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Last updated 18th April 2024

Dr. Yun Gao works as an academic and an architect. She is a Reader in Architecture, Subject Group Leader for Architecture and Built Environment, and Founding Director of Sustainable Living Research Centre at the School of Arts and Humanities, University of Huddersfield. Yun received her PhD in Architecture from the University of Edinburgh in the late 1990s. Her academic research explores sustainable design for buildings and outdoor spaces, co-design with communities and underrepresented groups for health and wellbeing, climate change and architectural heritage, and cross-cultural architectural design and education. After receiving her Ph.D, Yun worked with architectural practices in Bristol and became an RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Chartered Architect and ARB (Architects Registration Board) Registered Architect before subsequently joining the University of Huddersfield in the 2000s.

Yun published the co-authored book with Professor Nicholas Temple, entitled The Temporality of Building: European and Chinese Perspectives on Architecture and Heritage in 2025 by Routledge. She also published book Architecture of Dai Nationality in Yunnan, China by Beijing University Press (2003), and Research and Projects of Sustainable and Creative Villages in SW China (2020). She was funded by HEA (Higher Education Academy) in the UK to publish the book Being There on cross culture architectural design (2010). 

Research funding Yun has been awarded include those from British Academy to examine the temporality of building and AHRC Research Networking Highlight for International Development. Recently she has been awarded two University Research Funds from the University of Huddersfield and AHRC design accelerator fund to explore sustainable living and place-making in Kirklees. Yun is a member of AHRC Peer Review College and a Peer Reviewer for EPSRC funding applications. She is a member of Passivhaus Trust and International Passive House Association.

Yun works as the International Editor for The Journal of Architecture (UK), academic editor for Special Issues for the Journal of Architecture, Urban Science, Sustainability, and Buildings. She is member of the Editorial Board for the AAE (Association of Architectural Educators, UK) journal Charrette and a reviewer for a number of journals such as Habitat International, Sustainability and Buildings etc.. Yun is currently supervising 8 PhD students.

Yun has held a Visiting Professorship at the Yunnan Arts University in China since 2010 and have been awarded the title of Distinguished Professor in Chongqing Jiaotong University from 2017 to 2019.