A Shaded Community Courtyard
A co-designed courtyard using traditional wind towers and shade to stay usable in summer.
- Felt Temp.
- -7°C
- Daily Use
- 3x
- Award
- 2025
Sample specialist Accepting Q1 projects
Robin Ellis
Sustainable Architecture Specialist
I help developers and public clients design climate-responsive buildings and community spaces — combining passive design, material research and careful community engagement.
- Passive Design
- Low-carbon Materials
- Urban Research
- LEED & Estidama
- Community Engagement
- Design Review
Clients & partners
- meridian
- sahra
- greenline
- oasis
- civitas
- dune
Specialist Areas
Specialist advice on sustainable, climate-responsive buildings and public space.
- Passive CoolingShade & airflow
- Low-carbon MaterialsEarth, timber, reuse
- Urban ResearchHow spaces are used
- CertificationLEED · Estidama
- Community DesignCo-created spaces
- Design ReviewIndependent critique
Evidence-led design for hot-climate cities.
I bring research, simulation and community insight to projects early, when good decisions cost the least.
View Full ProfileSelected research
Peer-reviewed papers, talks and articles on climate-responsive design.
- Paper
Shade, Seating and Street Life in Hot Cities
Journal of Urban Design
- Paper
Passive Cooling for Community Courtyards
Building & Environment
- Keynote
Low-carbon Materials in the Gulf
Regional Design Conference
- Article
Designing with Wind Towers Today
Architecture Review
About My Practice
I specialize in climate-responsive architecture for hot, dry cities. My work combines passive design principles, low-carbon materials and research into how people actually use shared spaces.
I’ve led projects from small community courtyards to mixed-use districts. Every recommendation comes with the evidence behind it, so clients and communities can understand the tradeoffs and make confident decisions.
The most sustainable building is one people love enough to keep.
— Robin Ellis
Profile Match
95% match: Excellent Match
Highly relevant for sustainable development, public space and climate-responsive design projects.
- Deep regional climate expertise
- Award-winning built work
- Published research
- Accepting Q1 projects
Selected Projects
Carefully explained work, grounded in evidence and context.
Low-carbon Mixed-use District
Material and massing strategy for a 12-hectare district targeting net-zero operations.
- Less Carbon
- 42%
- Site
- 12ha
- Platinum
- LEED
How Residents Use Shared Streets
A year-long study of shade, seating and walking patterns across six neighbourhoods.
- Neighbourhoods
- 6
- Observations
- 2,800
- Papers
- 3
Specialist Services
Advisory, design reviews and research for projects that need depth.
Practice & Experience
- 2020 – PresentREEllis Studio (Independent)Principal & Sustainability Specialist
Advisory and design review for 45+ projects across the Gulf region.
- 2015 – 2020MMeridian ArchitectsAssociate Director, Sustainability
Led environmental design for mixed-use and civic projects.
- 2012 – 2015CCivitas LabResearch Fellow
Studied thermal comfort and street use in hot-climate cities.
- 2010 – 2012OOasis DesignArchitect
Residential and community projects with passive cooling strategies.
Client Feedback
“Robin’s early review saved us months of redesign — and the building now uses a third less energy than planned.”
Registrations & Credentials
- UCLThe Bartlett, UCLM.Sc. Environmental Design (2008 – 2010)
- AUSAmerican University of SharjahB.Arch. Architecture (2003 – 2008)
- LEED AP BD+CUSGBC
- Estidama PQPAbu Dhabi DMT
- Registered ArchitectRIBA
- Verified SpecialistAliveProfile
Design & Analysis Tools
- Rhino
- Grasshopper
- Revit
- Ladybug
- AutoCAD
- SketchUp
- QGIS
- Enscape
- Miro
Available For
Related Specialists
- Sam Rivera Growth & Ops Consultant London · 14+ years
- Casey Lane Speaker & Author Edinburgh · 15+ years
- Aditi Mehra Product & Ops Strategist Bengaluru · 12+ years
Let’s design spaces that last.
Request a consultation, share a brief, or ask about a design review.