Dr Patricia Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht
Senior Lecturer in Urban Design, Planning and Intercultural Studies
School of Geography and Planning
- AelbrechtP@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 29208 75735
- Glamorgan Building, Room 2.100, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3WA
Overview
I am a Senior Lecturer in Urban Design, Planning and Intercultural Studies, Co-Founding Director of the Public Space Observatory Research Centre and Research Co-Lead of SPACE - Spatial Planning and Analysis in City Environments Research Group. I am also Editor in Chief of URBAN DESIGN International, a Palgrave Journal dedicated to urban design theory and practice. My research sits at the intersection of urban design, planning, environmental-behavioural studies, intercultural studies, and human geography. I have published widely on the design and sociology of the public realm with a particular focus on informal social practices in public space and the role of public space design and management in promoting social cohesion and intercultural dialogue. I have explored among other issues how social practices and activism in public space shape and redefine the meanings and uses of public spaces in a wide range of European contexts. My recent work has also dealt with mega-events as catalysts of urban regeneration and the contested regeneration of post-war modernist cityscapes.
Before turning to academia, I worked for a decade as an architect and urban designer in several international well-known practices in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Portugal. I gained experience in public space design, masterplanning, and in designing and building of small-scale housing projects and exhibitions, and large-scale and complex architectural projects such as museums and concert halls. This experience certainly contributed to enrich my professional and academic background, and to make many international contacts and gain proficiency in a good number of European languages. More importantly, it made me more sensitive to cultural specificities of planning and design policies and practices when undertaking research.
Publication
2023
- Kamalipour, H., Aelbrecht, P. and Peimani, N. eds. 2023. The Routledge handbook of urban design research methods. New York: Routledge.
- Kamalipour, H., Aelbrecht, P. and Peimani, N. 2023. Introduction: Urban design research. In: Kamalipour, H., Aelbrecht, P. and Peimani, N. eds. The Routledge Handbook of Urban Design Research Methods. New York: Routledge
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2023. Researching the applicability of body language methods in urban design. In: Kamalipour, H., Aelbrecht, P. and Peimani, N. eds. The Routledge Handbook of Urban Design Research Methods.. New York: Routledge
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. and Arefi, M. 2023. Resilience, well-being and urban design [Editorial]. URBAN DESIGN International
- Arefi, M. and Aelbrecht, P. 2023. Urban design and walkability revisited [Editorial]. URBAN DESIGN International 28, pp. 1-2. (10.1057/s41289-023-00214-3)
- Aelbrecht, P. and While, A. 2023. Millennials and the contested urban legacy of post-war modernist social housing in the UK. Journal of Urbanism 16(1), pp. 42-64. (10.1080/17549175.2021.1936603)
- Aelbrecht, P. et al. 2023. Placemaking toolkit for Wales: Improving the public realm in our towns and cities. Project Report. Cardiff University.
- Aelbrecht, P., Aelbrecht, W. and Richmond, J. 2023. 'My/ your Cardiff public space': Community engagement and participation in Butetown, Grangetown, and South Riverside.. Project Report. Cardiff University.
- Aelbrecht, P. and Stevens, Q. 2023. Geographies of encounter, public space, and social cohesion: reviewing knowledge at the intersection of social sciences and built environment disciplines.. Urban Planning
2022
- Arefi, M. and Aelbrecht, P. 2022. Social and cultural transformation of urban form: some insights from the MENA region [Editorial]. URBAN DESIGN International 27, pp. 175–176. (10.1057/s41289-022-00198-6)
- Arefi, M. and Aelbrecht, P. 2022. Urban identity, perception, and urban design [Editorial]. URBAN DESIGN International 27, pp. 1-2. (10.1057/s41289-022-00179-9)
- Aelbrecht, P. S., Stevens, Q. and Kumar, S. 2022. European public space projects with social cohesion in mind: symbolic, programmatic and minimalist approaches. European Planning Studies 30(6), pp. 1093-1123. (10.1080/09654313.2021.1959902)
- Aelbrecht, P. 2022. Book Review: Public Space Reader, Edited by Miodrag Mitrašinovic and Vikas Mehta, New York and Abingdon, Routledge, 2021, 480pp., £38.99 (paperback), ISBN 9780815385042. Journal of Urban Design 27, pp. 388-390. (10.1080/13574809.2021.2009182)
- Aelbrecht, P. 2022. Fourth places: informal social life and interaction in new designed public spaces. The Urban Book Series. Springer Nature.
