Dr Nastaran Peimani
(she/her)
Senior Lecturer in Urban Design
Co-Director of MA Urban Design
- PeimaniN@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 29208 75980
- Bute Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
- Leader of the Urbanism Research and Scholarship Group
- Co-Director of the MA Urban Design programme
- Co-Founding Director of the Public Space Observatory Research Centre
- Member of the Open Research Integrity and Ethics Committee
- Executive Editor of the International Planning Studies
- Senior Lecturer in Urban Design
I am a Senior Lecturer in Urban Design, Leader of the Urbanism Research and Scholarship Group, and Co-Director of the MA Urban Design programme at the Welsh School of Architecture. I have also served as the Co-Founding Director of the Public Space Observatory Research Centre at Cardiff University. My research focuses on the intersections of urban design, built environment, urban transport and forms of informality. Prior to joining Cardiff University, I served as a Research Assistant and Guest Lecturer in Urban Design at the Melbourne School of Design at the University of Melbourne. My current research interests include transit-oriented urbanism, urban morphology, urban mapping, spatiality of street vending, public space and urbanity, and urban design education and pedagogy.
News
The Routledge Handbook of Urban Design Research Methods
Our new major handbook project on Urban Design Research Methods has recently been published.
Links to the publisher's pages for the book: Routledge | Taylor & Francis
The Best Paper Award
One of my co-authored papers, Online Education and the COVID-19 Outbreak, was recently selected as the winner of the Education Sciences 2021 Best Paper Award. The paper critically reflects on the experience of teaching and learning urban design research methods online in the context of unprecedented global health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Publication
2023
- Peimani, N. 2023. Healthy cities? Design for well-being by Tim Townshend, London, Lund Humphries [Book Review]. Journal of Urban Design 28(6), pp. 699-701. (10.1080/13574809.2023.2262332)
- Kamalipour, H., Aelbrecht, P. and Peimani, N. eds. 2023. The Routledge handbook of urban design research methods. New York: Routledge. (10.4324/9781003168621)
- 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, pp. 1-12., (10.4324/9781003168621-1)
- Kamalipour, H. and Peimani, N. 2023. On the ethics of researching informal urbanism. International Development Planning Review (10.3828/idpr.2023.13)
- Peimani, N. 2023. Exploring transit morphologies and forms of urbanity in urban design research. In: Kamalipour, H., Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. and Peimani, N. eds. The Routledge Handbook of Urban Design Research Methods. New York, NY: Routledge
- Kamalipour, H. and Peimani, N. 2023. Designing a blended studio pedagogy: A postgraduate case study in urban design education. Presented at: Seventeenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices, Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa, Campus de Benfica Lisbon, Portugal, 29 - 31 March 2023.
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2023. Mapping forms of street vending. Presented at: Thirteenth International Conference on The Constructed Environment, Honolulu, HI, USA, 17-18 May 2023.
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2023. Street vending and urban morphology: a case study. Presented at: Ecocity World Summit, London, UK, 6-8 June 2023.
2022
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2022. Mapping the spatiality of informal street vending. Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability (10.1080/17549175.2022.2150267)
- Kamalipour, H. and Peimani, N. 2022. Learning and teaching urban design through design studio pedagogy: a blended studio on transit urbanism. Education Sciences 12(10), article number: 712. (10.3390/educsci12100712)
- Kamalipour, H. and Peimani, N. 2022. Sustaining place transformations in urban design education: learning and teaching urban density, mix, access, public/private interface, and type. In: Gamage, K. A. A. and Gunawardhana, N. eds. The Wiley Handbook of Sustainability in Higher Education Learning and Teaching. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 221-235., (10.1002/9781119852858.ch11)
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2022. Informal street vending: a systematic review. Land 11(6), article number: 829. (10.3390/land11060829)
- Pafka, E. and Peimani, N. 2022. Multi-scalar mapping of transit-oriented assemblages: metropolitan mobilities, neighbourhood morphologies and station design. Presented at: ISUF XXVI International Seminar on Urban Form: Cities as Assemblages, Nicosia, Cyprus, 2-6 July 2019 Presented at Geddes, I., Charalambous, N. and Camiz, A. eds.Cities as Assemblages: Proceedings of the XXVI International Seminar on Urban Form. Vol. 3., Vol. 3. pp. 415-425.
