Plácido González Martínez

Plácido González Martínez is a Professor at the College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai, and a Distinguished Professor under the Eastern Scholar program. He serves as Executive Editor of the journal Built Heritage and is Vice President of the Association of Critical Heritage Studies, reflecting his leadership in global heritage discourse.

His research centers on built heritage conservation, modern architectural history, and the socio-spatial dynamics of urban transformation. He critically investigates urban authenticity, gentrification, and heritage in the context of globalization, particularly in Chinese cities like Shanghai and Beijing. His work combines theoretical rigor with empirical analysis of urban interventions.

The available articles reveal a consistent focus on the tensions between heritage conservation and commercial redevelopment, especially in historic urban neighborhoods. His scholarship interrogates how authenticity is constructed, negotiated, and often compromised in large-scale urban regeneration projects across East Asia.

Scientific Awards:

• 1st Prize for Research, 2018 Spanish Architecture Biennale (for In Light of Hilberseimer)

Prof. González Martínez has held influential advisory roles, including drafting the Spanish National Plan for the Conservation of 20th Century Heritage (2014) and serving on the Advisory Board of the same. He is a founding member of the research collective GAMUC, which studies Spanish colonial architecture in Africa, and a member of the Scientific Committee of the Iberian Docomomo Foundation. These roles underscore his international impact in architectural heritage and critical conservation studies.

He is actively involved in major academic initiatives, including editorial leadership of Built Heritage and participation in transnational research networks. His work bridges European and Chinese urban heritage paradigms, offering critical insights into the future of historic cities under global pressures.