I am an academic at the new vibrant School of Architecture, Design and Planning of the University of Queensland, Australia. I believe in the power of design to positively transform our built environment.I worked as an ESD designer and consultant internationally, and taught in tertiary institutions in Italy, Switzerland, Germany and New Zealand, before joining UQ, where I lead teaching and pioneering research in environmental design and advanced building technology with a focus on circular design for the built environment. My multidisciplinary expertise includes human centric and performance-based design for low to positive energy buildings and urban districts, circular design for adaptability and disassembly, hygrothermal performance of engineered timber in tropical climates, water sensitive urban design and flood resilience. Phone: +61426041867 Address: Zelman Cowen Building Jocks Rd
Space, a transient medium in cities , is an ever-evolving condition defined and bound by building... more Space, a transient medium in cities , is an ever-evolving condition defined and bound by buildings and their skin, a threshold between inside and outside. Since Modern architecture's notion of open limit-less space and its rendition of skin as ephemeral or curtain-like, how can space, and its skin, be interpreted differently today? Drawing on Kahn's servant and served space dichotomy, developed from an understanding of the poche, this chapter rethinks the building skin as a threshold, and explores it in spatial terms, in its production of multiple levels of interior-ity and spatial heterogeneity. By interrogating a series of exemplary projects by Aires Mateus, Peter Zumthor, and MVRDV, amongst others, this chapter explores different iterations of the notion of an in-habitable skin, where skins start to engage with the spatial articulation and complexity between buildings and the urban continuum, questioning common perceptions of in-teriority and exteriority, public and private.
International Journal of Sustainable Construction Engineering and Technology
The smart grid revolution has benefited many sectors but the potential for design optimization am... more The smart grid revolution has benefited many sectors but the potential for design optimization among residential units has yet to be explored. Despite some researchers having negative perception of house design's association with the smart grid system, there is in fact potential for investigating design attribute optimisation aligned with the smart grid system. As electricity becomes a necessity of the 21st century society, residential dwellers are becoming more dependent on this indispensable source of energy. As such, this paper explains the development of a framework focusing on design optimization for residential units aligned to the smart grid system using the Fuzzy Delphi Method approach. It focuses on the significant smart grid components linked to the residential sector incorporating key design attributes for energy optimization purposes. The proposed framework denoted two main components of residential design optimization, depicted as indoor and outdoor parameters with ...
ABSTRACT In present-day society, people spend 90% of their time in enclosed spaces, 30-40% in off... more ABSTRACT In present-day society, people spend 90% of their time in enclosed spaces, 30-40% in offices. Due to building regulations and requirements for labelling policies, the modern office building is seen as an "efficient machine", and energy consumption is becoming a central issue in the current architectural debate. However, also occupants' perception of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) should be verified. Therefore, new strategies for long-term building monitoring are required, focusing on human requirements and responses. The present study describes a methodology (RPM = Remote Performance Measurement) to evaluate IEQ (measured and perceived) and its effects on comfort and performance in intervention studies in real buildings. The procedure comprises measurements of environmental parameters and completion by occupants of on-line questionnaires. Performance is assessed by a new method that uses simulated office tasks. Questionnaires and tasks are administered via a standard internet web browser? The main objective of the research is the implementation and the validation of the method in field experiments. Thus, it was applied during the summer of 2004, in a case-control intervention study in a real office building, situated in Northern Italy. Measurements were carried out and questionnaires and performance tasks were completed prior to and after controlled modifications of specific HVAC system parameters, which affected thermal environment and IAQ. Physical measurements of comfort indexes in the monitored building indicate indoor thermal conditions within comfort limits (ISO 7730-94). Nevertheless people's complaints point out local problems of thermal discomfort. Evidence of how raising room temperature set-point negatively affects the performance of an addition task was found, confirming the results of previous studies, showing how indoor environment factors also affect occupants' symptoms and performance. Occupants' feed-back, problems and possible improvements of the methodology are discussed. Furthermore, results of comparisons with contemporaneous and subsequent research are presented.
10th International Conference on Healthy Buildings 2012, 2012
Air-leakage rates, indoor air quality and comfort of New Zealand houses built in the new millenni... more Air-leakage rates, indoor air quality and comfort of New Zealand houses built in the new millennium were surveyed, to assess whether recent upgrades of the New Zealand Building Code were effective in delivering outcomes in line with its aspirations. Results show that air-leakage rates are high by international comparison, yet the resulting indoor air quality is relatively poor. Thermal comfort is likewise characteristically at a very low level. This suggests that the Building Code is in need of more detailed quantification of benchmarks to promote healthy and energy efficient houses.
Abstract: The current housing stock in New Zealand is likely to constitute a significant portion ... more Abstract: The current housing stock in New Zealand is likely to constitute a significant portion of future stock, thus its retrofit provides a logical sustainable option to meet present and future environmental imperatives. Given the current scenario where the country has the ...
Space, a transient medium in cities , is an ever-evolving condition defined and bound by building... more Space, a transient medium in cities , is an ever-evolving condition defined and bound by buildings and their skin, a threshold between inside and outside. Since Modern architecture's notion of open limit-less space and its rendition of skin as ephemeral or curtain-like, how can space, and its skin, be interpreted differently today? Drawing on Kahn's servant and served space dichotomy, developed from an understanding of the poche, this chapter rethinks the building skin as a threshold, and explores it in spatial terms, in its production of multiple levels of interior-ity and spatial heterogeneity. By interrogating a series of exemplary projects by Aires Mateus, Peter Zumthor, and MVRDV, amongst others, this chapter explores different iterations of the notion of an in-habitable skin, where skins start to engage with the spatial articulation and complexity between buildings and the urban continuum, questioning common perceptions of in-teriority and exteriority, public and private.
