Papers by Caterina Villani
Asian cities have increasingly been promoting the creation of walkable built environments as a ca... more Asian cities have increasingly been promoting the creation of walkable built environments as a catalyst for local economic development in global competition. However, the economic influences of pedestrianization are still debatable without sufficient quantitative assessments in Asia's commercialized cityscape along with mega-rail projects, high-rise buildings, and traffic-choked streets. This research examines the net capitalization effects of skywalk network and pedestrian zone schemes on office towers and retail streets using the case of Hong Kong. The sets of hedonic regression models in a quasi-experimental research framework show mixed results. The expansion of skywalk networks produced positive capitalization effects on podium-level office units connected by footbridges near metro rail exits, while having insignificant impacts on street-level retail units. The models also reveal that the implementation of pedestrian zone schemes generated insignificant capitalization effects on street-level retail units regardless of rail proximity. The evidence gives some credence to the notion that the creation of walkable built environments in Asian cities would contribute to capital accumulation through megarail plus international office tower projects. However, the findings also infer that pedestrianization initiatives in global competition would lead to neither commercial revitalization nor gentrification on local retail streets around metro rail stations.
The public space plays a crucial role in providing adequate infrastructure for vulnerable social ... more The public space plays a crucial role in providing adequate infrastructure for vulnerable social groups in the context of high-density urban Asia. In this study, a well-known elevated pedestrian network in Hong Kong emerges as a revelatory case for the comparative analysis of the pattern of stationary uses before and after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Findings reveal a significant decrease (-20 %) in the total number of users and a shift in the pattern of activities, comprising a significant shrinkage of socially oriented uses and a vast increase of individual behaviors. This study advocates a responsive policymaking that considers the peculiar post-outbreak needs of migrant workers in Hong Kong and in high-density urban Asia
Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal , 2021
This study aims to investigate urban ergonomics features through the healthy city approach. Analy... more This study aims to investigate urban ergonomics features through the healthy city approach. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is adopted to make a pairwise comparison and ranking of multiple features of urban ergonomics. A small online panel was organized with ten experts of architecture and urban design with a minimum of 10 years of experience. Findings from the literature were shared with these experts, and they were asked to compare the ergonomics features pairwise and rank them. For the next step, two main urban squares from Istanbul and two main public spaces of Singapore are examined.
Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal, 2020
COVID-19 is expected to impact the low-income groups' use of public space and related quality of ... more COVID-19 is expected to impact the low-income groups' use of public space and related quality of life beyond the current pandemic outbreak. To what extent may the current pandemic affect the use of public space once some restrictions will be lifted? This study focuses on the migrant domestic workers' spatio-temporal changes in the patterns of public space use during social distancing relaxation period in Hong Kong. The findings highlight increase of individual leisure activities, decrease of density around informal food-production and of gathering group, comparatively to the pre-pandemic situation.
Cities, 2021
Pedestrianisation, the conversion of a vehicular street for pedestrian use, is increasingly being... more Pedestrianisation, the conversion of a vehicular street for pedestrian use, is increasingly being proposed worldwide as a sustainable measure by hegemonic powers. Pedestrianisation can bolster uneven urban development patterns, however social tensions can magnify on the pedestrianised street, where deprived social groups claim the right to the city. This study employs a mixed method approach to examine, within a de Certeausian theoretical framework, the relationship between the governmental strategies promoting pedestrianisation and the tactics of pedestrianised space informal appropriation. Within this context Hong Kong emerges as a revelatory case, it is a city where the extreme scarcity of public open space exacerbates the conflict between social groups interested in this resource. The analysis provides evidence of a discrepancy between expected and actual uses of the pedestrianised streets. Furthermore, this study highlights the need in the context of the global neoliberal city for discussing the theoretical dichotomy of strategies and tactics. This paper argues for pedestrian planning which includes stationary use as a main pedestrianisation objective, as well as for responsive urban design that carefully considers the association between behavioural patterns and spatial features of the pedestrianised street.
