Conference theme: Circular Intelligence
Date: 8–10 July 2026
Location: School of Built Environment, UNSW Sydney, Australia
Hosted by: Arch_Manu ARC Centre for Next-Gen Architectural Manufacturing, UNSW Sydney
For the first time, the CDRF2026 International Conference on Computational Design and Robotic Fabrication (CDRF2026) comes to Australia. Join us at UNSW Sydney for three days of research presentations, keynote talks, masterclasses, industry exchange, and international discussion on the future of circular, digitally enabled and robotically fabricated built environments.
The architecture, engineering and construction sector is undergoing a dual transformation: the shift towards digitalisation and the urgent transition towards circularity. Yet the integration of these two agendas remains at an early stage.
As one of the largest contributors to global carbon emissions, the built environment sector faces mounting pressure to reduce environmental impact, improve productivity and respond to workforce and supply chain challenges. These issues are intensified by industry fragmentation and the limited pathways available for research-led innovation.
Under the theme Circular Intelligence, CDRF2026 invites researchers, designers, engineers, technologists, fabricators and industry partners to explore how computational design, digital technologies, robotics and advanced manufacturing can support a circular transformation of the built environment.
Hosted by the ARC Centre for Next-Gen Architectural Manufacturing (Arch_Manu) at UNSW Sydney, CDRF2026 brings together an international community to exchange knowledge, prototype ideas and shape the next frontier of a digitally enabled, regenerative construction future.
CDRF2026 is hosted by the ARC Centre for Next-Gen Architectural Manufacturing, Arch_Manu ITTC, at UNSW Sydney. Arch_Manu brings together researchers, industry partners and institutions to advance next-generation architectural manufacturing through computational design, robotics, digital fabrication, advanced materials and future construction systems.
CDRF2026 would like to acknowledge and thank all of our sponsors that made this conference possible.
CDRF2026 acknowledges the Bedegal people, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which UNSW Kensington campus is located. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples joining the conference.
Prof M. Hank Haeusler, UNSW Sydney
Dr Ivana Kuzmanovska, UNSW Sydney
Dr Dingwen "Nic" Bao, RMIT University
Prof Blair Kuys, Swinburne University of Technology
Prof Jane Burry, Adelaide University
Prof Mark Burry, Swinburne University of Technology
Prof Hank Haeusler, UNSW Sydney
Dr Ivana Kuzmanovska, UNSW Sydney
Dr Christopher Bamborough, UNSW Sydney
Dr Dingwen "Nic" Bao, RMIT University
Dr Yige Liu, Tongji University
Prof Philip Yuan, Tongji University
Dr Geoff Kimm, Swinburne University of Technology
Dr Farnaz Fattahi, UNSW Sydney
Circular Intelligence asks how digital and circular design practices can come together to reshape the way buildings, materials, systems and construction processes are imagined, produced, used, disassembled and reused.
The conference welcomes research across architecture, computational design, robotic fabrication, digital construction, artificial intelligence, extended reality, data-informed design, advanced manufacturing and circular systems thinking.
CDRF2026 focuses on three interconnected areas:
Research exploring data analytics for design decision-making, the reuse of data from past projects, automation for sustainability outcomes, digital twins, AI, machine learning, IoT, VR, AR and MR in support of circular design transformation.
Research addressing digitally augmented design-to-manufacture processes, computational approaches to low-carbon and climate-positive construction, Modern Methods of Construction, additive and subtractive manufacturing, circular and bio-based materials, robotic deconstruction, disassembly and human-machine collaboration.
Research examining future scenarios, circular collaboration, sector-wide workflows, resilient business models for architecture, engineering, construction and operation, and the future of architectural education and training.
CDRF2026 brings together leading international voices in computational design, artificial intelligence, circular construction, architecture, robotics and digital fabrication. Each keynote will be offered as a formal CPD activity (1 point) for registered architects.
Prof Christiane M. Herr
The Edge of Architecture
Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen
Prof Christiane M. Herr is a professor and researcher working across architectural design, ecological design, advanced façade technologies and digitally supported design. Her work connects design research, education and cross-disciplinary collaboration in response to complex environmental and technological challenges.
Tickets & more informationDr Sue Keay
Governing AI by Design
Director, UNSW AI Institute
Dr Sue Keay is a leader in robotics, artificial intelligence and automation. As Director of the UNSW AI Institute, her work supports the responsible development and application of emerging technologies across research, industry and society.
