Research

The research of the Architecture and Human Augmentation group investigates how spatial computing technologies transform the ways architecture is designed, fabricated, experienced, and deconstructed. Spatial computing describes the merging of digital and physical environments, in which virtual information is no longer confined to two-dimensional screens but becomes embedded in the physical world itself. Through devices such as wearable augmented and virtual reality headsets, mobile devices, and AI-driven computational systems, digital content can be perceived, manipulated, and discussed directly in relation to material space and construction processes.

Our work focuses on this ongoing technological shift: from architecture mediated primarily through drawings, models, and screens, to architecture shaped through situated, embodied, and interactive computational systems. Rather than treating extended reality (XR) as a representational add-on, we explore its potential as an active design medium that augments human perception, decision-making, and agency across the entire architectural lifecycle. Within this broader vision, XR is understood as part of a larger ecosystem of spatial computing tools that connect design intent, material behaviour, and human action. The research agenda is structured around four interrelated themes: 

Design

In the design phase, we explore immersive, collaborative workflows that enable architects, engineers, and other stakeholders to meet in shared digital spaces. Working with full-scale architectural models, participants can discuss details and make decisions in real time through embodied spatial interaction. By moving beyond screen-based collaboration, these environments support intuitive, distributed design processes while maintaining a strong sense of spatial presence and shared understanding.

Fabrication

As computational and robotic systems increasingly shape architectural fabrication and construction, our research investigates how these technologies can support a new form of digital craftsmanship. We focus on interfaces and workflows that enhance human skills and enable meaningful collaboration between people and machines, including intuitive and embodied interaction with robotic systems. In response to the growing complexity of construction environments, our work explores how spatial computing can provide accessible, human-centred interfaces that support informed and adaptive fabrication processes.

Experience

Architectural experience is no longer limited to physical materiality. Through spatial computing, buildings can be augmented with digital layers that reveal material histories, construction logic, or performance data. We explore asymmetric realities, in which different users access different information depending on their role or needs, challenging conventional forms of architectural representation and opening new possibilities for communication, accessibility, and interpretation.