Call for Abstracts

CAADRIA 2026 invites contributions in line with the 2026 Conference Theme of "Humanistic Computation and Intelligence"

As the boundaries between machine intelligence and human intuition continue to blur, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment in the evolution of computer-aided architectural design. This year’s conference explores Humanistic Computation and Intelligence — a call to embrace computation not as a detached instrument, but as a creative and ethical collaborator in the design process. We invite researchers, designers, thinkers, and technologists to reimagine intelligence in the service of meaning, ethics, and humanity.

“Humanistic” refers to an approach that centers human values, lived experiences, and ethics, particularly in fields shaped by technology and computation. In the context of computer-aided architectural design, a humanistic perspective entails:

  • Prioritizing human creativity, intuition, and cultural meaning in design processes.
  • Viewing technology as a tool to enhance human agency — not to replace it.
  • Considering the social, emotional, and ethical dimensions of designed environments.
  • Embracing subjectivity, diversity, and critical thinking as integral to intelligent design, alongside data and algorithmic logic.

To guide this year’s discourse, we propose the following manifestos:

  • The Human at the Core: In an age of algorithms and automation, we reaffirm the central role of human creativity, judgment, empathy, and responsibility in the design process. Computation should not replace the designer—it must empower the human to reach beyond the known, to imagine, interpret, and shape new worlds.
  • Design as Dialogue: Computation is not merely a tool or medium, but a conversation — between human and machine, intuition and analysis, ethics and aesthetics. Our goal is not only to build smarter tools, but to cultivate deeper, more responsive relationships between designers and their digital environments.
  • Reclaiming Agency: Intelligence is not solely artificial; it is shared, distributed, and emergent. We envision a future where human agency is amplified by computational means — not overwritten. We call for thoughtful integration, not technological submission.
  • Culture is Code: Architecture is more than a structure; it encodes culture, memory, and meaning. We believe computational design must carry this legacy forward — not by replication, but through critical engagement with the cultural codes of our time.

As we celebrate the emergence of new computational technologies in architectural practices, we also recognize the urgent need for expanded knowledge and toolsets — that are capable of bridging machine rationality with the depth of human intuition, culture, and values.

Topics

We invite original, high-quality papers that present current research in computer-aided architectural design. The conference welcomes a broad spectrum of approaches, from speculative and informal investigations to conventional scientific research. All submissions must relate to one of the following topics:

  • Artificial intelligence, neural networks and machine learning
  • Building Information Modeling (BIM)
  • City Information Modeling (CIM)
  • Collective, collaborative & interdisciplinary design
  • Computational design research & education
  • Computational design for wellness
  • Design cognition and human-computer interaction
  • Disrupted practices, resilience, and social sustainability
  • Environmental and ecological performance
  • Generative, algorithmic & evolutionary design
  • Digital Heritage
  • Interactive environments
  • Material systems, processes and assembly
  • Practice-based design research
  • Robotics, digital fabrication and construction
  • Simulation, visualisation and impact projection
  • Theory, philosophy & methodology of computational design research
  • Urban analytics, big data analysis and smart cities
  • AR / VR / XR
  • Application of technology in the context of the Asia-Pacific Region

Abstract Submission Guidelines

We invite original, high-quality papers that present current research in computer-aided architectural design. The conference welcomes a broad spectrum of approaches, from speculative and informal investigations to conventional scientific research. All submissions must relate to one of the following topics:

  • Abstracts must be submitted via the following portal:
    https://caadria.org/openconf26/openconf.php
  • The abstract submission deadline is August 15, 2025, at 11:59 PM (AoE Timezone).
  • Submission titles must consist of a main title and a subtitle, separated by a colon.
  • Abstracts must be between 500 and 750 words (not including title, keywords or references) and follow a concise, structured format typically including the following sections:
    • Background/Introduction: Briefly outline the context and significance of the study.
    • Objective/Purpose: State the main aim or research question.
    • Methods: Summarize the methodology or approach.
    • Results: Highlight the key findings or outcomes.
    • Conclusion: Provide a brief interpretation and implications of the results.
  • Anonymity: Abstracts must be fully anonymous. Any identifying information will result in automatic rejection to preserve the blind peer-review process.
  • References: Include 5 core references relevant to the research. These should be added directly after the abstract in the submission portal.
  • Keywords: Include 5 keywords, entered in the designated field, starting with capital letters and separated by commas.
  • AI Use: Abstracts must follow the AI Guidelines for Authors listed below. Submissions that do not follow these guidelines will not be considered.

Submissions that do not comply with the above requirements will be automatically rejected.

Review Process and Publication

Paper acceptance is based on a two-stage review process: an initial abstract review followed by a double-blind peer review of the full-length paper. Final acceptance and publication are subject to:

  • Successful peer review,
  • Adherence to submission deadlines and formatting guidelines,
  • Payment of the conference registration fee.

Please note: Multiple submissions require multiple registrations.

The use of AI | Guidelines for Authors

Guidelines for the Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in Preparing Abstracts and Conference Papers for CAADRIA.

Do's

  • Authors are allowed to use AI tools for editing and refining their writing: AI tools can be used for tasks such as spelling and grammar checks, checking the flow of the paper, and improving writing style.
  • AI tools can be used to translate texts from one language to another. However, it's crucial to check the translated content for any inaccuracies.
  • Authors must disclose the use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in their manuscript. An AI attribution statement should be included at the end of the paper.
  • If authors used AI tools in their work, they are required to give proper credit and cite their AI sources/tools. This could be direct quotations, paraphrased content, or tasks like editing, translating, image generation, and data processing.

Don'ts

  • Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies should not replace key tasks such as producing scientific, pedagogic or design insights, drawing scientific conclusions, or providing recommendations.
  • Authors must not use AI-generated citations. It is the author’s responsibility to cross-check and verify the sources suggested by the AI tools.
  • It is not allowed to rely solely on AI for editing: All papers must be manually proofread before submission. Authors should not use AI translations without verification and further editing. Authors are required to verify translations produced by AI.
  • Authors must not list AI tools as authors or co-authors. Authorship implies responsibilities and tasks that can only be attributed to and performed by humans.

Citation and Attribution with AI Tools

  • Authors should acknowledge tasks performed by AI tools, such as editing, translating, image generation or data processing. A statement acknowledging this should be included at the end of the paper (see Attribution Example).
  • When using the exact wording or paraphrasing from an AI tool, authors should cite it just as they would any other source.

Attribution Example

ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2024) was used to (1) suggest the initial structure of the manuscript and (2) to improve flow. Grammarly (Grammarly Inc., 2024) was used to correct errors in spelling and grammar. Bing (Microsoft, 2024) was used to modify Figure X.

Reference Examples

OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT Model: GPT-4 | Temp: 0.7 [Large Language Model]. https://openai.com/chatgpt/‍

Grammarly Inc. (2024) Grammarly: AI Writing and Grammar Checker App (Version 14.1198.0) [Large Language Model] https://app.grammarly.com/

Microsoft. (2024). Microsoft Bing Image Creator with DALL·E 3, Copilot [Large-text-to-image model] https://www.bing.com/images/create?FORM=GENILP

APA citation formula for AI tools: [Company. (Year). AI Name (version) [Descriptor]. URL]