Led by Professor Marcus White, the Urban Design Architecture program conducts spatio-temporal research responding to key challenges of urbanisation, densification, accessibility and climate change.  

Projects focus on spatial (3D) level of thinking with change over time (movement of people/vehicles, movement of the sun, change of temperature etc.) with the aim to:  

  • create more liveable built environments

  • explore new urban typologies for sustainable, affordable housing

  • develop solutions for design and construction of complex geometry

  • have a high-level impact on urban policy

  • explore designing with data and emerging technology

  • position pioneering digital research within broader historic contexts.

The program’s core strengths are in complex computational modelling, exploring the balance between movement and place in designing safe and successful cities, and smart urban research for decision-making and policy change.

Program team

Program partners

Feature projects

  • Safe and Successful Places

    Learn about the Urban Design Architecture team’s project exploring the balance between movement and place, to create safe and successful places.

    Learn more (Safe and Successful Places)

  • ARC Linkage

    Learn about the Urban Design Architecture team’s development of a new design platform to improve community infrastructure and physical activity.

    Learn more (ARC Linkage)

  • Fabricate 2020

    Learn about the Urban Design Architecture team’s involvement in Fabricate 2020, a triannual conference leading discussion on key themes in digital fabrication.

    Learn more (Fabricate 2020)

  • Solar Preservation for the City of Melbourne

    Learn about the Urban Design Architecture team’s research and efforts in solar preservation modelling for the entire City of Melbourne, leading to a world-first outcome.

    Learn more (Solar Preservation for the City of Melbourne)

  • Melbourne Korean War Memorial

    The CDI team designed and oversaw the development of a Korean War Memorial, in collaboration with the Melbourne Korean War Memorial Committee and the City of Maribyrnong.

    Learn more (Melbourne Korean War Memorial)

  • Domesticity under Siege

    Learn about the Urban Design Architecture team’s research project examining instances where the nurturing boundaries of home collide with both outside and inside agents.

    Learn more (Domesticity under Siege)

Explore our other research programs

Collaborate with the Centre for Design Innovation

We always welcome new partners. If you are interested in transforming ideas into commercially competitive outcomes, need the support of our research or have any other queries, contact us on +61 3 9214 6072 or email cdiadmin@swinburne.edu.au.

Contact us