Biography
Minna Sunikka-Blank is Professor of Architecture and Environmental Policy, leading internationally recognised research on housing, energy and social justice in the context of the climate emergency. Her work spans from informal settlements in Kenya to low-income communities in India and neighbourhoods in the UK, connecting global and local perspectives to rethink how energy transitions and climate resilience are shaped by everyday practices.
A registered architect, she works at the interface of research, policy and practice, and in 2024 served on the jury for the RIBA Stirling Prize.
Her projects focus on housing and energy from a policy perspective, and she is currently working on climate resilience of urban rental housing in Nairobi. AHRC Research Network Filming Energy (FERN) project used participatory film-making to understand women's lived experience in low-income housing in India and South Africa. AHRC IAA project Community Engagement Workshops on Energy and Housing in Nairobi looked at clean cooking and energy transitions in informal settlements and 'After SUNRISE' project community solar energy in rural India. She is interested in socially engaged research practice through collaborative research projects, in partnerships with 'non-traditional' research partners like international NGOs, national and local policy makers, and artists.
At Cambridge, Professor Sunikka-Blank co-convenes the inter-disciplinary Global Energy Nexus in Urban Settlements/GENUS research group across Geography, Engineering, Architecture and Judge Business School. At the Department she co-leads Behaviour and Building Performance/BBP group with international research students, and Community Design Research Group/CDRG at the CRASSH.
Before coming to Cambridge she worked on environmental impact assessment projects and research in Finland and the Netherlands. She has held Visiting Professorship at Keio University in Japan and Visiting Researcher posts at Aalto University in Helsinki and Erasmus University in Rotterdam. She regularly collaborates with inter-disciplinary networks beyond Cambridge, looking at challenges such as urban densification and low cost housing and the adaptation of solar technologies in marginalised communities, focusing on the perspectives of women, and the question of energy poverty in the UK.
She has authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications and her research on understanding domestic energy demand and conceptualisation of the 'prebound effect' has directly informed housing and thermal retrofit policies. She is currently working on a related project with Cambridge City Council examining how residents perceive energy-efficient, high-performance homes and how complex heating systems can be improved. She contributes to international policy debates, including through the British Academy COP26 Policy Briefing on Cities and Energy Transitions, policy work on climate-resilient urban rental housing in Nairobi and contributions to council housing design guidelines.
Her work was presented in BBCArts 'Animated Thinking' series showing how today’s slums in India and how the transition to high-rise flats has adversely and radically affected the lives of women. A distinctive feature of her work is the integration of artistic and visual methods, including film and exhibitions, as tools for research, civic engagement and policy impact, including collaborations with artists.
Professor Sunikka-Blank teaches the Sustainable Cities course, now being developed into a book, and works closely with the University’s Estates team on Case Studies course that enables students to engage directly with live building projects. She is interested in developing research training in architectural education. She is a registered architect and an elected member of the Research and Education Committee of the Association of Finnish Architects/SAFA, the Editorial Board of Buildings&Cities journal and Create Cambridge board member.
Professor Sunikka-Blank is Director of Studies and Fellow in Architecture in Churchill College.
Publications
Croon, T., Elsinga, M., Hoekstra, S., Sunikka-Blank, M., Galvin, R. (2026). For the Few, Not the Many: Tracing the Residualist and Compensatory Nature of British Energy Support. Environmental Policy and Governance, 1–19.
Sunikka-Blank, M., Maddock, C. Ahire, K. (2026). ‘Now We Feel Completely Lazy’ Social and Cultural Dimensions of Solar Electrification among Tribal Women in Rural India. Gender, Place & Culture, 1-28.
Sunikka-Blank, M., Bardhan, R., Musya, M., Njoroge, P., Nyaga, M., & Weru, J. (2026). Cultural Dimensions of Energy Transitions and Clean Cooking in Informal Settlements: The Case of Mukuru, Nairobi. Social Change, 56, Article 1.
