Projects per year
Personal profile
Personal profile
Adam Brillhart holds a PhD in Architecture and Art from the China Academy of Art, Hangzhou. He is Associate Professor in the Department of Architecture at XJTLU, where he researches pragmatic and conceptual formulations of traditional carpentry, material processes, tectonics, and instrumentality. Brillhart has practiced as an assistant to Wang Shu in the Amateur Architecture Studio in Hangzhou and in New York City at the offices of David Adjaye, Robert Stern, and Davis Brody Bond. He studied architecture at Columbia University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He is co-author of the Boutique Hotel Manual (Domus, 2011); “Co-Operating with Notational Language: Full-Scale Drawing Practices of Traditional Carpentry in Southern China” (ACSA Press, 2019), author of “Observations on the Extensionality of Jiangnan Traditional Timber Structure” (Time + Architecture, 2023), and "Repairing Forests and Vernacular Heritage" (Future Anterior, 2024).
Teaching
2020 Drury University, Hammonds School of Architecture, Guest Critic
2018 Hong Kong University, Shanghai Study Center, Co-Organizer and Instructor of Architecture/Urban Micro-Renewal Workshop
2013 - 2015 China Academy of Art, Instructor of Natural Construction Workshop
2010 Pratt University, Invited guest critic
2009 New Jersey Institute of Technology, Co-Tutor with Brooks Atwood
Research interests
Tectonic Typologies
Drawing and Notation
Construction Methodologies
Experience
Assistant to Wang Shu, Amateur Architecture Studio - 2013 to 2015
Design Director, Atelier HAY - 2012 to Present
Design Consultant, Robert A.M. Stern Associates - 2012 to 2012
Architectural Designer, Davis Brody Bond - 2010 to 2011
Architectural Designer, Adjaye Associates - 2009 to 2010
Architectural Designer, Davis Brody Bond - 2007 to 2008
Awards and honours
Brillhart, Adam. Home Story in Jiangsu - First Prize in International Communications Sector, China News Award, China Journalist Association, 2023.
Brillhart, Adam, and Zhao Deli. Second Prize - Z3 Spatial Art Competition, China Australia Urban Forum, Shanghai, 2016.
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Architecture and Art, China Academy of Art, Zhejiang, Hangzhou - 2018
MSc, Advanced Architectural Design, Columbia University, New York, NY - 2009
BArch, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Albert Dorman Honors College, Newark, NJ - 2008
Research areas
- Structural Systems and Tectonics
- Vernacular Timber Structures
- Digital Fabrication Design
- Ecological Heritage Conservation
- Architectural Representation
- History and Theory of Architecture
Person Types
- Staff
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 15 Life on Land
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Emergence, Impact and Future of Mixed-Use Developments in Contemporary Urban Shanghai Evolution
Remón, J. (PI), Podda, R. (CoI), Brillhart, A. (CoI) & Den Hartog, H. (CoI)
1/06/25 → 31/08/27
Project: Internal Research Project
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The Changing Rural Habitat
Brillhart, A. (Team member), Yu, Y. (Team member), Jayalakshmi, G. D. (Team member), Loehlein, G. (Team member), Derakhshani, F. (Team member) & Smith, A. (Team member)
8/01/21 → 1/04/22
Project: Collaborative Research Project
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Paperless Drawing Method and Vernacular Tectonic
Brillhart, A. (PI), Dong, Y. (Team member), 顾水根 (Team member) & Fischer, T. (Team member)
1/01/20 → 31/03/24
Project: Internal Research Project
Research output
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Projection and Mathematics in the Paperless Construction of Timber Structures
Brillhart, A., 3 Jun 2025, Nexus 2025 Relationship Between Architecture and Mathematics. Kim Williams Books, p. 267-271 6 p.Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Proceeding › peer-review