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2022. Assembling transit urban design in the global South: urban morphology in relation to forms of urbanity and informality in the public space surrounding transit stations. Urban Science 6(1), article number: 18. (10.3390/urbansci6010018)
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2022. The future of design studio education: student experience and perception of blended learning and teaching during the global pandemic. Education Sciences 12(2), article number: 140. (10.3390/educsci12020140)
2021
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2021. Online education in the post COVID-19 era: students' perception and learning experience. Education Sciences 11(10), article number: 633. (10.3390/educsci11100633)
- Kamalipour, H. and Peimani, N. 2021. Informal urbanism in the state of uncertainty: forms of informality and urban health emergencies. Urban Design International 26(2), pp. 122-134. (10.1057/s41289-020-00145-3)
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2021. Online education and the COVID-19 outbreak: A case study of online teaching during lockdown. Education Sciences 11(2), article number: 72. (10.3390/educsci11020072)
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2021. Teaching research methods in the wake of emergency online migration. Presented at: 14th International Conference on e-Learning & Innovative Pedagogies, Rhodes, Greece, 5-6 May 2021.
- Kamalipour, H. and Peimani, N. 2021. Forms of informality and the COVID-19 pandemic. Presented at: 11th International Conference on the Constructed Environment, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 12-14 May 2021.
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2021. Urban informality and the design of public space. Presented at: Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) Online Small Format Conference 2021, Virtual, 12-14 July 2021.
- Kamalipour, H. and Peimani, N. 2021. Informal urbanism in relation to urban design and planning in the age of public health emergency. Presented at: 2021 UK-Ireland Planning Research Conference, Newcastle, England, 8-10 September 2021.
2020
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2020. Access and forms of urbanity in public space: Transit urban design beyond the global north. Sustainability 12(8), article number: 3495. (10.3390/su12083495)
2019
- Kamalipour, H. and Peimani, N. 2019. Negotiating space and visibility: Forms of informality in public space. Sustainability 11(17), article number: 4807. (10.3390/su11174807)
- Kamalipour, H. and Peimani, N. 2019. Towards an informal turn in the built environment education: Informality and urban design pedagogy. Sustainability 11(15), article number: 4163. (10.3390/su11154163)
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2019. Informal street trading and the emergent urban intensity. Presented at: CUI '19 VII. International Contemporary Urban Issues Conference, Istanbul, Turkey, 13 December 2019.
2018
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2018. Lessons from urban transport in less formal cities: Isochrone mapping, mode choice and informality. Presented at: Spaces and Flows: Ninth International Conference on Urban and ExtraUrban Studies, Heidelberg, Germany, 25-26 October 2018.
2017
- Peimani, N. and Dovey, K. 2017. Motorcycle mobilities. In: Dovey, K., Pafka, E. and Ristic, M. eds. Mapping Urbanities: Morphologies, Flows, Possibilities. Abingdon and New York: Routledge, pp. 119-128., (10.4324/9781315309163)
2016
- Peimani, N. 2016. Transit-oriented morphologies and forms of urban life: A case study. Contour Journal 1(2), pp. 1-11.
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2016. Where gender comes to the fore: Mapping gender mix in urban public spaces. Spaces and Flows: An International Journal of Urban and ExtraUrban Studies 8(1), pp. 19-30. (10.18848/2154-8676/CGP/v08i01/19-30)
2015
- Kamalipour, H. and Peimani, N. 2015. Assemblage thinking and the city: Implications for urban studies. Current Urban Studies 3(4), pp. 402-408. (10.4236/cus.2015.34031)
- Peimani, N. 2015. Assemblages of transit morphologies: emergent urbanity in Tehran. Presented at: Agency/Agents of Urbanity, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland, 1-2 June 2015.
