1988
Prof. Aspa Gospodini is Dipl. Architect, MSc, PhD in Urban Planning & Design, Bartlett School, UCL; Professor of Urban Planning & Design, Director of “Urban Morphology & Design” research Lab, Director of the MSc Course “Urban Regeneration, Urban Redevelopment & Real Estate”, University of Thessaly, Greece; In this MSc course, she teaches three modules: (a) urban renewal policies, (b) policies for sustainable and resilient cities, and (c) policies for smart cities. She has served as Vice President in the Planning Authority of Thessaloniki grater area (2010-11). Her research interests focus on urban renewal, redevelopment & regeneration; urban landscapes; place identity; urban tourism, shrinking Greek cities. She has published many research papers in scientific journals, and co-authored and edited over 10 books. Her published work has been awarded 4 international prizes, by AESOP & GPEAN in 2005, 2006 2007, 2008, for the best published paper in urban planning. Her published work has received over 900 citations. She is member of the Editorial Board in 8 international journals of urban planning & design; and she is Chair of the Organising and Scientific Committees in the series of international conferences on ‘CHANGING CITIES: Spatial, Design, Landscape and Socioeconomic dimensions’ (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019) which has been attracting strong interest by the global academic community in the last decade.
1988
Doctor of Philosophy, PhD in Urban Design and Planning. Thesis title: Gospodini, A. (1988) TYPE AND FUNCTION IN THE URBAN SQUARE: A case study of London, PhD Thesis, Bartlett School of Architecture and Planning, University College London (supervised by Prof. Bill Hillier).
Bartlett School of Architecture and Planning, University College London (UCL), University of London, London, UK
1984
Master of Science, MSc on Syntactic analysis of space. Thesis title: Gospodini, A. (1984), GRIDDY URBAN FORMS AND THEIR SQUARES IN CLASSICAL ANTIQUITY: The Greek Agora and the Roman Forum (supervised by Prof. Bill Hillier).
Bartlett School of Architecture and Planning, University College London (UCL), University of London., London, UK
1983
Diploma in Architecture
Department of Architecture, School of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki., Thessaloniki, Greece
A. Member of the Editorial Board in international peer reviewed academic journals.
(2003 –) Member of the Advisory Board, Journal of Urban Design, Carfax Publishing, Taylor and Francis Group, UK.
(2004 –) Member of the Editorial Board, International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, WIT (Wessex Institute of Technology) Publications, UK.
(2007 – ) Member of the Editorial Board, The Open Urban Studies, Bentham Science Publishers Ltd., USA.
(2009 – ) Member of the Editorial Board, Urban Design International, Palgrave Macmillan, UK.
(2012 – ) Member of the Editorial Board, Urban Studies Research, Hindawi Publishing Corporation, open access journal ( http://www.hindawi.com/journals/usr/ )
B. Member of the Editorial Board in Greek peer reviewed academic journal.
(2009 – ) Member of the Editorial Board, Aeichoros (ΑΕΙΧΩΡΟΣ), University of Thessaly Publications (in Greek)
C. Referee of international peer reviewed academic journal
(2001 – ) Referee of many international peer reviewed journals, focused on urban planning and regional development, CITIES, Journal of Urban Design, International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, Urban Design International Cities, Urban Design International, Urban Studies, Regional Studies, Progress in Planning, Technika Chronika (in Greek), Aeichoros (in Greek).
D. Referee of Proceedings of Scientific Conferences
(2000) Referee of Conference Proceedings, 6th International Conference on Protection and Restoration of the Environment, Skiathos, Greece,1-4 July 2000.
(2005) Referee of Conference Proceedings, 2nd International Conference on Sustainable Development and Planning, Bologna, Italy, 12-14 September 2005.
(2007) Referee of Conference Proceedings, 3rd International Conference “Sustainable Development and Planning”, Algarve Portugal, 25-28 April 2007.
(2008) Editor of Conference Proceedings, 4th International Conference “The Sustainable City”, 24-26 Sept. 2008, Skiathos, Greece.
(2009) Referee of Conference Proceedings, 2nd Greek Conference on ‘Spatial Planning, Urban Planning and Design, and Regional Development’, organised by the Department of Planning & Regional Development, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece 24-27 Sept. 2009 (in Greek).
(2010) Referee in E. Beriatos, M. Papageorgiou (eds), Spatial Planning, Urban Planning and Environmental Planning in the 21st century: Volos: University of Thessaly Publications, This book includes Proceedings of the 10th Conference of the Institute of Cephalonia and Ithaca, “Cities and Regions in Greece and Mediterranean”, Greece, Cephalonia 2 – 4 July, 2010 (in Greek).
