معرفی
Laurent Matthey is a Professor at the University of Geneva since 2014, who became attached to the CRESSON Research Team in 2023. His institutional affiliations span multiple organizations through the Joint Research Unit (UMR) connecting CNRS, Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA), École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Nantes, École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Grenoble, and Centrale Nantes.
Professor Matthey's research lies at the intersection of ethnography and literary studies, focusing on the political issues of storytelling in urban fabric. His work examines sensitive registers and attentional regimes that shape urban environments, developing narrative approaches to understanding and practicing urban planning. Recent research explores how generative AI affects spatial imagination and the challenges of creating urban planning that accommodates diversity and difference.
His publication record from 2021-2025 reveals a consistent focus on narrative methodologies in urban research, with significant contributions including the 2025 book 'Narrative Matters. Designing the City through Storytelling' and numerous articles in journals such as GeoHumanities and Journal of Urban Cultural Studies. His work often examines the relationship between political vision and narrative construction in planning processes, as well as the challenges of participatory urban planning.
Professor Matthey's research methodology bridges humanities and planning disciplines through innovative approaches that use storytelling itself as a research tool. His work on failed projects provides critical insights into planning processes, while his exploration of 'metropolitan narratives in transition' addresses how cities navigate change through evolving stories and imaginaries.
His research is conducted within the CRESSON Research Team framework, which appears to be part of the broader AAU Laboratory (Architectural, Urban and Landscape Research) with connections to the International Ambiances Network. This institutional context supports his interdisciplinary approach that connects literary studies, ethnography, and urban planning practice.
