DrCaterina Villani

I am an Assistant Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the UCD School of Architecture, Planning, and Environmental Policy. I hold a PhD in Architecture and Civil Engineering from the City University of Hong Kong, which I completed with the support of the prestigious Hong Kong PhD Fellowship (2017-2020). Before joining UCD, I worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at CityU and I was awarded the PolyU Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship (2021-2023) to join the Public Design Lab in the School of Design at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

My research focuses on 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 methodologies, including art-based methods, to influence planning practices that promote equitable and sustainable urban development.

My work has been published in leading journals in urban studies and planning and has received several accolades, including being a finalist for the Royal Town Planning Institute Award for Research Excellence in 2024 and winning the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design Award for Research in 2021.

One of my recent 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, this project (co-led with RCA) empowers children to contribute to the planning of urban streets for a post-car future.

***I am also 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 welcome applicants interested in Asian cities and/or the Global South***