About

José Pinto Duarte is the Stuckeman Chair in Design Innovation and director of the Stuckeman Center for Design Computing (SCDC). He is an accomplished scholar with a record of innovative leadership, guiding the ongoing research and direction of the SCDC. Duarte obtained his doctoral degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and has contributed significantly to the fields of architecture and design through his work in shape grammars, digital prototyping, and fabrication. His scholarly work in shape grammars is considered among the most highly recognized internationally, with a substantial publication record including peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and patents. Duarte has helped launch groundbreaking, technology-oriented architecture degrees and programs at universities in Portugal, where he also helped establish a digital prototyping and fabrication lab. Most recently, he served as dean of the Technical University of Lisbon School of Architecture. His career includes fostering multi-national partnerships, uniting academic research with industry, and leading interdisciplinary research efforts. Duarte has held leadership roles such as president of eCAADe, a European association dedicated to education and research in computer-aided architectural design, and has been involved in numerous innovative projects and research initiatives focused on sustainable design, digital fabrication, and advanced materials.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Sociology
• History
• Anthropology
• Programming language
• Construction engineering
• Materials science
• Composite material
• Engineering
• Art
• Visual arts
• Genealogy
• Manufacturing engineering
• Structural engineering
• Systems engineering
• Biology
• Mechanical engineering
• Archaeology
• Psychology

Selected publications

• Evaluating Computational Tools for Simulating Small-Scale Surface Water in Landscape Design

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2025-01-01

  preprintOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Informal housing settlements and code compliance: the case of Santa Marta favela

  Architecture_MPS · 2025-06-25 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  This article discusses the impact of building and planning codes on the improvement of affordable housing settlements. It is part of a larger research project that proposes a framework for the planning of affordable housing, based on the model of a type of informal Brazilian settlement, the favela. The purpose of this article is to contribute to the literature that reveals how planning and building codes relate to opportunities for the improvement of affordable housing settlements. The article also demonstrates how alternative assessment tools can provide a more holistic evaluation for a housing settlement, offering suggestions for the general improvement of the neighbourhood. This article considers affordable housing that is produced specifically for low-income families. Its production is subsidised by the Brazilian government and the monthly payment of the loan (or rent, in some rarer cases) cannot be more than 30 per cent of the family’s income. Despite the government’s efforts, the estimated housing shortage in Brazil in 2024 totals 6 million residences. Throughout the twentieth century in Brazil there were numerous efforts by the federal and local governments to address the problem of housing shortage. There were also many attempts to eradicate favelas, which were always seen by the public as places of poverty, misery and criminality. This article analyses how a case study, the Santa Marta favela in Rio de Janeiro, complies with local and building codes. It also uses a qualitative tool for assessing housing quality to evaluate the same case.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Beyond trial and error: toward construction-aware early design optimization considering robotic capabilities

  Architecture Structures and Construction · 2025-01-22 · 2 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Vision-based sensing and digital twin technologies in conformal 3D concrete printing: exploring operational accuracy, adaptability, and scalability, and investigating monitoring capabilities in large-scale applications

  Construction Robotics · 2025-01-17 · 7 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Design exploration of robotically assembled cross-laminated timber houses with sequential path planning

  Automation in Construction · 2025-11-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Extreme Design: An Editorial on a New Research Framework Within Engineering Design

  Journal of Mechanical Design · 2025-09-19

  article

  Abstract Extreme design (XD) is a proposed research framework addressing engineering design's outer edges of complexity and uncertainty. As the scale and urgency of global challenges grow, such as climate change, autonomous systems, and aging populations, so does the need for design approaches that go beyond conventional methods and models. XD offers a way to approach design problems that are dynamic, interdisciplinary, and fundamentally hard to frame but have humanity at their core. This editorial introduces XD as a framework for developing new theories, methods, and tools suited to extreme conditions. It outlines research opportunities in adaptive systems, creative processes, multiscale prototyping, convergent collaboration, and sustainability. A complexity–uncertainty matrix positions XD relative to conventional and emerging design approaches. We aim to open a conversation—not to define XD fully, but to signal its necessity and invite the design research community to explore and shape it. The challenges ahead will not be solved by incremental improvement in how we approach design. They will require something new. We feel XD is a step in that direction.