Proceedings of the AESOP 2019 Congress Book of Papers, 2019, 2019
In the last decades, urban river regeneration (RR) has been increasingly adopted to solve envir... more In the last decades, urban river regeneration (RR) has been increasingly adopted to solve environmental issues, especially in China. The prevalence of this trend is due in part to the fact that, besides solving water pollution problems, urban rivers are a potential new source of open public space for contemporary cities. Due to the extremely rapid urban development, available public space in these cities is shrinking and becoming more and more inadequate. In this context, RR can enhance the quality of the built environment, social life, and public health. This study aims to investigate the influence of RR on social life by analyzing people's behavior and perception of space. Due to its geographical location and its urban context, Futian River in Shenzhen has been chosen as a case study. Methods adopted include direct observation, interview, and survey research. The study is expected to explore the influence of urban river regeneration on social life, adding new knowledge for future healthy city planning in contemporary urban environments.
Proceedings of the AESOP 2019 Congress Book of Papers, 2019
International organizations promote the equitable provision of open public spaces (OPS) as a stra... more International organizations promote the equitable provision of open public spaces (OPS) as a strategy for healthy cities planning. In the context of high-density Asian cities, the densely built environment, constraints generated by mobility infrastructures and the limited distribution of OPS pose challenges to the implementation of equitable OPS provision. Pedestrianisation –the conversion of a vehicular street for pedestrian uses– is emerging as an effective policy to increase the supply of OPS. Nonetheless, the temporary or permanent space conversion strategy –from mobility infrastructure to OPS– lacks a comprehensive implementation framework. This paper reviews the governmental policies for the supply of pedestrianised streets (PS); it investigates the tactics of PS appropriation drawing upon the case of Hong Kong, one of the densest and more socially polarized Asian cities. The unconventional use of the short-term OPS can provide insights into tactics of informal use of OPS and it can contribute to evaluating the need for pedestrianisation and for additional planning measures. This study comprises documentary analysis and primary data collection and analysis. The method adopted for policy review is content analysis. The methods adopted in fieldwork involve unobtrusive observations. Results are presented in the forms of policy review and Structured Direct Observations.
Asian Journal of Environment-Behaviour Studies, 2020
In high-density Asian cities, the increasing scarcity of public open spaces gives rise to the nee... more In high-density Asian cities, the increasing scarcity of public open spaces gives rise to the need for stationary activities to tap into spaces originally conceived exclusively to channel pedestrian movements, such as grade separation pedestrian systems. However, the types and patterns of stationary activities on elevated walkways remain mostly unexplored. This study focuses on Hong Kong, wherein the scarcity of public open space characterises an extreme condition and where the burden of this scarcity falls most heavily on disadvantaged social groups, such as migrant workers. The findings highlight the prevalence of socially oriented activities and the importance of food as a gathering factor.
Books by Caterina Villani
WALKABLE CITIES IN HIGH DENSITY CHINA: LIVABLE HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE, 2018
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): Share the Road Programme Annual Report, 2019
Temporary pedestrianisation of streets is emerging as an effective strategy to increase the suppl... more Temporary pedestrianisation of streets is emerging as an effective strategy to increase the supply of
open public space and to reduce motorized transport (UN-Habitat, 2014). This was discussed in the book
Walkable Cities in High Density China: Livable, Healthy and Sustainable (Wang et al., 2018).
The case of foreign domestic workers (FDWs) appropriating a temporarily pedestrianized street in Hong
Kong Central Business District during their day-off unveils the extreme social polarization of the cities
unavoidable unsolved tensions (Tam, 2016).
Modern Chinese cities, which have developed at a rapid speed and on a massive scale for about thi... more Modern Chinese cities, which have developed at a rapid speed and on a massive scale for about thirty years, are confronted with many challenges to becoming more livable, healthy and sustainable. Among a variety of design principles this book suggests that walkability is the fundamental principle to improving quality of life.
This research investigates pedestrian space examining both morphology, mobility and societal dynamics of Lujiazui Central Business District in Shanghai. In particular, the focus of this study is on the accessibility and connection of pedestrian spaces. The study starts by examining the origins of this district in Shanghai and the rapid pace evolution to an iconic globally recognized CBD. Moreover, it highlights the correlation between the greater dimensions of the blocks and the articulation of an alternate pedestrian mobility inside the blocks and on o -the-ground multilevel spaces.
