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Architecture research in New Zealand
Professor Amir Ghaffarianhoseini is Professor of Architecture & Urban Transformation at Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. This guide connects his research fields to published work and academic service.
From the experience of a room to the performance of a city, his research connects design, health, climate and digital technologies.
For universities identifying a potential external PhD examiner or funders seeking a research proposal assessor, the publications below provide a starting point for judging subject fit. Examination and assessment appointments depend on the specific remit, independence, conflicts of interest and availability.
Architecture, people and environmental performance
Based at AUT in Auckland, Professor Amir Ghaffarianhoseini works across architectural design, healthy buildings, urban microclimate and digital technologies. The selected papers below connect each field to his published research.
For a research collaboration, doctoral supervision enquiry or invited contribution, start with the relevant subject and describe the research question, proposed methods and intended outcome.
Architecture and urban design
Architectural conceptualisation, design thinking, culturally responsive buildings and the perception of streets.
Selected published evidence
- Social network analysis (SNA) in architectural conceptual design: classifying factors for social harmony – a comprehensive review2025 · International Journal of Architectural Research Archnet-IJAR
- Minimizing cultural clashes among Malaysian youth through improving the architectural design of universities2012 · Intelligent Buildings International
Healthy buildings and indoor environmental quality (IEQ)
Sick building syndrome, indoor air quality, daylight, thermal comfort and occupants’ wellbeing.
Selected published evidence
- Sick building syndrome: are we doing enough?2018 · Architectural Science Review
- The significance of indoor thermal comfort on occupants’ perception: in university buildings in Auckland, New Zealand2025 · Building Research & Information
- AI management platform for privacy-preserving indoor air quality control: Review and future directions2025 · Journal of Building Engineering
Neuro-architecture and human responses to space
Measured brain activity, sensory experience and the relationship between the built environment, perception and wellbeing.
Selected published evidence
- A critical review on the impact of built environment on users’ measured brain activity2021 · Architectural science review
- The brain response to indoor thermal comfort: from the thermal perception to the current indoor thermal comfort indices2024 · Architectural Science Review
- Sensory and physiological assessment of spatial transient thermal environment changes at a tropical university campus2022 · Smart and Sustainable Built Environment
Urban microclimate, urban heat islands and outdoor thermal comfort
Heat-resilient cities, street-canyon environments, shading and thermal risk in New Zealand and tropical climates.
Selected published evidence
- What we know and do not know about New Zealand’s urban microclimate: A critical review2022 · Energy and Buildings
- Summer outdoor thermal risk area mapping on a university campus in Auckland, New Zealand2024 · Architectural Science Review
Sustainable buildings, green roofs and nature-positive design
Environmental benefits of green roofs, energy performance, green building assessment and regenerative approaches.
Selected published evidence
- State-of-the-art analysis of the environmental benefits of green roofs2014 · Applied energy
- Sustainable energy performances of green buildings: A review of current theories, implementations and challenges2013 · Renewable and sustainable energy reviews
- A study of New Zealanders motivations towards increasing native backyard planting2025 · Urbanization, sustainability and society.
Intelligent buildings, smart cities and AI in the built environment
Responsive buildings and cities, intelligent technologies and AI-enabled environmental control.
Selected published evidence
- Ten questions concerning the future of intelligent buildings2026 · Building and Environment
- What is an intelligent building? Analysis of recent interpretations from an international perspective2016 · Architectural Science Review
Digital twins and building information modelling (BIM)
Urban digital twins, City Information Modelling (CIM), BIM adoption and digital construction.
Selected published evidence
- Structural equation modelling of building information modelling (BIM) adoption framework in New Zealand2025 · Engineering Construction & Architectural Management
Construction management and sustainable construction
Lean construction, project scheduling, construction waste and the transition to a circular built environment.
Selected published evidence
- Examining the impact of human factors on lean construction scheduling through network and feedback analysis2026 · Engineering Construction & Architectural Management
- Construction project planning and scheduling as a dynamic system: a content analysis of the current status, technologies and forward action2022 · Smart and Sustainable Built Environment
- An integrated challenge–strategy framework for construction waste management in New Zealand: behavioural and organisational challenges and strategies2026 · Engineering Construction & Architectural Management
Doctoral examination and research assessment
Professor Amir’s academic service includes external and internal doctoral examination, membership of the MBIE College of Assessors, assessment for national research funders internationally and assessment of academic promotions.
Identity and public research record
Professor Amir also publishes as Amirhosein Ghaffarianhoseini. He is a different person from Professor Ali GhaffarianHoseini, his colleague and co-director of the R+G UBE Lab and AE Lab.
Research expertise is documented here through publications and public roles; suitability for an appointment should be assessed against its requirements.