- Arefi, M. and Aelbrecht, P. 2022. Urban design in China [Editorial]. Urban Design International 287, pp. 95-96. (10.1057/s41289-022-00188-8)
- Kumar, S. and Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2022. Social cohesion potential of Indian streets. Presented at: AESOP Annual Congress "Species for Species: Redefining Spatial Justice", Tartu, Estonia, 25-29 July 2022.
- Aelbrecht, P. and Stevens, Q. 2022. Researching the role of public spaces and their design in promoting intercultural encounters and experiences of social cohesion. Presented at: 20th Swiss Geoscience Meeting 2022, Université de Lausanne, 18-20 November 2022.
2021
- Sartorio, F. S., Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P., Kamalipour, H. and Frank, A. 2021. Towards an antifragile urban form: a research agenda for advancing resilience in the built environment. URBAN DESIGN International 26, pp. 135-158. (10.1057/s41289-021-00157-7)
- Aelbrecht, P. 2021. The social experiences and uses of post-war modernist urban heritage conservation and regeneration : London Southbank Centre.. Heritage 4(2), pp. 641-663. (10.3390/heritage4020037)
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2021. The design of the public realm: emerging theories and practices. Presented at: Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) Annual Congress 2021, Virtual, 12-14 July 2021.
2020
- Aelbrecht, S., Stevens, P. and Kumar, Q. 2020. European public space programs with social cohesion in mind: their social goals, design approaches and representations. Presented at: Anthropology and Geography: Dialogues Past, Present and Future (RAI 2020), Virtual, 14-18 September 2020.
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2020. Research - practice nexus in urban design. Presented at: City Street4: Streets for 2030, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 23-26 September 2020.
2019
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2019. A world fair for the future: revisiting the legacy of the expo 98 urban model. In: Evans, G. ed. Mega Events: Placemaking, Regeneration and City Regional Development. Routledge, pp. 53-69.
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2019. Public space design and social cohesion: lessons from the global north and global south. Presented at: Interface to Place: Remaking Divisive Lines into Shared Spaces Conference and Summer School, Queen's University Belfast, 12-16 Aug 2019.
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2019. New public spaces of circulation and their scope for informal social interaction and cohesion. Presented at: AESOP Conference Planning for Transition, Venice, 9-13 July 2019.
- Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2019. Introducing body-language methods into urban design to research the social and interactional potential of public space.. Journal of Urban Design 24(3), pp. 443-468. (10.1080/13574809.2018.1537712)
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2019. New public spaces of circulation, consumption and recreation and their scope for informal social interaction and cohesion. In: Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. and Stevens, Q. eds. Public space design and social cohesion: an international comparison. Routledge, pp. 199-219.
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. and Stevens, Q. 2019. Conclusion: Emerging knowledge at the intersection of public space design and social cohesion.. In: Aelbrecht, P. and Stevens, Q. eds. Public Space Design and Social Cohesion: An International Comparison. Routledge Series on Planning and Urban Design Oxford: Routledge, pp. 317 - 346.
- Aelbrecht, P., Stevens, Q. and Nisha, B. 2019. Introduction: From mixing with strangers to collective placemaking: existing theories, policies and practices around social cohesion in public space design. In: Aelbrecht, P. and Stevens, Q. eds. Public Space Design and Social Cohesion: an International Comparison. Routledge, pp. 1-34., (10.4324/9780429489150-1)
2018
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. and Stevens, Q. eds. 2018. Public space design and social cohesion: an international comparison. Routledge Series on Planning and Urban design. Routledge.
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2018. What role does the design of public spaces play in enhancing social cohesion?. Presented at: Public Lecture, RMIT Alumni Event, Melbourne, Australia, 12 September 2018.
2017
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2017. The complex regeneration of post-war modernism: London's Southbank Centre's masterplan. Urban Design International 22(4), pp. 331-348. (10.1057/s41289-016-0039-z)
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2017. European public space programs with social cohesion in mind. Presented at: International Workshop of Research Exchange on 'Public Space and Social Cohesion', Cardiff University, 12 December 2017.
