WE BELIEVED THAT EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH IS THE FOUNDATION OF SUCCESSFUL BUILDING DESIGN, ENABLING TO CREATE SPACES THAT ARE FUNCTIONAL, SUSTAINABLE AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE.
Our research aims to undertake inquiry of design problems into research and contribute to design practice. The point of exploration builds around practice-based problems to advance knowledge at the academe by means of research by design through discovering new processes, tools and new understanding of design theories. By bridging the gap between academe and practice, it enables to challenge the existing theories through projects then turns into fascinating research.
IDA's research interests fall within four focused areas: Smart Hospitality, Computational Design and Sustainable Hotel Building Design Smart Hospitality that are focused on integrating smart and ubiquitous technologies to improve human comfort, experience, wellness and visual perception of hotel spaces.
Computational Design that is centered at the intersection of the application of digital innovation management for improving and enhancing hotel design and Sustainable Design in the Tropics focused on developing new knowledge, processes to address the challenges faced in creating hotel buildings that are reactive intelligent and energy efficient.
design research cluster
COMPUTATIONAL DESIGN TO
IMPROVE HOTEL DESIGN
This research investigates around computational design tools for supporting design intensive problems in building design. The mission of the team is to question the design quality of the built environment through research centered around digital technologies for design, documentation and construction procurement. It aims to evaluate topics related to design computation and envelop optimization particularly:
Building Information Modelling (BIM)
Building Performance Modelling (BFM)
Facade Optimization
Biomimetics
Computational BIM
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN OF HOTELS
The climate change have put building engineered for the tropics the issues of increasing demand of the thermal comfort requirements and at the same time confronted by the challenge of building design that is sustainable and resilient. This research cluster is focused on evaluating issues of sustainable hotel building design in the tropics specifically developing new knowledge, processes and building typologies for turning spatial concepts and ideas such as:
Energy Performance & Optimization
Active Building Systems
Climate Responsive Hotel Design
Passive Hotel Building Strategies
Biophilic Design
SMART HOSPITALITY
Hospitality design that are focused on theorizing the current design trends of branded luxury hotels and resorts through integrating smart and ubiquitous technologies to improve human comfort, experience, wellness and visual perception of hotel spaces such as:
Smart Technologies
Hi-tech Systems and Apps
Ubiquitous Computing in Hotels
Human Perception and Cognition
Virtual and Augmented Reality
INTEGRATING CULTURE IN HOSPITALIY DESIGN
Examines how hotels can express local identity while enhancing guest experiences, supporting communities, and promoting sustainable tourism. This is an increasingly important topic in hospitality, architecture, and interior design because travelers often seek authentic cultural experiences rather than standardized accommodations.
Cultural Identity in Hotel Architecture
Hotel Interior Design Inspired by Local Culture
Guest Experience and Cultural Authenticity
Community-based Hospitality
Cultural Branding in Hotels
CURRENT + PAST RESEARCH initiatives
SMART HOSPITALITY:
HUMAN PERCEPTION
+ COGNITION
01
05/20
02
05/2026
DESIGNING HOTELS IN A HOT HUMID CONDITIONS
03
05/2026
HOSPITALITY DESIGN FOR THE GEN Z AND BEYOND
03/2023
04
ENERGY EFFICIENT HOTEL DESIGN THROUGH BUILDING PERFORMANCE MODELLING
05/2025
05
CULTURAL IDENTITY IN HOTEL INTERIORS
10/25
06
REGENERATIVE TOURISM AND COMMUNITY BASED HOSPITALITY DESIGN
03/23
07
FOOD CULTURE, HOSPITALITY AND FOOD & BEVERAGE DESIGN