Articles
- Peimani, N. 2023. Healthy cities? Design for well-being by Tim Townshend, London, Lund Humphries [Book Review]. Journal of Urban Design 28(6), pp. 699-701. (10.1080/13574809.2023.2262332)
- Kamalipour, H. and Peimani, N. 2023. On the ethics of researching informal urbanism. International Development Planning Review (10.3828/idpr.2023.13)
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2022. Mapping the spatiality of informal street vending. Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability (10.1080/17549175.2022.2150267)
- Kamalipour, H. and Peimani, N. 2022. Learning and teaching urban design through design studio pedagogy: a blended studio on transit urbanism. Education Sciences 12(10), article number: 712. (10.3390/educsci12100712)
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2022. Informal street vending: a systematic review. Land 11(6), article number: 829. (10.3390/land11060829)
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2022. Assembling transit urban design in the global South: urban morphology in relation to forms of urbanity and informality in the public space surrounding transit stations. Urban Science 6(1), article number: 18. (10.3390/urbansci6010018)
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2022. The future of design studio education: student experience and perception of blended learning and teaching during the global pandemic. Education Sciences 12(2), article number: 140. (10.3390/educsci12020140)
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2021. Online education in the post COVID-19 era: students' perception and learning experience. Education Sciences 11(10), article number: 633. (10.3390/educsci11100633)
- Kamalipour, H. and Peimani, N. 2021. Informal urbanism in the state of uncertainty: forms of informality and urban health emergencies. Urban Design International 26(2), pp. 122-134. (10.1057/s41289-020-00145-3)
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2021. Online education and the COVID-19 outbreak: A case study of online teaching during lockdown. Education Sciences 11(2), article number: 72. (10.3390/educsci11020072)
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2020. Access and forms of urbanity in public space: Transit urban design beyond the global north. Sustainability 12(8), article number: 3495. (10.3390/su12083495)
- Kamalipour, H. and Peimani, N. 2019. Negotiating space and visibility: Forms of informality in public space. Sustainability 11(17), article number: 4807. (10.3390/su11174807)
- Kamalipour, H. and Peimani, N. 2019. Towards an informal turn in the built environment education: Informality and urban design pedagogy. Sustainability 11(15), article number: 4163. (10.3390/su11154163)
- Peimani, N. 2016. Transit-oriented morphologies and forms of urban life: A case study. Contour Journal 1(2), pp. 1-11.
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2016. Where gender comes to the fore: Mapping gender mix in urban public spaces. Spaces and Flows: An International Journal of Urban and ExtraUrban Studies 8(1), pp. 19-30. (10.18848/2154-8676/CGP/v08i01/19-30)
- Kamalipour, H. and Peimani, N. 2015. Assemblage thinking and the city: Implications for urban studies. Current Urban Studies 3(4), pp. 402-408. (10.4236/cus.2015.34031)
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, pp. 1-12., (10.4324/9781003168621-1)
- Peimani, N. 2023. Exploring transit morphologies and forms of urbanity in urban design research. In: Kamalipour, H., Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht, P. and Peimani, N. eds. The Routledge Handbook of Urban Design Research Methods. New York, NY: Routledge
- Kamalipour, H. and Peimani, N. 2022. Sustaining place transformations in urban design education: learning and teaching urban density, mix, access, public/private interface, and type. In: Gamage, K. A. A. and Gunawardhana, N. eds. The Wiley Handbook of Sustainability in Higher Education Learning and Teaching. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 221-235., (10.1002/9781119852858.ch11)
- Peimani, N. and Dovey, K. 2017. Motorcycle mobilities. In: Dovey, K., Pafka, E. and Ristic, M. eds. Mapping Urbanities: Morphologies, Flows, Possibilities. Abingdon and New York: Routledge, pp. 119-128., (10.4324/9781315309163)
Books
- Kamalipour, H., Aelbrecht, P. and Peimani, N. eds. 2023. The Routledge handbook of urban design research methods. New York: Routledge. (10.4324/9781003168621)
Conferences
- Kamalipour, H. and Peimani, N. 2023. Designing a blended studio pedagogy: A postgraduate case study in urban design education. Presented at: Seventeenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices, Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa, Campus de Benfica Lisbon, Portugal, 29 - 31 March 2023.
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2023. Mapping forms of street vending. Presented at: Thirteenth International Conference on The Constructed Environment, Honolulu, HI, USA, 17-18 May 2023.
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2023. Street vending and urban morphology: a case study. Presented at: Ecocity World Summit, London, UK, 6-8 June 2023.
- Pafka, E. and Peimani, N. 2022. Multi-scalar mapping of transit-oriented assemblages: metropolitan mobilities, neighbourhood morphologies and station design. Presented at: ISUF XXVI International Seminar on Urban Form: Cities as Assemblages, Nicosia, Cyprus, 2-6 July 2019 Presented at Geddes, I., Charalambous, N. and Camiz, A. eds.Cities as Assemblages: Proceedings of the XXVI International Seminar on Urban Form. Vol. 3., Vol. 3. pp. 415-425.
