How do we design spaces that evolve with us—shaping, shifting, and adapting to the conditions, behaviors, and needs of those who inhabit them? Adaptive Environments explores how architecture can move beyond the static, making adaptability a core principle in creating resilient, future-ready environments that respond dynamically to their users and surroundings.
This symposium, bringing together leading voices in architecture and design—including keynote speaker Kjetil Thorsen, Founding Partner of Snøhetta—delves into the dynamic interplay between people, nature, and built environments. We will examine how architectural concepts rooted in an understanding of spatial and material knowledge from the past, combined with emerging technologies, can enable environments that enhance inhabitants’ well-being, extend longevity, and support sustainability by responding intelligently to their surroundings.
Discussions will focus on design principles that engage with outdoor conditions, prioritize environmental responsibility, and foster spaces that adapt intuitively to changing needs. We will explore how emerging technologies—IoT, AI, and automation—can enhance scalability and real-time adaptability, creating more efficient, responsive, and human-centered spaces across diverse contexts.
Join us as we reimagine the built environment—not as something fixed, but as something that learns, reacts, and transforms to support both people and the planet.
Event Program
Fri., April 25, 2025, 1:00-5:00 PM
Harvard GSD, Piper Auditorium
Welcome
Sarah Whiting, Dean and Josep Lluís Sert Professor of Architecture, Harvard GSD
Introduction & Background
Ali Malkawi, Professor of Architectural Technology, Director of the Doctor of Design Studies Program, and Founding Director, Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities
Historical Context
Erika Naginski, Robert P. Hubbard Professor of Architectural History, Harvard GSD
Case Studies: HouseZero & Vertikal Nydalen
Architectural Concepts
Tine Hegli, Professor, The Oslo School of Architecture and Design
Technological Concepts and Emissions/Materials of HouseZero & Vertikal Nydalen
Tor Helge Dokka, Chief Advisor, Energy and Building Physics, Skanska
Kristian Edwards, Architect and Project Advisor, FutureBuilt
Post-Occupancy Findings and Performance Evaluations
Niels Lassen, Chief Advisor, Energy and Indoor Climate, Skanska
Arnkell Petersen, Associate Professor, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Professor II, Oslo School of Architecture and Design
Material Innovations and Adaptability
Martin Bechthold, Kumagai Professor of Architectural Technology, Harvard GSD
Jonathan Grinham, Assistant Professor of Architecture, Harvard GSD
AI and Its Possibilities in Adaptable Environments
Ali Malkawi
Vijay Janapa Reddi, John L. Loeb Associate Professor of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard SEAS
Design Explorations
Elizabeth Christoforetti, Assistant Professor in Practice of Architecture, Harvard GSD
Scaling Up: Theoretical Foundations
Antoine Picon, G. Ware Travelstead Professor of the History of Architecture and Technology, Harvard GSD
Panel Discussion and Q&A
Speakers: Kjetil Thorsen, Architect, Co-Founder, Snøhetta; Tor Helge Dokka; Elisa Iturbe, Assistant Professor of Architecture, Harvard GSD; & Elizabeth Christoforetti
Moderator: Grace La, Professor of Architecture, Chair of the Department of Architecture, Harvard GSD
Speakers
Sarah Whiting
Dean and Josep Lluís Sert Professor of Architecture, Harvard Graduate School of Design
Sarah M. Whiting, Dean and Josep Lluís Sert Professor of Architecture, joined the GSD as Dean in July 2019. She is a design principal and co-founder of WW Architecture, and served as the Dean of Rice University’s School of Architecture from 2010 to 2019. Whiting has taught at Princeton University, the University of Kentucky, the Illinois Institute of Technology, and the University of Florida, in addition to Rice and Harvard GSD. She frequently lectures throughout the US and abroad, and regularly serves as a critic of architecture and urban design. Prior to founding WW, Whiting worked with the Office for Metropolitan Architecture in Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Peter Eisenman in New York; and Michael Graves in Princeton, New Jersey. She is an Associate member of the American Institute of Architects. Learn more.
