WELCOME TO MY PAGE

mehdi@abiandesign.com.au

Mehdi Amirkhani - Accredited Home Energy Efficiency Assessor

Dr Mehdi Amirkhani

Online Lecturer at the University of South Australia
Accredited Home Energy Efficiency Assessor (DMN/22/2075)
Founder and Director of Abian Design Studio

PhD, M. Arch., B. Arch.
Certificate IV in Home Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

Dr Mehdi Amirkhani has significant experience teaching environmental technology. These include units centred around lighting, energy estimation, thermal comfort, acoustics (speech privacy and speech intelligibility) and computational simulation programs. In particular, Mehdi's expertise includes strategies for applying environmental technologies in sustainable design and building retrofitting that facilitate occupants' health and well-being.

Mehdi is an active researcher in building environmental technologies, building systems and services, building retrofitting, sustainable design, net-zero energy buildings and indoor environmental quality. His PhD thesis established an innovative approach to lighting design in office buildings that optimised the visual comfort (electric and daylight) and energy consumption performance of commercial façades.

Dr Mehdi Amirkhani is a Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) Accredited Assessors. He also has more than twelve years of practical experience as an Architect in Australia and overseas. He is an Editor and Reviewer of several scientific journals and international conferences. Mehdi is a Co-director of the Zero Energy Mass Custom Home (ZEMCH) Network, an Associate Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy (AFHEA) and a member of the Architectural Science Association (ASA). He is the Founder and Director of Abian Design Studio.

Net-zero Smart Housing │ Australia │ Abian Design Studio │ Energy Rating

THINK THANK TEAM

DEAKIN UNIVERSITY - 2021

Won the SECOND PRIZE among 26 teams (100 students) from 10 prestigious universities in Australia. I have been heavily involved in supervising the team from the initial design stage to the final output.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

A Scenario-Based Spatial Multi-Criteria Decision-Making System for Urban Environment Quality Assessment: Case Study of Tehran

Environmental Technology Applications in the Retrofitting of Residential Buildings

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ)
Environmental experience and human behaviour
Building retrofitting
Zero-energy mass custom home design
Building technologies
Building Information Modelling (BIM)

SOFTWARE SKILLS

SPSS, NVivo, Gephi, VOSviewer, and CiteScape
BESS, NatHERS, STORM, and FirstRate5
Environmental performance assessment tools
BIM tools (e.g. ArchiCAD, Revit, SketchUp, etc.)
Rendering engines (e.g. Enscape, Lumion)
Online learning management systems

RESUME

Home Energy Assessor │ Australia │ Abian Design Studio

Founder and Director

Abian Design Studio (ADS)

Apr 2014 - Present

Australia

At Abian Design Studio, our mission is to empower homeowners, designers, and builders to create sustainable, energy-efficient, smart homes/ apartments. We believe that homeowners can reduce their environmental footprint and save on energy costs by adopting sustainable energy solutions. Our company offers personalised home design, and energy efficiency assessments, integrates smart home technology, and provides renewable energy solutions to help homeowners achieve their sustainability goals.

Co-founder and Director

Environmental Energy Services (EES)

Apr 2020 - Mar 2022

Melbourne, Australia

Environmental Energy Services (EES) was created as a visionary and revolutionary entity to commercialise new products that will disrupt the energy services requirements for combined hybrid conditioning with heating and cooling and domestic hot and cold water. These new cost-effective and efficient natural energy-based products will be incorporated into low-cost, affordable modular housing.

Architect

Azad University

Sep 2007 - Oct 2013

Iran

Designed, documented and managed the construction of several educational, residential and landscape projects while providing consultations to improve the energy performance of buildings.

Head of Development and Renovation Deputy

Engineering Department of the Police Commander

Jan 2011 - May 2012

Khuzestan, Iran

Led a team of two architects, eight civil engineers, and two project managers plus managing subcontract packages.

Invited Lecturer

The University of Melbourne

Jan 2024

Melbourne, Australia

ABPL90394 ZEMCH Sustainable Design Workshop – Master of Architecture

I delivered a two-hour lecture on Lighting and daylighting systems.

