Paola Leardini
Source: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/12909 Parent: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/44989
Associate Professor
Paola Leardini
Email: : p.leardini@uq.edu.au
Phone: : +61 7 336 53957
Mobile: : 0426041867
Positions
Affiliate of ARC Research Hub to Advance Timber for Australia's Future Built Environment (ARC Advanc : ARC Research Hub to Advance Timber for Australia's Future Built Environment : Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Associate Professor : School of Architecture, Design and Planning : Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
Overview
Background
A/Prof Paola Leardini leads the Technology and Sustainability stream at the University of Queensland’s School of Architecture, Design and Planning. She is also a key researcher within the Centre for Future Building Structure and a former member of the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities. With a diverse educational background in Architecture that spans Milan, Berlin, Leicester, and Copenhagen, she holds a PhD in building energy efficiency and environmental quality from Politecnico di Milano (Italy); her doctorate work was undertaken under the guidance of Prof. P. Ole Fanger, a global authority in the field of thermal comfort.
Before joining UQ in 2015, A/Prof Leardini worked extensively as an ESD (Environmentally Sustainable Design) designer, consultant, and educator in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and New Zealand. Her professional and academic work strives to bridge the gap between design and performance, advocating for smart, healthy, and resilient built environments. Her research focuses on developing innovative solutions for achieving net-zero targets through building decarbonisation, enhancing urban resilience, and fostering a circular economy in the construction sector.
A/Prof Leardini’s research explores the intersection of building diagnostics, retrofitting, urban regeneration, and resource optimisation. Her applied research tackles environmental challenges with a focus on global and local impacts. Early in her career, she contributed to major urban regeneration projects, including the retrofitting of the "Quartiere Mazzini" historical district in Milan (2003), New Zealand's state housing eco-retrofitting (2010-2015), and more recently, a monitoring campaign of state housing in Brisbane, focusing on the relationship between energy consumption, thermal comfort, and public health.
Her extensive collaborations span international networks of academics, public agencies, and industry partners. Notably, she has served on the Queensland Government's Design Excellence Panel for social and affordable housing, established by the Department of Communities, Housing, and Digital Economy in partnership with the Office of the Queensland Government Architect.
As a certified Passivhaus designer, A/Prof Leardini co-founded the Passive House Institute New Zealand (PHINZ) in 2012 and later joined the Australian Passive House Association (APHA) in 2018. Her research has since expanded to explore how the Passive House standard can be adapted for hot and humid climates, especially in Queensland.
In 2015, A/Prof Leardini coordinated UQ Architecture’s contribution to the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities, a government-funded initiative involving over 80 research, industry, and government partners. The project sought to deliver urban water management solutions to make Australian cities more resilient to climate change. Since 2016, she has been an active member of UQ's Centre for Future Timber Structures, working on innovative timber construction methods. She leads research in circular timber design and heads an ARC Linkage project on adaptable housing. As a Chief Investigator in the ARC Advance Timber Hub, she coordinates the Design for Extended Building Life Node, fostering the use of sustainable materials in construction.
A/Prof Leardini’s research has garnered international recognition, including publications through initiatives such as COST Action CA 20139, funded by the European Union. Her work has been featured at over 20 conferences since 2015 and regularly appears in leading Q1 journals. In addition to serving as a board member and peer reviewer for several scientific journals, she has been invited to participate in prestigious sustainable architecture competitions, including the MIT Climate CoLab hosted by the Centre for Collective Intelligence.
Memberships
- Design Excellence Panel: Queensland social and affordable housing (since 2020)
- Centre for Future Timber Structures (since 2016)
- Scientific Committee of New Zealand Academy of Applied Research (since 2016)
- Australian Passive House Association (since 2018)
- Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities (2015-2021)
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Availability
Associate Professor Paola Leardini is: : Available for supervision : Media expert
Qualifications
- Masters (Coursework) of Architecture, Politecnico di Milano
- Doctor of Philosophy, Politecnico di Milano
Research interests
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Circular design in timber construction
Strategies, processes and tools for transitioning the Australian prefabricated timber construction industry to a circular economy through modular design for adaptability, disassembly and reuse.
Read more Read less - #### Pathway to net zero multi-storey buildings in tropical and subtropical Australian climates
Design and assessment of optimised construction systems and details to improve the environmental performance of multi-storey buildings in tropical and sub- tropical climates, with focus on their hygro-thermal behaviour and airtightness.
Read more Read less - #### Water and energy smart suburbia
Impacts of urban growth (on hydrological performance, resources efficiency, urban heat, and liveability) and regeneration opportunities enabled by infill development of consolidated suburban areas.
