EMTECH STUDIO [AA School of Architecture]

29/09/2026

The relevance of a postgraduate programme does not lie in generating isolated or transient project outputs. Its value is determined by whether the work functions as an node within a continuous, evolving .

​At AA EmTech, research is cumulative. Every investigation builds directly upon the , , and evolutionary frameworks established by the programme over years. Without systematic access to this lineage, postgraduate production risks repetition, irrelevance, and incoherence. With it, every output operates as a tangible platform for new iteration, scaling beyond academic isolation into direct application across the AEC sector.

​Understanding research through semantic and computational continuity clarifies what architectural education is actually contributing to practice. AA EmTech does not produce standalone projects; it develops an ongoing infrastructure of design intelligence.

To map this lineage, we developed the EmTech Phylogeny: an interactive, living knowledge system directly connected to the studio and traces the semantic and computational evolution of our studio's research. Openly accessible, it provides a transparent, systemic view of how iterative academic production compounds into meaningful intellectual capital for the wider AEC sector.

Access it from our website.

22/09/2026

through , not lists.

We have introduced an graph mapping the academic peer-reviewed publications produced by the Emergent Technologies and Design [EmTech] programme at the Architectural Association

The interface traces relational lineages across computational design, bio-based material systems, evolutionary thinking, and architectural and spatial intelligence generated by our researchers and graduates. It reflects a sustained contribution to the discourse of emergent technologies with impact extending well beyond our studio.

Explore the publication network at our website.

17/09/2026

In April, AA EmTech Director Dr Milad Showkatbakhsh joined the McNeel Europe Educators Lab to present "The Grasshopper Paradox - Tool Agnostic Mind-set" examining how computation and translate into , systems. is transient; foundational logic provides long-term operational adaptability.

This principle defines the of the Emergent Technologies and Design (EmTech) postgraduate programme at the Architectural Association. Rather than training software operators, AA EmTech educates to the discourse on emerging technologies in and . Grounded in the Digital-Physical Continuum, the programme equips researchers to interrogate biological paradigms, pioneer rigorous computational frameworks, material innovation and implement experimental systems that redefine architectural production.

This lecture explores how computational thinking is reshaping the a...

01/09/2026

Join us for the Final MSc Jury of the Architectural Association Emergent Technologies and Design (AA EmTech) Programme. ​The presentations take place on September 7 at the [EmTech] Studio, first floor, 16 Morwell Street (accessible via 39 Bedford Square).

​This year's cohort investigated critical global and challenges through advanced computational design, digital fabrication, and emerging and innovations. 

Studio projects address the urban heat island effect in London, the degradation of seagrass meadows in the Dutch Wadden Sea, landslide mitigation strategies in Costa Rica, and the ecological rejuvenation of cedar forests in Lebanon.

​These presentations mark the culmination of the twelve-month Master of Science in Emergent Technologies and Design at the Architectural Association Architectural Association

18/08/2026

Rigorous postgraduate education extends far beyond coursework, seminars, and laboratory sessions, it culminates in generating and contributing validated knowledge to the wider academic community. Publishing research in -reviewed journals and conferences is a vital benchmark of a program’s excellence. Through the rigorous scrutiny of peer review, our scholars’ methodologies, findings, and conclusions undergo critical evaluation, strengthening the quality, credibility, and impact of their work. By disseminating these findings, we ensure that local discoveries transcend institutional boundaries to become part of the global body of knowledge advancing research, informing practice, and driving real-world progress alongside the many other initiatives our program champions.

Explore more than two decades of peer-reviewed publications by AA [EmTech] students and faculty below.

AA [EmTech] Publications

12/08/2026

Every year, we host a dedicated gathering that unites our AA [EmTech] alumni at the AA Architectural Association to reconnect, share professional insights, and fortify our expanding network. At the core of our program lies a deeply collaborative community whose shared passion for , rigorous , and innovation drives our work forward. This vibrant network of thinkers and makers provides an enduring support system that extends far beyond the studio walls, empowering our members to continuously push the boundaries of architectural discourse and practice.

In its fifth year, the event aligned with the completion of a new research structure developed during the three-week DLAB AA Visiting School short course, taught by the [EmTech] family and the Digital Prototyping Lab at the AA. Entitled "The Mobius," the project showcases a structural prototype built from lightweight concrete blocks cast with reusable 3D-printed formworks, supported by the advanced 3D printing software generously provided by Aibuild. These components were aggregated through a topologically interlocking structural logic, representing an inspiring research stream that we eagerly anticipate sharing in greater detail soon.

We are pleased to continue this tradition and look forward to welcoming our community back for Round 6 next year!

Architectural Association Visiting School
AA Digital Prototyping Lab
Association

11/08/2026

The work of AA [EmTech] students, Sara Nisavic, Xinyu Zhang, Zhongyu Zhang, Design II, Ecological Settlement Design 2025-26.


Design II - Settlement Design in the Desert, an intensive design studio running in term 2. Using the hyper-arid Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter) of the Arabian Peninsula as a critical laboratory, this seminar challenges students to move beyond seeing extreme heat and sand as obstacles, treating them instead as active media for design. Rather than pursuing technologically intensive models of contemporary spectacle like , the curriculum investigates how future autonomous communities of 1,000 people can coexist with fragile ecosystems.

Students will study the resilient logic of ancient vernacular practices, such as subterranean dwellings, oases, and passive wind catchers, and hybridize them with advanced workflows, material innovations, and environmental simulations. Through three progressive stages of strategy, simulation, and synthesis, participants will generate data-driven architectural methodologies, culminating in comprehensive, closed-loop proposals and interactive Unity applications that model long-term temporal adaptation to planetary climate extremes.

31/07/2026

AA [EmTech] 2025-26 and DLAB 2026 Architectural Association Visiting School students visited Populous Populous today for an engaging day of exchange and collaboration. The visit commenced with a presentation by the Populous Digital Team, showcasing their latest innovations, project ethos, and cutting-edge design methodologies.

Following this, the session featured a mutual sharing of insights, showcasing designs and prototypes from the internal Populous design hackathon alongside the EmTech Design & Build research prototype presented at AA Projects Review 2026 Critical Mass Architectural Association Building on this momentum, AA [EmTech] and Populous have joined forces once again to research design and fabrication protocols for working with biomaterials, focusing this year on mycelium biocomposites for a new series of research pavilions. The afternoon was filled with inspiring discussions and a vibrant exchange of design concepts between the two teams.

​Thank you to Populous for hosting the visit.

07/07/2026

An overview of the experimental research and design work produced by the AA [EmTech] 2024–25 and 2025–26 cohorts.

From biomimetic investigations and advanced material systems to computational simulations, digital fabrication, and full-scale prototyping, the projects span scales—from responsive building components to large-scale urban and ecological settlements.

Ranging from seminar explorations to comprehensive dissertation research, each project addresses a critical global challenge through innovative architectural strategies and emerging technologies.

EmTech contributes to the discourse of emerging technologies from two parallel research tracks, innovation and technologies and innovation and technologies.

Video by:
Samarpita Sinharay
Krishi Ajitkumar Jain
Christian Gutierrez
Xinyu Zhang