Dr Theo Dounas is an architect and engineer working in the digital strand of architecture and systems. He holds the post of associate professor of architecture and digital culture at the Faculty of Design Sciences at the University of Antwerp. From 2017 to 2023, Dounas was the Learning Excellence Leader at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built environment where he lead the MSc advanced architectural design and developed the school’s strategy in digitisation. Before Scotland, Dounas founded (2011) and lead the department of architecture (2013-2015) at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University in Suzhou, China where he remains an honorary visiting scholar. He additionally served as co-director of the XJTLU innovation hub during 2016-2017. He has examined and guest lectured in various universities around the world from the UK and Greece, to Germany, Switzerland and Australia.
Dounas is a subject matter expert in blockchain technology, generative and parametric systems, and the seamless integration of design processes with fabrication methods. His current professional endeavours span multiple projects related to the integration, governance and innovation in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry, spanning from graph theory and digital modelling techniques for architectural design into design for manufacture and (dis)assembly, to additive manufacturing processes geared towards streamlining fabrication workflows.
Dounas is a member of the Construction Blockchain Consortium Technical committee, secretary of the board of the European Council for Computing for Construction, and is regularly invited to present his work on blockchain and Smart Contracts in industry, DfMA, and engineering systems.
He has developed a series of academic programmes in architecture, architectural engineering, sustainable design, along with educational programmes for the XJTLU innovation hub, EU Media programme and open source projects. Having worked around the world, he is regularly called to consult and advise on interdisciplinary academic and educational programmes, more so across cultural contexts and educational systems.
He is active in architectural design through his office Adventurous Architecture, where he has conducted architectural studies for more than 70 buildings and urban masterplans. Dounas holds an Engineering Doctorate and Architecture Engineering diploma, both from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
