![Christopher Whitman B.Arch (Hons), Dip.Arch, PhD, FHEA](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/918?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Christopher Whitman
(he/him)
B.Arch (Hons), Dip.Arch, PhD, FHEA
- Media commentator
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Christopher Whitman
Director of Impact
Overview
I am a qualified architect with over 20 years’ experience in both practice and academia.
Since 2007 my research has focused on the comfort and energy use in indigenous, vernacular, traditional and contemporary dwellings, utilizing in situ monitoring, digital simulation and the construction and monitoring of physical test cells. My PhD focused on the distribution of historic timber-framed buildings in the UK and the impacts of their low energy retrofit, an area that I continue to research, including projects funded by Historic England.
At the same time my experience in architectural practice has included work on a wide range of award winning projects. As such my experience provides a balance of architectural science, building design and construction, and architectural history and theory.
Currently I teach on the MSc in Sustainable Building Conservation as Module Leader for “Energy use in historic Building”, and coordinator of the dissertation. I also lead a MArch2 Design Thesis unit, "Carbon Pasts, Low Carbon Futures", now in its fourth year, which focuses on the role of South Wales's industrial heritage in takling the climate emergency.
My current academic administrative roles include the School's Director of Impact, Lead of the History, Heritage and Conservation Research and Scholarhsip Group, and member of the School Board, and the Research Ethics Committee.
I am signatory and volunteer for Heritage Declares a Climate and Ecological Emergency https://heritagedeclares.org/
Publication
2025
- Dang, X. et al., 2025. A state-of-the-art empirical round robin validation of heat, air and moisture (HAM) models. Building and Environment 276 112867. (10.1016/j.buildenv.2025.112867)
- Joung, Y. and Whitman, C. 2025. Assessing heritage interpretation's inclusion of building conservation: insights from a quantitative data analysis of eight Welsh properties. Presented at: The 30th ICOMOS CIPA International Symposium 2025 Seoul, South Korea August 25-29 2025. Copernicus Publications. , pp.131-138. (10.5194/isprs-annals-X-M-2-2025-131-2025)
- Tam, L. , Whitman, C. and Prizeman, O. 2025. Global climate change and built heritage. Built Heritage 9 17. (10.1186/s43238-025-00194-z)
- Whitman, C. , Tam, L. and Halford, E. 2025. Industrial heritage as a catalyst for sustainable education. Presented at: TICCIH Congress 2025 Kiruna, Sweden 25 -30 August, 2025.
- Whitman, C. 2025. Evaluating the hygrothermal performance and associated benefits and risks of replacement infill panels for historic timber-framed buildings in the UK. Presented at: International Retrofit Conference 2025 Salford, UK 3-4 July 2025. Published in: Tsang, C. , Swan, W. and Fitton, R. eds. Innovative Approaches to Retrofit: Proceedings of the International Retrofit Conference (IRC 2025). , pp.1-6.
- Whitman, C. et al. 2025. Contribution to Westminster's Welsh Affairs Committee, "The environmental and economic legacy of Wales' industrial past (Inquiry)". Westminster: UK Gov
- Whitman, C. J. 2025. Retrofitting historic timber-framed buildings in the UK: Monitoring the risk of increased moisture content. Journal of Building Survey, Appraisal and Valuation 13 (4), pp.316-329. (10.69554/QJGH4818)
- Whitman, C. J. , Halford, E. and Tam, L. 2025. Carbon pasts, low carbon futures: Industrial heritage and architectural pedagogy. Presented at: International Conference on "Reshaping Heritage Conservation In Higher Education: What, How, For Whom?" Shanghai 25-26 October 2025.
- Whitman, C. 2025. Lime in retrofit: Monitoring performance and moisture. Presented at: The Buildings Lime Forum Conference and Annual Gathering Bangor, Wales 4-5 September 2025.
- Whitman, C. , Halford, E. and Tam, L. 2025. Carbon pasts, low carbon futures: Industrial heritage and low carbon architectural pedagogy. Presented at: TICCIH Congress 2025 Kiruna, Sweden 25 -30 August, 2025.
2024
- Whitman, C. 2024. Carbon Pasts, Low Carbon Futures: Teaching Low Energy Architecture Through Adaptive Reuse of Heritage Sites in the South Wales Coalfield. Presented at: 37th PLEA Conference - Passive and Low Energy Architecture Wroclaw, Poland 26-28 June 2024. PLEA 2024: (Re)thinking Resilience. The book of proceedings. Wrocław: Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Wrocławskiej. , pp.1461-1466. (10.37190/PLEA_2024)
- Whitman, C. 2024. Sustainable building conservation: a new trend in architectural education. Presented at: Heritage Innovators Day 2024 Rzeszów, Poland 11 June 2024.
