Caterina Villani

Caterina Villani is an Assistant Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy. She holds a PhD in Architecture and Civil Engineering from City University of Hong Kong, supported by the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship (2017-2020). Prior to UCD, she was a PolyU Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow (2021-2023) and Postdoctoral Researcher at CityU.

• Licensed Architect in Italy (CNAPPC)
• Early Career Advisor on Public Space at City Space Architecture (UN-Habitat partner)
• Member of UCD APEP School's EDI Committee
• Research Integrity Champion at APEP School

Research Interests: Interdisciplinary work at the nexus of urban design, transport governance, and critical urban theory, with focus on spatial justice and inclusive urban environments. Key themes include:

• Experimental urban interventions (street experiments)
• Mobility (in)justice and planning processes
• Migrant urbanisms and commoning practices
• Multispecies urbanism and public space
• Child-friendly urbanism in Global South

Article Trends: Recent work on positive solitude in high-density cities, child-led street experiments, Migrant domestic workers reclaiming public space, and spatial justice in pet parks. Articles appear in Journal of Planning Education and Research, Urban Studies, Leisure Studies, and Landscape Architecture Frontiers.

Scientific Awards:

• RTPI Award for Research Excellence Finalist (2024)
• HKIUD Urban Design Award for Research (2021)
• Three Best Paper Award nominations (2019-2022)
• AMER Best Paper Award Top 10 (2019)

Mentoring & Grants: Actively mentors PhD students in spatial justice and urban design. Current projects include:

• CHILD-STE (Child-Friendly Streets, London 2024)
• Arrival Infrastructures (Migrant Inclusion, 2025)
• RCA Research Impact Scheme (2024)

Labs & Teams: Collaborates with Public Design Lab (PolyU), City Space Architecture (UN-Habitat partner), and For Just Mobilities collective. Co-leads street experiment initiatives with international partners in London, Hong Kong, and Global South cities.