2016
- Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2016. 'Fourth places': the contemporary public settings for informal social interaction among strangers. Journal of Urban Design 21(1), pp. 124-152. (10.1080/13574809.2015.1106920)
2015
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. and Stevens, Q. 2015. The art of knowledge exchange in urban design. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Urban Design and Planning 168(6), pp. 304-317. (10.1680/udap.13.00036)
2014
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2014. A World Fair for the future: a study of the legacy of the Expo 1998 urban model. In: Pearce, C. et al. eds. Meet Me at the Fair: A World's Fair Reader. Carnegie Mellon University's ETC Press, pp. 485-501.
2013
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2013. Rick Mather architects and their South Bank Centre Masterplan, Knowledge Exchange Project Report. UCL Advances.
2011
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2011. Spatial strategies and tactics: a study of the everyday uses in the Parque das Nações in Lisbon. In: Cremaschi, M. and Eckardt, F. eds. Changing places: Urbanity, Citizenship and Ideology in the New European Neighbourhoods., Vol. 3. European Urban Research Series Techne Press, pp. 100-117.
2010
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2010. Rethinking urban design for a changing public life. Journal of Place Management and Development 3(2), pp. 113-129. (10.1108/17538331011062667)
2009
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2009. How can urban design bring strangers together?. Design Principles and Practices: An International Journal 3, pp. 191-206.
Articles
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. and Arefi, M. 2023. Resilience, well-being and urban design [Editorial]. URBAN DESIGN International
- Arefi, M. and Aelbrecht, P. 2023. Urban design and walkability revisited [Editorial]. URBAN DESIGN International 28, pp. 1-2. (10.1057/s41289-023-00214-3)
- Aelbrecht, P. and While, A. 2023. Millennials and the contested urban legacy of post-war modernist social housing in the UK. Journal of Urbanism 16(1), pp. 42-64. (10.1080/17549175.2021.1936603)
- Aelbrecht, P. and Stevens, Q. 2023. Geographies of encounter, public space, and social cohesion: reviewing knowledge at the intersection of social sciences and built environment disciplines.. Urban Planning
- Arefi, M. and Aelbrecht, P. 2022. Social and cultural transformation of urban form: some insights from the MENA region [Editorial]. URBAN DESIGN International 27, pp. 175–176. (10.1057/s41289-022-00198-6)
- Arefi, M. and Aelbrecht, P. 2022. Urban identity, perception, and urban design [Editorial]. URBAN DESIGN International 27, pp. 1-2. (10.1057/s41289-022-00179-9)
- Aelbrecht, P. S., Stevens, Q. and Kumar, S. 2022. European public space projects with social cohesion in mind: symbolic, programmatic and minimalist approaches. European Planning Studies 30(6), pp. 1093-1123. (10.1080/09654313.2021.1959902)
- Aelbrecht, P. 2022. Book Review: Public Space Reader, Edited by Miodrag Mitrašinovic and Vikas Mehta, New York and Abingdon, Routledge, 2021, 480pp., £38.99 (paperback), ISBN 9780815385042. Journal of Urban Design 27, pp. 388-390. (10.1080/13574809.2021.2009182)
- Arefi, M. and Aelbrecht, P. 2022. Urban design in China [Editorial]. Urban Design International 287, pp. 95-96. (10.1057/s41289-022-00188-8)
- Sartorio, F. S., Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P., Kamalipour, H. and Frank, A. 2021. Towards an antifragile urban form: a research agenda for advancing resilience in the built environment. URBAN DESIGN International 26, pp. 135-158. (10.1057/s41289-021-00157-7)
- Aelbrecht, P. 2021. The social experiences and uses of post-war modernist urban heritage conservation and regeneration : London Southbank Centre.. Heritage 4(2), pp. 641-663. (10.3390/heritage4020037)
- Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2019. Introducing body-language methods into urban design to research the social and interactional potential of public space.. Journal of Urban Design 24(3), pp. 443-468. (10.1080/13574809.2018.1537712)
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2017. The complex regeneration of post-war modernism: London's Southbank Centre's masterplan. Urban Design International 22(4), pp. 331-348. (10.1057/s41289-016-0039-z)
- Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2016. 'Fourth places': the contemporary public settings for informal social interaction among strangers. Journal of Urban Design 21(1), pp. 124-152. (10.1080/13574809.2015.1106920)
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. and Stevens, Q. 2015. The art of knowledge exchange in urban design. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Urban Design and Planning 168(6), pp. 304-317. (10.1680/udap.13.00036)
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2010. Rethinking urban design for a changing public life. Journal of Place Management and Development 3(2), pp. 113-129. (10.1108/17538331011062667)
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2009. How can urban design bring strangers together?. Design Principles and Practices: An International Journal 3, pp. 191-206.
