Expertise & Research Interests
Sustainability, Green Building Performance, Urban Resilience, Urban Thermal Comfort, Performing Facades
Courses to Teach (23-24)
Architectural Design and Sustainability I & II
Introduction to Environmental Science
Building Environmental Assessment
Dr. THILAKARATNE, Ruffina
Associate Professor
BSc (1st Hons.) (UoM)
M.Sc (Architecture) (UoM)
M.Sc. (Environmental Management) (AIT)
Ph.D. (HKU)
Chair of RIBA (Hong Kong Chapter)
Chartered Architect (RIBA)
BEAM Pro
LEED AP
LEED AP (BD+C)
HKIA (Assoc.)
Certified Carbon Auditor (UK Energy Institute)
Ruffina is a RIBA qualified architect and a qualified environmental expert. She possesses over 20yrs international experience in research & teaching and the practice.
Currently at Chu Hai College of Higher Education, As the programme director for Master of Architecture programmes Ruffina is responsible for designing and delivering design studio programme and courses on environmental sustainability. Ruffina has been a visiting professor at the summer school at ETH Zurich, Switzerland. She is the Chair of Education RIBA HK Chapter, a Faculty at the HKGBC and Advisory Board member for Journal of Architectural Science Review. Her academic career is supported by her involvement as an environmental consultant in large scale development projects.
Selected Publications:
- Thilakaratne R. (2019). Designing liveable urban open spaces in high density cities. Earth and Environmental Science, Volume 297, Conference 1.
- -Thilakaratne R. (2019). Designing liveable urban open spaces in high density cities. Clean Planet, Happy People & Shared Prosperity. Emerging Concepts for Sustainable Built Environment. SBE19 Helsinki - Sustainable Built Environment Conference. 22-24 May 2019.
- Thilakaratne, R. (2018). Designing functional urban open spaces: through user comfort & spatial analysis approach. P. Rajagopalan (eds.), Engaging Architectural Science: Meeting the Challenges of Higher Density: 52nd International Conference of the Architectural Science Association 28- 30th November. © 2018, The Architectural Science Association and RMIT University, Australia.
- -Thilakaratne, R., Chu, P. & Xiao, Y. (2017). Impacts from Building Geometries on Urban Wind Environments. Transforming Our Built Environment through Innovation and Integration: Putting Ideas into Action. World Sustainable Built Environment Conference, 5-7 June. Hong Kong.
- Thilakaratne, R., Chu, P. & Xiao, Y. (2016). Optimization of Hong Kong Residential Building Design Guidelines to Improve Urban Air Ventilation. J. Zuo, L. Daniels, V. Soebarto (eds.), Fifty years later: Revisiting the role of architectural science in design and practice: 50th International Conference of the Architectural Science Association 8-10 Dec. ©2016, The Architectural Science Association and The University of Adelaide.
- Thilakaratne, R. & Schnabel, M. A. (2013). Will LEED Survive in Asia? The 47th International Architectural Science Association ASA (ANZAScA) Conference, Hong Kong. 13-16 Nov. 2013
- Thilakaratne, R. & Lew, V. (2011). Can LEED lead Asia: Global adaptability of LEED rating system? Science Direct, Vol. 21. pp. 1136-1144
