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Pelsmakers Sofie

Orcid -palvelun logo0000-0001-6933-2626

Description

I am a (full) Professor in sustainable architecture and sustainable housing design, and I chair the sustainable housing design research group at Tampere University (ASUTUT). My passion is for teaching, practice and research that makes a difference and responds to current societal and environmental challenges, including the current climate emergency and the role of architects and educators within it. I have over 20 years of experience in designing, building and teaching sustainable architecture with specialty in ecological, low energy, affordable housing design and housing retrofit. I am particularly interested in how buildings and spaces work in reality (i.e. actual performance and user satisfaction). I am an architect by training, in addition to which I completed an MSc Architecture in Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies (at UEL), and a Masters in Research in Building Energy Demand Reduction at the UCL Energy Institute, part of the Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, where I also completed my PhD. I bring experience from practice (e.g. Levitt Bernstein Architects and ECD Architects), and from the Aarhus School of Architecture in Denmark, the Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment (University College London (UCL)), as well as the Sheffield School of Architecture, and the University of East London. To date I have over 40 peer-reviewed publications with several in review or in press, and over 70 industry articles and invitations for keynote speeches, guest presentations, or other invited scientific or industry roles. This included periodic engagement with the UK government Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC/DBEIS). I (co)-authored 7 peer-reviewed book chapters and I sole authored 1 peer reviewed book (The Environmental Design Pocketbook), and I am co-author of another peer-reviewed book 'People, Energy, Buildings- Architecture for a Changing World' and lead-author of another peer reviewed book 'Designing for the Climate Emergency- a Guide for students (2022), and I guest edited 'Everything Needs to Change- Architecture in the Climate Emergency' (2021). I was Associate Editor of peer reviewed journal Buildings and Cities; external examiner at Cambridge University (Interdisciplinary Design for the Built Environment masters, 2018-2021) and am Visiting Professor at the Sheffield School of Architecture (2021-2024). I acted as a reviewer for the Swedish Research Funding Council FORMAS (Sustainable urban and rural development, 2018-2021), the EU ERC (2021), and the Swiss Research Council SNCF (2023) and for several conferences (Sustainable Built Environment, PLEA etc), and for several journals such as Energy and Buildings, BRI, ICE, BSERT etc. I am a Senior Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy in recognition of my pedagogical approaches, and I also hold pedagogical training certificates from Denmark and Finland in support of student-centred learning. Some of my pedagogical approaches in embedding sustainability in design studio, and use of peer-peer and blended learning are also published. Recognition of my work includes Bartlett PhD Alumni Role model (2017), RIBA Role Model (2015), Women influencing sustainability in architecture (Architects journal, 2013), recognition for the Environmental Design Pocketbook (RIBA, 2012 and UKGBC, 2013).

Keywords

Sustainable housing design, sustainable architecture, retrofit, low energy, building performance

Affiliations

Tampere University
Associate Professor (tenure track)
2021
Source: Tampere University
Tampere University
Assistant Professor (tenure track)
2018 - 2021
Source: ORCID
Arkitektskolen Aarhus
Assistant Professor
2018 - 2019
Source: ORCID
University of Sheffield
Lecturer in Environmental Design
School of Architecture
2015 - 2018
Source: ORCID
University College London Energy Institute
PhD researcher
Energy Institute
2011 - 2015
Source: ORCID
University of East London
Lecturer
School of architecture and the Visual Arts
2007 - 2011
Source: ORCID

Education (6)

PhD Energy and the Built Environment
University College London
MRes Building Energy Demand Reduction
University College London
Professional Practice in Architecture (RIBA/ARB Part 3)
Kingston University
Pg Dip in Architecture (RIBA/ARB Part 2)
University of East London
MSc Architecture: Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies
University of East London
BSc Architecture
Universiteit Hasselt

Publications (76)

2022
Asuminen muutoksessa – Asunnot ja naapuruston jaetut tilat asukkaiden arjessa
Mistä syntyy kestävä asuinympäristö? / What Makes a Sustainable Living Environment? – Researchers Compiled a Checklist
Avoiding Macro Mistakes

Granted funding (2)

JUSTHEAT: Looking back to move forwards: a social and cultural history of home heating
Research Council of Finland
2022 - 2025
Real Estate and Sustainable Crisis management in Urban Environments RESCUE
Research Council of Finland
2020 - 2023

Activities and awards (98)

Tampere University (Organisational unit)
2021 - 2026
International collaboration: Yes
Architects Climate Action Network Finland
2021 - 2026
International collaboration: Yes
Tampere University (Organisational unit)
2020 - 2026
International collaboration: Yes