Book sections
- Kamalipour, H., Aelbrecht, P. and Peimani, N. 2023. Introduction: Urban design research. In: Kamalipour, H., Aelbrecht, P. and Peimani, N. eds. The Routledge Handbook of Urban Design Research Methods. New York: Routledge
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2023. Researching the applicability of body language methods in urban design. In: Kamalipour, H., Aelbrecht, P. and Peimani, N. eds. The Routledge Handbook of Urban Design Research Methods.. New York: Routledge
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2019. A world fair for the future: revisiting the legacy of the expo 98 urban model. In: Evans, G. ed. Mega Events: Placemaking, Regeneration and City Regional Development. Routledge, pp. 53-69.
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2019. New public spaces of circulation, consumption and recreation and their scope for informal social interaction and cohesion. In: Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. and Stevens, Q. eds. Public space design and social cohesion: an international comparison. Routledge, pp. 199-219.
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. and Stevens, Q. 2019. Conclusion: Emerging knowledge at the intersection of public space design and social cohesion.. In: Aelbrecht, P. and Stevens, Q. eds. Public Space Design and Social Cohesion: An International Comparison. Routledge Series on Planning and Urban Design Oxford: Routledge, pp. 317 - 346.
- Aelbrecht, P., Stevens, Q. and Nisha, B. 2019. Introduction: From mixing with strangers to collective placemaking: existing theories, policies and practices around social cohesion in public space design. In: Aelbrecht, P. and Stevens, Q. eds. Public Space Design and Social Cohesion: an International Comparison. Routledge, pp. 1-34., (10.4324/9780429489150-1)
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2014. A World Fair for the future: a study of the legacy of the Expo 1998 urban model. In: Pearce, C. et al. eds. Meet Me at the Fair: A World's Fair Reader. Carnegie Mellon University's ETC Press, pp. 485-501.
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2011. Spatial strategies and tactics: a study of the everyday uses in the Parque das Nações in Lisbon. In: Cremaschi, M. and Eckardt, F. eds. Changing places: Urbanity, Citizenship and Ideology in the New European Neighbourhoods., Vol. 3. European Urban Research Series Techne Press, pp. 100-117.
Books
- Kamalipour, H., Aelbrecht, P. and Peimani, N. eds. 2023. The Routledge handbook of urban design research methods. New York: Routledge.
- Aelbrecht, P. 2022. Fourth places: informal social life and interaction in new designed public spaces. The Urban Book Series. Springer Nature.
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. and Stevens, Q. eds. 2018. Public space design and social cohesion: an international comparison. Routledge Series on Planning and Urban design. Routledge.
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2013. Rick Mather architects and their South Bank Centre Masterplan, Knowledge Exchange Project Report. UCL Advances.
Conferences
- Kumar, S. and Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2022. Social cohesion potential of Indian streets. Presented at: AESOP Annual Congress "Species for Species: Redefining Spatial Justice", Tartu, Estonia, 25-29 July 2022.
- Aelbrecht, P. and Stevens, Q. 2022. Researching the role of public spaces and their design in promoting intercultural encounters and experiences of social cohesion. Presented at: 20th Swiss Geoscience Meeting 2022, Université de Lausanne, 18-20 November 2022.
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2021. The design of the public realm: emerging theories and practices. Presented at: Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) Annual Congress 2021, Virtual, 12-14 July 2021.
- Aelbrecht, S., Stevens, P. and Kumar, Q. 2020. European public space programs with social cohesion in mind: their social goals, design approaches and representations. Presented at: Anthropology and Geography: Dialogues Past, Present and Future (RAI 2020), Virtual, 14-18 September 2020.
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2020. Research - practice nexus in urban design. Presented at: City Street4: Streets for 2030, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 23-26 September 2020.
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2019. Public space design and social cohesion: lessons from the global north and global south. Presented at: Interface to Place: Remaking Divisive Lines into Shared Spaces Conference and Summer School, Queen's University Belfast, 12-16 Aug 2019.
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2019. New public spaces of circulation and their scope for informal social interaction and cohesion. Presented at: AESOP Conference Planning for Transition, Venice, 9-13 July 2019.
