Projects per year
Personal profile
Personal profile
As a scholar and architect specialising in the digital design and fabrication of conventional Chinese timber structures, I have had the privilege of designing numerous projects within this niche. In addition, I have been honoured to act as a reviewer for scholarly conferences, leading workshops and presenting lectures at numerous universities and institutions. I also spent more than three years imparting knowledge about robotic fabrication and digital design modules at the highly reputed University of Liverpool. Moreover, I have many academic publications in my name that focus on digital design and robotic fabrication. My research predominantly revolves around digital design, traditional timber structures, robotic fabrication, digital heritage, and computer vision-object detection
Research interests
Robotic fabrication, Digital design, Traditional Chinese timber structure, Discrete design, Heritage conservation, Computer Vision-Object Detection
Awards and honours
Hawthorn Prize for most impressive Pavilion, Fabfest2018.London.
Related documents
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Reinterpreting the Dougong: Developing a design-to-fabrication framework for utilising the Dougong in contemporary architecture, University of Liverpool
2019 → 2024
Award Date: 1 Jul 2024
External positions
Reviewer, ARCH707: Research Methodology, University of Liverpool
2023 → 2024
Teaching assistant, ARCH261: Structure Design, , University of Liverpool
2021 → 2023
Tutor, ARCH730, Digital design, University of Liverpool
2020 → 2024
Senior assistant Architect, Jincheng Hewei Planning & Design Group, Shanxi Province
2019
Assistant Architect, PLANNING&DESIGN CONSULTANTS COMPANY, Shanxi Province
2012
Research areas
- Digital Heritage
- Robotic Fabrication
- Digital Design
- Computer Vision-Object Detection
- Descrete Design
- Digital timber design
Keywords
- NA Architecture
- Digital Desgin
- Robotic Fabrication
- Digital Heritage
- Computer Vision-Object Detection
- Digital timber design
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):
-
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
-
SDG 4 Quality Education
-
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
-
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
-
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
-
SDG 13 Climate Action
-
SDG 14 Life Below Water
-
SDG 15 Life on Land
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
-
An Adaptive Reinterpretation of Song-style Dougong in Contemporary Design through Digital Design and Fabrication
Zhao, J. (PI)
1/07/25 → 30/06/28
Project: Internal Research Project
-
Reinterpreting Traditional Windows Lattices Patterns in Contemporary Design through Parametric Design and Digital Fabrication
Zhao, J. (PI)
1/07/25 → 31/08/25
Project: Internal Research Project
-
Automated Recognition of Traditional Tall-Window Lattice Patterns in Suzhou Gardens: A Comparative Study of YOLO Models and H-Scan Tool Implementation
Zhao, J., Liu, J. & Lombardi, D., Jan 2026, (Accepted/In press) xArch Symposium 2026: From Inspiration to Solutions. SpringerResearch output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Proceeding › peer-review
-
Detecting Traditional Chinese Window Patterns in Suzhou Gardens Using YOLOv8: A Computer Vision Approach to Architectural Heritage Recognition
Zhao, J., Liu, J. & Lombardi, D., Apr 2026, CAADRIA 2026: Humanistic Computation & Intelligence.Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Proceeding › peer-review
-
Integrated Acoustic Geometry: Towards Multi-Objective Design and Robotic Fabrication of Acoustic Wall Systems
Liu, J., Zhao, J. & Song, Y., 26 Apr 2026, Humanistic Computation and Intelligence: Proceedings of the 31st International Conference of the Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA). Makki, M., Chen, J., Chien, S.-F. N., Liu, J., Wang, L. & Wang, S.-Y. (eds.). Hsinchu, Taiwan, Vol. 3. p. 349-356 8 p. (CAADRIA).Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Proceeding › peer-review
-
RIBA Asia Pacific Awards Exhibition: Shanghai International Architecture Festival Pavillion
Dall'Asta, J. C. (Producer), Rolla, S. (Designer), Schnabel, M. A. (Producer), Song, Y. (Designer), Zhao, J. (Designer), Longo, G. (Designer) & Wang, X. (Other), 31 Mar 2026Research output: Practice-based research output › Design, Architecture, Interiors
-
Unfolding Complexity: XJTLU Design School at SIP Youth Art Week
Longo, G. (Producer), Qiu, J. (Producer), Albano, S. (Designer), Song, Y. (Designer), Zhao, J. (Designer) & Jiang, L. (Designer), 30 Apr 2026Research output: Practice-based research output › Exhibition/ Event/ Festival › Curated works: Physical Exhibition/ Event/ Festival
Activities
-
Adapative Horizons: Designing for Uncertainty and Transformation; 32nd international CAADRIA Conference
Schnabel, M. A. (Chair), Lombardi, D. (Chair), Wang, L. (Member of programme committee), Liu, J. (Member of programme committee), Zhu, Z. (Member of programme committee), Han, J. (Member of programme committee), Essen, I. (Member of programme committee), Zhao, J. (Member of programme committee), Roslan, S. B. (Member of programme committee) & Cheung, H. (Organiser)
29 Mar 2026 → 3 Apr 2027Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising an event e.g. a conference, workshop, …
-
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, …
-
CAADRIA 2026 (Event)
Zhao, J. (Reviewer)
Sept 2025 → Dec 2025Activity: Peer-review and editorial work of publications › Publication Peer-review
-
Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA) (External organisation)
Zhao, J. (Member)
Sept 2025 → …Activity: Membership › Membership of committee
-
SURF-2025-0165, Reinterpreting Traditional Windows Lattices Patterns in Contemporary Design through Parametric Design and Digital Fabrication
Zhao, J. (Supervisor)
1 Jul 2025 → 31 Aug 2025Activity: Supervision › Completed SURF Project