معرفی
Alva Zalar is a Researcher at Lund University's Department of Human Geography. Their work focuses on challenging traditional urban planning paradigms through queer and feminist frameworks, particularly in the context of sustainability and social inequality. Recent projects include analyzing the Hyllie urban development project in Malmö and exploring the cultural heritage of modernist architecture.
Education background includes a PhD from Lund University's Department of Architecture and Built Environment, completed in 2024 with the thesis Queer as a City. Current research examines repurposing 'contested concrete architecture' to address both environmental and cultural sustainability.
Research Interests: Urban sociology, queer urban theory, sustainable development critiques, architectural ethics, and the intersection of climate action with social justice. Zalar's work often bridges empirical case studies with theoretical innovation, using Hyllie as a key empirical site to explore how sustainability norms are constructed and contested.
Key Contributions: Over 10 peer-reviewed publications, including interdisciplinary blog posts and a widely cited doctoral thesis. Active in both academic and public spheres, contributing to policy discussions on inclusive urban design and heritage preservation.
- Recipient of the 2019 Karlskrona kommuns Planstipendium
- Member of the Agenda 2030 Graduate School
- Organized workshops on pedagogical inclusivity and queer urban studies
