DrCaterina Villani

I am an Assistant Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy. My research sits at the intersection of urban design, transport governance and critical urban theory, with an emphasis on advancing spatial justice and creating inclusive urban environments for vulnerable populations. I employ cutting-edge interdisciplinary and participatory methodologies to influence planning practices that promote equitable and sustainable urban development.

My work has been published in leading journals in urban studies, transport and planning, including Cities, Urban Studies, Journal of Planning Education and Research, Transport Policy and Journal of Urban Mobility. It has received several accolades, including being a finalist for the Royal Town Planning Institute Early Career Award for Research Excellence (2024), winning the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design Award for Research (2021) and receiving three best paper award nominations.

I hold a PhD in Architecture and Civil Engineering from the City University of Hong Kong, completed with the support of the highly competitive Hong Kong PhD Fellowship (2017–2020). Before joining UCD, I worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at CityU and I was later awarded the PolyU Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship (2021–2023) to join the Public Design Lab, a centre of excellence for inclusive design at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. These experiences underpin my expertise in high-density Asian cities, where my research has examined public and transport space production, pedestrian integration in transit-oriented environments, and informal urbanisms. My studies in Hong Kong analysed how transit infrastructure and overlooked “grey spaces” are repurposed as social infrastructures by migrant domestic workers, older adults and other marginalised groups offering important insights for inclusive planning in Asia and beyond.

One of my current projects, “Planning Street Experiments for a Child-friendly City in London” (CHILD-STE), reflects my commitment to participatory urbanism. Funded by the Wandsworth Arts Fringe Grant, the Royal College of Art in London, and UCD APEP, and co-led with Krity Gera, this project empowers children to co-design urban streets for a post-car future, placing young people at the heart of inclusive and sustainable city-making.

I am the APEP Director of Equality Diversity and Inclusion (School level) and  I was the APEP School Research Integrity Champion (APEP School Research Committee). I am Lifelong Fellow of the Public Design Lab (PolyU) and I serve as Early Career Advisor on Public Space at City Space Architecture (UN-Habitat partner group). I am also licensed architect in Italy (CNAPPC).

I am passionate about mentoring students interested in pursuing PhD research in areas related to spatial justice. I welcome inquiries from prospective students who are keen to explore topics such as experimental urban interventions (e.g. street experiments) addressing transport or mobility (in)justice (including planning processes and governance), migrant urbanisms and commoning practices (including mobility, recreation, care and food landscapes), and multispecies urbanism, public space and planning. I am particularly keen to hear from applicants interested in Asian cities and/or the Global South. Applicants should outline their research focus and funding plans when contacting me.