(2012) Referee of the Proceedings of the 1st international Conference on ‘Marketing & Branding of cities’ organised by the Department of Planning & Regional Development, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece, 30 March – 1 April. 2012 (in English).
(2012) Referee of the Proceedings of the 3rd Greek Conference on ‘Spatial Planning, Urban Planning and Design, and Regional Development’, organised by the Department of Planning & Regional Development, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece 27-30 Sept. 2012 (in Greek).
E. Member of Academic Societies, Organisations and Committees
(2007 – ) Member of ICOMOS – International Council of Monuments and Sites , Branch of Greece. Consultant of the theme-issue ‘Urban Landscapes’.
(2008 – 2011) Member of the CoRep (Council of Representatives of Member States) of AESOP (Association of European Schools of Planning). National representative of the Greek University Schools of Planning.
(2008 – 2014) Member of the Prize Committee of AESOP (Association of European Schools of Planning), 5-member- international academic committee which every year evaluates and ranks the submitted candidate papers from 50 peer reviewed planning journals; and it annually awards the AESOP Prize for Best Published Paper.
(2008 -) Member of the ICOMOS International Council of Monuments and Sites. Responsible for the section “Urban Landscapes”
Scholarships
(1985 -1988) The Greek State Scholarships Foundation (ΙΚΥ in Greek), Division of Doctorate Scholarships Abroad
(1987) Schillizzi Foundation London. Scholarship for completing doctorate studies.
Academic Distinctions
European and International Prizes for published research papers
– AESOP Prize for Best Published Paper 2005 (Association of European Schools of Planning) for the paper Beriatos E., Gospodini, A. (2004) “Glocalizing Urban Landscapes – Athens and the 2004 Olympics”, Cities 21(3): 187-202.
The Prize was for the first time awarded to Greek academics; and the Greek press hosted the news [see. Eleftherotypia 22-7-2005; Kathimerini p.6 6-8-2005; ΤΑ ΝΕΑ 5-8-2005 p.12; Thessalia 26-8-2005, p.9; Eleftherotypia 9-8-2005, p.17; Information Magazine of the Technical Chamber of Greece 2357(5) Sept 2005: p.67].
– AESOP Distinction for Best Published Paper 2007 (Association of European Schools of Planning)
for the paper Gospodini, A. (2006), ‘Portraying, Classifying and Understanding the emerging landscapes in the Post-industrial city’, in Cities 23(5): 311-331.
In the Prize competition, the paper was ranked as the 2nd best paper.
– GPEAN Distinction (2005) (Global Planning Association Network) for the paper Beriatos E., Gospodini, A. (2004) “Glocalizing Urban Landscapes – Athens and the 2004 Olympics”, Cities 21(3): 187-202.
The paper was honorary republished in a special book edition including 12 distinguished papers on planning internationally [see Beriatos E., Gospodini, A. (2004) “Glocalizing Urban Landscapes – Athens and the 2004 Olympics”, in B. Stiftel, V. Watson, H. Acselrad (ed), (2005) Dialogues of Urban and Regional Planning, Routledge: 69-102. [see
http://www.taylorandfrancis.com/books/series/dialogues_in_urban_and_regional_planning_DIALOGUES/]
In Greece, the press hosted the news [see Thessalia newspaper, 22-12-2005, p.12; National Radio (ERA in Greek) interview of Dr. Gospodini, 22-12-2005].
– GPEAN Distinction (2007) (Global Planning Association Network)
for the paper Gospodini, A. (2006), ‘Portraying, Classifying and Understanding the emerging landscapes in the Post-industrial city’, in Cities 23(5): 311-331.
The paper was honorary republished in a special book edition including 12 distinguished papers on planning internationally [see Gospodini, A. (2008), ‘Portraying, Classifying and Understanding the new landscapes in the post-industrial city’, in Tom Harper, Heloisa Costa, Tony Yeh (eds), Dialogues in Urban and Regional Planning III, Routledge: 18-55. [see http://www.taylorandfrancis.com/books/series/dialogues_in_urban_and_regional_planning_DIALOGUES/]
Distinctions in international and national design competitions
(2001) Distinction in the national urban design competition for the waterfront redevelopment in Volos city centre. Member of the main study team, along with M. Tilkianakis, E. Karathanou, K. Kitsos, Architects.
