Curriculum Vitae

PERSONAL DETAILS
BIOGRAPHY

Dr Jan-Frederik Flor is a researcher and senior lecturer in the field of architectural engineering and building physics. Jan studied architecture at the University of Costa Rica and is a LAM registered Graduate Architect (Part II) in Malaysia. He received a master’s degree in engineering of membrane structures from the Institute of Membrane and Shell Technologies at the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences in Germany, and obtained his PhD in Building Technology at the University of Nottingham, UK. His research interests cover new developments in the environmental design of building envelopes, focusing on the thermal and optical behaviour of multi-layer foil constructions. Jan has published extensively in international journals on a variety of topics related to tropical architecture, building performance, daylighting and energy, urban vegetation and kinetic structures. Throughout his career in the building industry, Jan has contributed as a design- and project engineer in the planning, building and quality management of textile and foil constructions on a range of scales. He is a Professional Technologist for Building Construction & Technology accredited by the Malaysian Board of Technologists and an active Member of the international TensiNet Association, contributing to the working group for Sustainability & Comfort. Currently, Jan teaches in the Bachelor and Master Programs in the School of Architecture, Building and Design at Taylor’s University, Malaysia.


ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES
(Role),(Level),(Duration)
  • Acting Cluster Leader, Communities for Net-Zero Nexus: Energy & Carbon Transitions (CONNECT) under the Centre of Asian Modernisation (CAM), a University Research Centre at Taylor's University, 18/09/2025 to 01/11/2025
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION
(Qualification),(Institution)
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Building Technology, The University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
  • Master of Engineering, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Germany
  • Bachelor Degree in Architecture, University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION
(Qualification),(Institution)
  • Graduate Architect (Cert No: 1337/2024), Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia, Malaysia
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
(Organisation),(Role),(Duration),(Level)
  • Board of Architects Malaysia (Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia - LAM), Graduate Member, 2023 to 2025 (National)
  • Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT), Affilate Member, 2021 to present (National)
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
(Area)
  • Built Environment (tropical architecture, building performance, daylighting and energy, urban vegetation, membrane structures, kinetic structures, low-carbon materials)
RESEARCH INTEREST
(Research Area)
  • Enhancing environmental design in building envelopes for sustainability.
  • Advancements in carbon-neutral and carbon-negative construction materials.
  • Utilizing hybrid and engineered materials for innovative construction methods.
  • Additive manufacturing techniques for the creation of responsive composites.
  • Developing flexible, tunable, or reconfigurable meta-devices for architectural applications.
  • Investigating the thermo-optical properties of multi-layer foil constructions.
TEACHING
(Course Title),(Level of Study),(Institution),(Month/Year)
  • Dissertation II, Master Degree, Taylor's University (09/2025)
  • Innovative Construction Materials, Bachelor Degree, Taylor's University (04/2025)
  • Energy and Architecture, Bachelor Degree, Taylor's University (04/2025)
  • Dissertation II, Master Degree, Taylor's University (04/2025)
  • Energy and Architecture, Bachelor Degree, Taylor's University (09/2025)
  • Innovative Construction Materials, Bachelor Degree, Taylor's University (09/2025)
  • Architectural Design V, Bachelor Degree, Taylor's University (09/2024)
  • Architecture and Environment, Bachelor Degree, Taylor's University (02/2024)
  • Dissertation II, Master Degree, Taylor's University (02/2024)
  • Advanced Architectural Construction, Bachelor Degree, Taylor's University (04/2024)
  • Architectural Design V, Bachelor Degree, Taylor's University (04/2024)
  • Dissertation II, Master Degree, Taylor's University (09/2024)
  • Architectural Design III, Bachelor Degree, Taylor's University (09/2023)
PUBLICATIONS
(Title of publication in APA style)
Book Chapter
2023
  • Porras-Salazar, J.A., Flor, J.F., Obando-Robles, M. (2023). Thermal Performance Assessment of Vernacular Earth Buildings in Tropical Climates: A Case Study in Costa Rica. Book Chapter in: Marin-Restrepo L., Perez-Fargallo, A., Piderit-Moreno, M. B., Trebilcock-Kelly, M., Wegertseder-Martinez, P. (eds.), Removing Barriers to Environmental Comfort in the Global South. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Cham.
     