Raju, D.K., Sunikka-Blank, M., Ahire, K., Maddock, C. (2025). 'Story of My Village’: Participatory Arts Based Methods and Acts of Thinking, Energizing Change in Rural India. Journal of Embodied Research (JER) 8(1): 3. [a 23min film]
Li, X., Sunikka-Blank, M. (2025). Technology, High-Rise, and Modern Homes: How Vertical Life Accelerates Domestic Energy Use in Urban China. Housing, Theory, and Society.
Mitcheltree, H., Valentine, C., Hosking, I., Wilkins, A., Sunikka-Blank, M., & Steemers, K. (2025). Investigating visual stress within family and domestic violence refuges in Australia. Frontiers of Architectural Research.
Galvin, R., Sunikka-Blank, M., DeCroon, T. (2024) Juggling the basics: How much does an income increase affect energy spending of low-income households in England? Energy Research and Social Science, 118.
Sunikka-Blank, M., Dube, E.E., Teku, S. (2024) Beyond ownership: assessing diverse housing typologies and policy interventions for affordable housing in Dilla, Ethiopia, Review of Regional Research, 44(1).
Mhmood, F., Sunikka-Blank, M. (2024) Where is nature?: Women’s narratives of public and private landscapes in the UAE Gender, Place and Culture, 1-22.
Li, X., Sunikka-Blank, M. 2023. "The computer is never turned off”: Children’s domestic practices and energy demand in urban China Energy Research and Social Science (97), 1-10.
Sunikka-Blank, M., Schupp, J., Flintham, M. 2022. Moments in Pickwick: Opening a window into women’s lived experiences of transitional housing through participatory filmmaking, Screenworks, Volume (13)1.
Sunikka-Blank, M., Bardhan, R., Mohandas, P., 2022, From informal to formal: understanding gendered energy transitions through filmmaking in Cape Town and Mumbai, Gender, Place & Culture (open access).
Mitcheltree, H., Sunikka-Blank, M. 2022. Identifying a research gap in relation to family and domestic violence accommodation design within Victoria, Australia: A systematic review, Frontiers of Architectural Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2022.09.001
Sunikka-Blank, M., Kiyono, Y., 2022, "Why do you need more towers? Four approaches to sustainable urban regeneration in Japan", Architectural Research Quarterly, 1-12. doi:10.1017/S1359135522000069
Razem, M., Sunikka-Blank, M., 2022, "Selling 'cool': The role of marketing in normalizing domestic AC marketing in Jordan, Energy Research and Social Science (90), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2022.102582
Sunikka-Blank, M., Bardhan, R., Abdie, D., 2021, “We Need Ground Space”: Urban Densification and Transitional Housing in Ethiopia, Journal of the British Academy, 9(6).
Sunikka-Blank, M., Galvin, R., 2021, Single parents in cold homes in Europe: How intersecting personal and national characteristics drive up the numbers of these vulnerable households, Energy Policy (150) 112134, 11 p. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112134
Li, X., Sunikka-Blank, M., 2021, Urban densification and social capital: neighbourhood restructuring in Jinan, China, Buildings and Cities 2(1), pp. 244-263, 20 p. https://doi. org/10.5334/bc.70
Rajadhyaksha, A., Sunikka-Blank, M., Bardhan, R., Schupp, J., 2021, CineGenus: everyday life and energy use in chawls in Indian cinema, in: Penz, F., Schupp, J. (eds) Everyday Life in Cinema, London (Routledge).
