People

About me

Throughout my work I seek out and thrive in truly collaborative environments that put diversity, equality, inter-disciplinarity and co-creation at the centre. It is with this spirit that I intend to direct Tampere University's multi-disciplinary Institute for Advanced Study with colleagues across the university and beyond (from August 2026-Dec 2028, 50%). 

After dedicating over 20 years to teaching, designing and researching sustainable architecture, I was promoted to (full) Professor of Sustainable Housing Design in 2023. As part of my Professor's role, I co-chair the ASUTUT - Sustainable Housing Design research group, located in the Architecture unit (Faculty of the Built Environment). 

Responsibilities

Our research group ASUTUT - Sustainable Housing Design research group investigates and re-imagines new approaches to housing design and its spatial and architectural quality in an ever-changing world (e.g. climate change, finite resources, ageing populations, declining health and well-being, loneliness, pollution, urbanisation, affordability). ASUTUT aim to make meaningful societal change through holistic research in order to influence and support the design of sustainable living environments and resilient communities now, and in the future. The research group combine unique areas of expertise that include:

AGILE DESIGN: Spatially adaptable, flexible and user-centric housing design, transformations and housing solutions for a diversity of users, including solo-dwellers and older adults. It also includes climate chnage adaptations (e.g. overheating prevention).   

ECOLOGICAL DESIGN: Energy efficient and zero energy/zero carbon design, user well-being, designing for good indoor environmental quality (IEQ, e.g., thermal and visual comfort). Building performance and post-occupancy evaluation (POE and BPE).  

INCLUSIVE DESIGN: Including and encountering human diversity in design cultures, practices and environments, including various models of co-housing and shared spaces. Includes designing for ageing populations (older adults) and the inclusion of nature and non-humans in living environments. 

SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE PEDAGOGY: values, integration of sustainability in design studio, peer-learning, blended learning, democratic processes, transformational learning.

In addition to PhD, Masters thesis supervision and guest lectures elsewhere, I chair and teach (together with colleagues) 4 courses in the architecture unit: 

1. Fundamentals of Urban Housing Design (FIN, year 3) 

2. Societally Responsive Housing Design (EN, year 4) 

3. Sustainable Architecture (EN, Masters)

4. Sustainable Masters Thesis Studio (samples of work here)

Other responsibilities include:

Director of  Tampere University's multi-disciplinary Institute for Advanced Study (from August 2026-Dec 2028, 50%) - A140 Päätalo City Centre Campus

 

Field of expertise

Together with colleagues, I strive to make a difference through holistic real-world research and teaching, in order to influence the design of sustainable living environments and resilient communities now, and in the future. My focus is on ’every day’ housing architecture with specialty in ecological, low energy and low carbon, affordable housing design and housing adaptability. I am particularly interested in how homes and spaces work in reality and how they are used and change over time (i.e. actual performance and user satisfaction (BPE and POE)). 

My current research focuses on the resilience and capacity of residents and their living environments to respond to and adapt to current and anticipated societal and environmental challenges and changes. This includes spatial and environmental adaptations to respond to residents’ needs, changing demographics and a changing climate.

 

Alternate description

My passion is for teaching, practice and research that makes a difference and responds to current societal and environmental challenges. In my work I attempt to bridge the information gap between research and architectural practice. I thrive on genuine collaboration with others who are also striving to make the world a better and more sustainable place. For more see https://researchportal.tuni.fi/en/persons/sofie-pelsmakers  

Research topics

Generally, my research spans across (and often combines) several areas, all of which are co-researched with scientists in our sister disciplines (e.g. social sciences, engineering, gerontology, geography etc.):

1) sustainable living environments (e.g. low energy/low carbon and nZEB homes, climate change adaptability, building performance and user satisfaction (POE/BPE), and health and well-being)

2) basic housing design research (e.g. accessible and inclusive design, designing for ageing population, adaptable and dweller-oriented housing design and flexible housing solutions, shared spaces and new co-housing models)

3) sustainable architecture pedagogy (values, integration of sustainability in design studio, peer-learning, blended learning)

For research projects see www.sustainablehousingdesign.com.   

 

 

Research unit

ASUTUT - Sustainable Housing Design - www.sustainablehousingdesign.com

Research fields

see www.sustainablehousingdesign.com.   