Tickets & more informationProf Achim Menges
Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Transformative Architecture
University of Stuttgart
Prof Achim Menges is a registered architect and professor at the University of Stuttgart, where he is the founding director of the Institute for Computational Design and Construction. His internationally recognised work explores computational design, robotic fabrication, material systems and integrative construction methods.
Tickets & more informationKathlyn Loseby
Creating an Industry Academic Nexus to Tackle Urgent, Systemic Challenges in the ADE Industry
ADEIC
Kathlyn Loseby is an architectural leader with extensive experience across practice, professional advocacy and the built environment. Further speaker details will be announced shortly.
Tickets & more informationProf Philip F. Yuan
Mind and Matter: Circular Intelligence in Physical AI for Architecture
Tongji University, Shanghai
Prof Philip F. Yuan is a leading scholar and practitioner in computational design and robotic fabrication. He is Professor and Dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at Tongji University and a key figure in the DigitalFUTURES community.
Tickets & more informationThe DigitalFUTURES 2026 Masterclass program invites participants into hands-on experimentation at the intersection of computational design, circular construction and emerging digital fabrication workflows. Across a series of practical workshops, participants will explore 3D scanning for adaptive reuse and low-carbon documentation, robotic timber fabrication using industrial and collaborative robots, 3D concrete printing design through the Lamina platform, and Polyhedral Graphic Statics for structurally informed tensile and fabric-based structures. Together, these sessions translate the conference theme of Circular Intelligence into applied design methods, demonstrating how digital tools can support more resource-efficient, adaptable and materially aware approaches to the built environment.
The program also introduces emerging design-to-construction workflows using augmented reality-assisted assembly, AI-enabled BIM management and Model Context Protocol connections between large language models and building information modelling software. Participants will work with tools and platforms such as Rhino, Grasshopper, HoloLens, Archicad and Claude to investigate model validation, robotic sequencing, digital-to-physical coordination, information quality control and data-informed decision-making. Designed for researchers, students, designers, architects and technologists, the masterclasses offer a practical environment to test ideas, build new skills and engage directly with the technologies shaping the future of circular architectural practice.
All masterclasses will be linked to the workflows involved in developing and delivering the CDRF2026 Demonstrator structure, which will be on display during the conference. Each masterclass will offer 3 formal CPD points for registered architects.
Developing Design and Fabrication Strategies and Interfaces for Robotic Timber Machining
Tickets & informationWhen AI Talks to Archicad: AI-Powered BIM Management, Model Checking, and Compliance
Tickets & informationThe CDRF2026 program includes keynote presentations, peer-reviewed paper sessions, masterclasses, research discussions, networking events and the closing awards event.
Click map to enlarge
All keynote and paper presentation sessions will be held at UNSW Sydney Kensington campus, in the Anita B Lawrence Centre (West Wing)
| Wednesday 8 July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| 8.30–9.00am | Masterclasses Registration |
| 9.00am–12.00pm |
MasterclassesMC02: Developing Design and Fabrication Strategies and Interfaces for Robotic Timber Machining (held at USYD) Register →
MC03: From Concept to Contour: A Hands-On LFAM Studio Register →
MC04: Lamina — 3D Concrete Printing Framework and Software for Architecture Register →
|
| 12.00–1.30pm | Lunch |
| 1.30–4.30pm |
MasterclassesMC01: 3D Scanning for Circular Design Workflows Register →
MC05: Structural Form Finding for Circular Skin Design Register →
MC06: Augmented Reality-Assisted Assembly for Complex Architectural Structures Register →
MC07: When AI Talks to Archicad: AI-Powered BIM Management, Model Checking, and Compliance Register →
|
| 4.30–5.30pm | CDRF2026 Registration / Welcome Drinks |
| 5.30–6.30pm | Opening Ceremony |
| 6.30–8.00pm | Keynote: Prof Christiane Herr — The Edge of Architecture Tickets → |
| Thursday 9 July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| 8.30–9.00am | Registration |
| 9.00–10.30am | Keynote: Dr Sue Keay — Governing AI by Design Tickets → |
| 10.30–11.00am | Morning break |
| 11.00–12.30pm |
Paper Presentation SessionsA01
AI Extraction for Building Appraisal Chair: Daniel Yu Rethinking Functional Mix in Circular Design: AI-Based Measurement at the Building Floor Scale