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2018. What role does the design of public spaces play in enhancing social cohesion?. Presented at: Public Lecture, RMIT Alumni Event, Melbourne, Australia, 12 September 2018.
- Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. 2017. European public space programs with social cohesion in mind. Presented at: International Workshop of Research Exchange on 'Public Space and Social Cohesion', Cardiff University, 12 December 2017.
Monographs
- Aelbrecht, P. et al. 2023. Placemaking toolkit for Wales: Improving the public realm in our towns and cities. Project Report. Cardiff University.
- Aelbrecht, P., Aelbrecht, W. and Richmond, J. 2023. 'My/ your Cardiff public space': Community engagement and participation in Butetown, Grangetown, and South Riverside.. Project Report. Cardiff University.
Research
Research interests
My research interests encompass a wide range of areas:
- The Design and Sociology of the Public Realm
- Planning and Designing with Social Cohesion and Intercultural Dialogue in mind
- Privatization and Control of Public space
- Minorities and Disadvantaged user groups in Public Space
- Conservation and Regeneration of Post-War Modernist Architecture and Planning
Research Centres and Groups
- Co-Founding Director of the Public Space Observatory Research Centre, a joint venture of the School of Geography and Planning and Welsh School of Architecture (2019 - Present)
- Research Co-Lead of SPACE Research Group, Geography and Planning School, Cardiff University (2021 - Present).
- AESOP Thematic Group Public Spaces and Urban Cultures (2018 - Present)
- Cities Research Centre, Cardiff University (2017 - Present)
- Social and Cultural Geography Group, Cardiff University (2016 - Present)
- SPACE, Cardiff University (2016 - Present)
- Inclusive Cities Impact Group, Cardiff University (2016 - Present)
Current research projects
I am currently working on the following projects:
Public Space Observatory Research Centre (PSO) (2019 - present): In October 2019, myself and Dr Hesam Kamalipour from the School of Geography and Planning (GEOPL) and Dr Nastaran Peimani from the Welsh School of Architecture (WSA) co-founded the Public Space Observatory (PSO) a knowledge exchange platform in public space research, practice and policy. The PSO’s mission is to bring together local, national and international academics, practitioners and policymakers engaged with the provision, design, management and use of public space. Its primary aim is to build new partnerships and collaborations, share resources, promote knowledge exchange, empower local communities through education, training and capacity building, and advance cutting-edge knowledge in public space design, management and use theories, practices and policies.
My/your Cardiff Public Space Campaign (2021 - 2023): This campaign is one of our first PSO’s projects. Its primary aims is to raise public awareness on the social, cultural, economic and environmental values and benefits of well-designed, used and managed public spaces. By doing so, it aims to promote community engagement and empowerment through education, training and capacity to improve public spaces and respond to a significant reduction of public sector expenditure in local authorities’ provision and maintenance of public infrastructure and services. This project is funded by an ESRC Impact Grant. The project team includes PI: Patricia Aelbrecht (myself), and Co-Is: Wes Aelbrecht and Jessica Richmond.
Urban Design and Spaces of Encounter (2018 - present): This project examines the role of urban public spaces in supporting opportunities for people to experience, develop and maintain a sense of social cohesion in contexts where cohesion is under threat from the increasing cultural and economic differences. It focuses on three award-winning public space projects in Copenhagen, London, and Rotterdam to evaluate whether these public space projects and their design approaches have succeeded in promoting positive social encounters and achieving social cohesion. The gained knowledge will be used to provide guidance to future policies and design practices for urban public spaces and inform wider areas of social and cultural policy and service delivery. This project was initiated with internal funding from Cardiff's Cities Research Centre and RMIT and is endorsed by the Greater London Authority and Rotterdam municipality. The project team includes PI: Patricia Aelbrecht (myself), and Co-Is: Gary Bridge, Richard Gale and Quentin Stevens (RMIT).
Placemaking Toolkit for Wales (2021-2023): This project is a steppingstone towards innovative practices around placemaking for the public realm in Wales. It aims to co-produce with four LAs a web-based Public Space Toolkit for Wales in partnership with the Design Commission for Wales, Urban Design Group and Living Streets to help implementing the Welsh Placemaking Agenda. The project team includes: Patricia Aelbrecht (PI), and Co-Is: Francesca Sartorio, Wes Aelbrecht, Richard Gale, Michael Corr, Jessica Richmond and Sanjeev Kumar, and is funded by an ‘Innovation for All’ grant from the HEFCW.