Finally, this research elaborates several urban strategies for Lujiazui CBD area aiming to reconnect the blocks, enhance the accessibility of pedestrian spaces, and promote social activities and functions.
This will be pursued in the framework of enhancing pedestrian places, thus making the city more sustainable.
Thesis Chapters by Caterina Villani
Master Thesis, Jul 27, 2016
This master thesis concerns Shanghai’s informal patterns of pedestrian mobility. It is organized ... more This master thesis concerns Shanghai’s informal patterns of pedestrian mobility. It is organized in three parts: a general part of cities comparison, the second part focuses on Lujiazui area, Pudong district; the third part concentrates on Caoyang village, Putuo district.
Firstly, we started our research with a Cities investigation, a comparison between Shanghai and contemporary cities based on block dimension, number of intersections, building density and above all, the alternative pedestrian mobility.
In addition, we studied the different perception the human eye has in the eight cities studied, based on Kevin Lynch “The View from the Road”, Venturi-Scott Brown “Learning from Las Vegas” and Giambattista Nolli “Map of accessible Places in Rome”. Finally, we developed our research about Shanghai urban expansion and Shanghai urban pedestrian spaces, looking at contemporary projects that show the evolution and articulation of pedestrian space inside buildings and at different levels (above or under the ground level)
Lujiazui CBD: A new Porosity through multi level pedestrian Networks
In this zoom we analysed pedestrian urban space in Lujiazui and along Century Avenue. After a historical excursus on the development of Century Avenue in comparison to Champs Elysée in Paris, we studied all the urban elements that allow and does not allow accessibility at ground-level in Lujiazui area. The results show that pedestrian space is much more articulated inside commercial buildings and above the ground level (through pedestrian elevated bridges). Finally, we developed urban strategies aiming at enhancing pedestrian networks at ground-level, creating macro-green areas with trees and commercial pavillions.
Caoyang village: shared Networks between collective Spaces
Firstly, we studied the historical development of Caoyang Danwei, a working -class village enclosed by a wall, built in the late 1950s. it is interesting to see the evolution of social pedestrian spaces inside and outside this neighbourhood and how this changed in time after the arrival of car-oriented system.
The urban strategies for this area aim at developing networks of paths that link urban spaces outside the village, such as markets and parks, and inside the village, for example small playing areas and neighbourhood shops.
Finally, a further strategy is to improve the urban porosity of this area, through new gates that implement the accessibility between outside and inside the village.
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Papers by Caterina Villani
Books by Caterina Villani
open public space and to reduce motorized transport (UN-Habitat, 2014). This was discussed in the book
Walkable Cities in High Density China: Livable, Healthy and Sustainable (Wang et al., 2018).
The case of foreign domestic workers (FDWs) appropriating a temporarily pedestrianized street in Hong
Kong Central Business District during their day-off unveils the extreme social polarization of the cities
unavoidable unsolved tensions (Tam, 2016).
This research investigates pedestrian space examining both morphology, mobility and societal dynamics of Lujiazui Central Business District in Shanghai. In particular, the focus of this study is on the accessibility and connection of pedestrian spaces. The study starts by examining the origins of this district in Shanghai and the rapid pace evolution to an iconic globally recognized CBD. Moreover, it highlights the correlation between the greater dimensions of the blocks and the articulation of an alternate pedestrian mobility inside the blocks and on o -the-ground multilevel spaces.
Finally, this research elaborates several urban strategies for Lujiazui CBD area aiming to reconnect the blocks, enhance the accessibility of pedestrian spaces, and promote social activities and functions.
This will be pursued in the framework of enhancing pedestrian places, thus making the city more sustainable.
Thesis Chapters by Caterina Villani
Firstly, we started our research with a Cities investigation, a comparison between Shanghai and contemporary cities based on block dimension, number of intersections, building density and above all, the alternative pedestrian mobility.
