Digital fabrication technologies: analysing patterns of adoption and innovative transformations in architectural design and practice. This project on adoption of digital fabrication technologies by Australian architecture practices will reveal emerging opportunities for creative design and associated transformations in the design practices. These outcomes will enable the increasingly globalising sector of architectural design services to become more agile and innovative.
The Analects of Antoni Gaudí. This project aims to investigate and record the missing dimensions of Antoni Gaudí's theoretical position and his way of working. Gaudí (1852-1926) is one of the most important figures in world architecture and a major shaper of modern culture, but wrote nothing on his theory or practice of architecture. Given its holism, aesthetic, structural and artistic richness, this is a problem for scholars. Work to complete the Sagrada Família, a living laboratory of conspicu ....The Analects of Antoni Gaudí. This project aims to investigate and record the missing dimensions of Antoni Gaudí's theoretical position and his way of working. Gaudí (1852-1926) is one of the most important figures in world architecture and a major shaper of modern culture, but wrote nothing on his theory or practice of architecture. Given its holism, aesthetic, structural and artistic richness, this is a problem for scholars. Work to complete the Sagrada Família, a living laboratory of conspicuously innovative architecture, is entering its final stages with anticipated completion in 2026. This presents a last opportunity to capture, interpret and disseminate Gaudí’s thoughts and analects for dissemination to the next generation of architects.Read moreRead less
Ontology-based collaboration in design. The design process of a building project establishes function, form and performance for the final building. When multiple participants from varying professions are involved there is a serious problem in coordinating, communicating, and locating information around each design decision. Establishing an ontology for this process, and using this ontology to structure all participant communication, will allow the requisite information from all participants to b ....Ontology-based collaboration in design. The design process of a building project establishes function, form and performance for the final building. When multiple participants from varying professions are involved there is a serious problem in coordinating, communicating, and locating information around each design decision. Establishing an ontology for this process, and using this ontology to structure all participant communication, will allow the requisite information from all participants to be considered for each design decision. This will greatly reduce rework and poor design decisions based on missed information. It will also ensure that participants are aware of all related information for their particular design tasks.Read moreRead less
Demonstrating the feasibility of designing sustainable buildings using evolutionary systems. The design approach proposed in this research will result in two key areas of national benefit. First, the research will enable Australian built environment design professions to become more competitive in both domestic and international markets. There is a growing demand for environmentally-friendly buildings and the proposed design approach will enable Australian firms to be at the cutting edge of sust ....Demonstrating the feasibility of designing sustainable buildings using evolutionary systems. The design approach proposed in this research will result in two key areas of national benefit. First, the research will enable Australian built environment design professions to become more competitive in both domestic and international markets. There is a growing demand for environmentally-friendly buildings and the proposed design approach will enable Australian firms to be at the cutting edge of sustainable design. Second, the research will enable the Australian built environment to become more sustainable. The proposed approach will enable buildings to be designed that perform well, that are cost effective and that minimise their environmental impact. Read moreRead less
Ethics and aesthetics as criteria for innovation: A design research study of biological art and digital architecture. The project will contribute to the goal of promoting innovation in three areas. First, the project will amplify Australia's individual strengths in biological art and digital architecture by creating a network of artists and designers in which each discipline is stimulated by the concerns and practices of the other. Second, the project will explain innovation in such networks, by ....Ethics and aesthetics as criteria for innovation: A design research study of biological art and digital architecture. The project will contribute to the goal of promoting innovation in three areas. First, the project will amplify Australia's individual strengths in biological art and digital architecture by creating a network of artists and designers in which each discipline is stimulated by the concerns and practices of the other. Second, the project will explain innovation in such networks, by identifying activities that lead to innovation. Such an explanation will improve the nation's capacity to promote innovation in targeted fields. Third, the project will test and develop collaboration tools designed to support the activities identified as leading to innovation, as information technology is a primary enabler for operating across such networks.
