Ph.D. in Sustainability Science. Excellent Cum Laude and International Doctorate Program. Barcelona Polytechnic University of Catalonia, UPC, Spain. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DCEE), Sustainability Institute, EXIT Research Group of Department of Infrastructures and Land Management, Transport and Regional Planning Division. Thesis title: “From Sustainability to Resilience Thinking in Urban Dynamics: Barcelona city & Vallcarca community".
M.A. in Design & Communication. Pompeu Fabra University, School of Design and Engineering, Barcelona, Spain.
M.L.A. in Landscape Architecture. Polytechnic University of Catalonia, UPC, School of Architecture, ETSAB, Barcelona, Spain.
B.A. & M.Sc. in Architecture, with Honors, La Plus Grande Distinction, LPGD. Mons University, Architecture and Urbanism Department, Mons, Belgium.
Teaching / Research
He is currently based in Barcelona and New York, and he is a faculty of the UAB/EINA/MURAD in Barcelona and professor at the Math & Science Department at SLA and the Graduate Center of Planning and Environment (GCPE) at Pratt School of Architecture (SoA), Senior researcher for the Pratt NSF-funded project, Exploring Transdisciplinary Approaches to STEM Teaching and Learning and active collaborator of the Pratt Public Sphere. He is also a Social Practice CUNY Graduate Center fellowship 2022/23, adjunct professor at Queens College, CUNY; and visiting professor at ENSAP School of Architecture and Landscape in Bordeaux in France and Politecnico di Milano, Italy. He taught previously at the University Pompeu Fabra, ELISAVA School of Engineering and Design, Barcelona, Spain, and the University of Southampton, Winchester School of Art, UK.
Currently, his research in Sustainability science used the resilience thinking approach by understanding the social-technological-ecological systems dynamics and cycles of change in linked complex adaptive systems such as cities, communities, and buildings.
He is currently at EINA as a Senior researcher for the Erasmus European Program ARDES research Project for the development of a STEAM Sustainability course online and for the Creative European Program Grant, Open Up Project that aims to bring to the surface and promote underrepresented artists, designers and performers and it aims to establish sustainable art practices amongst them which include workshops, festivals, and exhibitions.
Professional experience
Rafael de Balanzo has a Architect European License, he is the founder of the Urban Resilience Thinking Design Studio and he is a member of the Habitat Action Without Borders Work Program of the Architects Without Borders International (ASF-int).
Current projects:
Awards
He received the 2021-2023 Russell Sage Research Project Grant Award and 2022 CUNY Interdisciplinary Research Grant. he was the recipient of the 2019 Colombia Fulbright Chair for Urban Resilience at Del Tolima University, Ibague, Colombia and previously he received architecture awards from the Belgium Government, CSCAE and COAC.
Publications
His last peer-review publications are the following:
- Diego Saez Ujaque, Pere Fuertes Perez, Maria Pilar Garcia Almirall & Rafael de Balanzó Joue. (2022), Embedded resilience in the built stock. Lessons from socio-spatial interpretation. The case of CanFugarolas (Barcelona). Building Research & Information, Volume 50, 2022 - Issue 3.
- Saez Ujaque, D.; Roca, E.; de Balanzó Joue, R.; Fuertes, P.; Garcia-Almirall, P. (2021), Resilience and Urban Regeneration Policies. Lessons from Community-Led Initiatives. Sustainability, 13, 12855.
- Balanzó, R. & Rodríguez-Planas, N. (2018), Crisis and Reorganization in Urban Dynamics: The Barcelona Case Study. Ecology & Society, 23(4):6.