About
I joined the Liverpool School of Architecture in April 2010. I have an undergraduate and master's degree of Architecture from the Southeast University, China, and the University of Bath respectively. My PhD from the University of Strathclyde investigated the relationship between urban form, its transformation and cultural identity. I am an urban morphologist and urban designer. I am interested in how physical spaces, particularly public spaces affect people's sense of identity, place value, quality of life, health and wellbeing. I am also interested in urban design governance in various planning cultures for new development, conservation and regeneration.
I am the lead of the Urban Form and Social Space research group in Architecture and the Executive Editor of the Journal of Urban Management (Elsevier). I am the Director of the European Chapter of the International Association for China Planning (IACP) and a key member of the International Seminar on Urban Form (ISUF).
I am currently working on a £2.5m UKRI funded project--Arts4Us, led by Professor Vicky Karkou at Edge Hill University, in collaboration with other academics, the Integrated Care Systems and a large number of community organisations (https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/research/healthresearchinstitute/research-centre-for-arts-and-wellbeing/arts4us/). It aims to tackle the mental health challenges of children and young people using place-based arts initiatives.
Funded Fellowships
- Fellow of The Higher Education Academy (The Higher Education Academy, 2012)