Home Department of Architecture Anna Pamphilon Dip.Arch. ARB RIBA MSc: MDes Advisory Group

Anna Pamphilon Dip.Arch. ARB RIBA MSc: MDes Advisory Group

September 21, 2025

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Anna Pamphilon is an architect and Professional Studies Advisor at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Architecture. Her expertise lies in eco-retrofit, Passivhaus, and regenerative design, bringing real-world sustainability insights to students.

Anna Pamphilon, Professional Studies Advisor at the Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, specializing in eco-retrofit and sustainable design

Anna Pamphilon is a distinguished architect and Professional Studies Advisor at the Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, whose work embodies the crucial intersection of professional practice and a deep-seated commitment to environmental sustainability.

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As the director of Pamphilon Architects, her Cambridge-based practice is an invaluable asset to the department, providing students with a direct link between theoretical concepts and the professional application of sustainable principles. Before establishing her own firm, Anna honed her skills as a senior architect and sustainability lead at Hawkins\Brown, gaining extensive experience in large-scale projects and institutional practice. This background, combined with her work as a co-editor for the reputable website Greenspec, underscores her long-standing dedication to advancing sustainable design practices within the industry.

Anna’s academic credentials further solidify her position as a leading voice in environmental architecture. Her completion of an MSc in Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies at the Centre of Alternative Technology culminated in a thesis that focused on post-occupancy evaluations. This research is a powerful indicator of her advocacy for a data-driven approach to design.

She is a firm believer in the importance of “real data and feedback loops,” arguing that the only way to genuinely improve the quality and sustainability of our built environment is to critically assess how buildings perform after they are completed. This focus on performance metrics and tangible outcomes provides a compelling and evidence-based perspective that she brings to her advisory role, teaching students the importance of designing for long-term impact rather than just initial aesthetic appeal.

Beyond her professional practice and academic pursuits, Anna is a passionate and influential advocate for systemic change within the industry. As a steering group member of Architects Declare, a collective that supports architectural practices in meeting their climate commitments, she is actively involved in encouraging industry and government leaders to implement the necessary changes to combat the climate crisis.

Her current project to develop a design guide on regenerative design with Architects Declare is particularly significant. Regenerative design moves beyond simply “sustaining” a current state; it aims to create human and natural systems that are designed to co-exist and co-evolve, delivering a net-positive impact on the environment.

This forward-looking approach is a key theme in her professional life and an important lesson she imparts to her students. Additionally, her membership on the Expert Design Review Panel for Design South East and her role as an RIBA Architecture Ambassador further highlight her commitment to shaping the future of architecture through professional guidance, mentorship, and public engagement.