Ali Malkawi
Professor of Architectural Technology, Director of the Doctor of Design Studies Program, Founding Director of the Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities
Ali Malkawi is Professor of Architectural Technology, Director of the Doctor of Design Studies Program, and Founding Director of the Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He has served as a consultant on several projects, including airport designs, super towers, industrial factories, and cities. His research focuses in the areas of computational simulation, building performance evaluation, and design decision support. Previously, he taught at the Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Michigan, and University of Pennsylvania, where he was a Professor of Architecture and Chairman of the Graduate Group in Architecture. Malkawi is lead author or co-author of more than 130 scientific papers and co-editor of three books. In 2017, he was honored with the Jordan Star of Science by His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan. In 2013, Malkawi received an honorary Master of Arts degree from Harvard University. He earned his Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Erika Naginski
Robert P. Hubbard Professor of Architectural History, Harvard Graduate School of Design
Erika Naginski is the Robert P. Hubbard Professor of Architectural History. Her research interests include Baroque and Enlightenment architecture, early modern aesthetic philosophy, theories of public space, and the critical traditions of architectural history. In addition to teaching modules in the Building Texts Contexts sequence, she offers seminars and lecture courses in architectural history and theory including The Shapes of Utopia, The Piranesi Effect, Versailles to the Visionaries and The Ruin Aesthetic: Episodes in the History of Architectural Idea. Before joining the GSD faculty, Naginski taught in the architecture department at MIT and in the art history department at the University of Michigan. She has been a junior fellow at the Society of Fellows at Harvard University as well as a research fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, and the Deutsches Forum fr Kunstgeschichte. She serves on the editorial board of Res. Learn more.
Tine Hegli
Professor, Institute of Architecture, Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO)
Tine Hegli, professor at AHO and part of the research cluster CA. Circular Architecture and Material Flows at the Institute of Architecture, specializes in circular design and low-carbon architectural design strategies. With a background in practice and over two decades at Snøhetta, she has been central in advancing sustainability in architecture, contributing to realized projects that demonstrate concepts for new-builds and retrofitting, integrated within research environments and widely published. Her educational approach combines design-build experimentation with circular architectural practices, emphasizing lifecycle methodology as key design driver for assessing environmental impact and performance. Within her field of expertise, Hegli has contributed to publications, conferences, lectures, guest critiques, and scientific committee work in Norway and abroad, with a strong ambition of strengthening the connection between research, education, and practice.
Tor Helge Dokka
Chief Advisor, Energy and Building Physics, Skanska
Tor Helge Dokka (b. 1965) is a distinguished Norwegian engineer and researcher renowned for his contributions to sustainable architecture and energy-efficient building design. Beginning his career as a carpenter, he advanced academically to earn a doctorate in indoor climate modeling from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in 2000. Dokka has been instrumental in developing low-energy, passive, and zero-emission buildings, notably through his leadership in the Zero Emission Buildings (ZEB) research center. He co-developed SIMIEN, a prominent energy simulation tool, and has served as a Chief advisor at Skanska Technology. Currently, he chairs Programbyggerne AS and holds a board position at SIMIEN AS. His personal residence, House Dokka in Kongsberg, exemplifies his commitment to sustainability, producing surplus energy and minimizing environmental impact. Dokka’s work has earned him accolades, including the “Energy Days Honorary Award” from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), recognizing his significant impact on Norway’s building energy standards.
Kristian Edwards
Architect, Project advisor with FutureBuilt, Assistant Professor at Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO)
Kristian spent 11 years with Snøhetta working on numerous research-based architectural projects focused on projective sustainability for the built environment. After 2 years in the role of Global Head of Research and Development with Copenhagen-based Henning Larsen Architects, Kristian has undertaken a new role as Architect and Project advisor with the Norwegian state supported innovation program FutureBuilt which focuses on supporting and advancing pioneering architecture, urbanism and landscape projects through prototyping and disseminating sustainable practices and solutions for the building industry. With expertise on the synthesis of complex information and architectural form, Kristian has been invited to hold talks and workshops on both national and international stages. As Assistant Professor with AHO, Kristian has been a regular contributor to the Master´s studio program and to the research cluster CA through masterclasses and diverse practice perspectives.
