Projects per year
Personal profile
Personal profile
Professor Marc Aurel Schnabel is a recognised expert in digital transformation, -design, -heritage, intelligent cities, and extended reality environments. With over 30 years of experience spanning Germany, China, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, his career bridges academia and the creative fields. Now, as the Dean of the Design School at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, he guides four departments – Architecture, Civil Engineering, Industrial Design, and Urban Planning and Design – and their research centres.
Previously, he was the Founding Director of the FORUM8 Research Lab, the Japanese leader in virtual city/building simulation, at the Cambridge Innovation Center in Tokyo. Trained as an Architect, Professor Schnabel has held leadership roles, including the Deanship of a New Zealand University, Presidencies of the Architectural Science Association (ANZAScA), the Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA), and the Autodesk Industry Advisory Board, and Principal Investigator of New Zealand's National Science Challenge, 'Better Homes, Towns, and Cities'.
He has been awarded Fellowships by the Architectural Science Association (ANZAScA), CAADRIA, and Salzburg Global. He is a member of the Austrian Science Fund's PEEK - Arts-Based Research Board as an expert in design and a partner of the European Union's REACH (RE-designing Access to Cultural Heritage). He has curated several digital architectural exhibitions, including Ars Electronica Aotearoa, and founded the Digital Architecture Research Alliance (DARA) and the online network Urban Digitalics, connecting professionals and researchers in innovative digital design.
Throughout his career, Professor Schnabel has combined academic leadership with interdisciplinary research to contribute to developing sustainable, intelligent, and innovative design practices.
Research interests
Virtual Augmented Environments / Metaverse
Digital Design Andragogy
Sentimental City Design
Urban Digital Twin
Real-time intelligent city simulations
CIM/BIM
Blockchain for the Construction Sector / Web3
Digital Supported Participatory Design
Digital Heritage
Smart Heritage
Computational Manga
Experience
Dean, Design School Design, XJTLU, since 2023
Founding Director, CIC FORUM8 Research Lab, Tokyo, Japan, 2022-2023
Dean, Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation, VUW, Wellington, New Zealand, 2015-2022
Visiting Professor School of Architecture, Sheffield University, UK, 2015-2018
Visiting Professor College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shenzhen University, China, 2009-2010
Associate Professor, School of Architecture, CUHK, Hong Kong, 2008-2014
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning, USYD, Sydney, Australia 2006-2008
Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, HKU, Hong Kong, 1996-2005
Architectural Designer HO+K (Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum), Berlin, Germany, 1994-1995
Architectural Designer Langhof Architekten, Berlin, Germany, 1991-1994
Teaching
ARC408 Dissertation
ARC409 Architectural Design and Research Methods
Awards and honours
Fellow, Architectural Science Association (ANZAScA), 2024
Fellow, Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA), 2019
Fellow, Salzburg Global, 2005
Top Innovation Award (TIA), Ecological Design Award, China Industrial Design Association (CIDA), China, 2019
Partner, Ars Electronica Aotearoa, since 2021
Partner, REACH, European Union, since 2019
FORUM8 Academic Research Award, 2022
WORLD16 Academic Innovation Award, 2021
Global Design Industry Organization (GDIO), China, International Logo Design Competition, Recommendation, 2020
Best Supervisor Award, VUW, PGSA, 2016
People’s Prize Award Teaching and Learning Innovation Expo 2012, CUHK, 2012
Otto Wagner Städtebaupreis, International Award for Architecture & Urban Design, Vienna, Austria, Special Merit, 1995
Bauhaus future, European Competition for a new Bauhaus-School in Dessau, Germany, Special Merit, 1994
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):
Related documents
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, The University of Hong Kong, 2004
M.Ed, The University of Sydney, 2006
Dipl.Ing, The University of the Arts Berlin, 1995
External positions
Fellow, Architectural Science Association (ANZAScA)
2024 → …
Member, New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA)
2022 → …
Member, New Zealand Institute of Building (NZIOB)
2022 → …
Partner, Ars Electronica Linz GmbH
2021 → …
Assessor, Australian Research Council
2021 → …
Member, Visual Effects Society
2021 → …
Fellow, Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA)
2019 → …
FWF PEEK-Board Member (Design), Austrian Science Fund FWF
2019 → …
Assessor, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
2015 → …
Visiting Professor, University of Sheffield
2014 → 2018
President, Architectural Science Association (ANZAScA)
2013 → 2020
Chair, Autodesk Industry Advisory Board
2013 → 2015
Member, Digital Architecture Design Association
2013 → …
Founding Member, buildingSMART HK
2013 → 2015
Member, Construction Industry Council
2012 → 2015
Chief Administrative Officer, Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA)
2011 → …
International and Mainland Affairs Committee, Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design (HKIUD)
2011 → …
Member, Hong Kong Institute of Building Information Modelling (HKIBIM)
2010 → 2020
Visiting Professor, Shenzhen University
2009 → 2010
President, Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA)
2008 → 2010
Fellow, Salzburg Global Seminar
2005 → …
Member, Berufsverband Freischaffender Architekten & Bauingenieure, (B.A.B.)
