- Place and Experience
About me
I studied urban planning and urban studies in Germany, Italy, and the United States, and hold a PhD in Urban Planning from Columbia University, New York. My research interests include urban and planning theory, urban (development) politics, urban tourism, and leisure consumption. Previous positions I have held include a guest professorship at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (2013–2015), a visiting professorship at the Politecnico di Milano (2014), and, most recently, a lectureship at Cardiff University (2015–2018), where I served as course director of the BSc Urban Planning & Development programme.
Some of my recent publications include the co-edited volume Protest and Resistance in the Tourist City (Routledge, 2016), the journal article “‘Destination’ Berlin Revisited: From (New) Tourism towards a Pentagon of Mobility and Place Consumption” (Tourism Geographies, 2016), and “Right-wing Populism and Urban Planning” (Journal of Urban Affairs, 2023), co-authored with S. Fainstein.
In addition to teaching and research, I also engage with broader audiences by writing for non-academic publications and enjoy working as a consultant and advisor for public, private, and non-profit organisations in the fields of urban and tourism development, planning, and policy. Alongside this work, I currently serve as a member of the Curatorial Board of the Internationale Bauausstellung Stuttgart-Region 2027 (IBA27) and a member of the expert group for the European Commission's New European Bauhaus Facility.
Teaching
I act as Course Leader of the MA Urban and Regional Planning at Westminster, leading and teaching across numerous modules, including Planning Theory and Practice I and II, Dissertation/Colloquium, and the MA Urban and Regional Planning Fieldtrip module.
My approach centres on developing reflective practitioners equipped to navigate the contested, often political terrain of spatial planning. Teaching emphasises problem-based learning, critical thinking, and engagement with practitioners, ensuring students grasp both theoretical frameworks and real-world application.
Research
My research interests centre on urban and planning theory, urban development politics, urban tourism, and leisure consumption. Recent publications include the co-edited volume Protest and Resistance in the Tourist City (Routledge, 2016) and the journal article Right-wing Populism and Urban Planning (Journal of Urban Affairs, 2023).
Publications
For details of all my research outputs, visit my WestminsterResearch profile.