Areti Markopoulou

Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Areti Markopoulou is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of digital fabrication, sustainable construction, and urban ecology. Her work redefines how we build cities by merging on-site robotics with circular economy principles, challenging traditional resource scarcity models. Markopoulou’s most influential paper, “On-Site Robotics for Sustainable Construction” (2018, 20 citations), introduces a paradigm where robotic fabrication directly on construction sites reduces waste and energy use, enabling adaptive, low-impact building practices. She further expands this vision in “Urban Mining: Scoping Resources for Circular Construction” (2023, 6 citations), which advocates for an “abundance mindset” — treating existing buildings and urban waste as valuable material banks. This work reframes design as a process of continuous resource recovery, not depletion. Markopoulou’s impact lies in bridging computational design, material science, and real-world construction, offering actionable strategies for decarbonizing the built environment. Her research has influenced architects, urban planners, and policymakers seeking to integrate automation with sustainability. As a leading voice in circular construction, she demonstrates that the future of cities is not just smart, but regenerative.