Invited Lecturer

Thiagarajar, College of Engineering

Apr 2023

India

ZEMCH Design Workshop

I delivered a two-hour lecture entitled "Lighting Concepts and Simulation for Zero Energy Mass Custom Homes"

Invited Lecturer

The University of Melbourne

Jan 2022

Melbourne, Australia

ARCH30004 Environmental Design in Housing – Bachelor of Architecture
ABPL90394 ZEMCH Sustainable Design Workshop – Master of Architecture

I delivered Lectures on Lighting, water management, and indoor environmental quality (IEQ).

Invited Lecturer

United Arab Emirates University

Oct 2021

UAE

ZEMCH Design Workshop

This intensive (5 days (9 am to 5 pm)) workshop was a cooperation effort between 8 universities from 5 different countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, UAE, India and South Korea.

I delivered several lectures during this workshop. I also coordinated the ZOOM lectures and seminars.

Invited Lecturer

Northumbria University

Feb 2020

Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

KA4028 - Introduction to Environmental and Constructional Design (Bachelor of Architecture (Hons) and Bachelor of Interior Design)

I delivered a two-hour lecture about daylighting design principles and running a one-hour design workshop.

Online Lecturer - Full time

University of South Australia (UniSA)

Dec 2021 - Present

Adelaide, Australia

I have facilitated and delivered the following courses within Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours) (XHCM), and Bachelor of Construction Management (XBBE):

CIVE2015 UO Construction Environmental Science (XBBE, XHCM and Master of Architecture) - 2022 - 2024
BUIL4040 UO Construction Management Research Principles (XHCM) - 2023 - 2024
CIVE4047 UO Construction Management Honours Research Project A (XHCM) - 2024
CIVE4048 UO Construction Management Honours Research Project B (XHCM) - 2024
CIVE1006 UO Construction Materials (XBBE and XHCM) - 2024
BUIL1026 UO Introduction to Construction Business Management (XBBE and XHCM) - 2022 - 2023
BUIL3025 UO Project Appraisal (XBBE and XHCM) - 2023
BUIL2028 UO Construction Scheduling (XBBE and XHCM) - 2022
BUIL4034 UO Construction Business Management (XBBE and XHCM) - 2022
BUIL2029 UO Introduction to Contract Administration (XBBE and XHCM) - 2022

I have led the design team and designed and developed the units' content, as well as updated Moodle

CIVE2015 Construction Environmental Science (XHCM and XBBE) - 2022 and 2023

Assistant Lecturer and Senior Tutor

The University of Melbourne

Jun 2019 - Aug 2021

Melbourne, Australia

I have delivered the following units within Master of Architecture (MArch), Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) and Master of Construction Management (MCM):

ARCH30004 Environmental Design in Housing (BArch) - 2019, 2020 and 2021
ABPL90394 ZEMCH Sustainable Design Workshop (MArch) - 2019, 2020 and 2021
ABPL90086 Environmental Systems (BCM) - 2020

I revisited and developed the units' content, as well as updated Canvas. I designed most assignment briefs, rubrics and seminar activities. Not only that, but I also reviewed the units together with the Unit Coordinator after their offer and liaised with him in the modification of the unit catalogue entries, the unit profiles, and the unit contents as appropriate.

Assistant Lecturer, Supervisor and Tutor

Deakin University

Mar 2019 - Dec 2021

Geelong, Australia

I have delivered the following units and supervised students within Master of Architecture (MArch), Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) and Master of Construction Management (MCM) and Bachelor of Construction Management (BCM):

SRT757 Building Systems and Environment (MCM) - 2019, 2020 and 2021
SRM750 Built Environment Professional Practice (MArch/MCM) - 2021
SRT358 Building Environmental Services (BArch/ BCM) - 2021
SRM777 Construction Management Practice (MCM) - 2021
SRR401 Introduction to Construction Research (BCM) - 2021
SRT750 Sustainable Futures (MArch) - 2019 and 2020
SRR721 Construction Research Project (MCM) - 2020
SRT257 Building Environmental Studies 1 (BArch/ BCM) -2019
SRR402 Construction Research Thesis (BCM) - 2019

I revisited and developed the following units' content, as well as updated Canvas. I designed most assignment briefs, rubrics and seminar activities. Not only that, but I also reviewed the units together with the Unit Coordinator after their offer and liaised with him in the modification of the unit catalogue entries, the unit profiles, and the unit contents as appropriate.

