eCAADe 2024

From September 9 to 13, 2024, the University of Cyprus hosted the 42nd annual eCAADe conference in Nicosia, welcoming more than 200 participants from 17 countries, including Canada, China, Germany, Japan, and the United States.

Under the theme “Data-Driven Intelligence“, the conference explored the future possibilities, advantages, and disadvantages that data-driven intelligence brings to architectural knowledge and practice. The event featured 17 conference tracks, covering topics such as “Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Deep Learning for Design and Built Environment“, “Numerical Control and Robotic Fabrication”, as well as “Education in Computational Design and Digital Fabrication“. More than 140 submissions from academics, scholars, students, and practitioners were presented during the conference. The full list of proceedings is available here.

The Department of Architecture of the University of Cyprus organized and hosted the event, renowned for its ability to merge architectural design with cutting-edge technology. Dr. Odysseas Kontovourkis and Dr. Marios C. Phocas, both from the University of Cyprus, served as Conference Chairs, ensuring a seamless experience for all participants. This conference is part of the eCAADe series, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the use of computers in architectural research and education.

The eCAADe 2024 Conference commenced with pre-conference workshops on September 9-10 at UCY’s old campus, providing hands-on experiences in topics like “Training 3D-AI Models for the Early-Stage Architectural Design Phase”, and “Exploring Building Topology Through Graph Machine Learning”, as well as a PhD Workshop.

From September 11, the conference transitioned to the new campus of the University of Cyprus, where keynote speakers Branko Kolarevic (New Jersey Institute of Technology), Georg Vrachliotis (TU Delft), and Achim Menges (University of Stuttgart) gave inspiring presentations on the future of architectural design by data-driven intelligence and integrated robotic fabrication.

Furthermore, the Conference featured two awards recognizing excellent contributions to research and practice. The “Best Presentation” Award, sponsored by Bentley Systems, was awarded to Ohad Yaacov Meyuhas from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology for his groundbreaking work. At the same time, the “Ivan Petrovic” Award was nominated to Panayiotis N. Panayiotou from the University of Cyprus.

Participants also enjoyed opportunities to explore the capital of Cyprus and its rich architecture through various social events. On September 11, attendees toured Nicosia’s old town, visiting landmarks such as Famagusta Gate, the Venetian Walls, and Zaha Hadid’s Eleftheria Square, with the evening culminating in a welcome cocktail at the historic Old Town Hall of Nicosia. The following day, a traditional Cypriot dinner was held at a local tavern, featuring local dishes and a captivating folklore dance performance. The conference concluded with a rooftop farewell ceremony, offering stunning views of the city.

Special thanks are extended to our conference supporters:

1. Deputy Ministry of Tourism, the government body responsible for developing, enhancing, and upgrading Cyprus’s tourism products.
2. Bentley Systems, a global leader in infrastructure engineering software, supporting the development of sustainable and innovative design solutions.

EasyConferences supported the organization of the event, providing the online registration system, abstract submission platform, website, social media coordination, and overall secretariat support.

The next eCAADe Conference will take place in Ankara, Turkey.

Explore the eCAADe 2024 photo gallery to relive the memorable moments captured throughout the event. Please share your favorite photos and experiences by uploading them to the official conference Twitter account.