Debnath, R., Bardhan, R., Darby, S., Mohaddes, K., Sunikka-Blank, M., Villaça Coelho, A.C., Isa, A., 2021, Words against injustices: A deep narrative analysis of energy cultures in poverty of Abuja, Mumbai and Rio de Janeiro, Energy Research and Social Science (72) 101892, 17 p. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101892
Mokhles, S., Sunikka-Blank, M., 2021, “I'm always home” Social infrastructure and women’s personal mobility patterns in informal settlements in Iran, Gender, Place and Culture. 27 p. https://doi.org/10.1080/0966369X.2021.1873743
Sunikka-Blank, M., Bardhan, R., Schupp, J., Prabhu, J., & Penz, F., 2020, Films as source of everyday life and energy use: A case of Indian cinema. Energy Research & Social Science (69) 101655. 13 p. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101655
Debnath, R., Simoes, G.M.F., Bardhan, R., Leder, S.M., Lamberts, R., Sunikka-Blank, M., 2020, Energy Justice in Slum Rehabilitation Housing: An Empirical Exploration of Built Environment Effects on Socio-Cultural Energy Demand. Sustainability (12)7, 3027, 27 p. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12073027
Ren, G., Sunikka-Blank, M., Zhang, X., 2020, Young urban households in Shanghai, China: Characteristic of energy use and attitudes, Sustainable Cities and Society (60), 102174, 10 p. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2020.102174
Khaldi, Y.M., Sunikka-Blank, M., 2020, Governing renewable energy transition in conflict contexts: investigating the institutional context in Palestine. Energy Transitions (4): pp. 69–90, https://doi.org/10.1007/s41825-020-00024-z
Khalid, R., Sunikka-Blank, M., 2020, Housing and household practices: Practice-based sustainability interventions for low-energy houses in Lahore, Pakistan, Energy for Sustainable Development (54): pp. 148-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2019.11.005
Ren, G., Heo, Y., Sunikka-Blank, M., 2019, Investigating an adequate level of modelling for retrofit: A case study of British semi-detaches house, Journal of Building Engineering (23): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2019.100837
Debnath, R., Bardhan, R., Sunikka-Blank, M., 2019, How does slum rehabilitation influence appliance ownership? A structural model of non-income drivers, Energy Policy (132): pp. 418-428, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2019.06.005
Sunikka-Blank, M., Haque, A.N., Bardhan, R., 2018, Gender, domestic energy and design of inclusive low-income habitats: A case of slum rehabilitation housing in India, Habitat International. 49, pp. 53-67, (14 p.), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2018.10.020
Khalid, R., Sunikka-Blank, M., 2018, Evolving houses, demanding practices: A case of rising electricity consumption of the middle class in Pakistan, Building and Environment (143): pp. 293–305, (12 p.) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2018.07.010
Galvin R., Sunikka-Blank, M., 2018, Economic inequality and household energy consumption in high-income countries: A challenge for social science based energy research, Ecological Economics (153): pp. 78–88 (10 p.) DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2018.07.003
Gillich, A., Sunikka-Blank, M., Ford, A., 2018, Designing an ‘optimal’ domestic retrofit programme, Building Research and Information, 46(7), pp. 767-778. (11 p.) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2017.1368235
Khalid, R., Sunikka-Blank, M., 2017, Homely social practices, uncanny electricity demands: Class, culture and material dynamics in Pakistan, Energy Research & Social Science (34): pp. 122-131 (9 p.) DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2017.06.038
Sunikka-Blank, M., Galvin, R., Behar, C., 2017, Harnessing class, taste and gender for more effective energy policies, Building Research and Information, 46(1): pp. 114-126 (12 p.) DOI: 10.1080/09613218.2017.1356129.
Galvin, R., Sunikka-Blank, M., 2017, Ten questions concerning sustainable domestic thermal retrofit policy research, Building and Environment (118): pp. 377-388 (11 p.), DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2017.03.007
Galvin, R., Sunikka-Blank, M., 2016, Schatzkian practice theory and energy consumption research: Time for some philosophical spring cleaning? Energy Research & Social Science (7): pp. 55–65 (10 p.) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2016.08.021
Gillich, A., Sunikka-Blank, M., 2017, Lessons for the UK Green Deal from the US BBNP, Building Research and Information, 45(4): pp. 384-395 (11p.) https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2016.1159500
Galvin, R., Sunikka-Blank, M., 2016, Quantification of (p)rebound Effects in Retrofit Policies – Why does it Matter? Energy (95): pp. 415-424 (9 p.) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2015.12.034
Sunikka-Blank, M., Galvin, R., 2015, Irrational homeowners? How aesthetics and heritage values influence thermal retrofit decisions in the United Kingdom, Energy Research and Social Science (11): pp. 97-108 (11p.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2015.09.004
Galvin, R., Sunikka-Blank, M., 2014a, The UK homeowner-retrofitter as an innovator in a socio-technical system, Energy Policy (74): pp. 655-662 (7 p.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2014.08.013
Galvin, R., Sunikka-Blank, M., 2014b, Disaggregating the causes of falling consumption of domestic heating energy in Germany, Energy Efficiency (5): pp. 851-864 (13 p.), DOI: 10.1007/s12053-014-9259-5.
