CV

FRANCESCA FRASSOLDATI

 

E-mail address

francesca.frassoldati@polito.it

Nationality

Italy

 

Francesca Frassoldati is Visiting Professor at the School of Architecture of Politecnico di Torino since December 2015. From 2008 she has been working at the South China University of Technology.

Out of a long-term commitment to understanding processes, tensions, and spatial effects of socio-economic transformations in the habitable world, her major lines of work address rural-urban interaction and urban regeneration processes with particular emphasis on the use of spatial design in public discourse.

In 2012 she edited the 'Tool for Stakeholder Engagement' as a contribution to the EU-funded project 'Revitalization of Traditional Industrial Areas-Re.T.In.A' (South East Europe, Transnational Cooperation Programme). In 2013, she coordinated an exploration of international processes of urban regeneration as general curator of the exhibition ‘Watersheds. The narrative of the recycle process in a waterborne urban space: Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Torino, Venezia’, which was presented at the 2013 Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (Shenzhen, China) and at the 2014 Oriental Design Week (Turin, Italy). Since 2015 she has been acting as Scientific Advisor to AUDIS Associazione (the Italian platform established by public and private institutions to share know-how and practices that concern urban regeneration).

 

  • EDUCATION

2004 PhD in Economics - Urban and Regional Development, Università di Ferrara/ Italy.

2002 European Module in Spatial Development Planning, International Postgraduate Course, Université de Lille 1 & Institut Fédératif de Recherche sur les Èconomies et les Sociétés Industrielles/ France.

2000 MA in Architecture, Urban Planning & Design Programme, Università di Ferrara/ Italy.

 

  • CURRENT POSITIONS

2008–onwards: Associate Professor, School of Architecture (Studio Supervisor: Urban Design in Historic Environments), South China University of Technology/ China.

2009–onwards: Visiting Scholar, State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building Science, South China University of Technology/ China.

 

  • PREVIOUS ACADEMIC POSITIONS

2006–2007:      Adjunct Professor (Regional Economics), School of Architecture, Università di Ferrara/ Italy.

2006–2008:      Research Associate, CRUTA – Center for Urban, Regional and Environmental Research, Università di Ferrara/ Italy.

 

  • FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS

2015. Global Schindler Award, Urban Design Student Competition, Supervisor of the group awarded with the third honourable mention (http://www.schindler.com/award/internet/en/competition-2015/prize.html).

2014. Outstanding Supervisor, National Inter-University Competition of Graduation Projects in Environmental Design: supervisor of the project awarded with the Gold Medal for Urban Design.

2013. National Excellent Lesson Plan Award, assigned by the China National College of Architecture Professional Steering Committee, for the taught course “Urban Design in Historic Environment”.

2011. State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building Science, Guangzhou/ China; Visiting Scholar Research Fellowship; Principal Investigator (project n. 2012ZC31).

2010. National Natural Science Foundation of China/ China; International Young Scientists Research Fellowship; Principal Investigator (project n. 50950110350).

2009. State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building Science, Guangzhou/ China; Visiting Scholar Research Fellowship; Principal Investigator (project n. 2008ZC23).

 

  • RESEARCH

Rural-urban interaction Funded Research projects: “Water and Human-made Landscape Integration in the Zhujiang Delta Megaregion: Towards a new planning agenda”, State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building Science, Guangzhou/ China (2011). “Aquaculture, Agriculture, and Human Settlements Integration: Transformations and Persistences in the Zhujiang Delta”, National Natural Science Foundation of China/ China (2010). “Durable settlements and agricultural structures in the alluvial lands of the Western Zhujiang Delta”, State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building Science, Guangzhou/ China (2009).  “Industrial Development and Spatial Transformation in the Pearl River Delta”, University of Ferrara/ Italy (2007).

Urban regeneration processCommissioned Research: South-East Europe, Transnational Cooperation Programme: Re.T.In.A., Revitalisation of Traditional Industrial Areas in South-East Europe (10 partners from Hungary, Italy, Greece, Slovenia, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria); Consultant for the Province of Ferrara/ Italy (2009-2012). Research Report “Science and Technology Parks as urban renewal strategies. Cases and critiques”; contribution to the feasibility study for the rehabilitation of SGL Carbon plant (Ascoli-Piceno/ Italy), consultant at CFR-Ferrara (2006). Research Report “Spatial and structural organization of centres of service for SME in Europe”; consultant at SAPRO, Agency for local development, Forlì province/ Italy (2005).