SRT757 Building Systems and Environment (MCM) - 2019, 2020 and 2021
SRT750 Sustainable Futures (MArch) - 2019 and 2020

Unit Conveyor and Curriculum Designer

Victoria University

Jul 2019 - Aug 2020

Melbourne, Australia

I have delivered the following units within the Bachelor of Building Design and Building Surveying:

NBC3002 Residential Sustainable Design - 2020
NBC2003 Building Systems and Services - 2019

I led the design and development of these units. I designed complete unit objectives, learning outcomes, teaching plan (before-class activities, in-class activities and after-class activities), teaching materials (PowerPoint Slides), references, assignment briefs, rubrics and the welcoming video.

NBC3003 Building Services Management - 2020
NBC3002 Residential Sustainable Design - 2019

Guest Lecturer and TutorGuest Lecturer and Tutor

Griffith University

Feb 2017 - Jun 2017

Gold Coast, Australia

I have delivered the following units within the Master of Architecture:

7704ENV Advanced Environmental Studies - 2017
7604ENV Advanced Design Technologies - 2017

TTutor

Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

Feb 2016 - Jun 2016

Brisbane, Australia

I have delivered the following units within the Bachelor of Architecture:

DEH701 Research Method - 2016
DAB330 Integrated Technology 1 - 2016

AssoAssociate Lecturer

Azad University

Sep 2007 - Oct 2013

Iran

I have coordinated the following units within the Bachelor of Architecture:

Architectural Design 2 - 2012 and 2013
Architectural Design 3 - 2012 and 2013
Technical Design - 2007 until 2010 plus 2012 and 2013
Final Project - 2012 and 2013
Introduction to Technical Design - 2008 - 2010
Introduction to Architectural Design 2 - 2008 - 2010

Certificate IV in Home Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

Education In Building

2022

Brisbane, Australia

This program is recognised by the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) to become a NatHERS Accredited Assessor.

Teaching Advantage

Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

2016

Brisbane , Australia

Project Management

e-Grad School - Australian Technology Network

2016

Australia

Developing Your Career

e-Grad School - Australian Technology Network

2016

Australia

Critical and Creative Thinking

e-Grad School - Australian Technology Network

2015

Australia

Revit Templates: Views and Sheets

Lynda.com

2018

Online

Revit: Phasing and Design Options

Lynda.com

2018

Online

Revit: Rendering

Lynda.com

2018

Online

Revit 2019: Essential Training for Architecture (Metric)

Lynda.com

2018

Online

Green Building Concepts Foundations

Lynda.com

2018

Online

Doctor of Philosophy, Building Technology - Architecture

Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

2018

Brisbane, Australia

Topic
Innovative integrated window design with an electric lighting design system to reduce lighting intervention in office buildings
Summary
The research specialised in daylight and electric lighting systems for improving the indoor lighting design of office buildings. The results of this work have been presented through two Q1 journal publications, four high-level technical conference proceedings, and several technical meetings within the profession.

Master of Architecture

Azad University

2009

Shoushtar, Iran

A 2-year program accredited by the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA) as comparable to a Master's degree in Architecture in Australia. The specialised research topic was on improving the energy
performance of residential buildings in hot regional climate zones. The outcomes of this study were presented at an international conference.

Bachelor of Architectural Engineering

Azad University

2006

Mashhad, Iran

A 4.5-year (9 Semesters full-time equivalent) program accredited by AACA as comparable to a Bachelor's degree/Bachelor's degree with Honours in Architecture in Australia. This program is highly recognised for its strength in reinforcing architectural design and documentation capabilities, emphasising systems, environmental performance, functionality, and social impacts of buildings.