Article in Journals
2025
  • Porras-Salazar, J. A., Mishra, A. K., & Flor, J.-F. (2025). Ventilation Challenges in Costa Rican Urban Public Transport: Implications for Health and Sustainable Mobility. Atmosphere, 16(9), 1013. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091013 (SCOPUS-Indexed)
     
  • Porras-Salazar, J. A., Marin-Restrepo, L. & Flor, J.-F. (2025). Too hot to learn? Evaluation of passive design strategies for schools in the warm humid tropics, Architectural Science Review, DOI: 10.1080/00038628.2025.2563626 (ISI-Indexed)
     
2024
  • Sancho-Salas, A., Flor, J.-F., Fishel, D. (2024). Rethinking Solar Geometry and Design Education in the Tropics: Limitations and Opportunities of Current Teaching Methods. (2024). Advances in Building Education Innovación Educativa en Edificación, 8(3), 36-49.
     
2023
  • Sancho-Salas, A., Flor, J-F., Orozco Muñoz, S. (2023). Predicting Reality within the Virtual: Experimental Validation of Daylight Simulation Tools for Architectural Spaces in the Tropics, Journal of Engineering Science and Technology, Special Issue On Staauh, November (2022) 72 – 81, © School Of Engineering, Taylor’s University. (SCOPUS-Indexed)
     
  • Porras-Salazar, J. A., Flor, J.-F., Contreras-Espinoza, S., Soto-Arce, M., & Castro-Salazar, R. (2023). The public perception of urban vegetation in metropolitan regions of Costa Rica. Environmental Advances, 13, 100422. (SCOPUS-Indexed)
     
2022
  • Flor, J.-F., Liu, X., Sun, Y., Beccarelli, P., Chilton, J., & Wu, Y. (2022). Switching daylight: Performance prediction of climate adaptive ETFE foil façades. Building and Environment, 209, 108650. (SCOPUS-Indexed)
     
2021
  • Flor, J., Aburas, M., Abd-Alhamid, F., & Wu, Y. (2021). Virtual reality as a tool for evaluating user acceptance of view clarity through ETFE double-skin façades. Energy and Buildings, 231, 110554. (SCOPUS-Indexed)
     
2020
  • Sun, Y., Liu, D., Flor, J., Shanks, K., Baig, H., Wilson, R., Liu, H., Sundaram, S., Mallick, T. K., & Wu, Y. (2020). Analysis of the daylight performance of window integrated photovoltaics systems. Renewable Energy, 145, 153–163. (SCOPUS-Indexed)
     
  • Flor, J., & Off, R. (2019). Estructuras de membrana en los trópicos: tecnología de construcción y adaptación climática. REVISTARQUIS, 9(1), 82–111. https://doi.org/10.15517/ra.v9i1.40231
     
2018
  • Lu, W., Liu, Z., Flor, J., Wu, Y., & Yang, M. (2018). Investigation on designed fins-enhanced phase change materials system for thermal management of a novel building integrated concentrating PV. Applied Energy, 225, 696–709. (SCOPUS-Indexed)
     
  • Flor, J., Liu, D., Sun, Y., Beccarelli, P., Chilton, J., & Wu, Y. (2018). Optical aspects and energy performance of switchable ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) foil cushions. Applied Energy, 229, 335–351. (SCOPUS-Indexed)
     
Article in Proceeding
2025
  • Flor, J., Porras-Salazar, J. A., Alwi, N. M., & Beccarelli, P. (2025). Tunable foil pneu: A concept study on kinetic shading systems for climate-sensitive building envelopes. AIP Conference Proceedings, 3271, 060025. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0258553 (SCOPUS-Indexed)
     
2024
  • Porras-Salazar, J. A. & Flor, J.-F. .(2024). Assessing intervention measures to improve ventilation rates in an university classroom. In: Schmidt Díaz, V. , Arrieta Orozco, O. , & Zamora González, L. M. (2024). V Jornadas de Investigación de la Facultad de Ingeniería. Ingeniería, 34(NE4), 1–155. https://doi.org/10.15517/ri.v34iNE5.59019
     
2023
  • Alwi, N. M., Flor, J., Anuar, N. H. K., Hanafi, N. N. H., Muhammad, N. H., Zain, M. H. K. M., & Nasir, M. R. M. (2023). Energy transitioning school buildings in Peninsula Malaysia: A case study on the potential of photovoltaic power. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1205(1), 012043. (SCOPUS-Indexed)
     
2022
  • Alwi, N. M., Flor, J., Anuar, N. H. K., Mohamad, J., Hanafi, N. N. H., Muhammad, N. H., Zain, M. H. K. M., & Nasir, M. R. M. (2022). Retrofitting measures for climate resilience: Enhancing the solar performance of Malaysian school buildings with passive design concepts. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1102(1), 012014. (SCOPUS-Indexed)
     
  • Flor, J. F., Alwi, N. M., & Mohamad, J. (2022). Making & Breaking: Curation of an Experimental Exercise Toolbox for Teaching Building Structures Online. In Proceedings of the Conference “Innovating Education for A Better Tomorrow” IUCEL 2022, Centre for Academic Development (CADe), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia.
     