Niels Lassen
Chief Advisor, Energy and Indoor Climate, Skanska Norway
Niels Lassen is civil engineer specialized in building physics, energy use and indoor climate. He holds a Master’s Degree from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and UC Berkeley, as well as a PhD in indoor environments and occupant feedback from the Institute of architecture at NTNU. During his PhD work he collaborated with the Centre for built environment at UC Berkeley as a visiting scholar. With close to two decades of practice as an energy consultant in commercial projects, he has been central in advancing energy efficiency, sustainability, indoor climate and innovation in architecture. He has been project or work-package leader in several research projects funded by the Norwegian research council concerning research and innovation around the topics of natural climatization, smart buildings, sustainable architecture and energy management. Within his field of expertise, Lassen seeks advancements in innovation, sustainability and occupant satisfaction in buildings.
Arnkell Jonas Petersen
Associate Professor, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Professor II, Oslo School of Architecture and Design
Arnkell is an associate professor in building physics at The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) and Professor at the Oslo School of Design and Architecture. He teaches and researches energy, indoor climate, daylight, air conditioning, and sustainability. Active in advancing and a popular speaker on sustainability, energy, and related topics. Extensive experience in R&D, optimizing buildings, and standardizing energy use in the built environment. Chairs ISO/TC 163 SC 2 that is responsible for the international standards that cover Calculation methods for Thermal performance and energy use in the built environment.
Martin Bechthold
Kumagai Professor of Architectural Technology, Harvard Graduate School of Design
Martin Bechthold is the Kumagai Professor of Architectural Technology in the GSD’s Department of Architecture. He currently serves as the GSD’s Academic Dean. Bechthold is the founding Co-Director of the Master in Design Engineering Program and Associate Faculty at the Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) at Harvard. He is also affiliated with the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. He teaches courses in design and research methods, material systems, and building structures. Recent courses include ‘Towards a New Science of Design?’, ‘Nano, Micro, Macro: BioFabrication’, ‘Faux: Design, Performance and Perception of Fake Materials’ as well as ‘Structural Design II’. Learn more.
Jonathan Grinham
Assistant Professor of Architecture, Harvard Graduate School of Design
Jonathan Grinham is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. His research brings an intensely interdisciplinary approach to climate change and the built environment, connecting material science with building science and design to examine questions on materiality, thermal health, and lifecycle carbon emissions. These questions have sparked the development of novel technologies, publications, patents, and a start-up company, Trellis Air Corporation, that deliver low-carbon climate solutions through material innovation. Jonathan is a Faculty Associate with the Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities, the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability, and the Aizenberg Lab at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He holds degrees in architecture and building science from Virginia Tech and a Doctor of Design degree from the Harvard GSD.
Vijay Janapa Reddi
Associate Professor, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University
Vijay Janapa Reddi is an Associate Professor in the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University. Prior to joining Harvard University, he was an Associate Professor at The University of Texas at Austin. His research interests include computer architecture and runtime systems, specifically in the context of edge and mobile computing systems (smartphones, autonomous vehicles, aerial robots, etc.) to improve their performance, power efficiency, and reliability. Dr. Janapa Reddi is a recipient of multiple honors and technical achievement awards, including the MICRO and HPCA Hall of Fame (2018 and 2019, respectively), the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Gilbreth Lecturship Honor (2016), IEEE TCCA Young Computer Architect Award (2016), Intel Early Career Award (2013), Google Faculty Research Awards (2012, 2013, 2015, 2017), Best Paper at the 2005 International Symposium on Microarchitecture (MICRO), Best Paper at the 2009 International Symposium on High Performance Computer Architecture (HPCA), and IEEE’s Top Picks in Computer Architecture awards (2006, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2017). Beyond his technical research contributions, Dr. Janapa Reddi is passionate about STEM education at early age. Learn more.