Read more Read less - #### Water sensitive cities
Urban densification and green/blue infrastructures: design strategies and technologies for water sensitive sites, precincts, cities and regions.
Read more Read less - #### Passive House Standard in tropical climates
International Passive House Standard in warm and humid climates and development of context-responsive building solutions.
Read more Read less - #### Diagnostic, conservation and reuse of buildings of cultural and historical significance
Development design strategies for adaptive reuse and performance upgrade of the existing building stock in socio-economic regenerated contexts.
Read more Read less - #### Building (performance) and human interaction
Qualitative and quantitative data-driven investigation and assessment of indoor air quality and comfort, energy efficiency and human behaviour interaction in residential, commercial and educational buildings.
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Works
Search Professor Paola Leardini’s works on UQ eSpace
All (78) Book (3) Journal Article (14) Other Outputs (3) Conference Publication (46) Book Chapter (12)
2025
Journal Article
Population and land cover projections under greyfield development: implications for densification, urban forest, water performance, and heat
Moravej, Mojtaba, Kenway, Steven, Renouf, Marguerite, Urich, Christian and Leardini, Paola (2025). Population and land cover projections under greyfield development: implications for densification, urban forest, water performance, and heat. Cities, 167 106323, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2025.106323
2025
Conference Publication
Spatial justice and the right to the blue-green city. Rethinking planning for climate resilience in suburban Brisbane, Australia
Leardini, Paola, Manfredini, Manfredo and Moravej, Mojtaba (2025). Spatial justice and the right to the blue-green city. Rethinking planning for climate resilience in suburban Brisbane, Australia. The 7th PlanoCosmo: Spatial Justice and Planning in the Anthropocene, Bandung, Indonesia, 15-16 September 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
Integrated blue-green infrastructure to address for water issues in Kedungsepur Metropolitan Area, Indonesia: a systematic literature review
Estutama, Panji, Leardini, Paola and Roitman, Sonia (2025). Integrated blue-green infrastructure to address for water issues in Kedungsepur Metropolitan Area, Indonesia: a systematic literature review. The 7th PlanoCosmo: Spatial Justice and Planning in the Anthropocene, Bandung, Indonesia, 15-16 September 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
Low-carbon intensity timber façade systems for mid-rise buildings
Dewsbury, Mark, Brambilla, Arianna and Leardini, Paola (2025). Low-carbon intensity timber façade systems for mid-rise buildings. World Conference on Timber Engineering 2025, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 22 - 26 June 2025. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: World Conference On Timber Engineering 2025. doi: 10.52202/080513-0315
Low-carbon intensity timber façade systems for mid-rise buildings
2025
Conference Publication
Rethinking climate resilient regenerative and relational urbanism: a water-sensitive and nature-based approach for Australasian cities
Manfredini, Manfredo and Leardini, Paola (2025). Rethinking climate resilient regenerative and relational urbanism: a water-sensitive and nature-based approach for Australasian cities. 8th Annual APRU Sustainable Cities & Landscapes Conference, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 17-19 June 2025.
2025
Book Chapter
Energy Retrofit of Non-monumental, Historic Buildings: Limitations and Opportunities of Technological Advances
Rogora, Alessandro and Leardini, Paola (2025). Energy Retrofit of Non-monumental, Historic Buildings: Limitations and Opportunities of Technological Advances. Getting to Zero - Beyond Energy Transition Towards Carbon-Neutral Mediterranean Cities. (pp. 499-511) edited by Ali Sayigh and Antonella Trombadore. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-82323-7_40
2025
Conference Publication
Adaptable Housing for Changing Futures. An Australian Case Study
Leardini, P. M., Ottenhaus, L. -M., Yan, Z. and Strang, M. (2025). Adaptable Housing for Changing Futures. An Australian Case Study. Building Beyond Borders Symposium 2025. The Power of Reciprocity: Reflecting on the Potential of Regenerative Architecture and Educational Practices to Generate Positive Impact, Hasselt, Belgium, 6-7 February 2025.