2023
- Whitman, C. J. et al. 2023. Hygrothermal monitoring of replacement infill panels for historic timber-frame buildings: next steps. Presented at: 2nd International Conference on Moisture in Buildings 2023 (ICMB23) London 3-4 July 2023. Proceedings 2nd International Conference on Moisture in Buildings 2023 (ICMB23). ScienceOpen. (10.14293/ICMB230013)
2022
- Fernández Goycoolea, J. P. , Zapata-Lancaster, M. and Whitman, C. 2022. Operational emissions in prosuming dwellings: a study comparing different sources of grid CO2 intensity values in South Wales, UK. Energies 15 (7) 2349. (10.3390/en15072349)
- Whitman, C. J. et al. 2022. Hygrothermal monitoring of replacement infill panels for historic timber-frame buildings: initial findings. UCL Open: Environment 4 (10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000039)
- Whitman, C. et al. 2022. Replacement infill panels for historic timber-framed buildings: measured and simulated hygrothermal behaviour. Presented at: PLEA STGO 2022 Will Cities Survive? The future of sustainable buildings and urbanism in the age of emergency. Santiago de Chile, Chile 22-25 November 2022. PLEA STGO 2022 Will Cities Survive? The future of sustainable buildings and urbanism in the age of emergency. Book of Proceedings. Vol. 1.Santiago de Chile: PLEA. , pp.454-459.
- Whitman, C. J. 2022. Building performance evaluation of a 14th century Pargetted House: hygrothermal comfort and energy efficiency. Presented at: The STBA-SPAB Annual Conference: Sustaining Buildings 2022 Edinburgh, Scotland 12 October 2022. Vol. 1.
2021
- Whitman, C. 2021. Retrofit of historic timber-framed buildings in the UK: monitoring replacement infill panels. Presented at: SPAB / STBA Annual Conference 2021 Online 28-29 September 2021.
- Whitman, C. J. et al. 2021. Energy retrofit infill panels for historic timber-framed buildings in the UK: Physical test panel monitoring versus hygrothermal simulation. Architectural Science Review 64 (1-2), pp.5-16. (10.1080/00038628.2020.1719820)
2020
- Fernandez Goycoolea, J. P. , Zapata-Lancaster, G. and Whitman, C. 2020. A framework for the study of householders’ engagement with low-carbon energy demand practices in dwellings with grid-connected photovoltaic energy systems. Presented at: World Sustainable Built Environment Conference: Beyond 2020 Online 2-4 November 2020. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. Vol. 588.IOP Science. , pp.042012. (10.1088/1755-1315/588/4/042012)
- Fernandez Goycoolea, J. P. , Zapata-Lancaster, G. and Whitman, C. 2020. A framework for the study of householders' engagement with low-carbon energy demand practices in dwellings with grid-connected photovoltaic energy systems. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 588 (4) 042012. (10.1088/1755-1315/588/4/042012)
- Whitman, C. 2020. Retrofitting the UK’s half-timbered heritage. Built Environment Journal
- Whitman, C. et al. 2020. Energy retrofit of historic timber-frame buildings- hygrothermal monitoring of building fabric. Presented at: WTA-PRECOM³OS Conference Preventive Conservation Leuven, Belgium 3-5 April 2019. Published in: Vandesande, A. , Verstrynge, E. and Van Balen, K. eds. Preventive Conservation - From Climate and Damage Monitoring to a Systemic and Integrated Approach Proceedings of the International WTA - PRECOM3OS Symposium, April 3-5, 2019, Leuven, Belgium. London: CRC Press / Balkema. , pp.129-136. (10.1201/9781003004042-20)
- Whitman, C. et al. 2020. Comparative testing of replacement infill materials for historic timber-framed buildings.. Presented at: Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings (EEHB 2022) Benediktbeuernen, Germany 4th-5th May 2022.
- Whitman, C. et al. 2020. Heritage retrofit and cultural empathy; a discussion of challenges regarding the energy performance of historic UK timber-framed dwellings. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation 28 (2), pp.286-404. (10.1108/IJBPA-02-2019-0023)
- Whitman, C. J. 2020. Building performance evaluation of a 14th century Pargetted House: hygrothermal comfort and energy efficiency. Presented at: 35th Passive and Low Energy Architecture Conference (PLEA 2020) Virtual - A Coruña, Spain 1-3 September 2020. Published in: Rodríguez-Álvarez, J. and Gonçalves, J. C. eds. Planning Post Carbon Cities: 35th PLEA Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, A Coruña, 1st-3rd September 2020: Proceedings. Vol. 1.University of A Coruña. , pp.294-299. (10.17979/spudc.9788497497947)
2019
- Whitman, C. 2019. El patrimonio arquitectónico y la eficiencia energética: el reacondicionamiento térmico de los edificios patrimoniales de madera en el Reino Unido. Presented at: Sustainable Built Environment 2019 Temuco, Chile 16-18 October 2019.
