Marilena Mela

Marilena Mela is an Assistant Professor of Heritage Studies at the Department of Arts & Culture, History, and Antiquity, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Her work bridges heritage, sustainability, and climate action, focusing on how inherited cultural landscapes shape future responses to ecological challenges. She holds a PhD from VU Amsterdam (via the HERILAND Marie Curie project) and a background in architecture from the National Technical University of Athens.

• Education:
  • PhD in Heritage Studies, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
  • MSc in Architecture and Architectural Theory, National Technical University of Athens

Her research explores energy transitions, climate resilience, and island sustainability across the Netherlands, Greece, Scotland, and Italy. Her upcoming book Assembling the Archipelago (Routledge, 2025) examines heritage’s role in sustainable development. She collaborates with Boulouki, a collective recognized for preserving traditional Greek building practices.

• Teaching: Courses on heritage, climate challenges, urban culture, and world heritage conflict resolution.
• Activities: Organized Thinking Small, Looking Back (2024) and contributed to Under the Landscape (2022) symposium.

Her publications analyze renewable energy landscapes, community mobilization, and the interplay between technology and heritage in climate action. Ongoing projects emphasize just transitions and participatory approaches to cultural sustainability.