PhD Grad Success: Radical Placemaking by Dr Kavita Gonsalves

Congratulations Dr Kavita Gonsalves for the completion of a remarkable milestone: The full publication of the 7 papers that form part of her PhD.

While awarded in 2023, her PhD’s final chapter (#7) was only published in the prestigious Antipode – A Radical Journal of Geography at the end of 2024. Adding to our excitement, we’ve just received our copy of the Routledge Handbook of Architecture, Urban Space and Politics, which features thesis chapter #3.

Kavita’s PhD centres on Radical Placemaking, a community-led approach that bridges interaction design, locative storytelling, and activism to fight for social justice and foster inclusive urban spaces. Kavita is now Associate Principal and Sustainability Design Lead (APAC) at Populous, Brisbane.

📚 Publications in Kavita’s Thesis:

1. Gonsalves, K., et al. (2021). Radical placemaking: An immersive, experiential and activist approach for marginalised communities. In H. Griffin (Ed.), Connections: Exploring heritage, architecture, cities, art, media (pp. 237–252). AMPS. https://lnkd.in/gCZuBZME

2. Gonsalves, K., et al. (2021). Radical Placemaking: Utilizing Low-Tech AR/VR to engage in Communal Placemaking during a Pandemic. Interaction Design & Architecture(s), 48, 143–164. https://lnkd.in/gnSg3GTj

3. Gonsalves, K., et al. (2024). Radical placemaking: Digitally situated community narratives as inclusive citymaking practice. In F. Haghighi & N. Bobic (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Architecture, Urban Space and Politics, Vol. 2 (pp. 483–500). Routledge. https://lnkd.in/gDBDF_9Q

4. Slingerland, G., Gonsalves, K., & Murray, M. T. (2022). Design probes in a pandemic: Two tales of hybrid radical placemaking from Ireland and Australia. Proceedings of OZCHI, 126–142. https://lnkd.in/gUWc7iW7

5. Gonsalves, K., Agapetos Aia-Fa’aleava, Lan Thanh HaNaputsamohn Ib Junpiban, Natasha Narain et al. (2023). TransHuman Saunter: multispecies storytelling in precarious times. Leonardo, 56(2), 125–132. https://lnkd.in/gmBKjnti

6. Gonsalves, K., et al. (2023). The praxis of radical placemaking. Frontiers in Computer Science, 5. https://lnkd.in/gDnRnNZZ

7. Gonsalves, K., et al. (2024). Liminality, situated digital tales, and the pandemic: Three cases of Radical Placemaking in Australia. Antipode, 56(5), 1642–1664. https://lnkd.in/g_J9GVxV

Kavita is also a founding member (with Dr Liz Brogden et al.) of a new research collective advocating for climate action in architecture. She played a key role as creative co-director of their inaugural event, The Climate Forum, held in Brisbane on 6 Sep 2024: https://lnkd.in/g-6Y-DSS

As proud supervisors, Glenda Caldwell & Marcus Foth applaud Kavita for her outstanding contributions to academia, architecture, and climate action.

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