Circling Back: An AI-Driven Architectural Drawing Data Extraction Workflow as an Enabling Step Toward Circular Design and Material Reuse
Facades as Blueprints: Citizen-Driven Spatial Layout Inference for Circular Material Intelligence in Urban Villages
B01
Fabrication of Complex Curved Components Chair: Charlotte Firth A Robotic Fabrication of Double-curved Cladding System: Integrating Digital Timber Construction and 3D-Printed Ceramics
Reusable 2D Textile Formwork Using Stiffness-Zone Stitching for Thin Concrete Shell Components
Reusable Adaptive Formwork and Non-Fired Earthen Panels for Circular Fabrication of Double-Curved Façade Geometry
C01
Bio-Based Material Fabrication Design Chair: Mehrnoush Latifi CelluMorph: 4D-Printing of a Biodegradable Cellulosic Material System
Designing for Buildability: Toolpath and Environmental Constraints in Robotic 3D Printing of Recycled Wood–Mycelium Mixtures
Architectural-scale Mycelium Construction: A 2-Meter Pillar with Hierarchical Biological Bonding and Integrated Reinforcement
|
| 12.30–1.30pm | Lunch |
| 1.30–3.00pm |
Paper Presentation SessionsA02
Graph-Based Relational Modelling Chair: Yige Liu Material-Driven Digital Generation of Bamboo Joints Based on Graphic Statics
Graph-Based BIM Data Parsing and Design Changes Identification
Graph-Based Generative Design of Mortise-and-Tenon Joints in Timber Structures
B02
Robotic Assembly Under Constraints Chair: Nic Bao ERTT: A Circular-Intelligence Framework for Environment-Aware Robotic Assembly in Modular Construction
MR-Guided Imitation Learning for Cable Robot Timber Construction in a CLT Scenario
Bridging the Sim-to-Real Gap in Collective Robotic Construction: A Mixed Reality Reinforcement Learning Approach
Scalable-Workspace In-Situ Robotic Timber Construction: Vertical Growth of Freeform Structures via Vision Localisation and Geometry Governance
C02
Robotic Fabrication with Timber and Bamboo Chair: Dan Luo Towards a Circular Robotic Housing Chassis: A Data-Led Methodology for Robotic Fabrication and Reversible Timber Tectonics
Bamboo-reinforced 3D-printed Earth: Integrating Fiber Additives and Natural Poles in Robotic Construction
ForkTension: Human-in-the-Loop Fabrication of a Hemp-timber Tensegrity Structure via Gesture-based Material Analysis and Robotic Weaving
A Data-Driven Robotic Fabrication Framework for Non-Standard Timber Structures: Integrating Material Ecology and Computational Assembly
|
| 3.00–3.30pm | Afternoon break |
| 3.30–5.00pm |
Paper Presentation SessionsA03
Semantic Multimodal Architectural Data Chair: Geoff Kimm ArchBuilder: A Data-Driven Component-Based Generative Framework for Semantic 3D Architectural Assets
A Modular Pipeline for Cross-Modal Heritage Dataset Construction of Guangfu Ancestral Halls
LocalMuse: Bridging the Semantic Gap in Architectural Retrieval via On-Device Circular Intelligence
B03
Fabrication-Constrained Construction Systems Chair: Philip Yuan Design Exploration and Construction Workflow of Automated FRP Lamination
3D Concrete Printing: A Design-Driven Workflow and Software for Architectural Application
An Aperiodic Monotile Assembly System for Reversible and Open-Ended Circular Construction
|
| 5.00–5.30pm | Lamina launch |
| 5.30–6.30pm | Lamina drinks |
| 6.30–8.00pm | Keynote: Prof Achim Menges — Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Transformative Architecture Tickets → |
| Friday 10 July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| 8.30–9.00am | Registration |
| 9.00–10.30am | Keynote: Kathlyn Loseby — Creating an Industry Academic Nexus to Tackle Urgent, Systemic Challenges in the ADE Industry Tickets → |
| 10.30–11.00am | Morning break |
| 11.00–12.30pm |
Paper Presentation SessionsA04
Urban Morphology for Spatial Design Session chair: Pantea Alambeigi A Neuroarchitecture-Informed POE Protocol for Street Retrofit: Integrating VR Simulation with Physiological Sensing of Human-Factors Data
Multi-Objective Optimization of Urban Neighborhood Morphology Guided by Low-Carbon Travel
Graph-Based Data Model for Micro-Spatial Diagnosis in Historic Urban Districts: A Case Study of Shanghai’s Wukang Road District
B04
Geometry-Driven Materials Assembly Chair: Hua Chai Robotic Manufacturing of Prefabricated Self-Shading Facades Using Irregular Wood Offcuts for Low-Carbon Construction
A Bundled Column System for the Structural Reuse of Heterogeneous Reclaimed Timber
Sustainable Timber Joints: The TIMBERMATCH3D Project and a Generative Design Approach to Recycled Plastic Connectors
C04
Design Knowledge Representation for Decision-Making Chair: Farnaz Fattahi Digital Circularity: An Empirical Study into the Tool-Based Progression of Circular Intelligence in Architectural Practice
MediArch: A Decision System for Healthcare Architecture Based on Multi-Agent and Knowledge Graph Collaboration
From Structural Data to Structural Understanding: How Can AI Be Taught to Understand Structural Systems?
