Marlena Swan

BA(Hons) MArch ARB

Pronouns: She/her
  • Doctoral Researcher

Research groups and centres

Research and expertise

I am a UK-registered architect with 6 years of experience in the construction industry. I am passionate about building energy performance and mitigating overheating risks in buildings.

As a part of my master’s degree, I conducted research into the impact of the Urban Heat Island on potential cooling energy demand in a flat in Warsaw, Poland. My current research focuses on the impact of energy efficiency retrofit measures on the overheating risk in UK dwellings using dynamic thermal modelling.

Current research activity

  • ERBE CDT: R0 Modules
  • PhD research project: Reducing the risk of overheating in existing UK homes: Cool Retrofit

Profile

I studied architecture at the University of Liverpool and passed RIBA Part 3 examination in the Autumn of 2020. I worked as an architect and architectural assistant in practices in Yorkshire, Merseyside, and Cheshire, on projects across residential, commercial, and education sectors.

Through education and work, I developed a strong interest in energy efficiency and environmental design and wrote a master’s dissertation on the impact of Urban Heat Island on the cooling energy demand of a case study flat for which I was awarded the UoL Dissertation Prize in 2018. 

I joined the ERBE CDT EPSRC programme in September 2022 to further develop my interest in climate change resilient design. 

Professional Affiliations

  • ARB (registered architect)
  • ASHRAE (student member)
  • CIBSE (student member)

Awards

  • Tarn Dissertation prize 2018