Patricia Aelbrecht

We are a group of multidisciplinary academics with expertise spanning urban planning, human geography, urban design, and social policy. Our research focuses on the role of public space in fostering social cohesion within culturally diverse urban contexts. By integrating theoretical and methodological approaches across disciplines, we investigate how urban environments influence cross-cultural encounters and everyday social interactions. We collaborate across academia, practice, and policy to produce actionable insights that inform inclusive design and planning. Our work combines qualitative, participatory, and spatial methods to generate new frameworks for understanding and enhancing social integration through the design and governance of public spaces.