1998 → …
Keywords
- NA Architecture
- Digital Desgin
- Virtual & Augmented Environments
- Digital Heritage
- Sentimental City Design
- Computational architecture
- Smart Heritage
- L Education (General)
- Higher Education
- Digital Design Andragogy
- TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
- Architectural Technology
- Architectural Science
- Architecture
- Computer graphics
- Urban Digital Twin
- CIM
- Blockchain for the Construction Sector
- Computational Manga
- Real-time intelligent city simulations
- Web3
- BIM
Person Types
- Staff
Fingerprint
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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IITD-NZ Center: Building Code Checker Model on BIM Structural Models using AI
Muthuveerappan, C. & Schnabel, M. A.
1/07/22 → 31/12/24
Project: Governmental Research Project
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Creative New Zealand
Liu, Y., Schnabel, M. A., Rieger, U. & Moleta, T.
1/03/21 → 31/12/22
Project: Governmental Research Project
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Comparing virtual reality simulations for studying humans’ emotional and mental perception of space
Schnabel, M. A. & Maghool, S. A. H.
1/03/20 → 31/08/21
Project: Internal Research Project
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Urban Big Data Application For Wellington
Schnabel, M. A. & Sayah, I.
1/01/18 → 1/03/19
Project: Internal Research Project
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National Science Challenge: Building Better Homes, Towns, Cities
Schnabel, M. A. & Haarhoff, E.
1/03/16 → 31/12/19
Project: Governmental Research Project
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A design methodology to consider occupants’ spatial adjustment and manage view content in adaptive façade design for improving visual comfort
Abdollahi Rizi, R., Bagherzadeh, F., Schnabel, M. A. & Bakshi, N., 25 Jan 2024, In: Architectural Engineering and Design Management. 20, 1, p. 168-190 23 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2 Citations (Scopus) -
Multimodality in Virtual Co-urban Design
Chowdhury, S. & Schnabel, M. A., 13 Jan 2024, Multimodality in Architecture. Lee, J-H., Ostwald, M. J. & Kim, M. J. (eds.). Springer,Cham, p. 65-78Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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UPD110 Neighbourhood Planning open space exhibition
Chang, Y., Kim, K., Schnabel, M. A., Wang, R., Kim, J. S., Wang, X., Lee, J. H., Cho, H. R., Sturup, S., Liu, G., Liu, Y. & Lu, Y., 22 May 2024Research output: Practice-based research output › Exhibition/ Event/ Festival › Curated works: Physical Exhibition/ Event/ Festival
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Architectural Design Andragogy: Insights from Online Learning
Thilakaratne, R. & Schnabel, M. A., 4 Dec 2023, Sustainability and Health: The nexus of carbon neutral architecture and well-being: 56th International Conference of the Architectural Science Association (ANZAScA). Australia: Architectural Science Association, p. 92-103 12 p. (Proceedings of the International Conference of Architectural Science Association).Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Proceeding › peer-review
Open Access -
DESIGNING FOR THE LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE: An Integrated Material Environment Visibility Framework for New Zealand Designers
Muthuveerappan, C., Schnabel, M. A. & Simpson, R., Apr 2023, HUMAN-CENTRIC - Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia, CAADRIA 2023. Koh, I., Reinhardt, D., Makki, M., Khakhar, M. & Bao, N. (eds.). The Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA), p. 423-432 10 p. (Proceedings of the International Conference on Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia; vol. 1).Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Proceeding › peer-review
Open Access
Activities
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Immersive Design Legacies: Intelligent Design Innovation - at the Cumulus Regional Seminar 2024: Design for Inter-Cultural Innovation
Marc Aurel Schnabel (Keynote speaker)
29 Nov 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Keynote Speech
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Fellow Architectural Science Association (ANZAScA)
Marc Aurel Schnabel (Participant)
28 Nov 2024Activity: Other › Honorary Position
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Juror of Lilac Creative Design Award (LDA), Harbin
Marc Aurel Schnabel (Participant)
26 Nov 2024 → 20 Dec 2024Activity: Other › Honorary Position
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Emerging Technologies Shaping the Future of Design
Giancarlo Di Marco (Speaker) & Marc Aurel Schnabel (Speaker)
23 Nov 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Immersive Heritage Legacies: The Construction of Resilience in Cultural Heritage
Marc Aurel Schnabel (Keynote speaker)
19 Oct 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Keynote Speech