Academic section
A career as a
Experience and career.
Juan Antonio Vallejo has a comprehensive academic background, including his graduation from the School of Architecture at the Universidad de Granada in 2010, followed by postgraduate studies in Sustainable Environmental Design at the AA School of Architecture in 2013. His academic journey culminated with the attainment of a Ph.D. from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham in 2018. His professional experience primarily focuses on passive design, natural ventilation, and evaporative cooling techniques.
In terms of his teaching experience, since 2015, he has served as a Visiting Professor in Architecture and Environmental Design (MSc) at the School of Architecture + Cities at the University of Westminster (London). In this role, he regularly delivers lectures on environmental design principles, passive design techniques, and building simulation tools. He also had the opportunity to collaborate with the School of Sustainability (SOS) when it was founded in 2015. Over the years, he played an active role as an environmental consultant at Naturalcooling Ltd, overseeing projects in the UK and abroad, with responsibilities including feasibility studies, dynamic thermal performance analysis, and detailed design assessment. Furthermore, he is part of the technical committee of Passive Low Energy Architecture (PLEA) and, more recently, he established his own architecture firm in Spain, expanding his contributions in the field of architecture and environmental design.
Born in a hot and arid climate, Juan Antonio Vallejo’s primary area of interest centers around passive cooling techniques, and his passion extends to areas of air quality control measures, parametric design optimization, and data processing and visualization techniques. As a result, he played an active role in the development of Optivent 2.0, a steady-state natural ventilation calculation tool designed to assist in strategic decision-making regarding the feasibility of natural ventilation in the early design stage. Additionally, he had the privilege of co-authoring the book “The Architecture of Natural Cooling,” which was published in 2020.
The Architecture of Natural Cooling.
The book “The Architecture of Natural Cooling” is the result of years of research and passion for sustainable and environmentally friendly design. In today’s world, overheating in buildings is a far too common problem, exacerbated by the increasing reliance on air conditioning, especially during scorching summers. This not only raises urban temperatures but also increases the demand for cooling solutions.
This publication is a comprehensive guide advocating for a design-based approach to addressing overheating in various climates and locations worldwide. It is an essential resource for architects, engineers, and policymakers, providing the tools and knowledge needed to tackle this critical issue. “The Architecture of Natural Cooling” explores the fundamental design principles, presents performance predictions and analysis, and offers detailed case studies to illustrate real-world applications.
In “The Architecture of Natural Cooling,” it is demonstrated how spaces can be kept comfortable and productive while reducing energy costs and carbon emissions. Whether it’s new construction projects or the renovation of existing buildings, the book provides a practical guide on how to implement natural cooling strategies.
Thus, this publication confirms that natural cooling is not only effective but also feasible in almost any climate worldwide. Therefore, when exploring innovative solutions, “The Architecture of Natural Cooling” is key to a more comfortable and environmentally friendly future.
“Natural cooling is one of the most important aspects to tackle while designing, and surely one of the trickiest to master. Through a well-calibrated collection of theoretical principles and practical recommendations, all supported by a set of thoroughly analysed and presented case studies, this volume provides a reference book for the many professionals who, in response to global trends, are just approaching the matter, as well as for those in search for a deeper understanding of natural cooling principles and their possible practical applications.”
Mario Cucinella, Architect, Hon FAIA, Int. Fellow RIBA (Founder MCA Bologna and New York)
Optivent 2.1.
Discover our steady-state natural ventilation calculation tool for the initial building design stage.