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Facilitating intuitive interaction with complex devices for older users. Poorly designed interfaces impact more strongly on older people. Helping designers to make more intuitive interfaces for older community members has great potential for improving their lives and health, and thus benefiting the community generally. Making modern devices easier for older people to use will allow them to participate more fully in society and/or the workplace. This will also help to prevent them from becoming i ....Facilitating intuitive interaction with complex devices for older users. Poorly designed interfaces impact more strongly on older people. Helping designers to make more intuitive interfaces for older community members has great potential for improving their lives and health, and thus benefiting the community generally. Making modern devices easier for older people to use will allow them to participate more fully in society and/or the workplace. This will also help to prevent them from becoming isolated and possibly depressed. This project will apply intuitive interaction to healthcare devices that older people use, which can save costly mistakes and even lives.Read moreRead less
Gesture-controlled interaction to enrich information access. This project is a study of gestural computing (enabled by sensors such as pressure mats, infra-red sensors and video tracking) which aims to move away from desk-bound, restrictive computing environments and towards computing that is more integral to the building structure and space itself. Linking gesture controllers and information sonification delivers a unique bridge between data and human interaction. Enriching the capacity to acce ....Gesture-controlled interaction to enrich information access. This project is a study of gestural computing (enabled by sensors such as pressure mats, infra-red sensors and video tracking) which aims to move away from desk-bound, restrictive computing environments and towards computing that is more integral to the building structure and space itself. Linking gesture controllers and information sonification delivers a unique bridge between data and human interaction. Enriching the capacity to access information in dense workplace environments is central to improved efficiency across the Australian workforce. Greater accuracy and enhanced techniques for controlling information in visually-overloaded work environments contribute to Australia's competitive leadership in a global marketplace.Read moreRead less
Intelligent Agents for Concept Invention of Design Forms. Concept invention refers to the act of discovering new concepts for the first time. Concept invention may require a new interpretation and a shift in intentional mode that motivates new mappings of the situation prior to the discovery of a new concept. This project is concerned with developing intelligent design agents that are capable of inventing creative concepts of design forms, shapes and compositions while involved in the design pr ....Intelligent Agents for Concept Invention of Design Forms. Concept invention refers to the act of discovering new concepts for the first time. Concept invention may require a new interpretation and a shift in intentional mode that motivates new mappings of the situation prior to the discovery of a new concept. This project is concerned with developing intelligent design agents that are capable of inventing creative concepts of design forms, shapes and compositions while involved in the design process. A new approach of exploiting the notion of displacement of concepts with regard to concept invention in designing will be adopted and utilised in developing the structure of intelligent agents.Read moreRead less
Acts of electronic negotiation: Overcoming communication barriers to transdisciplinary innovation in design. Improved collaboration between the diverse contributors to design in the construction industry is urgently needed to reduce waste, streamline production and improve performance. It is also a key to better and more advanced design. The quality of human to human interaction in computer mediated environments is critical to the occurrence of innovation between design disciplines. This project ....Acts of electronic negotiation: Overcoming communication barriers to transdisciplinary innovation in design. Improved collaboration between the diverse contributors to design in the construction industry is urgently needed to reduce waste, streamline production and improve performance. It is also a key to better and more advanced design. The quality of human to human interaction in computer mediated environments is critical to the occurrence of innovation between design disciplines. This project will create a pool of highly qualified personnel in this area in Australia, including participating designers introduced to novel empowering approaches to network communication. It will develop and apply knowledge from other disciplines to developing tools for the design community. Read moreRead less
Teimu (The Garden of Dreams): aural and aesthetic attributes of Japanese gardens as models for spatial environments. Traditional Japanese garden design has greatly influenced both 20C Western landscape designers and composers of Western art music. By investigating the aural and aesthetic attributes of five renowned Japanese gardens, RMIT and University of Melbourne researchers will seek out spatial sound designs that could enhance sound quality in urban environments and provide a pioneering app ....Teimu (The Garden of Dreams): aural and aesthetic attributes of Japanese gardens as models for spatial environments. Traditional Japanese garden design has greatly influenced both 20C Western landscape designers and composers of Western art music. By investigating the aural and aesthetic attributes of five renowned Japanese gardens, RMIT and University of Melbourne researchers will seek out spatial sound designs that could enhance sound quality in urban environments and provide a pioneering approach to architectural modeling and the built environment. This project has long-term cross-disciplinary implications. The results and methods contained in this project may assist in innovative sound design for new media applications, better listening environments in urban areas, unique approaches for data modeling, and a catalyst for future design strategies.Read moreRead less