Co-Director

ZEMCH Network - Australia

Apr 2019 - Present

Australia

I brought academics and experts from five Australian universities together to establish the Australian Chapter of Zero Energy Mass Custom Home Network.

Board Member

ZEMCH Network - Global

Feb 2022 - Present

International

Full Member - SIRM: UniSA

Sustainable Infrastructure and Resource Management (SIRM)

Feb 2023 - Present

Adelaide, Australia

Member

Australian Academic Integrity Network (AAIN)

May 2023 - Present

Australia

Academic Integrity Officers (AIO)

University of South Australia (UniSA)

Jun 2022 - Present

Adelaide, Australia

Associate Fellow - Recognition reference: PR124060

UK Higher Education Academy (HEA)

Jan 2017 - Present

UK

Corporate Member (Full Member)

Design Matters National (DMN)

Jan 2022 - Present

Australia

I am a Corporate Member of Design Matters National (DMN) as an Accredited Home Energy Efficiency Assessor

NatHERS Accreditations:

Thermal Performance Assessor
Whole of Home Assessment

DMN Accreditation Number: DMN/22/2075

Registered Architect - Grade 2

Iranian Construction Engineering Organization

Jan 2011 - Present

Mashhad, Iran

Books

Noguchi, M., Frattari, A., Formoso, C.T., Altan, H., Onyango, J. O., Kim, J., Tabet Aoul, K. A., Amirkhani, M., & Wilkinson, S. J. (2023). Encyclopedia of ZEMCH Research and Development. MDPI. https://doi.org/10.3390/books978-3-0365-8145-3

Luther, Martek, I., Amirkhani, M., & Zucker, G. (2022). Environmental Technology Applications in the Retrofitting of Residential Buildings. MDPI. https://doi.org/10.3390/books978-3-0365-5270-5

Refereed Journal Papers

Moradi, B., Akbari, R., Taghavi, S. R., Fardad, F., Esmailzadeh, A., Ahmadi, M. Z., Attarroshan, S., Nickravesh, F., Jokar Arsanjani, J., Amirkhani, M., & Martek, I. (2023). A Scenario-Based Spatial Multi-Criteria Decision-Making System for Urban Environment Quality Assessment: Case Study of Tehran. Land, 12(9), 1659. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/9/1659

Luther, Martek, I., Amirkhani, M., & Zucker, G. (2022). Special issue 'environmental technology applications in the retrofitting of residential buildings' Energies, 15(16), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15165956

Do, Luther, M. B., Amirkhani, M., Wang, Z., & Martek, I. (2022). Radiant conditioning retrofitting for residential buildings. Energies, 15(2), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15020449

Amirkhani, M., Martek, I., & Luther, M. (2021), Mapping Research Trends in Residential Construction Retrofitting: A Scientometric Literature Review. Energies, 14, 6106. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14196106

Wang, Z., Luther, M. B., Amirkhani, M., Liu, C., & Horan, P. (2021). State of the Art on Heat Pumps for Residential Buildings. Buildings, 11, 350. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11080350

Aghili, N. & Amirkhani, M. (2021), The SEM-PLS Approach to Energy Management in Green Building. Encyclopedia, 1(2), 472-481. https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia1020039

Amirkhani, M., Garcia-Hansen, V., Isoardi, G., & Allan, A. (2018). Innovative Window Design Strategies to Reduce Negative Lighting Interventions in Office buildings. Energy and Buildings, 179, 253-263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.09.006

Amirkhani, M., Garcia-Hansen, V., Isoardi, G., & Allan, A. (2017). An Energy Efficient Lighting Design Strategy to Enhance Visual Comfort in Offices with Windows. Energies, 10(8), 1126. https://doi.org/10.3390/en10081126

Amirkhani, M. (2014) Overview of design concepts of traditional Iranian architecture and its reflections in contemporary Iranian architecture. Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, 8(12), 78-87.