Adaptable Housing for Changing Futures. An Australian Case Study
2025
Other Outputs
Building performance and energy efficiency monitoring
Matthew, Paul, Leardini, Paola and Snow, Steven (2025). Building performance and energy efficiency monitoring. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Building performance and energy efficiency monitoring
2025
Conference Publication
Moisture monitoring of mass timber building - study of condition variation and building environment design
Shirmohammadi, Maryam, Strang, Marcus, Leardini, Paola, Baber, Kim and Faircloth, Adam (2025). Moisture monitoring of mass timber building - study of condition variation and building environment design. 14th World Conference on Timber Engineering 2025 (WCTE 2025), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 22 - 26 June 2025. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: World Conference On Timber Engineering 2025. doi: 10.52202/080513-0316
2025
Conference Publication
Implementation of adaptable design principles for high-performance light timber framed panelised buildings: an Australian case study
Yan, Zidi, Strang, Marcus, Ottenhaus, Lisa-Mareike, Leardini, Paola, Adams, Paul and Crews, Keith (2025). Implementation of adaptable design principles for high-performance light timber framed panelised buildings: an Australian case study. 14th World Conference on Timber Engineering 2025 (WCTE 2025), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 22-26 June 2025. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: World Conference On Timber Engineering. doi: 10.52202/080513-0156
2024
Journal Article
Resilience and densification: an alternative pathway
Leardini, Paola (2024). Resilience and densification: an alternative pathway. Architecture Australia.
Resilience and densification: an alternative pathway
2023
Journal Article
Design for adaptability, disassembly and reuse – a review of reversible timber connection systems
Ottenhaus, Lisa-Mareike, Yan, Zidi, Brandner, Reinhard, Leardini, Paola, Fink, Gerhard and Jockwer, Robert (2023). Design for adaptability, disassembly and reuse – a review of reversible timber connection systems. Construction and Building Materials, 400 132823, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.132823
Design for adaptability, disassembly and reuse – a review of reversible timber connection systems
2023
Journal Article
Development of Design Optimization for Smart Grid (DOfSG) framework for residential energy efficiency via Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) approach
Razak, Ahmad Haqqi Nazali Abdul, Ahmad, Nur Azfahani and Leardini, Paola (2023). Development of Design Optimization for Smart Grid (DOfSG) framework for residential energy efficiency via Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) approach. International Journal of Sustainable Construction Engineering and Technology, 14 (3), 21-39. doi: 10.30880/ijscet.2023.14.03.003
2023
Conference Publication
Validating moisture-safe energy efficient CLT assemblies in hot and humid climates using experimental testing
Strang, Marcus, Leardini, Paola and Shirmohammadi, Maryam (2023). Validating moisture-safe energy efficient CLT assemblies in hot and humid climates using experimental testing. 13th World Conference on Timber Engineering, WCTE 2023, Oslo, Norway, 19-22 June 2023. As, Norway: World Conference on Timber Engineering. doi: 10.52202/069179-0577
2023
Conference Publication
Towards adaptability and circularity of timber buildings
Jockwer, Robert, Öberg, Vera, Ottenhaus, Lisa-Mareike, Leardini, Paola and Goto, Yutaka (2023). Towards adaptability and circularity of timber buildings. 13th World Conference on Timber Engineering: Timber for a Livable Future, WCTE 2023, Oslo, Norway, 19-22 June 2023. As, Norway: World Conference on Timber Engineering. doi: 10.52202/069179-0203
Towards adaptability and circularity of timber buildings
2023
Conference Publication
Design experiences through “urban mining” processes
Rogora, Alessandro and Leardini, Paola (2023). Design experiences through “urban mining” processes. Recycling, Rome, Italy, 26 May 2023. Rome, Italy: Anteferma.
Design experiences through “urban mining” processes
2023
Conference Publication
Adaptable and scalable housing for Australian households and stages of life
Kuiri, Lisa and Leardini, Paola (2023). Adaptable and scalable housing for Australian households and stages of life. 55th International Conference of the Architectural Science Association. Architectural Science and User Experience: How can Design Enhance the Quality of Life, Perth, WA Australia, 1-2 December 2022. Perth, WA Australia: Architectural Science Association.
Adaptable and scalable housing for Australian households and stages of life
2023
Conference Publication
Low-cost procedure for evaluating the thermal resistance of building materials
Rogora, Alessandro and Leardini, Paola (2023). Low-cost procedure for evaluating the thermal resistance of building materials. World Renewable Energy Congress Med Green Forum 2022, Perth, WA Australia, 4 - 9 December 2022. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-33148-0_23
Low-cost procedure for evaluating the thermal resistance of building materials
2022
Journal Article
Performance of reversible timber connections in Australian light timber framed panelised construction
Yan, Zidi, Ottenhaus, Lisa-Mareike, Leardini, Paola and Jockwer, Robert (2022). Performance of reversible timber connections in Australian light timber framed panelised construction. Journal of Building Engineering, 61 105244, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.jobe.2022.105244
2022
Journal Article
Smart grid components for residential design application towards energy conservation: a review
Razak, Ahmad Haqqi Nazali Abdul, Ahmad, Nur Azfahani, Ibrahim, Che Khairil Izam Che, Kadir, Ermeey Abdul and Leardini, Paola (2022). Smart grid components for residential design application towards energy conservation: a review. Journal of Engineering Science and Technology, 17 (Special Issue 5/2022), 237-251.