Research career

In addition to my bachelor and masters architecture degree, I hold 2 specialist masters degrees: an MSc Architecture: Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies (UEL, 2000), and a Masters in Research (MRes) in Building Energy Demand from UCL (2012). After practicing sustainable housing design as a project architect for several years at Levitt Bernstein Architects in London, and while also teaching sustainable architecture part-time at the University of East London (2001-2011), I completed my PhD at the Bartlett, UCL's Faculty of the Built Environment on the retrofit of the UK's existing pre-1919 housing stock, in particular investigating ground floor heat loss (2012-2016). I used in-situ U-value measuring techniques and undertook pilot studies to validate the effect of insulation interventions on floor heat loss. 

In October 2015, I took up a part-time Environmental Design lectureship at Sheffield University School of Architecture where I also co-led the MSc in Sustainable Architecture Studies and undertook UK industry and government funded research. I was also part-time Head of Research at ECD Architects (London + Glasgow) where I supported architects with evidence-based design. 

Following the UK Brexit referendum, I joined the Aarhus School of Architecture (Denmark, 2018-2019) as Assistant Professor in Sustainable Architecture and in 2019 I joined Tampere University where I co-lead the Sustainable Housing Design research group at Tampere University and direct the multi-disciplinary Institute for Advanced Study (from August 2026). 

About me

Raúl is a Spanish interdisciplinary architect engineer by training, with a Masters in Research in Integrated Building Management (environmental expertise) and a PhD in Architecture from the University of Seville (Spain), and wide experience in the non-academic and academic sector where he has played a key role in teaching, researching, mentoring.

He is currently Senior Research Fellow, Co-Chair of Sustainable Housing Design research group (ASUTUT) at Tampere University, and Docent (Adjunct Professor) on Socially Resilient Housing Design and Transformation at the University of Oulu. Raúl studies how homes, buildings and neighbourhoods can better support people and communities in the face of climate, social and wellbeing challenges. His work connects three areas of expertise: (1) energy poverty and justice, (2) lighting, housing and wellbeing, and (3) resilient, low-carbon and energy-efficient built environments. Together, using people-centred, participatory and evidence-based approaches, these areas inform research, education and policy aimed at creating healthier, more just and climate-resilient living environments — from everyday homes to wider urban systems.

He is also Visiting Young Professor at the Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Urban Heat and Pollution Control, Southeast University (China) and Coordinator of the Finnish Energy Poverty Advisory Hub (EPAH) Antenna.

Further information at researchportal.tuni.fi 

Responsibilities

teaching and thesis supervision (B.c. and M.Sc.) in Architectural Design (public buildings), research

Field of expertise

Architectural Design (public and hybrid buildings)

Spaces for learning and knowledge work (physical, social and experienced)

Shared environments, activity-based environments, multifunctional and -locational spaces, adaptability and flexibility of use

Transformations / retrofits of spaces 

Collaborative design processes, interventions

Research topics

Architectural Design (public and hybrid buildings)

Spaces for learning and knowledge work (physical, social and experienced)

Shared environments, activity-based environments, multifunctional and -locational spaces, adaptability and flexibility of use

Transformations / retrofits of spaces 

Collaborative design processes, interventions

Research unit

Architecture

Research career

Projects:

ArtGoesTSP, 2019-2020 "Turun tiedepuisto luovien kohtaamisten laboratoriona ja vuorovaikutteisen kaupunkikulttuurin kehittäjänä", Turun yliopisto ja Tampereen yliopisto. Funding: Turun kaupunkitutkimusohjelma

Pop Up – Knowledge Work Productivity, 2015-2017. Collaborators: Tampere University of Technology (Knowledge management, Architecture and Human-centered technology) and Aalto University (Virtual and mobile work). Funding: Tekes.

RYM-SHOK Indoor Environment Work package 4 - Spaces for learning and creation of new knowledge, Sep 2011 – Jan 2015. Client: University Properties of Finland. Funding: Tekes.

Design and Consultation projects:

The School of Architecture - retrofitting learning and collaboration spaces, Sep 2018 – Dec 2018.

Dare to Learn - retrofitted teaching space at TUT, Mar 2018 – Aug 2018. Collaborator: Sanna Peltoniemi, Project client: Knowledge Management laboratory and Tampere University of Technology.

