Kayvan Karimi

Professor Kayvan Karimi is a leading academic and practitioner in urban analytics and spatial design at University College London (UCL), holding the position of Professor of Urban Analytics and Spatial Design at the Bartlett School of Architecture. He directs the MSc and MRes programmes in Space Syntax: Architecture and Cities and serves as a director of Space Syntax Limited, a UCL spin-off company. With over 30 years of experience, he bridges academic research and professional practice in urban design, planning, and architecture.

Education:

• PhD, University College London, 1998

Research Interests: His work focuses on spatial-configurational analysis, urban morphology, strategic planning, transport networks, urban regeneration, and evidence-based design methodologies. He explores macro-scale city planning down to micro-scale public space design, emphasizing the integration of theory and practice. Current projects include studies on waterway impacts, participatory design tools, and urban growth patterns in cities like Dar es Salaam and Amsterdam. He also investigates the socio-economic implications of urban spatial structures, such as housing market dynamics.

Professional Contributions: He advises on global urban projects and collaborates with institutions worldwide. His work with Space Syntax Limited applies UCL research to real-world design challenges, including masterplanning and heritage conservation. He pioneered lightweight national-scale spatial models for EU contexts and developed methodologies to assess urban resilience post-disasters.

Labs & Teams: He leads the Space Syntax Laboratory at UCL, a hub for analytical urban design research. The lab’s interdisciplinary approach combines spatial analysis, agent-based modeling, and geospatial data to address urban challenges.