Previous Staff Member
Dr. Josefine Fokdal
T + 49 – 178 – 414 – 6169
Curriculum Vitae
Dr. Josefine Fokdal was a senior researcher at the Habitat Unit between 2009 and 2014. Since 2011, Josefine has been part of a research team examining the networking of urban poor within the housing field. She studied architecture at the Technische Universität Berlin (DE) and Ball State University (USA). In 2014, she completed her doctoral dissertation, “Embodiment of the Urban: Relational Space in the South Chinese Megacity Guangzhou” at the TU Berlin.
Josefine Fokdal was a visiting scholar at the Hong Kong University in 2014 and is currently supported by post-doc research funding from Stuttgart University, Chair of International Urbanism. Her research and writing spans the fields of spatial theory, housing, governance, informality, urbanization in Asia and urban embodiment. Between 2009 – 2010 she was one of the leading researchers on the DFG project “Peri-Urbanization in the Pearl River Delta”, which was published in 2014 (Beyond Urbanism: Urban(izing) Villages and the Mega Urban Landscape in the Pearl River Delta in China, LIT).
Josefine Fokdal teaches on the international Urban Management master’s course (TU Berlin) and has been teaching master’s courses in Architecture and Urban Design since 2009. She has a wide range of experiences from working as a consultant to bi- and multi-lateral agencies on urbanization and development policy in the global South as well as in architectural offices. She is a German management committee member of European Network INTREPID (COST Action TD1408) on interdisciplinarity in urban studies and the chair of the International Advisory Board. She is a member of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Asienkunde (DGA) and the Urban Knowledge Network Asia (UKNA).
2011 – 2014
Doctorate of Engineering (Dr.-Ing.), TU Berlin
(Thesis) Embodiment of the Urban: Relational Space in the South Chinese Megacity Guangzhou. (Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Peter Herrle, Prof. Dr. Arijit Sen).
2002 – 2007
Diploma in Architecture (Dipl.-Ing), TU Berlin
(Thesis) Power and Space. (Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Peter Herrle, Prof. Dr. Harald Bodenschatz).
2005 – 2006
Master of Architecture (M. A.), Ball State University, Indiana, USA
(Thesis) Aesthetics as a basic need. (Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Carol Flores, Prof. Dr. Wes Janz).
Since 2015
Senior Researcher
Chair of International Urbanism, University of Stuttgart
Since 2015
German Management Committee Member
COST Action TD1408: INTREPID
Since 2009
Lecturer
Urban Management Masters Course, TU Berlin
2009 – 2014
Researcher
Habitat Unit, TU Berlin
2006
Tutor
College of Architecture and Planning, Ball State University
2011 – 2014
Housing for the Urban Poor (South Africa, the Philippines, and Thailand), Habitat Unit, TU Berlin.
2011 – 2014
Doctoral Dissertation
(Thesis) Embodiment of the Urban: Relational space in the South Chinese Megacity Guangzhou. (Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Peter Herrle, TU Berlin; Prof. Dr. Arijit Sen).
2009 – 2010
Peri-Urban Patterns in the Pearl River Delta (China)
within the Priority Program (SPP) 1233‚ Megacities-Megachallenge' (D /PRC), Habitat Unit, TU Berlin, Research Associate.
SS 2015
Seminar: Disaster Risk Management in Serbia. Urban Management, TU Berlin
WS 2014/2015
Seminar: Urban Planning and Analysis. Urban Management Course, Habitat Unit, TU Berlin
SS 2012
Seminar: Housing for the Urban Poor. Architecture, Urban Design, Urban and Regional Planning, Habitat Unit, TU Berlin
WS 2011/2012
Design Studio: Neukölln – Planungskonzeptionen im Interkulturellen Umfeld. Architecture, Urban Design, Urban and Regional Planning, Habitat Unit, TU Berlin
Seminar: Research Paper. Dual Urban Designer (sino-german), Habitat Unit, TU Berlin
Seminar: Research Methods. Urban Management, Habitat Unit, TU Berlin
SS 2011
Seminar: Eco-City. Architects and Urban Designers, Habitat Unit, TU Berlin
WS 2010/2011
Design Studio: Obere Spree. Dual Urban Designer (sino-german), Habitat Unit, TU Berlin
Seminar: Research Methods. Urban Management, Habitat Unit, TU Berlin
SS 2010
Seminar: Urban Space in China. Architecture, Urban Design, and Urban and Regional Planning, Habitat Unit, TU Berlin
WS 2009/2010
Studio: Borders in the City. Dual Urban Designer (sino-german), Habitat Unit, TU Berlin
Seminar: Research Methods (compulsory), Habitat Unit and Urban Management Program, TU Berlin
Books
Peter Herrle, Astrid Ley and Josefine Fokdal (2015) From Local Action to Global Networks: Housing the Urban Poor. Ashgate, London.
