Teaching Strengths
Mrs Juliana Croffi Calixto
Higher Degree by Research Candidate
School of Architecture and Built Environment
College of Creative Arts, Design and Humanities
I am a computational design architect and researcher specialising in building performance, including environmental and structural performance in the built environment. My work emphasises data driven design, optimisation and generative methods to inform architectural decision making. I am particularly interested in the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence to support evidence based practice in the AEC industry.
My doctoral research, completed at the University of Adelaide and awarded Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence, investigated how architectural design decisions influence occupant satisfaction and wellbeing in high rise mixed use buildings.
The thesis developed a structured framework titled Wellbeing Fostered by Design, organised across three interrelated dimensions: Comfort, Delight and Social. The research combined environmental simulation, post occupancy evaluation data and machine learning models to quantify relationships between building performance metrics and perceived wellbeing outcomes.
A key outcome of this work was the development of SpinyLeaf, an open source computational design tool that integrates Ladybug Tools, EnergyPlus, Radiance and Python based machine learning into early stage workflows. The system enables designers to simulate environmental performance, predict satisfaction outcomes and receive structured design feedback during conceptual design stages.
My ongoing research expands this work towards explainable and interoperable AI systems for architecture, focusing on human centred decision support, generative workflows and the integration of simulation, optimisation and intelligent reporting within professional practice.
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 - 2026 | University of Adelaide | Australia | PhD |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Kroll, D., Sharifi, E., Arakawa Martins, L., Croffi Calixto, J., & Soebarto, V. (2025). Flipped townhouses: the impact of layout changes on heating and cooling energy load and occupants’ thermal comfort. Architectural Science Review, 69(1), 1-16. Scopus1 WoS1 |
| 2025 | Croffi, J., Soebarto, V., Kroll, D., & Barrie, H. (2025). A machine-learning approach for evaluating occupants’ indoor environment satisfaction in high-rise mixed-use buildings. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 1-30. |
| 2023 | Croffi, J., Kroll, D., Soebarto, V., Barrie, H., & McDougall, K. (2023). Wellbeing fostered by design: a framework for evaluating indoor environment performance. Buildings and Cities, 4(1), 507-523. Scopus5 WoS5 |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Croffi Calixto, J., Soebarto, V., Kroll, D., & Barrie, H. (2025). SpinyLeaf App: A Tool for Human-Centric Assessment of High-Rise Building Performance in Fostering Wellbeing. In Proceedings of the 58ᵗʰ International Conference of the Architectural Science Association. The Architectural Science Association (ANZAScA). DOI |
| 2024 | Calixto, V., & Croffi, J. (2024). BACK TO BLACK BOXES?: An Urgent Call for Discussing the Impacts of the Emergent AI-Driven Tools in the Architecture Design Education. In N. Gardner, C. M. Herr, L. Wang, H. Toshiki, & S. A. Khan (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia Vol. 3 (pp. 39-48). SINGAPORE, Singapore: CAADRIA-ASSOC COMPUTER-AIDED ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN RESEARCH ASIA. DOI Scopus3 WoS2 |
| 2023 | Croffi, J., Soebarto, V., Kroll, D., & Barrie, H. (2023). Indoor environmental quality and occupants' satisfaction in highrise mixed-use buildings: Preliminary results from a case study. In Proceedings of the 56th International Conference of Architectural Science Association (ANZAScA 2023) (pp. 390-405). Australia: Architectural Science Association (ANZAScA). |
COURSE COORDINATOR
ARCH7033 – ADVANCED CONSTRUCTION | Mar 2024 – Jun 2024 |
Since Semester 1, 2020, I have been tutoring in this course alongside Dr David Kroll, contributing to its development and delivery. From the outset, we collaboratively designed and structured the course. In 2024, I was invited by Dr Kroll to coordinate the course, providing me with the opportunity to further redesign and enhance its academic content, structure, and assessment framework.
As Course Coordinator, I led the design and delivery of the subject, with a strong focus on Computational Design Thinking. The course positioned computation not merely as a technical tool, but as a methodological approach to architectural design.
I prepared and delivered lectures and tutorials integrating theoretical foundations with applied digital workflows in computational design and mass customisation. Through the major design project, Adelaide Pompidou (2,500–3,000 m²), students explored form-finding and systems integration while developing a comprehensive architectural proposal that incorporated:
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Structural concepts, analysis, and simulation using Karamba3D within Grasshopper
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Façade design informed by environmental performance simulation using Ladybug Tools
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BIM interoperability through Rhino.Inside.Revit
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Digital fabrication and prototyping to test and validate structural and envelope systems
The course fostered an integrated understanding of structure, environmental performance, BIM, and fabrication within a computational design framework.
SESSIONAL TEACHING | UNIVERSITY TUTOR
DESST3516 – DESIGN STUDIO VI – Dr David Kroll and Dr Carlos B. Koc
| Jul 2021 – Nov 2023 |
Studio Leader – Computational design methods: generative design, environmental analysis with Ladybug tools, 3D printing.
ARCH7033 – ADVANCED CONSTRUCTION – Dr David Kroll
| Mar 2020 – Jun 2024 |
Prepared and delivered tutorials on Computational Design withComputational Design with Rhino + Grasshopper, structural analysis tool Karamba for Grasshopper, BIM integration with Rhino inside Revit and detailing.
ARCH7041 – ADVANCED ARCHITECTURE TECHNOLOGIES - Prof Veronica Soebarto | Mar 2023 – Jun 2023 |
Prepared and delivered tutorials on environmental analysis with Ladybug tools, energy modelling with Honeybee.
ARCH7032 – STUDIO ARCHITECTURE – Dr David Kroll | Mar 2021 – Jun 2022 |
Studio Leader – From design concept to documentation.
DESST2517 – ENVIRONMENT II – Prof Veronica Soebarto
| Mar 2020 – Jun 2021 |
Prepared and delivered tutorials on environmental analysis with Ladybug, energy modelling with Honeybee
DESST 3517 – ENVIRONMENT III – Dr Ehsan Sharifi
| Aug 2020 – Dec 2022|
Prepared and delivered tutorials on urban microclimate analysis with ENVI-Met using Dragonfly – Ladybug Tools.
LARCH7031 – EXTREME TERRITORIES – Dr. Carlos B. Koc | Mar 2020 – Jun 2020 |
Landscape Design Studio using generative/ parametric tools in Grasshopper
ONSHORE STUDIO STRATCO – Dr Ehsan Sharifi | Jun – 2020 |
Design of a pop-up pavilion using and displaying Stratco products
Connect With Me
External Profiles