Smart grid components for residential design application towards energy conservation: a review
Funding
Current funding
- 2025 - 2030
ARC Training Centre for Climate-Resilient Water
ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres
Open grant - 2023 - 2028
ARC Research Hub to Advance Timber for Australia's Future Built Environment
ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hubs
Open grant - 2022 - 2027
Offsite manufacture reimagined for high-performance adaptable housing
ARC Linkage Projects
Past funding
- 2022 - 2023
Pasay 360 Sustainability Framework
SM Smart City Infrastructure and Development Corporation
Open grant - 2022 - 2024
Building performance & energy efficiency monitoring
Queensland Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy
Open grant - 2020 - 2022
Study Fresh: Using Citizen Science to Engage School Children with Indoor Air Quality
Queensland Citizen Science Grants
Open grant - 2020
Establishing carbon credentials of timber in construction
Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Open grant - 2016 - 2022
ARC Research Hub to Transform Future Tall Timber Buildings
ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hubs
Open grant - 2013 - 2018
Urban Intensification & Green Infrastructure: Towards a Water Sensitive City
CRC for Water Sensitive Cities
View all 6 past funded projects View less
Supervision
Availability
Associate Professor Paola Leardini is: : Available for supervision
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Available projects
Project summary: Development of a roadmap for implementing Design for Disassembly and Reuse (DfDR) strategies for mid-rise mass timber buildings in Australia, focusing on extended building life through spatial adaptability, maintenance and repair.
Read more Read less - #### Water Sensitive Design and Urban Performance Analysis
Major cities in Australia expect significant infill development over the coming decades. This urban densification could have significant impact on hydrological performance, resources efficiency, urban heat, amenity and liveability of urban areas. Urban renewal and redevelopments enabled by infill are great opportunities to reshape cities for sustainable and resilient urban growth and facilitate moving away from unsustainable linear “extract-use-dispose” urban water management practices. However, there is limited knowledge, and tools, for the assessment of water performance of infill development. This research focuses on water sensitive design models for infill development in suburban areas; it will contribute to building cities that minimise disturbance in natural hydrology, maximising resources efficiency, amenity, and liveability.
Read more Read less - #### Timber Reuse in the Australian Circular Economy
The existing building stock is a repository of secondary timber that could be extracted for reuse or repurpose, reducing construction and demolition waste as well as the demand of virgin material. This project aims to increase the reuse and repurpose potential of timber products in the future Australian circular economy, including the identification of new construction products using recovered timber, scenarios for the reuse of existing timber components, and design for disassembly and reuse (DfDR) guidance for timber products.
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Supervision history
Current supervision
- Doctor Philosophy
##### Blue-green infrastructure implementation strategies to address water-related environmental problems of rapid urbanisation in Kedungsepur metropolitan area in Indonesia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sonia Roitman - Doctor Philosophy
##### Offsite Timber Manufacture Potential for Incremental and Transformative Housing In Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Liam Ottenhaus - Doctor Philosophy
##### DEMISE OF LIFELINE (of a city) & THE QUEST FOR WATER URBANISM
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Manu P. Sobti - Doctor Philosophy
##### Developing a climate-resilient framework for healthy cities
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ray Maher, Dr Sara Alidoust, Professor Ali Cheshmehzangi
Completed supervision
- 2025
Master Philosophy
##### Future homes for a resilient, healthy Queensland
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Timothy O'Rourke - 2023
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Juan Hidalgo Medina, Dr Liam Ottenhaus - 2022
Doctor Philosophy
##### Restoring the natural water cycle in cities: an urban design framework
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steven Kenway, Dr Sara Alidoust - 2021
Doctor Philosophy
##### Midlife Crisis: reducing life cycle energy use in Brisbane's older apartment towers
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andrew Wilson - 2025
Doctor Philosophy
##### Designing Digital Technologies for Grassroots Sustainable Practices in Eco-Villages
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Fred Fialho Teixeira, Associate Professor Dhaval Vyas - 2024
Doctor Philosophy
##### Design and Performance Evaluation of Reversible Connections for Modular Adaptable Timber Buildings
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Liam Ottenhaus - 2023
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Manu P. Sobti
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Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Paola Leardini directly for media enquiries about:
- building energy retrofitting
- climate and flood resilience design
- high energy performance multi-storey timber buildings
- passive house standard
- smart cities
- urban regeneration
- water sensitive urban design
- zero/positive energy building
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External profiles
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