Juan Luis de las Rivas Sanz

Juan Luis de las Rivas Sanz is a Professor of Urban Planning and Land Use Planning at the School of Architecture of the University of Valladolid. He has held roles as Director of the University Institute of Urban Planning (IUU) and Director of the Department of Urban Planning and Architectural Representation. His academic career includes visiting positions at Politecnico di Milano, Arizona State University, and the University of Texas at Austin. He specializes in urban sustainability, territorial governance, and historic urban landscapes. He has directed 12 doctoral theses and contributed to over 20 research projects in Spain and internationally, focusing on spatial planning tools, energy transition, and urban regeneration. His work emphasizes integrating cultural heritage, environmental conservation, and community engagement in urban policies.

Education:

• PhD in Architecture, University of Navarra (1984)
• Second PhD in Architecture (1988)

Research Interests:

• Urban sustainability and energy transition
• Historic urban landscape preservation
• Territorial planning for small municipalities
• Urban regeneration strategies
• Policy integration in regional governance

Awards:

• Grand European Prize for Urban and Regional Planning (ECTP, 2002)
• Special Mention (ECTP, 2012)
• Gerd Albers Award (ISOCARP, 2016)

Key Projects:

• Directed the Castilla y León Urban Development Action Program
• Coordinated the Regional Housing Policy Strategy
• Developed territorial guidelines for Valladolid, Segovia, and other regions
• Contributed to the Historic Urban Landscape Plan for Segovia

Labs/Teams: He leads the IUU_Lab at the Instituto Universitario de Urbanística, focusing on innovation in spatial planning and environmental sustainability.