- Whitman, C. J. 2019. Evaluating incidental thermal performance improvements of a historic timber-framed building in central Hereford. Presented at: Sustainable Built Environment SBE2019: Wales Conference Cardiff 24th-25th September 2019. Vol. 329.IOP Publishing: Conference Series. , pp.012030. (10.1088/1755-1315/329/1/012030)
2018
- Whitman, C. et al. 2018. Physical monitoring of replacement infill panels for historic timber-framed buildings in the UK: Comparing hygrothermal simulations and dual climate chamber testing. Presented at: Passive and Low Energy Architecture (PLEA) 2018 Hong Kong, China 10-12 December 2018. Published in: Ng, E. , Fong, S. and Ren, C. eds. PLEA 2018: Smart and Healthy Within the Two-Degree Limit. Proceedings of the 34th International Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture. Vol. 1.Passive Low Energy Architecture Association. , pp.129-132.
- Whitman, C. et al. 2018. The impact of modernization of a 16th century timber-framed farmhouse, Suffolk, UK. Presented at: Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings (EEHB 2018) Visby, Sweden 26-27 October 2018.
2017
- Whitman, C. 2017. Low energy retrofit of historic timber framed buildings in the UK. Presented at: SBH2017 - Sustaining Built Heritage Luxor, Egypt 23 - 25 February 2017.
- Whitman, C. 2017. The distribution of historic timber-framed buildings in the UK and the impacts of their low energy retrofit. PhD Thesis , Cardiff University.
- Whitman, C. et al. 2017. Improving the energy performance of historic timber-framed buildings in the UK.. Presented at: Passive and Low Energy Architecture (PLEA) 2017 Edinburgh, UK 3-5 July.
2016
- Armijo, G. et al., 2016. Pobreza Energética: Perspectiva Desde La Intervención Urbana, Edificación Y El Medio Ambiente. Ciudad y Arquitectura 152 (5)
- Whitman, C. and Prizeman, O. E. C. 2016. In situ U-Value monitoring of traditional and modern infill panels of a 15th Century Cruck-framed dwelling, in Herefordshire UK. Association for Preservation Technology Bulletin XLVII (4), pp.6-13.
- Whitman, C. , Prizeman, O. E. C. and Lacey-Barnacle, M. 2016. Correlating maintenance, energy efficiency and fuel poverty for traditional buildings in the UK. Working paper. Cardiff: Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University.
- Whitman, C. J. and Prizeman, O. 2016. U-value monitoring of infill panels of a fifteenth-century dwelling in Herefordshire, UK. Association for Preservation Technology Bulletin 47 (4), pp.6-13.
2015
- Whitman, C. , Armijo, G. and Schiappacasse, L. N. 2015. Methodology for informed design of sustainable tourism accommodation in Chile’s 9th Region the Gateway to Patagonia. Energy Procedia 78 , pp.267-272. (10.1016/j.egypro.2015.11.633)
- Whitman, C. , Prizeman, O. and Walker, P. 2015. Interstitial hygrothermal conditions of low carbon retrofitting details for historic timber-framed buildings in UK. Presented at: Passive and Low Energy Architecture (PLEA) 2015 Bologna, Italy 9-11 September 2015. Published in: Cucinella, M. et al., PLEA2015 Architecture in (R)Evolution - 31st International PLEA Conference. Building Green Futures.
2014
- Armijo, G. , Whitman, C. and Roubelat, L. 2014. Post occupancy evaluation and user behaviour as the basis of the design of energy efficient dwellings for Temuco-Padre Las Casas, a city declared saturated by airborne pollution. Presented at: World Sustainable Building 2014 Barcelona, Spain 28-30 October 2014.
- Whitman, C. , Armijo, G. and Turnbull, N. J. 2014. The Ruka Mapuche: clues for a sustainable architecture in southern Chile?. In: Mileto, C. et al., Vernacular Architecture: Towards a Sustainable Future. CRC Press. , pp.759-761.
- Whitman, C. and Turnbull, N. 2014. Environmental comfort in the living heritage of the Chilean Araucania: The Ruka Lafkenche and the Fogon Pehuenche.. Presented at: 8th Windsor Conference: Counting the Cost of Comfort in a changing world Windsor, UK 10-13 April 2014. Published in: Nicol, F. et al., Windsor Conference 2014: Counting the Cost of Comfort in a Changing World. Network for Comfort and Energy Use in Buildings.
- Whitman, C. J. 2014. Heritage Earth Construction and Hygrothermal Comfort: The Challenge of Rebuilding in Central Chile. Key Engineering Materials 600 , pp.186-195. (10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.600.186)
- Whitman, C. J. 2014. Straw bales, a possible solution for hygro-thermally comfortable dwellings in Chile's central valley: physical test chambers and in situ measurements. Journal of Green Building 9 (2), pp.161-181. (10.3992/1943-4618-9.2.161)
- Whitman, C. J. et al. 2014. Learning from the past: Training for a sustainable future of the tourist sector in the Coastal Atacama Desert. Presented at: World Sustainable Building 2014 Barcelona, Spain 28-30 October 2014.