(1992) 3rd Prize in the national architectural design competition for the new building of the Technical Chamber of Greece – Division of Central Macedonia, Thessaloniki. Member of the main study team, along with A. Tombazis, P. Makridis S. Paraskevopoulou, Architects.
(1989) Distinction in the international urban design competition of I.F.Y.A (International Federation of Young Architects) for the reconstruction of the historical centre in the city of Batumi, Republic of Georgia.
Professional Experience and Career Development
Title: Head of the MSc Course
Year From: 2015
Year To: Now
Position: Head of the MSc course “Urban Redevelopment, Urban Regeneration and Real Estate”
Organisation: Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly
Title: Professor
Year From: 2011
Year To: Now
Position: Professor of Urban Design & Planning
Organisation: Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly
Title: Director
Year From: 2005
Year To: Now
Position: Director of the Research Unit of Urban Space Morphology & Design
Organisation: Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly
Title: Vice President
Year From: 2010
Year To: 2011
Position: Parallel policy/managerial position as Vice President of The Spatial Planning Authority of Thessaloniki’s Metropolitan Area. A position appointed by the central Greek government, Position’s responsibilities: Management and production of spatial policies for the greater area – especially concerning projects of urban development, redevelopment, regeneration and renewal.
Organisation: The Spatial Planning Authority of Thessaloniki’s Metropolitan Area.
Title: Associate Professor
Year From: 2006
Year To: 2011
Position: Associate Professor
Organisation: Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly
Title: Visiting Professor
Year From: 2004
Year To: 2006
Position: Visiting Professor, Courses: Urban and Spatial Planning (Studio I and II).
Organisation: Department of Planning and Regional Development, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Title: Assistant Professor
Year From: 2001
Year To: 2005
Position: Assistant Professor
Organisation: Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly
Title: Lecturer
Year From: 1994
Year To: 2001
Position: Lecturer
Organisation: Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly
Title: Lecturer
Year From: 1990
Year To: 1992
Position: Lecturer in the Foundation course in Architecture, a preliminary year of studies preparing students to be accepted in UK universities.
Organisation: DEI – College of Arts, Science and Technology.
Title: Practicing Architect and Urban designer
Year From: 1989
Year To: 1994
Position: Member of the design team participating in 7 architectural design projects (housing & office buildings, library building) and 2 urban design projects (waterfront redevelopment schemes).
Organisation: Member of the design team of two large design companies in Thessaloniki: ARTECO, and P. Makridis Associates.
Title: Scientific Expert
Year From: 1989
Year To: 1990
Position: Scientific expert in Urban Design and Planning participating in 5 Urban Planning Programs
Organisation: The Spatial Planning Authority of Thessaloniki’s Metropolitan Area (Organization of Planning and Environmental Protection of Thessaloniki, in Greek)
University Teaching Experience
(1994 to present)
As academic staff at the Department of Planning & Regional Development, she has taught in classes and design studios at undergraduate and graduate level. More specifically:
On the undergraduate level:
(1994-2020) History of urban forms, Urban Design Studio, Urban Design Studio, Urban Design & Planning (Studio I and II).
On postgraduate MSc level:
(2004-2006)
She has also been visiting professor at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, Department of Spatial Planning & Development, teaching in the studios of Urban and Spatial Planning (Studio I and II).
She has also been supervising over 50 MSc Theses as well as 7 Doctorate Theses on topics related to Urban Design & Planning. Among them, two have been completed: One concerning public open spaces and friendly cities to children (examined and passed with grade A). Another concerning Green Urban Design and Renewal in central neighbourhoods of Greek cities and another concerning shrinking cities in Greece and urban regeneration policies, have also examined and passed with grade A. The other four are at mid or starting stages.
Life Long Learning education programs
(2014-2015) She has undertaken as scientific co-ordinator the LLL program ‘Urban Redevelopment and Green Urban Design’ under the competitive framework of LLL programs PEGA of The Greek Ministry of Education. The program runs in collaboration with 3 Greek universities and 4 departments. The program is addressed to graduates in Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Design, over 35 years old. It started running in spring semester 2014 and will be completed by the end of 2015.
Programme funded by the Greek Ministry of Education through the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF). Budget: 155.000 euros
Research Interests and Experience:
Her research interests focus on:
Coordinator of Research projects
Team- Member in Research projects
Pedion Areos, 383 34, Volos
+30 24210 74452-55
+30 24210 74380
g-prd@prd.uth.gr