Peter Herrle, Josefine Fokdal and D. ipsen, (2014) Beyond Urbanism. Urban(izing) villages and the Mega-urban Landscape in the Pearl River Delta in China. Münster, Lit Publisher.
(2014) Embodiment of the Urban. Relational space in the megacity of Guangzhou. Universitätsverlag TU Berlin, Berlin.
with Bettina Bauerfeind, (2011) Bridging Urbanities. Reflections on Urban Design in Shanghai and Berlin. Lit Publisher.
(2008) Power and Space. Appropriation of Space in Social Housing in Copenhagen. LIT Verlag, Berlin.
Book contributions
with Astrid Ley (Forthcoming) Hybrid modes of collaboration in the Philippines: Transnational networks of urban poor. In: M.-C. Ang and Weiss, Social Resistance in Non-Democracies. NUS Press.
with Peter Herrle and Astrid Ley (2013) 'New Urban Players' in Africa and Asia: The role of Grassroots Organizations. In: H. A. Mieg and K. Töpfer, Institutional and Social Innovation for Sustainable Urban Development. Routledge.
with Peter Herrle (2012) Dörfer in der Stadt - Städter auf dem Land. Wohnen im Pearlflussdelta in Südchina. In: T. Harlander and G. Kuhn, Soziale Mischung in der Stadt. Kraemer Verlag.
with Bettina Bauerfeind (2011) Introduction: Bridging Urbanities. In: with Bettina Bauerfeind, Bridging Urbanities. Reflections on Urban Design in Shanghai and Berlin. Lit Publisher.
Refereed articles
with Astrid Ley and Peter Herrle (2014) From Beneficiaries to Negotiators – How Urban Poor Transnational Networks Bargain for Better Housing. Sustainable Living Urban Model. Slum Lab (9).
with Peter Herrle (2011) Beyond the Urban Informality Discourse: Negotiating Power, Legitimacy and Resources. Geographische Zeitschrift (99).
with Peter Herrle (2010) Negotiated Space: Urban Villages in the Pearl River Delta. Trialog (102/103).
Other articles and publications
with G. Schöneberg, eds. (2013) Emerging Towns and Municipalities in Nepal. Rapid Development Concepts. Urban Management TU Berlin. Berlin: GIZ / Urban Management.
with M. Greene, Peter Herrle and Astrid Ley (2011) Literature Review on New Urban Associations and their Socio-Economic Contexts. Unpublished: Oikos Human Settlements Research Group.
with C. Zehner, eds. (2010) Improving Informal Areas in Greater Cairo. Urban Management TU Berlin. Berlin: GIZ / Urban Management.
(2009) Book Review: Portraits from Above - Hong Kong's Informal Rooftop Communities. Trialog, (101).
Conference papers
(2014) From participation to collaboration: Transnational urban poor networks in the housing field and the changing interface with the state - the example of Thailand and the Philippines, Inter-Asian Connections Conference, Copenhagen.
(2014) Virtual spaces for the dead, New rituals and spatial solutions for urban burials in Hong Kong, Urban Future Conference, Lisbon.
with Astrid Ley (2013) From Grassroots shacks to the Towers of Power, RC21 conference, Berlin.
(2013) Housing for the Urban Poor, International Workshop (co-organiser).
(2013) Global Learning and Didactics in the spatial disciplines, International Symposium with partners from the Erasmus Mundus Network (co-organiser).
