Future Ecologies Group
The Future Ecologies Group at the SUSTech School of Design takes a cross-disciplinary research approach to develop new intersections of the natural and the artificial in future built environments.
Research projects employ science and advanced technologies in the design of high-rise buildings for future high-density cities, including sustainable architectural technologies, structural and material aspects of green building design, integrated facades and new ecological models of artificial environments.
南方科技大学设计学院的未来生态学组采用跨学科研究方法，致力于在未来建成环境中探索自然与人工交互的新交集。
研究项目利用科学和先进技术，专注于为未来高密度城市设计高层建筑，包括可持续建筑技术、绿色建筑设计的结构和材料方面、综合立面设计以及人工环境的新生态模型。
RECENT ACTIVITIES
18th Feb 2026
Future Ecologies Research Published in The Plan Journal
A paper co-authored by members of the Future Ecologies Group has been published in the journal The Plan Journal. The publication is the result of a cross-continental academic collaboration initiated through shared research interests and developed through ongoing discussions, design reviews, and conference presentations over the past two years.
Title: Biofacades: A Framework for Vertical Building–Nature Integration in Urban Ecosystems
Authors: Mary Ben Bonham, Kyoung Hee Kim and Christiane M. Herr
Published in: The Plan Journal, Volume 10 (2025), Issue 2
DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.15274/tpj.2025.10.02.10
3th Feb 2026
Future Ecologies Research Published in Automation in Construction
A paper co-authored by members of the Future Ecologies Group has been published in the journal Automation in Construction. The paper examines how Cellular Automata (CA)—widely known for their generative capabilities in architecture and urban design—can be better controlled to support goal-oriented design processes while preserving their creative potential.
Title: Control Strategies for Cellular Automata-Based Generative Design in Architecture and Urbanism
Authors: Yiming Liu and Christiane M. Herr
Published in: Automation in Construction, Volume 183 (2026), 106754
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2025.106754
9th Jan 2026
Studio Review of the Digital Intelligence Design Innovation Program at Shenzhen University
Members of the Future Ecologies Group recently participated in the first-year studio review of the Digital Intelligence Design Innovation Program at Shenzhen University. The review provided an opportunity to reflect on fundamental questions facing architectural education today: What is architecture, and what should we learn and teach in the age of AI?
The course serves as a platform for experimentation and discussion on emerging design methodologies and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in architectural thinking and practice. The review featured valuable feedback and discussions with the Shenzhen University team as well as numerous invited guests.
Invited reviewers included Academician Prof. Meng Jiamin, and Profs. Qi Yi, Mauricio Cardenas Laverde, Daria Lisaia, Guo Xin, Ai Deng, Artem Constantinov, Chen Yinghua, Meng Jingyuan, Provides Ng, Li Shan, and many others.
The event fostered lively discussions and exchanges on the future of architectural education and design in the AI era.
14th Mar 2025
Three Papers by the Future Ecologies Team accepted at CAADFutures 2025!
Three papers authored and co-authored by team members of the Future Ecologies Group were accepted for CAAD Futures 2025!!! For more conference details see: caadfutures2025.hku.hk
1-Title: Interactive BIM Modelling Assistant with Multi-Agent LLM
Authors: Chao Tang (UCL), Mark Tam (HKU) and Christiane M Herr (SUSTech)
2-Title: Performance-based Urban Environmental Restoration: A Multi-Layered Cellular Automata Model for Ecological Design Simulation in High-Density Cities
Authors: Yiming Liu, Christiane M. Herr (all SUSTech)
3-Title: Digital Design Support for UAV Delivery Noise Reduction Strategies in High Density Urban Environments
Authors: Le Zhao, Thomas Fischer, Wowei Zhang and Christiane M Herr (all SUSTech)
23th Jan 2026
23th Apr 2025
Prof Herr elected Fellow of CAADRIA
Prof. Christiane M Herr has been elected Fellow of CAADRIA (The Association for Computer Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia). Fellows are senior CAADRIA members in good standing (typically former presidents) who advise, mentor, and support CAADRIA on any issues. CAADRIA Fellows see to CAADRIA maintaining consistent development in the spirit of its founding charter and maintain institutional knowledge. CAADRIA currently has six Fellows, including Prof Tomohiro Fukuda, Prof John Gero, Prof Christiane M Herr, Prof Tom Kvan, Prof Walaiporn Nakapan and Prof Marc Aurel Schnabel.
22-29th Mar 2025
The Future Ecologies Team Presents 4 Papers at CAADRIA2025 in Tokyo
We had a great time attending CAADRIA2025, organized by Prof. Yasushi Ikeda and his team at the University of Tokyo. The Future Ecologies team presented 4 papers, participated in workshops, listened to inspiring keynotes by Tomohiro Tachi, Behnaz Farahi and Kengo Kuma, and generally had a wonderful time exchanging with digital design researchers from around the world – in addition to enjoying the cherry blossoms just opening that week!
14th Mar 2025
With new tools changing the learning and teaching landscape, how can education harness AI and update educational models?
These are core questions for future university education, and I was happy to be invited to join the lauch of the Hong Kong University Grant Council Community of Practice (CoP) on AI in Education as part of the HK Teaching Excellence Alliance (HKTEA) that brings together the 8 government funded universities and other key stakeholders work on how we can learn and share innovative pedagogies in Hong Kong and beyond. The initiative is led by Prof Cecilia K. Y. Chan of HKU, with speeches delivered by HKU President Prof. Xiang Zhang, UGC Secretary-General Prof. James Tang , Digital Domain Chairman Mr. Henry Hooi and Chair of the HKTEA Dr. Julia Chen.
10th Mar 2025
A delegation from the University of Campinas, Brazil, visited the Future Ecologies Group to present and discuss their work on >>Knowledge Cities<< with us.
– How can planning and design foster well-rounded, sustainable and lively innovation hubs? Our visitors included Prof. Dr. Milena Pavan Serafim, public management specialist and vice-director of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr. Emilia Wanda Rutkowsky, urban ecologist and coordinator of the Architecture and Urban Planning undergrad program, and long-term colleague Prof. Dr. Maria Gabriela C. Celani, architect and urban designer and director of the Center for Studies on Knowledge- and Innovation-Based Urban Development, and former long-term chair of the CAADFutures Board!
7th Mar 2025
Together with Lizzy Hirsch, Chen Sihao and Li Wenpei, I attended the >>International Climate Change and Biodiversity Conference: Nature-Based Solutions in Action<< in HK.
The event was co-organized by the Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects (HKILA) and the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) Asia Pacific Region (APR), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC). A rare occasion to raise awareness on biodiversity, the conference brought together international andblocal experts from various disciplines, including landscape architects, ecologists and property developers, to discuss how to address the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss and to foster cross-sector collaborations on nature-based solutions in the GBS and beyond.
28th Feb 2025