2013
- Armijo, G. , Whitman, C. and Roubelat, L. 2013. Reacondicionamiento térmico en Temuco-Padre Las Casas, Chile: Una ciudad declarada saturada por contaminación aérea. Presented at: XII ENCAC VIII ELACAC Brasilia, Brazil 25-27 September 2013.
- Petit-Breuilh, X. et al., 2013. Natural fibre insulation in rural southern Chile. Presented at: PLEA 2013 Munich, Germany 10-12 September 2013.
- Whitman, C. 2013. Fardos De Paja: una solucion para viviendas rurales energeticamente eficientes en la zona central de Chile?. Presented at: XII ENCAC VIII ELACAC Brasilia, Brazil 25-27 September 2013.
- Whitman, C. , Armijo, G. P. and Schiappacasse, L. N. 2013. The challenge of sustainable tourist infrastructure in the Araucania Andina, Chile. Presented at: PLEA 2013 Sustainable Architecture for a Renewable Future Munich, Germany 10-13 September 2013.
- Whitman, C. J. , Gabriela, A. and Leticia, R. 2013. The Mixed Use Residential Building: A building block for the cities declared saturated by air pollution in Chile's Mediterranean Climate. Presented at: World Building Congress 2013 Brisbane, Australia 5-9 May 2013.
2012
- Gabriela, A. , Whitman, C. J. and Leticia, R. 2012. The mixed use residential building: A solution for Mediterranean Chilean cities declared saturated in terms of airborne Pollution. Presented at: PLEA 2012 Lima, Peru 7-9 November 2012.
- Whitman, C. 2012. Straw bale construction in a South American mediterranean climate. Presented at: PLEA 2012: 28th Conference, Opportunities, Limits & Needs Towards an Environmentally Responsible Architecture Lima, Peru 7-9 November 2012.
2011
- Gabriela, A. , Whitman, C. and Veronica, B. 2011. El edificio de viviendas multiprograma sustentable: ?Una solucion para las ciudades de la zona centro-sur de Chile declaradas saturadas de contaminacion del aire?. Presented at: XI ENCAC, VII ELACAC Buzios, Brazil 17-19 August 2011.
- Whitman, C. J. and Daniela, F. 2011. Straw bale construction; a solution for low cost energy efficient rural housing in the earthquake affected regions of Central Southern Chile?. Presented at: PLEA 2011 Louvain le Neuve, Belgium 13-15 July 2011.
- Whitman, C. J. , Gabriela, A. and Roberto, C. 2011. Post-Occupancy evaluation of state schools in 5 climatic zones of Chile. Gazi University Journal of Science 24 (2), pp.365-374.
2010
- Whitman, C. and Fernandez, D. 2010. The viability of improving energy efficiency and hygrothermal comfort of rural social housing in central Chile using straw bale construction. Presented at: Second International Conference on Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies Ancona, Italy 28-30 June 2010.
Articles
- Armijo, G. et al., 2016. Pobreza Energética: Perspectiva Desde La Intervención Urbana, Edificación Y El Medio Ambiente. Ciudad y Arquitectura 152 (5)
- Dang, X. et al., 2025. A state-of-the-art empirical round robin validation of heat, air and moisture (HAM) models. Building and Environment 276 112867. (10.1016/j.buildenv.2025.112867)
- Fernandez Goycoolea, J. P. , Zapata-Lancaster, G. and Whitman, C. 2020. A framework for the study of householders' engagement with low-carbon energy demand practices in dwellings with grid-connected photovoltaic energy systems. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 588 (4) 042012. (10.1088/1755-1315/588/4/042012)
- Fernández Goycoolea, J. P. , Zapata-Lancaster, M. and Whitman, C. 2022. Operational emissions in prosuming dwellings: a study comparing different sources of grid CO2 intensity values in South Wales, UK. Energies 15 (7) 2349. (10.3390/en15072349)
- Tam, L. , Whitman, C. and Prizeman, O. 2025. Global climate change and built heritage. Built Heritage 9 17. (10.1186/s43238-025-00194-z)
- Whitman, C. 2020. Retrofitting the UK’s half-timbered heritage. Built Environment Journal
- Whitman, C. J. et al. 2022. Hygrothermal monitoring of replacement infill panels for historic timber-frame buildings: initial findings. UCL Open: Environment 4 (10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000039)
- Whitman, C. , Armijo, G. and Schiappacasse, L. N. 2015. Methodology for informed design of sustainable tourism accommodation in Chile’s 9th Region the Gateway to Patagonia. Energy Procedia 78 , pp.267-272. (10.1016/j.egypro.2015.11.633)
- Whitman, C. et al. 2020. Heritage retrofit and cultural empathy; a discussion of challenges regarding the energy performance of historic UK timber-framed dwellings. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation 28 (2), pp.286-404. (10.1108/IJBPA-02-2019-0023)
- Whitman, C. and Prizeman, O. E. C. 2016. In situ U-Value monitoring of traditional and modern infill panels of a 15th Century Cruck-framed dwelling, in Herefordshire UK. Association for Preservation Technology Bulletin XLVII (4), pp.6-13.