"Koulusta oma paikka osallistaen" -Novel learning spaces in collaboration with the pupils, Aug 2016 – Dec 2017. Collaborator: Sanna Peltoniemi. Client: City of Tampere, basic education unit

SM221 - retrofitted teaching space at TUT, Apr 2015 – Aug 2015, collaborator: Jari Kangas. Project client: Electronics and Communications Engineering laboratory and Tampere University of Technology.

Informal learning spaces to TUT campus, Sep 2014 – Mar 2015. Funding and the construction of the spaces by TUT.

Co-designed and co-created learning spaces at TUT Library, Jan 2014 – Apr 2014 

About me

My research focuses on understanding exposures to environmental hazards in the indoor and outdoor built environment, and how we can adapt our cities and buildings to be healthier, more energy efficient, and more resilient to future climates. My areas of expertise are in using building physics simulations, data-driven modelling, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to evaluate population-level exposure to heat, cold, air pollution, and moisture damage, for example, and quantifying the health consequences of this exposure. I have a BSc in Biological Sciences from Simon Fraser University, Canada, and a BEng in Geomatic Engineering and PhD in Environmental Building Science, both from University College London, UK. 

Responsibilities

I am the leader of the Urban Physics Research Group in the Department of Civil Engineering, where we apply a range of methods to understand the role of our urban built environment on our health and energy consumption. We aim to do impactful research that can support the sustainability transition in cities. You can learn more about the Urban Physics Research Group here , as well as about Urban Physics itself here .

I am currently the lead of the Sustainable Urban Development (SUD) international bachelors degree programme. Teaching responsibilities include Introduction to Sustainable Urban Development, Urban Physics, Fundamentals of GIS, and the SUD Bachelors Thesis and Seminar. I also supervise Masters and PhD students – please get in touch if you are interested in studying with us.

I currently act as the Faculty of the Built Environment TENK research integrity advisor.

Research topics

Examples of the research topics I work on are:

• Building physics modelling of indoor environmental quality
• Building stock modelling and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Data-driven modelling of urban environments, for example using data from distributed environmental sensors
• The Global South, climate adaptation, and the health and climate benefits of the clean energy transition.

About me

I am a doctoral researcher, project manager, and teacher in the School of Architecture at the Faculty of the Built Environment. My research and teaching activities lie at the intersection of architecture, urban planning, and critical urban studies. Through research, I aim to understand the production of space from below and investigate how these, often radical, spatial practices can help illuminate alternative ways to address the multiple but interrelated social, environmental, and climate crises. As a teacher, I aim to position these practices within the curricula of sustainable architecture and planning to offer a more critical, comprehensive, and inclusive understanding of the built environment and to elucidate alternative paths for future architects and planners to engage with in practice for the construction of more just and sustainable living future. 

Responsibilities

Currently, I am the project manager and a researcher of T-winning Spaces 2035 (WP2) undertaken within the ASUTUT - Sustainable Housing Design research group. Our work package aims to understand how individuals adapt and arrange their home environments to accommodate their work in order to reimagine and propose more sustainable and just home-working environments for the future. 

I am also a doctoral researcher in the group of urban planning, within the chair of urban planning theory. My doctoral research critically investigates appropriations of abandoned urban spaces in different Latin American cities. I am particularly interested in understanding the grassroots and the motivations behind their actions, the new materialities and meanings they introduce into cities, and the processes involved in order to transform these otherwise derelict spaces into vibrant sites where different activities unfold. In my view, these appropriations and spatial practices represent a legitimate source of knowledge for the construction of more just and sustainable urban futures. 

In addition to doing research, I am currently teaching the courses of Urban Planning and Design Theory 2 and Sustainable Architecture. 

Research topics

• Socio-spatial aspects of sustainable architecture
• Critical urban theory 
• Urban planning theory
• Spatial justice
• Urban activism 
• Grassroots, radical, and insurgent spatial and planning practices
• Narrative and visual methods
• Critical theory, (eco)feminist theory, and decolonial theory
• Home geography
• Home-city geographies
• The home as a space of work
• The home as site of spatial (in)justice

Research unit

Urban Planning Research Group and ASUTUT - Sustainable Housing Design

Research fields

Architecture, urban planning, and critical urban studies.