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2021. Teaching research methods in the wake of emergency online migration. Presented at: 14th International Conference on e-Learning & Innovative Pedagogies, Rhodes, Greece, 5-6 May 2021.
- Kamalipour, H. and Peimani, N. 2021. Forms of informality and the COVID-19 pandemic. Presented at: 11th International Conference on the Constructed Environment, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 12-14 May 2021.
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2021. Urban informality and the design of public space. Presented at: Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) Online Small Format Conference 2021, Virtual, 12-14 July 2021.
- Kamalipour, H. and Peimani, N. 2021. Informal urbanism in relation to urban design and planning in the age of public health emergency. Presented at: 2021 UK-Ireland Planning Research Conference, Newcastle, England, 8-10 September 2021.
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2019. Informal street trading and the emergent urban intensity. Presented at: CUI '19 VII. International Contemporary Urban Issues Conference, Istanbul, Turkey, 13 December 2019.
- Peimani, N. and Kamalipour, H. 2018. Lessons from urban transport in less formal cities: Isochrone mapping, mode choice and informality. Presented at: Spaces and Flows: Ninth International Conference on Urban and ExtraUrban Studies, Heidelberg, Germany, 25-26 October 2018.
- Peimani, N. 2015. Assemblages of transit morphologies: emergent urbanity in Tehran. Presented at: Agency/Agents of Urbanity, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland, 1-2 June 2015.
Research
My current areas of interest include:
- Transit-Oriented Urbanism and Urban Morphology
- Spatiality of Informal Street Vending
- Politics of Public Space and Urbanity
- Urban Design Education and Pedagogy
RESEARCH PROJECTS
Negotiating Livelihoods and Rights in Contested Urban Space
This is a multidisciplinary project which addresses the challenge of informal urbanism with a particular focus on the ways in which forms of street vending work in relation to gender, politics, and types in public space. It engages with the dynamics of street vending and explores the synergies and contradictions among multiple agents in public space. In collaboration with: Dr Hesam Kamalipour and Dr Debdulal Saha. Related funding: GCRF Small Projects
Forms of Informality in Public Space
This project engages with the ways in which forms of informality work in relation to streetlife and gender mix in public space with a focus on the spatial and temporal appropriations of space. Drawing on multiple case studies, this project aims to provide a better understanding of how different forms of informality negotiate space and visibility within the public realm. In collaboration with: Dr Hesam Kamalipour
Urban Life and Public Space Design
This project is part of a post-occupancy evaluation research, which aims to explore public life in changing urban spaces by investigating the ways in which certain public open spaces in Cardiff are being used, appropriated, and managed by different groups of people. In collaboration with: Dr Hesam Kamalipour. Related Funding: On-campus Internships Scheme
Public Space Observatory Research Centre
The Public Space Observatory Research Centre has been co-founded as a knowledge exchange platform in public space research, practice and policy. The mission is to bring together local, national and international academics, practitioners and policymakers engaged with the provision, design, management and use of public space. In collaboration with: Dr Patricia Aelbrecht and Dr Hesam Kamalipour
My/Your Cardiff Public Space Campaign
The My/Your Cardiff Public Space Campaign has been co-founded with the aim of raising public awareness on the social, cultural, economic and environmental values and benefits of well-designed, used and managed public spaces. In collaboration with: Dr Patricia Aelbrecht, Dr Hesam Kamalipour and Dr Wesley Aelbrecht. Contribution to the project until November 2021. Related Funding: ESRC Impact Acceleration Account
Public Space Toolkit for Wales
This project aims to introduce a public space toolkit for Wales to support the work of Local Authorities. The toolkit can become a steppingstone towards innovative practices around placemaking for the public realm in Wales. In collaboration with: Dr Patricia Aelbrecht, Dr Francesca Sartorio, Dr Wesley Aelbrecht, Dr Richard Gale and Dr Hesam Kamalipour. Contribution to the project until December 2021. Related Funding: Innovation Project Grant
Multi-scalar Mobilities: Metropolitan Transit Nodes and Neighbourhood Morphologies
This project aims to bridge the gap between urban morphological studies and transport research, by focusing on transit nodes as the inter-scalar interfaces between the walkable neighbourhood and the metropolitan rapid transit network. This research advances our understanding of multi-scalar access, by examining the nexus between metropolitan rapid transit networks, station design and neighbourhood morphologies. In collaboration with: Dr Elek Pafka. Related funding: ECR Grant
Contested Waterfronts: Informality, Floods and Capital in Southeast Asian Cities
This was a joint research project between Melbourne Social Equity Institute and Melbourne School of Design to address how upgrading, flood control and global projects emerge within the larger political economic framework of the city. In collaboration with: Professor Kim Dovey. Related funding: MSEI Seed Funding
Teaching
Course Co-Director
- MA Urban Design programme (Postgraduate)
The MAUD programme, jointly delivered by the Welsh School of Architecture and the School of Geography and Planning at Cardiff University, is one of the largest postgraduate programmes of its kind, bringing together the collective expertise of both schools. The programme is accredited by both the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Design studio teaching in the porgramme focuses on developing critically informed as well as creative and practical proposals for real sites, addressing important contemporary issues of design and urbanism. More recently, our design studio modules have delved into the realm of Transit Urban Design (TUD) to enable students to experience first-hand how TUD can shape our cities, offering sustainable alternatives and enhancing the quality of urban life. Our MAUD students' studio projects were showcased in the Welsh School of Architecture Exhibition 2023.