Refereed Conference Papers

Amirkhani, M., Garcia-Hansen, V., & Isoardi, G. (2016). Reducing luminance contrast on the window wall and users' interventions in an office room. Paper presented at CIE Lighting Quality & Energy Efficiency Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 385-394.

Amirkhani, M., Garcia-Hansen, V., & Isoardi, G. (2015). Improving the impact of luminance contrast on the window appearance in a conventional office room: using supplementary lighting strategies. Paper presented at Living and Learning: Research for a Better Built Environment, 49th International Conference of the Architectural Science Association, Melbourne, Australia, 1129-1138.

Amirkhani, M., Garcia-Hansen, V. and Isoardi, G. (2015) LED lighting design strategies to enhance window appearance and increase energy savings in daylit office spaces, Paper presented at Asia-Pacific Lighting Systems Workshop, Sydney, Australia, 1-7.

Amirkhani, M., Garcia-Hansen, V., & Isoardi, G. (2015). Integrating LED lighting design strategies with side daylighting systems to improve interior lighting design of office buildings. Paper presented at the IASDR 2015 Doctoral Colloquium Conference, Brisbane, Australia.

Industry Presentations

Wang, Z., Luther, M., Luther M., Liu, C. & Amirkhani, M. (2021). Solar-powered Heat Pumps with Energy Storage Systems for Australian Houses, The Architectural Science Association (ANZAScA): Symposium.

Hong, D., Luther, M., Luther M., Martek I. & Amirkhani, M. (2021). Environmental conditioning systems for the Perimeter Zones of Office Buildings, The Architectural Science Association (ANZAScA): Symposium.

Luther M. & Amirkhani, M. (2021). Show me the demonstrator, prefabAUS Industry Summit: Building blocks for sustainable future.

Luther M. & Amirkhani, M. (2020). High Environmental Performance Affordable Housing, prefabAUS Industry Summit: The Future of Construction is Prefab.

Amirkhani, M., Garcia-Hansen, V., & Isoardi, G. (2016). Decreasing luminance contrast on window walls as well as users' interventions: Using LED lighting system, IESANZ Queensland Chapter - Technical Meeting.

Amirkhani, M., Garcia-Hansen, V., & Isoardi, G. (2017). Integrating LED lighting design strategies with side daylighting systems to improve interior lighting design of office buildings. QUT Design Lab HDR Symposium.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

The University of Melbourne

Mar 2021 – Dec 2021

Melbourne, Australia

Worked on the Research for Architects in Small Practice (RSAP) project.

Responsibilities:

Statistical data analysis and co-authoring a scholarly paper for journal publication

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Deakin University

Aug 2021 – Dec 2021

Geelong, Australia

I have worked on scholarly papers for high-quality conference and journal publications

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Deakin University

Sep 2020 – Jan 2021

Geelong, Australia

I have developed an innovative and simplified approach to evaluating and predicting thermal comfort in buildings

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

The University of Melbourne

Apr 2019 – Dec 2020

Melbourne, Australia

Worked on the Smart Village Lab (SVL) project.

Responsibilities:

Coding and analysing massive data that has been collected
Developing scholarly papers for journal publication and co-authoring reports
Participating in the group meetings of the SVL
Consulting with PhD research students

Editor

Title

Jounrals

Publisher

Acting Title

Sustainability - Challenges and Opportunities to Optimizing Building Performance

Sustainability, Buildings, Energies, Designs and Sensors (MDPI)

MDPI

Topic Editor

Title

Jounral

Publisher

Acting Title

Environmental Technology Applications in the Retrofitting of Residential Buildings

Energies

MDPI

Guest Editor

Title

Jounral

Publisher

Acting Title

Encyclopedia of ZEMCH Research and Development

Encyclopedia

MDPI

Collection Editor

Reviewer

Scientific Journals

Applied Energy
Energies (Reviewer Board Member)
Buildings
Building Engineering
Architectural Science Review
Applied Sciences
Urban Science
Built Environment Project and Asset Management

