- Reader in Architecture, University of East London
Reader in Architecture and an expert in building conservation and material ecologies, Alan's work on 'new vernacular' construction developed tangible construction innovations from supply chain and place based environments, with an emphasis on environmental and social equity. As a co-creator of Sugarcrete, bio-waste streams and their social contexts around the global sugar belt has created commercial and community partnerships to deliver schools in India and Africa, in addition to projects that develop indigenous knowledge bases through co-authorship in Kenya, Nicaragua and Mexico.
Research work with Sam Jelliman and colleagues at the Cherkasy Technological State University in Ukraine led to joint research with Germany, Estonia, Finland, Ukraine and Spain to develop defensive rewilding proposals that created biomaterial supply chains for reconstruction through the strategic defensive rewetting of riverine and peatland geographies and diverse, dense reforestation. This work has informed the Defensive Rewilding paper in the RUSI Journal, working with Brian Schmidt, to begin to leverage environmentally beneficial defence policy for Europe's Eastern border.
Experience
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2001–presentReader, University of East London
Education
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1998Architectural Association, RIBA parts 1, 2 and 3
Publications
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2026From Building Codes to Behaviour: Strengthening Extreme Heat Adaptation Policy in the United Kingdom, Energy Research & Social Science
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2026Defensive Rewilding: A Nature-Based Solution for National Security, The RUSI Journal
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2026Dynamic Life Cycle Assessment of Fibrous Agricultural Residues for Long-Lived Carbon Storage in Building Materials, Cleaner Environmental Systems
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2024Policy Recommendations to Enhance Small-to-Medium-Sized Enterprise Support for Achieving the UK’s Net Zero Targets, Sustainability
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2024Mechanical and hygrothermal properties of hemp-silica bio-composites, Construction and Building Materials
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2023Architectural history isn't what it used to be, Charette
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2020The Production of Heritage: The Politicisation of Architectural Conservation, Routledge
Grants and Contracts
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2021Eastern New Energy £10m
- Role:
- PI
- Funding Source:
- ERDF
Professional Memberships
- Architects Registration Board
Contact Alan for
- General
- Media request
- Speaking request
- Consulting / Advising
- Research collaboration
- Research supervision