In addition, we studied the different perception the human eye has in the eight cities studied, based on Kevin Lynch “The View from the Road”, Venturi-Scott Brown “Learning from Las Vegas” and Giambattista Nolli “Map of accessible Places in Rome”. Finally, we developed our research about Shanghai urban expansion and Shanghai urban pedestrian spaces, looking at contemporary projects that show the evolution and articulation of pedestrian space inside buildings and at different levels (above or under the ground level)
Lujiazui CBD: A new Porosity through multi level pedestrian Networks
In this zoom we analysed pedestrian urban space in Lujiazui and along Century Avenue. After a historical excursus on the development of Century Avenue in comparison to Champs Elysée in Paris, we studied all the urban elements that allow and does not allow accessibility at ground-level in Lujiazui area. The results show that pedestrian space is much more articulated inside commercial buildings and above the ground level (through pedestrian elevated bridges). Finally, we developed urban strategies aiming at enhancing pedestrian networks at ground-level, creating macro-green areas with trees and commercial pavillions.
Caoyang village: shared Networks between collective Spaces
Firstly, we studied the historical development of Caoyang Danwei, a working -class village enclosed by a wall, built in the late 1950s. it is interesting to see the evolution of social pedestrian spaces inside and outside this neighbourhood and how this changed in time after the arrival of car-oriented system.
The urban strategies for this area aim at developing networks of paths that link urban spaces outside the village, such as markets and parks, and inside the village, for example small playing areas and neighbourhood shops.
Finally, a further strategy is to improve the urban porosity of this area, through new gates that implement the accessibility between outside and inside the village.
open public space and to reduce motorized transport (UN-Habitat, 2014). This was discussed in the book
Walkable Cities in High Density China: Livable, Healthy and Sustainable (Wang et al., 2018).
The case of foreign domestic workers (FDWs) appropriating a temporarily pedestrianized street in Hong
Kong Central Business District during their day-off unveils the extreme social polarization of the cities
unavoidable unsolved tensions (Tam, 2016).
This research investigates pedestrian space examining both morphology, mobility and societal dynamics of Lujiazui Central Business District in Shanghai. In particular, the focus of this study is on the accessibility and connection of pedestrian spaces. The study starts by examining the origins of this district in Shanghai and the rapid pace evolution to an iconic globally recognized CBD. Moreover, it highlights the correlation between the greater dimensions of the blocks and the articulation of an alternate pedestrian mobility inside the blocks and on o -the-ground multilevel spaces.
Finally, this research elaborates several urban strategies for Lujiazui CBD area aiming to reconnect the blocks, enhance the accessibility of pedestrian spaces, and promote social activities and functions.
This will be pursued in the framework of enhancing pedestrian places, thus making the city more sustainable.
Firstly, we started our research with a Cities investigation, a comparison between Shanghai and contemporary cities based on block dimension, number of intersections, building density and above all, the alternative pedestrian mobility.
In addition, we studied the different perception the human eye has in the eight cities studied, based on Kevin Lynch “The View from the Road”, Venturi-Scott Brown “Learning from Las Vegas” and Giambattista Nolli “Map of accessible Places in Rome”. Finally, we developed our research about Shanghai urban expansion and Shanghai urban pedestrian spaces, looking at contemporary projects that show the evolution and articulation of pedestrian space inside buildings and at different levels (above or under the ground level)
Lujiazui CBD: A new Porosity through multi level pedestrian Networks
In this zoom we analysed pedestrian urban space in Lujiazui and along Century Avenue. After a historical excursus on the development of Century Avenue in comparison to Champs Elysée in Paris, we studied all the urban elements that allow and does not allow accessibility at ground-level in Lujiazui area. The results show that pedestrian space is much more articulated inside commercial buildings and above the ground level (through pedestrian elevated bridges). Finally, we developed urban strategies aiming at enhancing pedestrian networks at ground-level, creating macro-green areas with trees and commercial pavillions.
Caoyang village: shared Networks between collective Spaces
Firstly, we studied the historical development of Caoyang Danwei, a working -class village enclosed by a wall, built in the late 1950s. it is interesting to see the evolution of social pedestrian spaces inside and outside this neighbourhood and how this changed in time after the arrival of car-oriented system.
The urban strategies for this area aim at developing networks of paths that link urban spaces outside the village, such as markets and parks, and inside the village, for example small playing areas and neighbourhood shops.
Finally, a further strategy is to improve the urban porosity of this area, through new gates that implement the accessibility between outside and inside the village.