- Whitman, C. J. 2014. Heritage Earth Construction and Hygrothermal Comfort: The Challenge of Rebuilding in Central Chile. Key Engineering Materials 600 , pp.186-195. (10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.600.186)
- Whitman, C. J. 2025. Retrofitting historic timber-framed buildings in the UK: Monitoring the risk of increased moisture content. Journal of Building Survey, Appraisal and Valuation 13 (4), pp.316-329. (10.69554/QJGH4818)
- Whitman, C. J. 2014. Straw bales, a possible solution for hygro-thermally comfortable dwellings in Chile's central valley: physical test chambers and in situ measurements. Journal of Green Building 9 (2), pp.161-181. (10.3992/1943-4618-9.2.161)
- Whitman, C. J. , Gabriela, A. and Roberto, C. 2011. Post-Occupancy evaluation of state schools in 5 climatic zones of Chile. Gazi University Journal of Science 24 (2), pp.365-374.
- Whitman, C. J. and Prizeman, O. 2016. U-value monitoring of infill panels of a fifteenth-century dwelling in Herefordshire, UK. Association for Preservation Technology Bulletin 47 (4), pp.6-13.
- Whitman, C. J. et al. 2021. Energy retrofit infill panels for historic timber-framed buildings in the UK: Physical test panel monitoring versus hygrothermal simulation. Architectural Science Review 64 (1-2), pp.5-16. (10.1080/00038628.2020.1719820)
Book sections
- Whitman, C. , Armijo, G. and Turnbull, N. J. 2014. The Ruka Mapuche: clues for a sustainable architecture in southern Chile?. In: Mileto, C. et al., Vernacular Architecture: Towards a Sustainable Future. CRC Press. , pp.759-761.
Conferences
- Armijo, G. , Whitman, C. and Roubelat, L. 2014. Post occupancy evaluation and user behaviour as the basis of the design of energy efficient dwellings for Temuco-Padre Las Casas, a city declared saturated by airborne pollution. Presented at: World Sustainable Building 2014 Barcelona, Spain 28-30 October 2014.
- Armijo, G. , Whitman, C. and Roubelat, L. 2013. Reacondicionamiento térmico en Temuco-Padre Las Casas, Chile: Una ciudad declarada saturada por contaminación aérea. Presented at: XII ENCAC VIII ELACAC Brasilia, Brazil 25-27 September 2013.
- Fernandez Goycoolea, J. P. , Zapata-Lancaster, G. and Whitman, C. 2020. A framework for the study of householders’ engagement with low-carbon energy demand practices in dwellings with grid-connected photovoltaic energy systems. Presented at: World Sustainable Built Environment Conference: Beyond 2020 Online 2-4 November 2020. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. Vol. 588.IOP Science. , pp.042012. (10.1088/1755-1315/588/4/042012)
- Gabriela, A. , Whitman, C. and Veronica, B. 2011. El edificio de viviendas multiprograma sustentable: ?Una solucion para las ciudades de la zona centro-sur de Chile declaradas saturadas de contaminacion del aire?. Presented at: XI ENCAC, VII ELACAC Buzios, Brazil 17-19 August 2011.
- Gabriela, A. , Whitman, C. J. and Leticia, R. 2012. The mixed use residential building: A solution for Mediterranean Chilean cities declared saturated in terms of airborne Pollution. Presented at: PLEA 2012 Lima, Peru 7-9 November 2012.
- Joung, Y. and Whitman, C. 2025. Assessing heritage interpretation's inclusion of building conservation: insights from a quantitative data analysis of eight Welsh properties. Presented at: The 30th ICOMOS CIPA International Symposium 2025 Seoul, South Korea August 25-29 2025. Copernicus Publications. , pp.131-138. (10.5194/isprs-annals-X-M-2-2025-131-2025)
- Petit-Breuilh, X. et al., 2013. Natural fibre insulation in rural southern Chile. Presented at: PLEA 2013 Munich, Germany 10-12 September 2013.
- Whitman, C. , Tam, L. and Halford, E. 2025. Industrial heritage as a catalyst for sustainable education. Presented at: TICCIH Congress 2025 Kiruna, Sweden 25 -30 August, 2025.