(2012) Globalizing Urbanities – Localizing Solutions, International symposium and exhibition, TU Berlin, Berlin (lead organiser, moderator).
(2011) Upgrading Urban Shack Settlements. Improvement of Local Living Conditions or Forced Evictions? International symposium, TU Berlin, Berlin (co-organiser and moderator in collaboration with Misereor).
(2011) Urban Villages in the Pearl River Delta, Informal Urbanism, China. EURA Conference, Copenhagen.
(2010) Urban Villages and Their Linkages to Global Mechanisms. Emerging Land Use Patterns, China Woche, TU Berlin, Berlin.
(2009) The Dynamics of Peri-Urbanization and The Role of Urban Villages. SPP Workshop, Guangzhou.
(2009) The Dynamics of Peri-Urbanization and the Role of Urban Villages in the Pearl River Delta, China, Redefining the Urban, Trialog conference, TU Berlin, Berlin.
Conference panel chairs
(2014) Socially Driven Urban Governance in Housing and Education, Urban Future Conference, Lisbon, 10-11 October.
(2014) Playing the game: Hybrid modes of collaboration – new interfaces between the state and transnational networks of urban poor in the Philippines, Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Lund University.
(2014) Regional networks of urban poor in the housing field and the changing interface with the state - the example of Thailand and the Philippines, Hong Kong University, Hong Kong.
(2014) Embodiment of the Urban, Relational space in South China and the linkage between places and symbolism. Hong Kong University, Hong Kong.
(2013) From Local Action to Global Networks: Changing Power relations in Housing Processes in the Global South, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.
(2012) Local Land, Global Decisions, Spatial Configurations in the Pearl River Delta, University of Witswatersrand, Johannesburg.
(2011) Urban Governance and Participation in upgrading of Informal Settlements, Ain Shams University, Egypt Cairo.
(2011) Emerging Land Use Patterns, Urban Villages and Their Linkages to Global Mechanisms, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
2014
Urban Knowledge Network Asia Scholarship
awarded for six months secondment at the Hong Kong University, Hong Kong (funded by EU Marie Curie)
2013
DAAD grant
awarded for lecture tour to Milwaukee, USA
Scholarship 'Promotionsabschlussstipendium' (PAS)
awarded by TU Berlin (6 months)
2012
DAAD grant
awarded for lecture tour to Johannesburg, South Africa
2011
DAAD scholarship
awarded for three months for conducting research for Ph.D in Hong Kong and Guangzhou
2006
Tuition waiver
Ball State University
2005
Grant from the Arnold-Knoblauch-Stiftung
awarded for study of housing, among others 'Marina city' in Chicago
Since 2015
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
Peer reviewer, especially for grantproposals through the Southern African Young Scientists Summer Program (SA-YSSP)
Since 2013
Water Sculpture A/S
Member of the executive board of Water Sculpture A/S, Denmark
TRIALOG
Member, Association for Scientific Research into Planning and Building in the Developing World, member
Since 2012
Stadtkultur International, e.V. (SKI)
Member, focus on cultural transfer between Germany and other countries, especially China
Since 2011
Research Committee (RC21)
Member, Sociology of Urban and Regional Development of the International Sociological Association
2015
AEDES
Invited expert on Mobilizing the Periphery, expert round table Asia
Ambero/GIZ Serbien
Urban Management Studies - Coordination of young experts (30 students) in cooperation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Local Land Management in Serbia
2013
Robert Bosch Foundation
Consultant for RBF on the 'Round Table – Urbanization in China'
2012
Urban Management Studies - Coordination of young experts (19 students) in cooperation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), SUNAG – Nepal
2010
Oikos Human Settlements Research Group (on behalf of the Urban Poor Fund International) Evaluation of 'New Urban Players' in Asia/Africa/Latin America for SDI / Urban Poor Fund (Netherlands)
Urban Management Studies - Coordination of young experts (18 students) in cooperation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), PD Program in Greater Cairo, Egypt
2008
Freelance Architect by Chestnutt_Niess Architects (D)