I have served as the Module Leader / Co-Leader for the following modules in Urban Design:
- Urban Design Research Methods (Postgraduate)
- Research Based Design Project (Postgraduate)
- Autumn Design Studio (Postgraduate)
- Spring Design Studio (Postgraduate)
I have also lectured, taught and/or supervised in the following Undergraduate and Postgraduate modules in Urban Design and Architecture:
- Urban Design Foundation (Postgraduate)
- Urban Design Research Methods (Postgraduate)
- Urban Design Dissertation (Postgraduate)
- Research Methods and Techniques (Postgraduate)
- Research Based Design Project (Postgraduate)
- MArch Dissertation (Undergraduate)
Biography
Prior to joining Welsh School of Architecture, I served as a Research Assistant and Guest Lecturer in Urban Design at the Melbourne School of Design at the University of Melbourne. My background is in Architecture and I hold a PhD in Urban Design from the University of Melbourne as well as a Specialist Certificate in University Teaching from the Melbourne Centre for the Study of Higher Education (Melbourne CSHE). I won the prestigious 2018 Emerging Scholar Award by the Common Ground Research Networks based at the University of Illinois.
Research and Teaching Experiences
- Leader of the Urbanism Research and Scholarship Group, Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, UK
- Senior Lecturer in Urban Design, Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, UK
- Co-Director of the MA Urban Design Programme, Cardiff University, UK
- Co-Founding Director of the Public Space Observatory Research Centre, Cardiff University, UK
- Co-Founding Director of the My/Your Cardiff Public Space Campaign, Cardiff, UK
- Lecturer in Urban Design, Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, UK
- Research Assistant in Urban Design, Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne, Australia
- Guest Lecturer in Urban Design, Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne, Australia
- Academic Tutor in Urban Design and Planning, Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne, Australia
Professional Memberships
- Member of the Urbanism Research and Scholarship Group, Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, UK
- Member of the Urban Design Group
- Member of the Open Research Integrity and Ethics Committee, College of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Cardiff University, UK
- Member of the Academy of Urbanism
- Member of the Public Spaces and Urban Cultures Group, Association of European Schools of Planning
- Member of the Common Ground Research Networks, University of Illinois, USA
- Member of the Environment, Energy and People Research and Scholarship Group, Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, UK
- Member of the Welsh School of Architecture Research Ethics Committee, Cardiff University, UK (2019-2021)
Recent Speaking Engagements
- Street Vending and Urban Morphology (2023) Ecocity World Summit 2023, Barbican Centre, London, UK
Recent Reviewing Engagements
- Peer reviewer for international journals including Education Sciences, Asian Geographer, Journal of Urbanism, Land, Urban Planning, Sustainability, Urban Design and Planning, Cogent Arts & Humanities, International Planning Studies, The Journal of Public Space, and Sustainable Cities and Society
Supervisions
I am interested in supervising PhD students in the following areas:
- Politics of Public Space and Urbanity
- Spatiality of Street Vending and Informal Economy
- Transit-Oriented Urbanism
- Urban Morphology, Typology and Multi-Scale Mapping
I supervised a total of 18 postgraduate/undergraduate students and co-supervised 6 research assistants.
Research themes
Specialisms
- Urban design
- Transit-oriented urbanism
- Public space
- Street vending
- Urban morphology