International Conferences

4th International Conference on Smart Villages and Rural Development 2021 (Melbourne, Australia)
3rd International Conference on Smart Villages and Rural Development 2020 (Melbourne, Australia)
2nd International Conference on Smart Villages and Rural Development 2019 (Guwahati, India)
Building Simulation Conference 2017 (Melbourne, Australia)
Passive and Low Energy Architecture (PLEA) 2017 conference (Edinburgh, UK)
Passive and Low Energy Architecture (PLEA) 2016 Conference (Los Angeles, USA)
50th International Conference of the Architectural Science Association (ASA) 2016 (Adelaide, Australia)

Internal Grant - UniSA

Australian Government Research Training Program domestic (RTPd) Scholarship for a PhD candidate

2023

Adelaide, Australia

I have successfully initiated, led, and secured an Australian Government Research Training Program domestic (RTPd) Scholarship for a PhD candidate, an esteemed recognition valued at up to $113,750.

EnviroTech Insights: Building Wellness & Durability seminar

Initiated and led the seminar

8 March 2024

Adelaide, Australia

This academic seminar at the University of South Australia (UniSA) was well-attended with valuable sharing and feedback among 35 participants (Academics and Architects from China, Victoria University and UniSA).

Prof. Ning Gu from UniSA introduced the health and well-being research of the Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments (IVE).
Dr. Mehdi Amirkhani from UniSA illustrated the user experience of indoor environmental quality.
Prof. Hao Xiaosai of the Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture provided a review of user experience research on the indoor environment of hospital buildings driven by new technologies and concepts.
Ms. Qi Lili, an architect of the International Engineering Design Institute, explained the operation instructions for civil building salt atmospheric corrosion prevention under an atmospheric corrosion environment.

SIRM Seminar: Net-zero Smart Housing presentation

Sustainable Infrastructure and Resource Management (SIRM)

1 March 2024

Adelaide, Australia

As a full-member of SIRM, I delivered a half an hour seminar titled "Net-zero Smart Housing presentation" followed by Q&A.

Please open this page on a desktop computer, laptop or tablet for full information.

Projects Portfolio

Student Evaluation

Teaching Protfolio

ABIAN DESIGN STUDIO

mehdi@abiandesign.com.au

Dr Mehdi Amirkhani

RESUME

​Online Lecturer - Full time

University of South Australia (UniSA)

Dec 2021 - Present

Adelaide, Australia

Assistant Lecturer and Senior Tutor

The University of Melbourne

Jun 2019 - Aug 2021

Melbourne, Australia

Assistant Lecturer, Supervisor and Tutor

Deakin University

Mar 2019 - Dec 2021

Geelong, Australia

Unit Conveyor and Curriculum Designer

Victoria University

Jul 2019 - Aug 2020

Melbourne, Australia

Guest Lecturer and TutorGuest Lecturer and Tutor

Griffith University

Feb 2017 - Jun 2017

Gold Coast, Australia

TTutor

Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

Feb 2016 - Jun 2016

Brisbane, Australia

AssoAssociate Lecturer

Azad University

Sep 2007 - Oct 2013

Iran

Doctor of Philosophy, Building Technology - Architecture

Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

2018

Brisbane, Australia

Master of Architecture

Azad University

2009

Shoushtar, Iran

Bachelor of Architectural Engineering

Azad University

2006

Mashhad, Iran

Co-Director

ZEMCH Network - Australia

Apr 2019 - Present

Australia

Board Member

ZEMCH Network - Global

Feb 2022 - Present

International

Full Member - SIRM: UniSA

Sustainable Infrastructure and Resource Management (SIRM)

Feb 2023 - Present

Adelaide, Australia

Member

Australian Academic Integrity Network (AAIN)

May 2023 - Present

Australia

Academic Integrity Officers (AIO)

University of South Australia (UniSA)

Jun 2022 - Present

Adelaide, Australia

Associate Fellow - Recognition reference: PR124060

UK Higher Education Academy (HEA)

Jan 2017 - Present

UK

ABIAN
DESIGN
STUDIO

Online Lecturer - Full time