 

  • PUBLICATIONS AND OTHER RELEVANT WORKS (selection)

a. Peer-reviewed multi-disciplinary scientific journals [J] and peer-reviewed conference proceedings [C]

[J] F. Frassoldati (2015). The village and the city. Exploring the urban multidimensionality of Guangzhou. In: Territorio n.74, pp. 47–53.

[J] F. Frassoldati (2015). Practices of urban regeneration: an educational approach to “humble” project design. In: China Architectural Education n. 3: 24–35.

[J] P. Bosselmann, F. Frassoldati, H. XU, P. SU (2014). Incremental Transformation of a Traditional Village in China’s Pearl River Delta. In: Territorio n.71, pp. 121–129.

[C] F. Frassoldati, J. Feng (2011) Integrity and Transformation of Vernacular Urbanity: historic urban landscapes in Guangzhou metropolis. Proceedings of the XII International Forum Unesco–University and Heritage Seminar; Hanoi Architecture University.

 

 

b. Research monographs [M], invited articles [IA], chapters in collective volumes [CV]

[CV] F. Frassoldati, D. Qi, (2016). Rural-urban edge: a review of spatial planning representation and policy discourse in the Pearl River Delta. In: Verdini G, Wang Y. & Zhang X. (eds) Urban China's Rural Fringe. Actors, dimensions and management challenges. Abingdon: Routledge.

[CV] F. Frassoldati (2014). Beyond the local process and the materiality of spatial transformation. In: A. Armando, M. Bonino, F. Frassoldati, A narrative of Urban Recycle. Watersheds. Sandu PC: Hong Kong, pp.72–93.

[IA] F. Frassoldati (2013). “城市历史遗产保护话语中的共性与分歧——中意城市保护比较研究” 外国问题研究论丛（第一辑）, 知识产权出版社[Research series on Foreign Studies, vol.1] pp. 155–162. IPP: Beijing [Similarities and differences in the discourse on urban heritage protection].

[IA] F. Frassoldati, S. Teston (2012). Percorsi inclusivi. Processi europei di rigenerazione di aree industriali. In: Paesaggio Urbano, n.4, pp.74–89.

[M] F. Frassoldati, L. Casonato (2010) Persistence & Transition. Water, farmland, and human settlements in the Zhujiang Delta. Sandu P.C., Guangzhou.

[IA] F. Frassoldati (2010) Cross-cultural Urban Planning and Design: Local Actions for Global Practices in the International Intensive Workshops. South Architecture, vol.1, pp.8–11.

 

 

c. Communications to peer-reviewed international conferences

2015. F. Frassoldati. “Urbanization and farming in the Pearl River Delta: A tentative assessment of correlations”. 2Nd International Conference on Agriculture in an Urbanizing Society (session coordinated by FAO-Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, RUAF Foundation-Resource Centres on Urban Agriculture & Food Security), Rome; F. Frassoldati & A. Armando. “The majestic axis of Guangzhou and the political reinvention of urban form”. RC21 International Conference, Urbino. 2014. F. Frassoldati. “Urbanization and farming in the Pearl River Delta: An interaction that challenges planning theory”. Association of European Schools of Planning Congress (AESOP), Utrecht. 2012. F. Frassoldati. “Self-confined communities and distribution of flows: Metropolitan phenomena in a Chinese megaregion”. Governing the Metropolis (CEE, Sciences Po, LATTS, University Paris-Est), Paris. 2010. F. Frassoldati “Constants and Variation in the Rural Pearl River Delta”. 9th Symposium of International Urban Planning and Environment Association (IUPEA), Guangzhou; F. Frassoldati, S. Wang, Z. Deng. “The luxury urbanity of new housing projects”. Association of European Schools of Planning Congress (AESOP), Helsinki.