International Journal of Sustainable Construction Engineering and Technology
The smart grid revolution has benefited many sectors but the potential for design optimization am... more The smart grid revolution has benefited many sectors but the potential for design optimization among residential units has yet to be explored. Despite some researchers having negative perception of house design's association with the smart grid system, there is in fact potential for investigating design attribute optimisation aligned with the smart grid system. As electricity becomes a necessity of the 21st century society, residential dwellers are becoming more dependent on this indispensable source of energy. As such, this paper explains the development of a framework focusing on design optimization for residential units aligned to the smart grid system using the Fuzzy Delphi Method approach. It focuses on the significant smart grid components linked to the residential sector incorporating key design attributes for energy optimization purposes. The proposed framework denoted two main components of residential design optimization, depicted as indoor and outdoor parameters with ...
ABSTRACT In present-day society, people spend 90% of their time in enclosed spaces, 30-40% in off... more ABSTRACT In present-day society, people spend 90% of their time in enclosed spaces, 30-40% in offices. Due to building regulations and requirements for labelling policies, the modern office building is seen as an "efficient machine", and energy consumption is becoming a central issue in the current architectural debate. However, also occupants' perception of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) should be verified. Therefore, new strategies for long-term building monitoring are required, focusing on human requirements and responses. The present study describes a methodology (RPM = Remote Performance Measurement) to evaluate IEQ (measured and perceived) and its effects on comfort and performance in intervention studies in real buildings. The procedure comprises measurements of environmental parameters and completion by occupants of on-line questionnaires. Performance is assessed by a new method that uses simulated office tasks. Questionnaires and tasks are administered via a standard internet web browser? The main objective of the research is the implementation and the validation of the method in field experiments. Thus, it was applied during the summer of 2004, in a case-control intervention study in a real office building, situated in Northern Italy. Measurements were carried out and questionnaires and performance tasks were completed prior to and after controlled modifications of specific HVAC system parameters, which affected thermal environment and IAQ. Physical measurements of comfort indexes in the monitored building indicate indoor thermal conditions within comfort limits (ISO 7730-94). Nevertheless people's complaints point out local problems of thermal discomfort. Evidence of how raising room temperature set-point negatively affects the performance of an addition task was found, confirming the results of previous studies, showing how indoor environment factors also affect occupants' symptoms and performance. Occupants' feed-back, problems and possible improvements of the methodology are discussed. Furthermore, results of comparisons with contemporaneous and subsequent research are presented.
10th International Conference on Healthy Buildings 2012, 2012
Air-leakage rates, indoor air quality and comfort of New Zealand houses built in the new millenni... more Air-leakage rates, indoor air quality and comfort of New Zealand houses built in the new millennium were surveyed, to assess whether recent upgrades of the New Zealand Building Code were effective in delivering outcomes in line with its aspirations. Results show that air-leakage rates are high by international comparison, yet the resulting indoor air quality is relatively poor. Thermal comfort is likewise characteristically at a very low level. This suggests that the Building Code is in need of more detailed quantification of benchmarks to promote healthy and energy efficient houses.
Abstract: The current housing stock in New Zealand is likely to constitute a significant portion ... more Abstract: The current housing stock in New Zealand is likely to constitute a significant portion of future stock, thus its retrofit provides a logical sustainable option to meet present and future environmental imperatives. Given the current scenario where the country has the ...
Conference: International Conference on Changing Cities III: Spatial, Design, Landscape & Socio-Economic dimensionsAt: Syros-Delos-Mykonos Islands, Greece, 2017
As a result of climate change, cities around the world need to adapt to extreme weather. Brisbane... more As a result of climate change, cities around the world need to adapt to extreme weather. Brisbane, Australian subtropical city in South East Queensland (SEQ), has witnessed numerous floods in its history. Most recently the city experienced severe drought for seven years prior to the devastating 2011 flood. Due to these threats, coupled with the rapid population rise-55,000 new comers annually-, the demand for liveable public space, resilient green infrastructure and sustainable urban development becomes more significant. Recent studies also demonstrate the need for a clear vision to better implement water sensitive urban design (WSUD) features in public spaces and buildings which are currently lacking in many of the city's local neighbourhood plans. This paper presents a water-potential-mapping methodology that uses Geographic Information System (GIS) as a tool to identify new design opportunities in response to Brisbane's increasing population and associated pressure for new urban development. Specifically, the study aims to foster ideas developed and implemented by the SEQ private sector which supports liveable and resilient small-lot infill development. In the light of this objective, the paper introduces a holistic approach to sustainable spatial planning and design, a practical procedure for the Brisbane City Council (BCC) to effectively mitigate the impact of flood and drought on urban development. The paper studies the Norman Creek catchment within the city boundary and presents exemplary urban analyses focusing on storm water, ground water, and open spaces. To frame the WSUD implications throughout the catchment, the paper considers specific water management strategies related to water surface movement (WSM), direct infiltration, filtration and Aquifer Storage and Recharge (ASR), and identifies suitable locations within the study area. Contaminated land parcels, slope, salinity, acid sulphate soil type, street and open space network data, and residential lots for each sub-catchment are mapped to inform WSM, and filtration strategies. The remaining areas qualify for direct infiltration as well as local water storage hot spots within the catchment for further design and planning purposes. This paper presents the first part of a larger study carried out at the University of Queensland's School of Architecture. It lays the groundwork to further analyse urban environmental quality of green-blue infrastructure's hot spots identified in this phase. Future research will then combine current findings with socioeconomic data to substantiate future development zones: this will support the priority plan of the BCC, guiding implementation strategies and new sustainable development within the catchment.
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