https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/1021 2026-09-22T17:59:06Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149270 Title: Masonry logic as a framework for circular construction Authors: Miodragovic Vella, Irina; Markovic, Sladjana Abstract: Circularity in architecture has emerged in response to the environmental consequences of contemporary construction. Dominant building materials systems, particularly cement-based systems, contribute significantly to global CO2 emissions while producing rigid structures that resist transformation. When conditions change, demolition often becomes the only viable option, resulting in the loss of embodied energy and the generation of waste. Architectural research increasingly investigates assemblies of discrete elements that enable adaptability, disassembly, and reuse. The paper examines the geometric logic of traditional stone masonry as the basis for a pedagogical approach for circular construction. Implemented within an M.Arch study unit, the framework reconceptualises masonry as a system governed by generative relationships between single-unit and assembly geometry. Students formulate design procedures as algorithms, explore variations, and test fabrication strategies through iterative prototyping to investigate potential construction methods and architectural applications. Three student investigations demonstrate how geometric rules mediate between material and structural behaviour, fabrication strategies, and circular construction principles. The study shows that circular potential can be embedded in the geometric organisation of discrete assemblies and argues that a geometric reinterpretation of stone masonry offers a transferable approach for integrating innovative computational design and fabrication within architectural education. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149268 Title: Architect’s role between data‑driven and artificial intelligence‑enhanced design Authors: Markovic, Sladjana; Nikezic, Ana; Miodragovic Vella, Irina Abstract: In contemporary scientific disciplines, there is an increasing interest in adopting artificial intelligence (AI) as a cornerstone of data‑driven intelligence (DDI). While DDI has not yet been fully integrated into architectural design, AI has already begun to exert a notable influence on design practices. Current discourse on architectural design in the digital age provides critical insights into the evolving role of the architect. The transformation extends beyond the adoption of new tools and techniques, reconfiguring the organisation of architectural knowledge, decision‑making and authorship. The paper’s methodology is structured around two primary conceptual threads, analysed through a comparative lens. It employs the “digital chain” (first thread) model as a conceptual framework to integrate DDI and to compare it with emerging AI‑based approaches. Aligned with the thematic focus of the recent eCAADe 2024 and 2025 conferences (second thread), the study identifies key shifts within contemporary architectural practice. The findings from the analysed sample suggest a transition from structured, rule‑based workflows to more adaptive, AI‑supported design. This shift is associated with a reconfiguration of the architect’s role within hybrid human–AI environments, remaining responsible for defining the core design. The aim of the study is to develop a framework for interpreting the potential integration of AI into architectural design, emphasising the role of the architect in guiding computational processes and maintaining architectural intent. It provides a structured perspective on the relationship between DDI and AI, supporting a critical reassessment of the architect’s position within emerging digital paradigms and contemporary architectural culture. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147261 Title: Discussion of the turbulent swirling flow field in the residential ventilation systems with axial fans Authors: Čantrak, Đorđe; Čolić-Damjanović, Vesna Mila; Tašin, Slobodan; Miodragovic Vella, Irina Abstract: Axial fans are widely used in local and decentralized residential ventilation applications, such as bathroom and toilet exhausts and short-duct ventilation systems, but the turbulent swirling flow they generate can lead to increased hydraulic losses, reduced energy efficiency, and unstable fan operation. This study experimentally investigates the swirling flow produced by the axial fan operating in a straight duct, following the ISO 5801, case B. Original classical probes and one-component laser Doppler anemometry (LDA) were used to measure velocity components at multiple downstream locations. Results show a strong forced-vortex core (i.e., solid body profile) and a highly non-uniform axial velocity profile near the impeller (x/D = 3.35), which homogenizes downstream (x/D = 26.31), indicating significant energy loss. Circulation and swirl number decrease significantly downstream, but residual swirl remains throughout the duct, increasing pressure drops and leading to unstable fan performance. These findings demonstrate that swirl-induced velocity-profile transformations are a major source of inefficiency in residential ventilation systems employing axial fans without flow-straightening devices. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147256 Title: Recipe for AI integration in architecture : learning from good practice precedents Authors: Miodragovic Vella, Irina; Markovic, Sladjana Abstract: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming all disciplines, impacting research, practice, academia, and industry. Architecture is no exception, yet architects have not fully embraced the digital paradigm. AI tools and methods present an opportunity to enhance the positioning of architects within the evolving digital landscape and the increasing complexity and sustainability demands of architecture. The study proposes a rules-based conceptual framework for an AI-driven, procedureoriented approach to the design process, informed by historical and contemporary examples of embedded design knowledge as good practice. The recipe for AI integration is derived from an educational methodology illustrated through student projects that combine analogue techniques with digital principles to explore the interplay between algorithmic thinking and AI with a focus on architectural geometry. The paper demonstrates how intuitive investigation, iterative learning, and collaborative processes support the development of computational thinking by embedding design knowledge into procedural systems – introductory for future application. Finally, the paper discusses key guidelines for how AI can be meaningfully integrated into the discipline of architecture. 2025-09-01T00:00:00Z