Guang Yu Ren

Guang Yu Ren serves as Associate Professor and Director of Architectural History and Theory at The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London. She holds dual appointments as History and Theory Stream Director for the MSci Architecture programme since 2020 and Director of Architectural History and Theory since 2023, while also serving as Departmental Tutor for International Students.

Her research centers on coloniality and modernity across global contexts including Asia, Africa, and Europe. Key projects examine Japanese Manchuria and colonial Eritrea, with significant contributions to UNESCO World Heritage nominations for Asmara (Eritrea) and Gdynia (Poland). Her work critically investigates architecture's role in shaping identities and power structures through a decolonial lens, most recently exemplified in A Practical Guide to Architectural Drawing (RIBA, 2024).

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals consistent engagement with marginalized modernities and postcolonial critique. Her scholarly output spans architectural history, heritage studies, and urban theory, with particular emphasis on Japanese imperialism, Chinese architectural practices, and African modernist cities. The research demonstrates methodological innovation through combining archival analysis with field documentation.

• Winner RIBA President's Medal for Research (2017)
• Winner RIBA President's Award for Research History and Theory Category (2017)
• Shortlist RIBA President's Medal for Research (2018)
• Key contributor to UNESCO World Heritage nomination of Asmara

Professor Ren supervises MA Architectural History, MArch, MA Historical Urban Environment, and PhD students. Her teaching focuses on architectural history and theory across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, developing curricula that challenge Eurocentric narratives. She actively promotes sustainable development goals related to affordable energy through architectural pedagogy.