- Whitman, C. J. et al. 2023. Hygrothermal monitoring of replacement infill panels for historic timber-frame buildings: next steps. Presented at: 2nd International Conference on Moisture in Buildings 2023 (ICMB23) London 3-4 July 2023. Proceedings 2nd International Conference on Moisture in Buildings 2023 (ICMB23). ScienceOpen. (10.14293/ICMB230013)
- Whitman, C. 2024. Carbon Pasts, Low Carbon Futures: Teaching Low Energy Architecture Through Adaptive Reuse of Heritage Sites in the South Wales Coalfield. Presented at: 37th PLEA Conference - Passive and Low Energy Architecture Wroclaw, Poland 26-28 June 2024. PLEA 2024: (Re)thinking Resilience. The book of proceedings. Wrocław: Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Wrocławskiej. , pp.1461-1466. (10.37190/PLEA_2024)
- Whitman, C. 2019. El patrimonio arquitectónico y la eficiencia energética: el reacondicionamiento térmico de los edificios patrimoniales de madera en el Reino Unido. Presented at: Sustainable Built Environment 2019 Temuco, Chile 16-18 October 2019.
- Whitman, C. 2025. Evaluating the hygrothermal performance and associated benefits and risks of replacement infill panels for historic timber-framed buildings in the UK. Presented at: International Retrofit Conference 2025 Salford, UK 3-4 July 2025. Published in: Tsang, C. , Swan, W. and Fitton, R. eds. Innovative Approaches to Retrofit: Proceedings of the International Retrofit Conference (IRC 2025). , pp.1-6.
- Whitman, C. 2013. Fardos De Paja: una solucion para viviendas rurales energeticamente eficientes en la zona central de Chile?. Presented at: XII ENCAC VIII ELACAC Brasilia, Brazil 25-27 September 2013.
- Whitman, C. 2017. Low energy retrofit of historic timber framed buildings in the UK. Presented at: SBH2017 - Sustaining Built Heritage Luxor, Egypt 23 - 25 February 2017.
- Whitman, C. 2021. Retrofit of historic timber-framed buildings in the UK: monitoring replacement infill panels. Presented at: SPAB / STBA Annual Conference 2021 Online 28-29 September 2021.
- Whitman, C. 2012. Straw bale construction in a South American mediterranean climate. Presented at: PLEA 2012: 28th Conference, Opportunities, Limits & Needs Towards an Environmentally Responsible Architecture Lima, Peru 7-9 November 2012.
- Whitman, C. , Armijo, G. P. and Schiappacasse, L. N. 2013. The challenge of sustainable tourist infrastructure in the Araucania Andina, Chile. Presented at: PLEA 2013 Sustainable Architecture for a Renewable Future Munich, Germany 10-13 September 2013.
- Whitman, C. and Fernandez, D. 2010. The viability of improving energy efficiency and hygrothermal comfort of rural social housing in central Chile using straw bale construction. Presented at: Second International Conference on Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies Ancona, Italy 28-30 June 2010.
- Whitman, C. et al. 2020. Energy retrofit of historic timber-frame buildings- hygrothermal monitoring of building fabric. Presented at: WTA-PRECOM³OS Conference Preventive Conservation Leuven, Belgium 3-5 April 2019. Published in: Vandesande, A. , Verstrynge, E. and Van Balen, K. eds. Preventive Conservation - From Climate and Damage Monitoring to a Systemic and Integrated Approach Proceedings of the International WTA - PRECOM3OS Symposium, April 3-5, 2019, Leuven, Belgium. London: CRC Press / Balkema. , pp.129-136. (10.1201/9781003004042-20)
- Whitman, C. et al. 2018. Physical monitoring of replacement infill panels for historic timber-framed buildings in the UK: Comparing hygrothermal simulations and dual climate chamber testing. Presented at: Passive and Low Energy Architecture (PLEA) 2018 Hong Kong, China 10-12 December 2018. Published in: Ng, E. , Fong, S. and Ren, C. eds. PLEA 2018: Smart and Healthy Within the Two-Degree Limit. Proceedings of the 34th International Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture. Vol. 1.Passive Low Energy Architecture Association. , pp.129-132.
- Whitman, C. et al. 2018. The impact of modernization of a 16th century timber-framed farmhouse, Suffolk, UK. Presented at: Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings (EEHB 2018) Visby, Sweden 26-27 October 2018.
- Whitman, C. et al. 2020. Comparative testing of replacement infill materials for historic timber-framed buildings.. Presented at: Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings (EEHB 2022) Benediktbeuernen, Germany 4th-5th May 2022.
- Whitman, C. , Prizeman, O. and Walker, P. 2015. Interstitial hygrothermal conditions of low carbon retrofitting details for historic timber-framed buildings in UK. Presented at: Passive and Low Energy Architecture (PLEA) 2015 Bologna, Italy 9-11 September 2015. Published in: Cucinella, M. et al., PLEA2015 Architecture in (R)Evolution - 31st International PLEA Conference. Building Green Futures.
- Whitman, C. et al. 2022. Replacement infill panels for historic timber-framed buildings: measured and simulated hygrothermal behaviour. Presented at: PLEA STGO 2022 Will Cities Survive? The future of sustainable buildings and urbanism in the age of emergency. Santiago de Chile, Chile 22-25 November 2022. PLEA STGO 2022 Will Cities Survive? The future of sustainable buildings and urbanism in the age of emergency. Book of Proceedings. Vol. 1.Santiago de Chile: PLEA. , pp.454-459.