Elizabeth Christoforetti
Assistant Professor in Practice of Architecture, Harvard Graduate School of Design
Elizabeth’s teaching and research focus on emerging modes of design practice in the built environment. Her work at the GSD explores design methods, theories, and the technological building blocks that enable design practice to better confront the imperatives of our time, such as artificial intelligence and market-driven urbanism. Her research group within the Laboratory for Design Technologies aims to uncover the potentials for scalable systems of design by daylighting, operating upon, and designing new socio-technical systems – design that is dependent upon a combination of social and technological processes, and collaboration between them. Elizabeth directs Supernormal, a design studio based in Cambridge, MA. She founded Supernormal to create meaningful and practical change through the intersection of architecture, urbanism, technology, and contemporary culture. Learn more.
Antoine Picon
G. Ware Travelstead Professor of the History of Architecture and Technology, Director of Doctoral Programs, Director of the PhD Program, Harvard Graduate School of Design
Antoine Picon is the G. Ware Travelstead Professor of the History of Architecture and Technology at the GSD where he is also Chair of the PhD in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning. He teaches courses in the history and theory of architecture and technology. Trained as an engineer, architect, and historian, Picon works on the relationships between architectural and urban space, technology, and society, from the eighteenth century to the present. Picon has received a number of awards for his writings, including the Médaille de la Ville de Paris, and twice the Prix du Livre d’Architecture de la Ville de Briey, a well as the Georges Sarton Medal of the University of Gand. In 2010, he was elected a member of the French Académie des Technologies. In 2015, he became a member of the French Académie d’Architecture. He is Chevalier des Arts et Lettres since 2014. He was Chairman of the Fondation Le Corbusier from 2013 to 2024. Learn more.
Kjetil Thorsen
Founding Partner, Architect, Snøhetta
Kjetil Trædal Thorsen is a Norwegian architect educated in Graz, Austria, who co-founded Snøhetta in Oslo in 1989. He has played a crucial role in shaping the firm’s philosophy and its evolution into a transdisciplinary, global architecture and design practice. Thorsen has been involved in several notable projects, including the new Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt, the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, and the Le Monde Group Headquarters in Paris. Before establishing Snøhetta, he practiced architecture in Scandinavia for several years and co-founded Norway’s leading architecture gallery, Galleri Rom, in 1986. His work has earned him numerous awards, including the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – the Mies van der Rohe Award and the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Thorsen is a frequent lecturer and served as a Professor of Architecture at the Institute of Experimental Architecture at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, from 2004 to 2008. He also frequently acts as a jury member for various international design and architecture competitions and awards, including the Obel Award, the Zumtobel Group Award, the Frederick Kiesler Prize, and the Holcim Awards.
Elisa Iturbe
Assistant Professor of Architecture, Harvard Graduate School of Design
Elisa Iturbe is an architectural designer, writer, and educator. Her work studies the relationship between energy, power, and form, with a focus on how the adoption of fossil fuels changed the spatial organization of the built environment, producing an urban and architectural paradigm unique to the carbon age—carbon form. Iturbe is currently Assistant Professor of Architecture at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design and was previously Assistant Professor at The Cooper Union. She has also taught courses on carbon modernity and formal analysis the Yale School of Architecture and Cornell AAP. Her work has been supported by the Graham Foundation and the New York State Council for the Arts, and she was awarded a MacDowell Fellowship in 2024. Learn more.
Grace La
Professor of Architecture, Chair of the Department of Architecture, Harvard Graduate School of Design
Grace La is Professor of Architecture, Chair of the Practice Platform, and former Director of the GSD’s Master of Architecture Programs. She is also Principal of LA DALLMAN Architects, internationally recognized for the integration of architecture, engineering and landscape. Cofounded with James Dallman, LA DALLMAN is engaged in catalytic projects of diverse scale and type. Noted for works that expand the architect’s agency in the civic recalibration of infrastructure, public space and challenging sites, LA DALLMAN was named as an Emerging Voice by the Architectural League of New York in 2010 and received the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence Silver Medal in 2007. In 2011, LA DALLMAN was the first practice in the United States to receive the Rice Design Alliance Prize, an international award recognizing exceptionally gifted architects in the early phase of their career. LA DALLMAN has also been awarded numerous professional honors, including architecture and engineering awards, as well as prizes in international design competitions. Learn more.