2021
  • Flor, J., Sun, Y., Beccarelli, P., Wu, Y., & Chilton, J. (2021). Retrofitting Office Buildings: Enhancing daylighting performance with switchable ETFE double-skin façades. In K.-U. Bletzinger, E. Oñate, R. Wüchner, & C. Lázaro (Eds.), Membranes2021. X International Conference on Textile Composites and Inflatable Structures STRUCTURAL MEMBRANES 2021. Munich, Germany.
     
2019
  • Flor, J.-F., Sun, Y., Beccarelli, P., Rowell, C., Chilton, J., & Wu, Y. (2019). Experimental study on the thermal performance of ethylenetetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) foil cushions. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 556, 012004. (SCOPUS-Indexed)
     
  • Flor, J.-F., Sun, Y., Beccarelli, P., Wu, Y., & Chilton, J. (2019). Switchable ETFE cushion: designing and building a model for experimental testing. In C. Lázaro, K.-U. Bletzinger, & E. Oñate (Eds.), Proceedings of the IASS Annual Symposium 2019 – Structural Membranes 2019. Barcelona, Spain.
     
  • Wang, H., Flor, J., Sun, Y., & Wu, Y. (2019). Numerical investigations on the thermal performance of adaptive ETFE foil cushions. Energy Procedia, 158, 3191–3195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2019.01.1012 (SCOPUS-Indexed)
     
2017
  • Flor, J., Wu, Y., Beccarelli, P., & Chilton, J. (2017). Dynamic environmental control mechanisms for pneumatic foil constructions. E3S Web of Conferences, 22, 00048. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20172200048 (SCOPUS-Indexed)
     
RESEARCH PROJECT
(Project title),(Role),(Duration),(Level)
  • Bamboo Renewed: Integrating Life Cycle Assessment for Sustainable Waste Management and Innovative Composite Materials Development, Project Leader, 2024 to 2025 (Taylor's University)
  • Tunable Solar Control Mechanism for Pneumatic Foil Construction, Project Leader, 2024 to 2025 (Taylor's University)
  • Framework for a sustainable University infrastructure, Project Leader, 2022 to 2024 (National)
  • Towards Resilient School Buildings: Conceptual Design preparations for Future-Based Classrooms in Malaysia, Co-researcher, 2020 to 2022 (National)
EVALUATION ACTIVITIES
(Activity),(Duration),(Category)
  • Served as reviewer for the International Conference "Synergy of Architecture and Civil Engineering" (SINARG 2025), University of Nis, Serbia, 2025 to 2025 (Article in Proceeding)
  • Reviewed submissions as a scientific committee member for the 1st International Conference of Net Zero Carbon Built Environment at the University of Nottingham, UK., 2023 to 2024 (Abstracts)
  • Served as the Editor for the Special Issue of the Planning Malaysia Journal dedicated to the ThinkSpace Conference 2023 at Taylor's University., 2023 to 2024 (Article in Journal)
  • Serves as a reviewer for the journal 'Energy and Buildings' reviewing and evaluating submitted manuscripts., 2019 to 2025 (Article in Journal)
SUPERVISION
(Title of Thesis),(Name of Candidates),(Academic Level),(Role)
ONGOING
  • Guo Yueyun, PhD/ Doctoral  (Co-supervisor (Internal))
  • Liang Lok Mei, PhD/ Doctoral  (Co-supervisor (Internal))
  • Gai Ming, PhD/ Doctoral  (Co-supervisor (Internal))
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHT (IPR)
(Product Name),(Type),(Level)
  • Assembly for variably regulating light transmission between building indoor and outdoor spaces to achieve tunable shading, method and system thereof, Patent (National)
AWARDS AND STEWARDSHIP
(Name of Award/Stewardship),(Award Category),(Awarding Institution),(Year Awarded),(Type of Award)
  • KLSF'25 Best Presentation Award, Kuala Lumpur International Summit on Sustainable Future 2025, Conference, Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), 2025 (Best Presentation)
  • ITEX 2025 GOLD MEDAL, 36th International Invention, Innovation, Technology Competition & Exhibition 2025, Exhibition/Invention, Malaysian Invention and Design Society (MINDS), 2025 (Team Leader)
  • Falling Walls Lab Kuala Lumpur, 2nd Prize, Competition, Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), 2024 (Best Presentation)
  • Silver Medal, awarded for presenting a poster to the Invention, Innovation & Design on e-Learning (IIDEL) Competition, International University Carnival on E-Learning, IUCEL 2022, Conference, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), 2022 (Best Poster Award)