Galvin R., Sunikka-Blank M., 2013, Economic Viability in Thermal Retrofit Policies: Learning from Ten Years of Experience in Germany, Energy Policy (54): pp. 343-351 (8 p.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2012.11.044
Sunikka-Blank, M., Galvin, R., 2012, Prebound effect: the gap between performance and the actual consumption, Building Research and Information 40(3): pp. 260-273. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2012.690952
Galvin, R., Sunikka-Blank, M., 2012, Including fuel price elasticity of demand in net present value and payback time calculations of thermal retrofits: case study of German dwellings, Energy and Buildings (50): pp. 219-228. DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2012.03.043
Sunikka-Blank, M., Chen, J., Dantsiou, D., Britnell, J., 2012, Improving energy efficiency of social housing areas – a case study of a retrofit achieving an ’A’ energy performance rating in the UK, European Planning Studies, 20(1): pp. 133-147. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2011.638494
Sunikka-Blank, M., Iwafune, Y., 2011, Sustainable building in Japan - observations on a market transformation policy, Environmental Policy and Governance, 21(5): pp. 351-363. DOI: 10.1002/eet.580
Sunikka-Blank, M., 2011, The concept and aesthetics of sustainable building in Japan, in: Lee, S. (ed.) Aesthetics of Sustainable Architecture, Rotterdam (010 Publishers), pp. 186-197.
Sunikka, M., 2006, Energy efficiency and lower carbon technologies in urban renewal, Building Research and Information, 34(6), pp. 521-533. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613210600660976
Beerepoot, M., Sunikka M., 2005, The contribution of the EC energy certificate in improving sustainability of the housing stock, Environment and Planning B, 32(1): pp. 21-31. https://doi.org/10.1068/b3118
Sunikka, M., 2003, Fiscal instruments in sustainable housing policies in the EU and the accession countries, European Environment, 13(4): pp. 227-239. DOI: 10.1002/eet.318
Edited books
Galvin R., Sunikka-Blank M., 2013, A Critical Appraisal of Germany's Thermal Retrofit Policy: Turning Down the Heat. Springer-Verlag, Berlin/Heidelberg/New York (ISBN-10: 1447153669, ISBN-13: 978-1447153665). (148 p.)
Teaching and Supervisions
Teaching
Professor Sunikka-Blank is the Chair of Examiners for the Master of Architecture (MArch) programme and serves as an Internal Examiner for the Part III professional qualification course.
She lectures on the third-year undergraduate courses Sustainable Cities and Advanced Studies in Construction, Technology and Environmental Design
Professor Sunikka-Blank currently supervises PhD students Heather Mitcheltree, Mengyuan Li, and Fatma Mhmood and ESRC DTP students Noor Mazhar and Rebecca Foster (with Prof Charlotte Lemanski from Geography). Her completed PhD students’ include:
- Yasser Khaldi: Governing renewable energy transitions in conflict contexts: the case of Palestine
- Maiss Razem: From efficiency to sufficiency: Socio-technical analysis of the role of design, marketing, and users in shaping domestic comfort practices and Air Conditioning use in Jordan
- Xin Li: Urban densification, social capital, and domestic energy demand: neighbourhood restructuring in Jinan city, China
- Ramit Debnath: Contextualising energy justice in low-income built environment: Towards data-driven policy interventions for addressing distributive injustices in slum rehabilitation housing of the Global South
- Rihab Khalid: Socio-material constructs of domestic energy demand: household and housing practices in Pakistan
- Guangying Ren: Electricity use in urban households in China: occupancy patterns, attitudes and policy initiatives
- Dimitra Dantsiou: (De)constructing and transforming workplace practices: Feedback as an intervention