- Whitman, C. et al. 2017. Improving the energy performance of historic timber-framed buildings in the UK.. Presented at: Passive and Low Energy Architecture (PLEA) 2017 Edinburgh, UK 3-5 July.
- Whitman, C. and Turnbull, N. 2014. Environmental comfort in the living heritage of the Chilean Araucania: The Ruka Lafkenche and the Fogon Pehuenche.. Presented at: 8th Windsor Conference: Counting the Cost of Comfort in a changing world Windsor, UK 10-13 April 2014. Published in: Nicol, F. et al., Windsor Conference 2014: Counting the Cost of Comfort in a Changing World. Network for Comfort and Energy Use in Buildings.
- Whitman, C. J. 2020. Building performance evaluation of a 14th century Pargetted House: hygrothermal comfort and energy efficiency. Presented at: 35th Passive and Low Energy Architecture Conference (PLEA 2020) Virtual - A Coruña, Spain 1-3 September 2020. Published in: Rodríguez-Álvarez, J. and Gonçalves, J. C. eds. Planning Post Carbon Cities: 35th PLEA Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, A Coruña, 1st-3rd September 2020: Proceedings. Vol. 1.University of A Coruña. , pp.294-299. (10.17979/spudc.9788497497947)
- Whitman, C. J. 2022. Building performance evaluation of a 14th century Pargetted House: hygrothermal comfort and energy efficiency. Presented at: The STBA-SPAB Annual Conference: Sustaining Buildings 2022 Edinburgh, Scotland 12 October 2022. Vol. 1.
- Whitman, C. J. 2019. Evaluating incidental thermal performance improvements of a historic timber-framed building in central Hereford. Presented at: Sustainable Built Environment SBE2019: Wales Conference Cardiff 24th-25th September 2019. Vol. 329.IOP Publishing: Conference Series. , pp.012030. (10.1088/1755-1315/329/1/012030)
- Whitman, C. J. and Daniela, F. 2011. Straw bale construction; a solution for low cost energy efficient rural housing in the earthquake affected regions of Central Southern Chile?. Presented at: PLEA 2011 Louvain le Neuve, Belgium 13-15 July 2011.
- Whitman, C. J. , Gabriela, A. and Leticia, R. 2013. The Mixed Use Residential Building: A building block for the cities declared saturated by air pollution in Chile's Mediterranean Climate. Presented at: World Building Congress 2013 Brisbane, Australia 5-9 May 2013.
- Whitman, C. J. et al. 2014. Learning from the past: Training for a sustainable future of the tourist sector in the Coastal Atacama Desert. Presented at: World Sustainable Building 2014 Barcelona, Spain 28-30 October 2014.
- Whitman, C. J. , Halford, E. and Tam, L. 2025. Carbon pasts, low carbon futures: Industrial heritage and architectural pedagogy. Presented at: International Conference on "Reshaping Heritage Conservation In Higher Education: What, How, For Whom?" Shanghai 25-26 October 2025.
- Whitman, C. 2025. Lime in retrofit: Monitoring performance and moisture. Presented at: The Buildings Lime Forum Conference and Annual Gathering Bangor, Wales 4-5 September 2025.
- Whitman, C. 2024. Sustainable building conservation: a new trend in architectural education. Presented at: Heritage Innovators Day 2024 Rzeszów, Poland 11 June 2024.
- Whitman, C. , Halford, E. and Tam, L. 2025. Carbon pasts, low carbon futures: Industrial heritage and low carbon architectural pedagogy. Presented at: TICCIH Congress 2025 Kiruna, Sweden 25 -30 August, 2025.
Monographs
- Whitman, C. , Prizeman, O. E. C. and Lacey-Barnacle, M. 2016. Correlating maintenance, energy efficiency and fuel poverty for traditional buildings in the UK. Working paper. Cardiff: Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University.
Other
- Whitman, C. et al. 2025. Contribution to Westminster's Welsh Affairs Committee, "The environmental and economic legacy of Wales' industrial past (Inquiry)". Westminster: UK Gov
Thesis
- Whitman, C. 2017. The distribution of historic timber-framed buildings in the UK and the impacts of their low energy retrofit. PhD Thesis , Cardiff University.
Research
Research interests
- Energy use in historic buildings
- Vernacular Architecture
- Retrofit
- Bioclimatic Architecture
- Non-conventional materials
- Environmental comfort
Research projects
- Hygrothermal Monitoring of Timber-Frame Replacement Infill Panels (funded by Historic England)
- Transforming Homes (AHRC Green Transistion Ecosystems Project focusing on interwar social housing)
- Low Energy Retrofit of historic Timber-Framed Buildings in the UK
- Correlating maintenance, energy efficiency and fuel poverty for traditional buildings in the UK
- Safeguarding the Adrian Gibson Collection for the Future
Teaching
I teach on the MSc Sustainable Building Conservation, for which I am Module Leader of “Energy Use in Historic Buildings”, coordinator of the dissertation, and admissions tutor.