Past research projects
- Research project Achieve More ‘Re-imagining Sheffield’s Post-war Modernist Social Housing’, University of Sheffield (2015-16).
- Research project: ’Rehabilitation of Post-war modernist masterplans’, UCL (2013-2014).
- Research project ‘Knowledge Exchange between Theory and Practice in Urban Design: the Masterplan of Southbank Centre in London’, UCL (2013).
- Research project ‘City Beaches in Germany’ led by Dr. Quentin Stevens, Humboldt University (2012).
- Research project: ‘The after life of a Mega-event: Lisbon’s Word Expo 98’, UCL (2011).
Teaching
Current teaching
I contribute to the following modules:
- CP0370 Design Guidance in Planning Practice
- CPT867 Designing Cities
- MAUD Autumn/ Spring Studio
- MAUD Dissertation
Biography
Education and qualifications
- Certificate of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, The University of Sheffield (2016)
- PhD Urban Studies, The Bartlett School of Planning and Geography (Urban Lab), University College London (2013)
- MSc. International/ Comparative Planning, The Bartlett School of Planning, University College London (2007)
- MArch in Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal (2001)
- BArch in Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal (1998)
Professional memberships
- Fellow, Royal Anthropology Institute, UK (2020 - Present).
- Fellow, Higher Education Academy (2016 - Present).
- Member, Urban Design Group (2015 - Present).
- Member, Architectural Humanities Research Association (2009 - Present).
- Member, Portuguese Architectural Association, OASRS Portugal, RIBA Accredited (2001 - Present).
Academic positions
- Lecturer/ Senior Lecturer, Geography and Planning School, Cardiff University (2016 - present)
- Visiting Scholar, RMIT, Australia (2018).
- Teaching Fellow in Urban Design, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, The University of Sheffield (2014 – 2016).
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, Bartlett School of Planning, University College London (2013).
- Research Fellow, Geographical Institute Humboldt University, Berlin (2012).
- Course Tutor in Urban design, The Bartlett School, University College London (2009 – 2012).
Committees and reviewing
- Editor-in-Chief of URBAN DESIGN International, Palgrave Journal (2021 - present)
- Editorial Board, Urban Design Journal, Urban Design Group, UK (2021 - present)
- Journal reviewer for several Journals including: Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability; GeoForum; Space and Culture; Urban Design International; Journal of Intercultural Studies; Planning Practice and Research.
- Vice-Chair of National Urban Design Student Awards - Urban Design Group (2021 - present)
- Academic member of the Executive Committee, Urban Design Group, UK (2020 - 2022)
Supervisions
I am interested in supervising PhD students in the areas of:
- The Design and Sociology of the Public Realm
- Privatization and Control of Public space
- Minorities and Disadvantaged user groups in Public Space
- Environmental-behavior Relations
- Experiential and Sensorial Urbanism
- Urban Design Theory and Practice Nexus
- Conservation and Regeneration of Post-War Modernist Architecture and Planning
- Urban Design of Mega-events
I am currenty supervising the following PhD students:
- Primary Supervisor of Wenjie Li, Department of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University with PhD Thesis titled: 'Landscape Therapy: Urban Space Design in the Post Epidemic Era' (2022 - present). The second supervisor is Dr. Matluba Khan.
- Secondary supervisor of Aysenur Bas, Department of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University with PhD Thesis titled: 'Transformative Urban Play: Exploring Transformation Potential of the Play in the Public Space for Social Well-being' (2022 - present). The first supervisor is Dr. Matluba Khan.
- Primary Supervisor of PhD candidate Mehrnoosh Mansoorgarakani, Department of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University with PhD Thesis titled: 'Assessing and Designing Soundscapes: Lessons from the Bazaar and the Shopping Mall in the City of Tehran' (2017 - present). The second supervisor is Dr. Jonathan Prior.
- Primary Supervisor of PhD candidate Ying Liao, Department of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University with PhD Thesis titled: Design for Ageing in the context of China (2018 - present). The second supervisor is Dr. Justin Spinney.
Current supervision

Miss Mehrnoosh Mansoorgarakani
Research student

Miss Ying Liao
Research student

Ms Aysenur Bas
Research student

Mr Wenjie Li
Research student