 

 

d. Invited presentations

Rural -Urban Interaction 2015. “The geography of peri-urban agriculture: Guangzhou”. Russel Group China Collaborative Project. 2014. “Conflicts and synergies between urbanization and agriculture in the Zhujiang Delta”. Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona/ Italy. 2013. “Storie di villaggi nel Delta del Fiume delle Perle. Dal controllo del territorio ai villaggi in città”. Politecnico di Torino, Torino/ Italy. “Mapping transformations and values: Three narratives of the Zhujiang Delta”, invited speaker at the international seminar From Space to Place: Landscape and Art Practice, The Chinese University of Hong Kong/ Hong Kong. 2012. “Rural-urban edge: case-studies in the Pearl River Delta” (with Dongjin Qi), International Conference Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Department of Urban Planning and Design, Suzhou/ China. 2011. “Traditions: plenty of innovations. Tentative combinations of landscape values and quality of life”. Yongchun City, Pushan Village Committee, Fujian/ China.

Urban Regeneration Process2015. “Key issues in the conservation of the historic city. A perspective from Italy”, GDADRI- Architectural Design and Research Institute of Guangdong Province/ Guangzhou. 2014. “The city is like a great house. Urban design in Europe” with M. Bonino, China Academy of Urban Planning and Design, Ministry of Construction/ Beijing; “The narrative of the urban regeneration process”, School of Art, University of Shenzhen/ China. 2010. “Public Engagement and Urban Revitalization”. Hong Kong: Building our Kai Tak River. Community Envisioning Workshop. Promoted by: Hong Kong Civil Engineering and Development Department, Drainage Services Department, Planning Department/ Hong Kong; “The future of historic Liwan District”. Public discussion organized by the District's Planning Bureau, Guangzhou/ China.

 

 

e. International Design Workshops

2015. Suzhou. Scenarios for future sustainable rural development in Shuang Wan Cun – Wujiang District - Suzhou; Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, South China University of Technology, International Laboratory of Architecture and Urban Design – ILAUD. Tutor. 2014. Guangzhou. PhD Winter School: Watersheds; South China University of Technology; Politecnico di Torino. Co-chair. 2013. Guangzhou. Urban Design Workshop: Jiangmen Concrete Factory; South China University of Technology; UC Berkeley. Tutor. Suzhou. The Second International Workshop on Critical Planning for Chinese Cities; Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, South China University of Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Wuhan University, EPFL-Lousanne, International Laboratory of Architecture and Urban Design – ILAUD. Tutor. Guangzhou. Urban Design Workshop: Huangpu Central Area; South China University of Technology; UC Berkeley. Tutor. 2012. Suzhou. The First International Workshop on Critical Planning for Chinese Cities; Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, South China University of Technology, Suzhou Technical University, Wuhan University, Liverpool University, International Laboratory of Architecture and Urban Design – ILAUD. Tutor. 2011. Guangzhou. Jiutan village and Guangzhou metropolis. South China University of Technology; UC Berkeley. Visiting critic. 2010. Guangzhou. International Laboratory of Architecture and Urban Design, ILAUD—A return to the13 Hongs; South China University of Technology; University of Ferrara; Waseda University; University of Cape Town; Chinese University of Hong Kong. Visiting critic.

 

 

  • PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY (selection)

2012. La Carlota International Design Competition (Caracas, Venezuela); team leader: Arch. Gabriela Sabatini (Barcelona); distinguished project award. Role: Strategic Planning and Urban Design consultant.

2008-2009. Innovative Production Park Design. FOSHAN-GAOMING CANGJIANG INDUSTRIAL PARK. Role: International Consultant.

2007-2008. International Conception Design Competition for the National Relics Park of Tang Daming Gong Site, Xi’an (China); group leader: Prof. Daniele Pini; 3rd project award. Role: urban design and coordinator of the Italian and Chinese teams.

2007-2008. Strategic Plan of Crotone (Italy), Consorzio Ferrara Ricerche, University of Ferrara. Role: Consultant, socio-economic analysis.

2006. Feasibility study of SGL Carbon plant rehabilitation (Ascoli-Piceno, Italy). Role: technical consultant.

2004-2005. Multilevel approach to regional lakes governance project, promoted by Lombardia Region and coordinated by Prof. Paolo Ceccarelli. Role: Consultant, socio-economic analysis.

2003. Master Plan of the Municipality of Ferrara; Socio-economic outline, University of Ferrara. Role: Junior consultant.