ABIAN
DESIGN
STUDIO
WELCOME
Dr Mehdi Amirkhani
Senior Lecturer at the University of South Australia
Accredited Home Energy Efficiency Assessor
Founder and Director of Abian Design Studio
PhD, M. Arch., B. Arch.
Certificate IV in Home Energy Efficiency
Dr Mehdi Amirkhani is a Senior Lecturer at UniSA, leveraging his experience from five Australian universities to create engaging learning experiences. With years of expertise as an architect and an Accredited Home Energy Efficiency Assessor, he has contributed to over 120 construction projects, effectively merging theory with practice. Specialising in environmental technology, Mehdi teaches courses on lighting, energy estimation, comfort, acoustics, and computational simulation, focusing on sustainable design and building retrofits to enhance occupant health and well-being.
As a researcher, he investigates building environmental technologies, net-zero energy buildings, and indoor environments, with his PhD proposing an innovative approach to lighting design in office spaces to improve visual comfort and energy efficiency. His dedication to education is reflected in his leadership roles, and curriculum development initiatives have boosted student satisfaction ratings and aligned his teaching with industry standards. Additionally, he has served as a guest lecturer at various universities and as a judge for prestigious industry awards. An Associate Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy, Mehdi is also the Co-Director of the Zero Energy Mass Custom Home (ZEMCH) Network Australia and a Full Member of Design Matters National.
THINK THANK TEAM
DEAKIN UNIVERSITY - 2021
Won the SECOND PRIZE among 26 teams (100 students) from 10 prestigious universities in Australia. I supervised, in collaboration with other academics, the team from the initial design stage to the final output.
PUBLICATIONS
RESEARCH INTERESTS
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Indoor environmental quality (IEQ)
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Environmental experience and human behaviour
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Building retrofitting
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Zero-energy mass custom home design
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Building technologies
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Building Information Modelling (BIM)
SOFTWARE SKILLS
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SPSS, NVivo, Gephi, VOSviewer, and CiteScape
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BESS, NatHERS, STORM, and FirstRate5
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Environmental performance assessment tools
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BIM tools (e.g. ArchiCAD, Revit, SketchUp, etc.)
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Rendering engines (e.g. Enscape, Lumion)
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Online learning management systems
RESUME
2-day Training Workshop - UniSA and SCx Solutions
International
Spearheaded
27-28 Feb 2025
I spearheaded a dynamic 2-day Training on Simulation Technologies for Building Sustainability, hosted by SCx Solutions at UniSA. Experts from Japan, Singapore and Melbourne, Australia came to UniSA to deliver the training. This exclusive event delivered cutting-edge insights into leveraging Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to enhance building performance, driving environmental sustainability and energy efficiency. Attendees—academics, students, and select national and international firms—mastered practical skills through live demonstrations and case studies on CFD applications, tackling Urban Heat Island effects, Natural Ventilation, HVAC Optimisation, Indoor Thermal Comfort, and beyond. Participants earned a certification of completion, marking their expertise in this vital field.
Cobranded Breakfast - UniSA and prefabAUS
National
Spearheaded and invited to served as one of three panellists
29 May 2024
I initiated and orchestrated the influential event "Smart Building for SA's Housing, Infrastructure, and Reindustrialisation" in collaboration with prefabAUS and UniSA. Serving as one of the three panellists, I contributed my expertise in net-zero energy mass custom home design and education. The event featured distinguished speakers, including Lance Worrall, author; Jon Anderson, General Manager of Modular and Emerging Markets at Sarah Constructions; and Dino Vrynios, Managing Director at Das Studio. It attracted over 25 construction industry representatives and seven UniSA academics and students, fostering significant industry connections and promoting multidisciplinary collaboration.
Webinar on Building Design and Retrofitting
International
Spearheaded, orchestrated, and chaired
15 May 2024
I spearheaded, organised, and chaired the groundbreaking international webinar "Shaping Sustainable Futures: Integrating Innovation and Sustainability in Building Design and Retrofitting." This event brought together nine senior academics from five universities, including Melbourne, UniSA, Deakin, UTS, and Sichuan Agricultural University in China, to present their pioneering research. Sponsored by the MDPI publisher and supported by four leading Q1 journals, the webinar facilitated insightful exchanges among over 80 national and international attendees, significantly advancing sustainable practices in architecture and construction. Notably, more than 15 attendees and two invited presenters were from UniSA, underscoring the university's active participation and influence in the field.
EnviroTech Insights: Building Wellness & Durability seminar
International
Spearheaded, orchestrated, and chaired
8 Mar 2024
I initiated and organised this international seminar at UniSA, facilitating knowledge exchange among 35 attendees, including students, academics, and architects from UniSA, Victoria University, and China. The seminar featured pioneering presentations by two UniSA experts, including myself, and two Chinese experts on health, indoor environmental quality, and building performance.
Industry Visit - Fleetwood Australia Factory
Adeliade
Spearheaded and coordinated
11 Oct 2023
I initiated, organised, and led a visit to Fleetwood Australia, a leading prefabrication company, to offer valuable insights into the latest prefabrication techniques. The event, attended by 16 academics and students from UniSA (out of a maximum allowed attendance of 20 due to limited safety equipment onsite), provided a unique opportunity for professional development and hands-on learning. All participating students received PPP hours for their involvement.