|
| 12.30–1.30pm | Lunch |
| 1.30–3.00pm |
Paper Presentation SessionsA05
Predictive Thermal Energy Control Session chair: M. Hank Haeusler Computational Fluid Dynamics Integrated with Reinforcement Learning for Sustainable Cooling in Circular Data Centre Architectures
Research on Energy Consumption Prediction of Urban Residential Buildings under Climate Change Based on Transformers and Uncertainty Analysis
Research on the Applicability of Multi-Energy Complementary System for Cold-Region Dormitories Based on Energy-Consumption Behaviour Prediction and Simulation
B05
Discrete Assembly Fabrication Chair: Ivana Kuzmanovska Circular Reuse and Robotic Fabrication of Zhejiang Tile-Fragment Walls
Votsaloto-Style Robotic Mosaic: Computational Design and Fabrication with Upcycled Ceramic Tiles
Stereotomic Post-Tensioning in Stone: Computational Design and Robotic Fabrication for Low-Carbon Structures
C05
Multi-Objective Simulation for Decision-Making Chair: Zayad Motlib Circular Architectural Programming Model via Multi-agent Deep Reinforcement Learning for Mega Transportation Projects
Constraint-Aware Multi-Agent Optimization for Design with Entropy-Guided Coordination
Circular Material Ecosystem Modelling through Large-Scale Probabilistic Urban Simulation
|
| 3.00–3.30pm | Afternoon break |
| 3.30–5.00pm |
Paper Presentation SessionsA06
Sustainable Design Performance Chair: Anastasia Globa Bridging Ecology and Design: A Multimodal Models Framework for Site-Adaptive Urban Vertical Landscapes
Responsive and Interactive Building-Integrated Wind Turbine (BIWT) Prototype: Parametric Design and Physical-Experiment-Driven Morphological Optimization for Subtropical Coastal Urban Environments
SpinyLeaf Carbon: An Open-Source Tool for Early-Stage Carbon Assessment in Australia, Integrating Operational and Embodied Emissions
B06
Material Reuse Digital Workflows Chair: Christopher Bamborough Latent Tectonics: Performance-Driven Generative Material Distribution for Circular Construction
Embodied Circular Intelligence for Reclaimed Timber: Autonomous Scanning and 3D Reconstruction based on Humanoid Robots
WikiHouse-Based Circular Training Studio: Adaptive MR Training for Reversible Assembly and Disassembly
|
| 5.30–6.30pm | Closing ceremony |
| 6.30–8.00pm | Keynote: Prof Philip F. Yuan — Mind and Matter: Circular Intelligence in Physical AI for Architecture Tickets → |
| 8.00–10.00pm | Afterparty |
Program subject to final confirmation.
Registration is now open for the DigitalFUTURES 8th International Conference on Computational Design and Robotic Fabrication.
General Registration
AUD $300 + GST per person
Student Registration
AUD $150 + GST per person
Valid student certification is required for student registration.
At least one author of each accepted paper must register and attend the conference in person to present the work.
Register for individual keynote sessions to see a keynote without attending the full conference.
Visit KeynotesRegister for individual masterclasses to join a hands-on workshop without attending the full conference.
Visit MasterclassesFor conference enquiries, please contact the CDRF2026 Organising Committee.
Email: archmanu@unsw.edu.au
Location: UNSW Sydney, Australia
© DigitalFUTURES CDRF2026 Organising Committee
2026 International Conference on Computational Design and Robotic Fabrication — UNSW Sydney, Australia