Emilio Da Cruz Brandao

Emilio Da Cruz Brandao serves as a Lecturer at Chalmers University of Technology's School of Architecture, where he has been teaching for the past nine years. He previously directed the Master's Programme Architecture and Planning Beyond Sustainability (MPDSD) from 2016 to 2022, overseeing curriculum development and student supervision. In September 2022, he began pursuing doctoral studies at KTH School of Architecture in Stockholm as part of the JPI-Urban Europe project CoNECT.

His research centers on urban pedagogies for social sustainability and inclusion, with particular focus on community resilience and collaborative practices in contexts challenged by socio-economic segregation, urban poverty, and various urban inequalities. His work integrates design activism, co-creation methodologies, and participatory approaches involving multiple stakeholders. He draws upon extensive experience from architectural practice, action-based pedagogy in higher education, and involvement with NGOs including Architecture Sans Frontières (both international and Swedish organizations).

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent trajectory toward community-centered architectural education, with growing emphasis on digital tools for collaborative learning and knowledge sharing. His work demonstrates increasing integration of experiential learning models with community engagement practices, particularly in marginalized urban settings.

• Pedagogy Prize at Chalmers University of Technology (2021)

As an educator and researcher, Brandao has supervised numerous master's theses and design studios focused on social inclusion in architectural education. His collaborative research projects include the ESF-funded Lärandets Torg in Hammarkullen, Gothenburg (2014-2017) and the research project 'Stitching the city: From micro-data to macro-views' (2018-2021), which received funding from STINT. His current doctoral research within the CoNECT project examines 'Community Pedagogies for Resilience Beyond Crisis' in the context of everyday community resilience and ecological transition.

His work connects academic research with practical community applications through partnerships with local organizations working in socio-economically challenged urban areas, creating a bridge between theoretical knowledge and on-the-ground implementation of sustainable urban development practices.