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Valutazione e adeguamento energetico-ambientale di strutture di valore storico e architettonico nel contesto della conservazione dei giardini classici / Energy and environmental assessment and retrofit of historic heritage buildings in the context of classical garden conservation
Cimillo, M., Brillhart, A., Chen, X. & Lei, H., 15 Dec 2025, Progettazione Ambientale, sfide globali, scenari di ricerca / Environmental Design, global challenges, research scenarios. Losasso, M. & Romano, R. (eds.). MAGGIOLI EDITOREResearch output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Open Access -
Digital Enabling Exhibition: Design, Fabrication, Experience
Jiang, L. (Designer), Song, Y. (Designer), Qiu, J., Liu, J., Wang, L., Brillhart, A., Dall'Asta, J. C., Di Marco, G., Hidalgo Nacher, F. T., Corti, E., Parati, I., Cheung, H., de Baan, J., Song, Y., Jiang, L., Albano, S., Longo, G., Zhou, L., Mao, L. & Leng, T. & 7 others, , 17 Dec 2024Research output: Practice-based research output › Exhibition/ Event/ Festival › Curated works: Physical Exhibition/ Event/ Festival
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Paperless Drawing and Vernacular Tectonic: Full-Scale Column Assemblies
Brillhart, A. (Photographer), Xinchang, X. (Designer) & Tang, M. (Designer), 20 Apr 2024Research output: Practice-based research output › Exhibition/ Event/ Festival › Curated works: Physical Exhibition/ Event/ Festival
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Repairing Forests and Vernacular Heritage: In the Carbon Deluge of Southern China
Brillhart, A., 1 Apr 2024, In: Future Anterior. 19, 1, p. 1-26 26 p., 1.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Activities
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ARC UG Promotion day One-Stop Experience event
Baek, M. J. (Organiser), Han, J. (Organiser), Dall'Asta, J. C. (Organiser), Song, Y. (Participant), Yang, J. (Participant), Cece, A. (Participant), Brillhart, A. (Participant), Dong, Y. (Participant), Liu, J. (Participant) & Zhao, J. (Participant)
20 Mar 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising an event e.g. a conference, workshop, …
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Preservation, Production and Reproduction
Brillhart, A. (Organiser), Zhang, X. (Organiser), Tang, B. (Member of programme committee), Schnabel, M. A. (Participant), Han, J. (Chair), Kuang, X. (Chair), Williams, E. (Chair), Chen, G.C.-F. (Chair), Traynor, K. (Chair), Lu, X. (Chair), Bandyopadhyay, S. (Participant), Tao, Y. (Participant), Winter, T. (Participant), Baek, M. J. (Participant), Vichnevetskaia, A. (Participant), Zhu, Y. (Participant), Wu, K. (Participant), Zhang, Y. (Participant), Hu, W. (Participant), Han, Z. (Participant), Zhang, L. (Participant), Li, Y. (Participant), Corti, E. (Participant), Zhu, Y. (Participant), Azadian Qomi, M. (Participant) & Cui, N. (Participant)
29 Aug 2025 → 30 Aug 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising an event e.g. a conference, workshop, …
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Studies in Materialistic Historiography
Brillhart, A. (Speaker)
8 Jun 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Presentation at conference/workshop/seminar
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Nexus 2025: Relationship Between Architecture and Mathematics
Brillhart, A. (Participant)
5 Jun 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participating in an event e.g. a conference, workshop, …
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Department of Architecture Final Year Project Guest Lecture Series 2024-25
Qiu, J. (Chair), Dong, Y. (Organiser), Zhu, Z. (Organiser), Albano, S. (Organiser), Yang, J. (Organiser), Brillhart, A. (Organiser), Baek, M. J. (Member of programme committee), Roslan, S. B. (Member of programme committee), Tan, Z. (Participant), Pan, W. (Participant), Liu, Z. (Participant), Zhang, X. (Participant), Raffa, A. (Participant) & Leone, M. (Participant)
7 Mar 2025 → 22 Apr 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising an event e.g. a conference, workshop, …