  PublisherDOI

• A Systematic Review of Innovative Advances in Multi-Material Additive Manufacturing: Implications for Architecture and Construction

  Materials · 2025-04-16 · 10 citations

  reviewOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Additive manufacturing (AM) has made rapid progress in most industries; however, the construction sector lags behind, despite substantial potential for growth. This study aims to evaluate recent innovations in AM, with a focus on multi-material additive manufacturing (MMAM), to identify transferable knowledge and technologies for the construction industry. A systematic Boolean search reviewing the Scopus and Web of Science databases identified 33 relevant articles out of 368 papers published in English over the last five years. Material properties, manufacturing processes, and design approaches were collectively identified as key interdisciplinary factors; these included thermal and mechanical property gradation techniques from materials science, multi-scale optimization approaches from engineering, and real-time monitoring systems from manufacturing, which are each transferable to architectural applications. Bibliometric analysis demonstrated growing research trajectories in AI-driven optimization methods and functionally graded materials that could bridge the implementation gap in construction. This article identifies significant knowledge gaps in scaling laboratory-proven MMAM techniques to architectural applications, including material interface challenges, environmental durability concerns, and the absence of design tools specific to building-scale components. We provide a critical roadmap for researchers that prioritizes the development of integrated optimization frameworks; multiscale modeling techniques; novel material combinations suitable for construction environments; and standardized protocol bases for Equipment Design, Process Control, Design Integration, Digital Tools, and Materials Research for evaluating the long-term performance and safety of MMAM building components.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Flexural Strength of 3D Printed Concrete Beams: Exploring Barbed-Wire Reinforcement and Cross-Sectional Geometry

  Rilem bookseries · 2024-01-01 · 2 citations

  book-chapterSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• 3D concrete printing of self-supported filaments via entrained cables: constructing formwork-free spanning structures

  Virtual and Physical Prototyping · 2024-07-29 · 3 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  3D concrete printing (3DCP) enhances design flexibility, reduces construction costs and lowers environmental impact. Traditionally used for wall fabrication, this study introduces a system for printing self-supporting spanning structures using reinforced concrete filaments with tensioned cables, eliminating the need for formwork. The research involved conceptual design and prototyping to integrate cables into the printing process, as well as structural testing of a small-scale model consisting of a reinforced filament. Numerical analysis using the concrete damage plasticity model (CDP) and the traction-separation model simulated the filament's non-linear behaviour and damage. Compared with experimental data, numerical analysis showed good accuracy. Reinforced filaments exhibited a significant increase in flexural strength, from 1.2 kgf·m to 5.0 kgf·m, compared to non-reinforced filaments. Results confirm the feasibility of the proposed method, though challenges remain in ensuring long-term functionality and scalability. Improving the bond between concrete and cables, refining printing parameters and exploring alternative materials are key aspects. While this study focuses on reinforced filaments as proof of concept, future work will address multifilament and multilayer elements like slabs.HighlightsA process for 3D concrete printing spanning structures without formwork was developed.A custom device unwinds cables and prints the concrete filament on top, making it self-supported.Kevlar cables were shown to be compatible with the process, while basalt cables presented difficulties.The flexural strength of cable-entrained filaments improves significantly compared to those without cables.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Developing a data-driven filament shape prediction model for 3D concrete printing

  Frontiers in Built Environment · 2024-02-29 · 11 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  With the growing global need for housing and infrastructure, 3D concrete printing (3DCP) has emerged as an innovative construction method offering several potential benefits including design flexibility, speed, and sustainability. However, enhancing the reliability of 3DCP involves managing a variety of parameters that influence various aspects of the 3D printed structure. Process parameters like nozzle velocity, nozzle diameter, nozzle height, and material flow velocity have a major impact on the structural stability and filament shape. This project aimed to develop fast and accurate data-driven models for predicting and classifying filament shape based on process parameters. A print experiment systematically varied process parameters across 144 samples. The resulting filament geometry (width, height, contact width) was measured and classified by quality. Models were trained on this data to predict filament width, contact width, filament height, and classify filaments. These models can be utilized with any buildable material - a material with a high enough yield stress to bear the weight of upper layers without significant deformation. This condition does not restrict this study’s scope as it is a prerequisite for all 3DCP applications. The models’ robustness and generalizability were confirmed through validation on literature data across various printable materials and setups. These data-driven models can aid in optimizing parameters, generating variable width filaments, and printing non-planar layers. By linking print inputs to filament outputs, this comprehensive modeling approach advances 3DCP research for more reliable and versatile concrete printing.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Michael Krüger

  25 shared

• Shadi Nazarian

  24 shared

• Eduardo Castro e Costa

  University of Bath

  24 shared

• José Beirão

  23 shared

• Elena Vazquez

  University of North Carolina at Charlotte

  16 shared

• Deborah Benrós

  University of East London

  16 shared

• Helena Bártolo

  Instituto Politécnico de Leiria

  15 shared

• Joaquim Jorge

  15 shared

Education

• Habilitation

  Faculdade de Arquitectura, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa

  2008

• PhD, Department of Architecture

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  2001

• S.M.Arch.S., Architecture

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  1993

• Lic. Arch.

  Faculdade de Arquitectura, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa

  1987

Awards & honors

• Architecture Research Centers Consortium (ARCC) Research Inc…
• American Institute of Architects (AIA) Upjohn Research Initi…
• NASA 3D-printed Mars Habitat Challenge, Phase 3 – On-Site Ha…
• NASA 3D-printed Mars Habitat Challenge, Phase 3 – On-Site Ha…
• NASA 3D-printed Mars Habitat Challenge, Phase 3 – On-Site Ha…