OPENspace Seminar Series: Linking Urban Public Space & Migrant Integration

Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) at The University of Edinburgh, brings together creative practices that shape the world around us.

Edinburgh College of Art

Kickstarting the 2025/26 OPENspace seminar series, Dr Chen Qu explores migrant integration through the lens of urban public space and design

ECA Boardroom (L.05)  North East Building , Edinburgh College of Art

OPENspace Research Seminar Series

This presentation examines migrant integration through the lens of urban public space and urban design. Whilst integration has been studied in social, economic, cultural and political terms, the role of urban space remains underexplored. Drawing on literature in urban experience, the research shows how public spaces function as sites of social interaction, recreation and everyday life, shaping migrants’ sense of belonging and inclusion. Using empirical evidence from Chinese megacities and Cambridge, it argues that urban design and leisure practices can foster migrants’ integration, and propose ‘place integration’ as a new framework connecting people, health/wellbeing, and place-based belonging.Reading: https://doi.org/10.1111/gec3.70020Speaker Bio:Dr Chen Qu is a Lecturer in Landscape and Wellbeing at University of Edinburgh. Chen Qu’s research interest is on urban public space, migration, citizenship, public health, digital health infrastructure, AI-powered research methods, etc. AccessPlease let us know if you require any support accessing this event by emailing <a href="mailto:eca.events@ed.ac.uk" title="mailto:eca.events@ed.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">eca.events@ed.ac.uk</a>.Please see <a href="https://www.eca.ed.ac.uk/privacy-and-cookies" title="https://www.eca.ed.ac.uk/privacy-and-cookies" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">ECA's privacy notice </a>for more information on how your personal details provided will be used and stored.