RECONFIGURING ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN THINKING: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AS A COGNITIVE PARTNER IN SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE – A NOVEL HYBRID FRAMEWORK AND EMPIRICAL VALIDATION STUDY

This study develops and empirically validates a Hybrid Cognitive Design Framework (HCDF) that integrates artificial intelligence, parametric design, and environmental simulation as a cognitive partnership system for sustainable architectural design. The research addresses a gap in existing studies, which have largely focused on the functional benefits of AI while giving limited attention to its influence on designers’ cognitive and ethical decision-making. A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 30 architecture students divided into two groups: an HCDF-assisted group and a traditional design group. Participants were tasked with designing a self-sufficient residential neighbourhood in Toshka, Egypt. Data were collected using Think-Aloud Protocol analysis, Social Network Analysis (SNA), environmental performance simulations, and a newly developed Philosophical Sustainability Index (PSI). The HCDF-assisted group achieved significantly higher PSI scores (M = 84.7 vs. 68.2, p < 0.001, d = 2.53), reduced design time by approximately 28%, and improved energy performance by 22.5% compared with the traditional group. Qualitative analysis also revealed greater ethical reflection and iterative exploration within the AI-supported workflow. The findings provide initial empirical evidence that integrated human–AI cognitive partnerships can enhance sustainability-oriented design processes. Although the study represents a proof-of-concept validation within an educational setting, the proposed framework offers potential applications in architectural education, professional practice, and future sustainable design research.