Jie Xiong

School of Architecture and Landscape

PhD Student

jxiong4@sheffield.ac.uk

Full contact details

Jie Xiong
School of Architecture and Landscape
Arts Tower
Western Bank
91Ö±²¥
S10 2TN
Profile

As a PhD student who specializes in urban design, I have always asked myself what I can do to improve human happiness and social well-being in contemporary society, more specially, in people’s daily life place, such as street or community. These related questions aroused my interests and curiosity which drove me to be eager to study in such specific associated scope.

During my master’s study in SSoA, I was privileged to be encouraged by my supervisor, Dr. Cluadia, to continue my research at postgraduate level, which equipped me with solid foundations to have a better understanding of the relationship between space, place and people, rather than randomly designing a place without detailed investigation and thinking. More importantly, beside, the capabilities to think about such issues from macro to micro, general to particular perspective, which could intersect different philosophical notions and opinions from various disciplines. Through my dissertation work, in which I concentrated on how spatial regeneration acts as a design catalyst for socio-spatial resilience, this research design project experience has made me realize how my research interests can contribute to social well-being. At the same time, it also raised new questions with regards to the importance of such well-being can be associated with people’s collective sense of belonging.

Qualifications
  • 2020 – Present  PhD student in Urban Street Research, Landscape Architecture Department, University of 91Ö±²¥, UK
  • 2018 – 2019  Master student in Urban Design, Architecture Department, University of 91Ö±²¥, UK
  • 2016 – 2018  Architect Assistant, HYH Architecture & Engineering Design CO., LTD
  • 2014  Exchange student of summer project, Roger Williams University, Rhode Island, USA
  • 2011 – 2016  Undergraduate student in Architecture, School of Urban Construction, Wuhan University of Science and Technology (WUST)
Research interests

Urban design, Chinese urban villages, Top-down and bottom-up decision-making, Socio-spatial street edges, Place-making.

Current research

My research project focuses on street space, which has been affected by a combination of top-down and bottom-up decision-making practices. More specifically, how these interventions with regards to material and spatial characteristics promote social qualities within complex environments. Within the current research, I intend to explore new theoretical frameworks that can provide insight into the individual and combined effect of top-down and bottom-up actions upon the social and spatial dynamics of street edges within Chinese urban villages. The research aims to make contributions to theoretical and practical application of new ideas relating to street edges through its focus on relationship of control and how this manifests across top-down and bottom-up practices. 

Hopefully, these insights can be scalable and adaptable to wider contexts, informing how design interventions are approached within urban villages across China.