In addition I am unit lead for a 5th year M.Arch2 Design Unit "Carbon Pasts, Low Carbon Futures" which now in its fourth year focuses on the sustainable future of the post-industrial legacy of South-East Wales.
My experience includes teaching on undergraduate and postgraduate taught courses in both Chile and UK. Previous courses have included undergraduate and postgraduate design studio, sustainable and bioclimatic design, and renewable energy for industrial designers.
Biography
Chris Whitman is a British architect with more than 20 years of experience both in practice and academia. He studied at Edinburgh College of Art with a six month Erasmus exchange at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen and an ILAUD summer school in Venice. He has worked with Building Design Partnership, Shepheard Epstein Hunter, and for seven years was a director at Edward Cullinan Architects (now Cullinan Studio). During his last two years with them he worked one day a week as a 3rd year studio tutor at The School of Architecture and the Built Environment, University of Nottingham.
In 2007 Chris moved to Chile where he worked at the Universidad Central de Chile, Universidad Andrés Bello; and Universidad Católica de Temuco. At these universities he worked as lecturer, design tutor and researcher. His research focused on vernacular and indigenous architecture, energy efficiency and post occupancy evaluation with a special interest in natural, low carbon building materials. In addition he was an invited lecturer in postgraduate programs at the Universidad Bio Bio in Concepción and the Pontifica Universidad Católica in Santiago.
Currently he is a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader of the MSc Sustainable Building Conservation, at the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University. In 2018 he completed his PhD studying the “The Distribution Of Historic Timber-Framed Buildings in the UK and the Impacts of Their Low Energy Retrofit.” He was the winner of the Association for Preservation Technology International Martin Weaver Scholarship in 2015 and winner of their Oliver Torrey Fuller Award in 2017. He has also recently contributed to the upcoming 2nd edition of the Encyclopaedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World.
Honours and awards
- 2018 Merit for best technical paper, Passive and Low Energy Architecture Conference 2018
- 2017 Oliver Torrey Fuller Award, Best technical article, Association for Preservation Technology
- 2016 Student Presentation Award, Energy Institute, South Western and South Wales Chapter.
- 2015 Martin Weaver Scholarship. Association for Preservation Technology International.
- 2008 Gloucester Civic Awards - Commendation for Best Climate Friendly Scheme: Barge Arm Development, Gloucester, with Edward Cullinan Architects.
- 2008 British Homes apartment of the year, Honourable Mention. Barge Arm Development, Gloucester with Edward Cullinan Architects.
- 2008 Brick Awards: Best Private Housing Development. Barge Arm Development, Gloucester with Edward Cullinan Architects.
- 2007 Hertfordshire Association of Architects, 1st Prize. New Music Centre, Purcell School, Edward Cullinan Architects.
- 2007 Brick Awards. Highly Commended. New Music Centre, Purcell School, Edward Cullinan Architects.
- 2006 Landscape Industry Association of Singapore, Gold Award. Singapore Management University, Edward Cullinan Architects.
- 1998 University Medal for Architecture. Heriot-Watt University.
- 1997 Student Winner, Faculty of Building, National Student challenge. Hostel for Young Homeless People.
- 1996 Silver Medal. Edinburgh Architectural Association.
- 1994&1995 Architectural Bursaries. Edinburgh College of Art.
Academic positions
- Deputy Course Leader, MSc Sustainable Building Conservation
- Module Leader, Energy Use in Historic Buildings
Supervisions
I am interested in supervising PhD students in a wide range of areas principally related to Sustainable Architecture
These include Sustainability and the Historic Built Environment
- Energy Use in Historic Buildings
- Retrofit of Historic and Traditional Buildings
- Vernacular and Indigenous Architecture
- Sustainable Building Conservation
- Industrial Heritage
And Sustainability and New Construction
- Low Carbon and Non-Conventional Construction Materials
- Recyling and Resuse
- Bioclimatic Architecture
- Renewable Energies
- Building Performance Monitoring and Post Occupational Evaluation
Current supervision
Lizzie Wynn
Ked Wangyao
Hadjer Messabih
Past projects
- Adaptive Reuse for Industial Heritage sites under a semi-colonial conceptual framework
- The role of householders’ energy demand practices for CO2 emissions reductions in homes retrofitted with on-site renewable energy systems
- Continuity and Change in the M'zab Vernacular Architecture: The case of a community-led housing project of Ksar Tafilelt
- Single-use plastics and tyres as construction materials
- Construction and Demolition Waste in Nigeria
Contact Details
[email protected]
+44 29208 75893
Bute Building, Room 1.35, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB
+44 29208 75893
Bute Building, Room 1.35, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB
Research themes
Specialisms
- Energy use in historic buildings
- Industrial Heritage
- Hygrothermal Performance
- Home energy retrofit
- Vernacular Architecture
