contrasting seasonal conditi...

The evolution of architectural design is increasingly shaped by computational tools that support complex form exploration and performance-driven decision-making. Traditional form-finding methods are often limited by the designer’s manual iteration speed and the inability of existing machine learning models to generate structurally coherent, user-guided architectural forms. Emerging techniques, such as Stable Diffusion and Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA), enable more efficient training and controlled generation of 3D morphological structures. By integrating heat-map-based geometry control with diffusion models, architects gain a powerful workflow for producing diverse design alternatives and achieving seamless transitions from conceptual forms to realistic renderings. This research situates itself within the broader framework of AI-assisted design and aims to expand the creative and technical capabilities of form-finding practices. Limitations of Existing Machine Learning Approaches in Form...

  Prepalatial architecture in Minoan Crete presents a compelling field of study due to its remarkable simplicity, diversity, and fragmentary preservation. The architectural remains of this period form a heterogeneous body of evidence that reflects multiple local traditions evolving independently. Traditional morphological or typological classifications have struggled to capture the essence of this early architectural landscape. Therefore, shifting focus toward design-based analysis offers a more insightful pathway. By examining spatial organization and structural logic, research can reveal patterns pointing to a more cohesive architectural identity than previously assumed. Diversity and Fragmentation in Prepalatial Architectural Remains The architectural remnants of Prepalatial Crete exhibit notable variability in size, form, and construction methods. This diversity, coupled with the fragmentary state of the material, has long complicated attempts to develop unified typologies....

Architecture is not just a static form but a living framework shaped by how people interact with it daily. To create meaningful and resilient spaces, architects are guided by core values such as sustainability, inclusion, and well-being. These ideals, however, come to life only through continuous interaction between design and use. Understanding this relationship requires more than technical skill—it demands a sensitivity to how built spaces evolve with human engagement over time. The Gap Between Design Intent and Use While architects aspire to design for people, research indicates that knowledge of how design translates into use often remains intuitive and unspoken. This gap results in a lack of explicit understanding of how architectural choices influence user behavior. By acknowledging this divide, architecture can move towards a more evidence-based approach that integrates feedback from real-world use into design thinking. Need for a Structured Vocabulary A major challenge lie...

Architectural plan types shape both the expression and the functional efficiency of a building, making them a central subject in architectural research. Traditional classifications often depend on personal experience or historical precedents, creating a fragmented understanding. This study revisits the foundations of architectural plan types and reconstructs them through a logical lens. By establishing a basic plan library derived from regular polygon systems and grid systems, the work proposes 18 universal plan types capable of generating complex forms. A preliminary evaluation method, using indicators such as concentration, symmetry, and complexity, helps analyse these plan types with greater precision. The study’s systematic framework supports design exploration across architecture, urban morphology, visual graphics, and product design. Logical Reconstruction of Plan Types This research proposes a logical pathway for rethinking architectural plan types by moving beyond subjective ...

 Building-integrated greening has emerged as an important sustainable strategy in urban design, combining environmental benefits with improved building performance. Despite extensive research on thermal comfort, energy efficiency, and urban heat mitigation, the aerodynamic effects of façade and rooftop greening remain less understood. Since wind behavior directly influences natural ventilation, pressure distribution, and air exchange in buildings, it is critical to investigate how vegetation layers interact with wind flow. This research highlights the need to evaluate the aerodynamic implications of green facades and roofs in order to ensure their effective and safe integration into architectural design. Wind Tunnel Experiments in Architectural Greening Wind tunnel testing provides a reliable method to analyze the aerodynamic effects of building-integrated greening. By simulating wind flow patterns across model structures with varying greening thicknesses and permeabilities, res...