wsa staff

Angela Ruiz Del Portal
Research Assistant WEST

Research Group: Architectural Science Group

E-Mail: RuizdelportalA@cardiff.ac.uk

Postal Address:
WEST,
Welsh School of Architecture,
56 Park Place,
Cardiff University,
CF10 3AT

Telephone: 029 2087 0263
Fax: 029 2087 4623

Profile
Angela obtained her Architecture degree from l’Escola Tecnica Superior d’Arquitectura de Barcelona in 2004. After 7 years of work experience in practices in Barcelona collaborating in building and urban design projects she moved to UK and achieved her Masters degree in Theory and Practice of Sustainable Design from WSA in 2011.  Angela has assisted in the 'Sustainable Design Practice' project module within the same masters during the academic year 2011-12. Nowadays she works as a research assistant on the Welsh Energy Sector Training Project (WEST). The project is part of the Low Carbon Research Institute (LCRI) based at the school.

Responsibilities
WEST project’s main objective is to develop skills to aid the utilisation and uptake of new technologies developed through the LCRI industrial research projects. As WEST research assistant, Angela’s responsibilities are:

  • To identify skills gaps within the Low Carbon Built Environment Sector
  • To develop new energy efficiency teaching materials for Masters level application. 
  • To develop and update existing masters level materials on the subject of energy efficiency. 
  • To liaise with project partners throughout this process.
www.welshenergysectortraining.org

Research Interests
Angela’s research interests revolve around the transition towards sustainability in the built environment especially at urban scale:

  • The transition of existing cities towards sustainable cities.
  • The role and influence of the “hardware” of the city (i.e. inherited urban form, structure of natural areas, infrastructures)  in its performance as a more or less sustainable city.
  • The relation between the structure of so called green areas within the urban environment and the capacity to sustain biodiversity and ecosystems.
  • Urban form (i.e. compactness, diversity, density) and its relation to liveability of the city in terms of everyday issues: walkability, social interrelation, safety, public services, street maintenance, etc.
  • Influencing people’s behaviours and ideally lifestyles through design and education.

Angela is a member of the French NGO Les Ateliers http://www.ateliers.org