
Academic writings
My written works are a reflection of my passion for exploring the social and political dimensions of design and planning in all their diverse forms. Throughout my academic journey, my research interests have evolved from a primary focus on questions of (informal) housing, to a deeper exploration of spatial justice, intersectionality in design, and participatory planning. More recently, I have delved into questions concerning healthy post-pandemic cities from various perspectives.
I am committed to advancing knowledge production through designerly approaches, and I am currently working with the WHO’s Techné helpdesk to investigate the design and local integration of emergency treatment centers, with a particular focus on the Majority World.
I have authored several publications on these topics, and I invite you to explore a selection below. The full list is at the bottom of this page.
In my blog posts, on the other hand, I wish to address four key aspects of my work in a more open manner. Firstly, I will examine questions of spatial justice, the just city, and critical urban theory. Secondly, I will explore issues of intersectionality and decolonialism in design. Thirdly, I will discuss the role of feminism and women in planning and design. Lastly, I will share my experiences, practices, and approaches to education in this field.

Actually Existing Commons
In the slum of Paraisópolis, São Paulo, community reliance and self-organization played a significant role in the fight against Covid-19. While their initial response was impressive, the community’s limitations became apparent later. This article proposes a nuanced view of the commons, recognizing their embeddedness in everyday life.
Full list of publications
Articles in internationally peer-reviewed academic journals
13) Park, S. Y., Newton, C., & Lee, R. (2023). How to Alleviate Feelings of Crowding in a Working from Home Environment: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2), 1025. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021025
12) Zhang, H., Nijhuis, S., & Newton, C. (2022). Freshwater blue space design and human health: A comprehensive research mapping based on scientometric analysis. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 97, 106859. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2022.106859
11) Newton, C., & Rocco, R. (2022). Actually Existing Commons: Using the Commons to Reclaim the City. Social Inclusion, 10(1), 91-102. doi:https://doi.org/10.17645/si.v10i1.4838
10) Newton, C. (2021). The Role of Government Initiated Urban Planning Experiments in Transition Processes and Their Contribution to Change at the Regime Level. Sustainability, 13(5), 2419. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052419
9) Rooij, R., Aalbers, K., Hausleitner, B., Newton, C., & Rocco, R. (2020). Education for the resilient city – Teaching and learning urban design and planning in (post-) COVID-19 times. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Urban Design and Planning, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1680/jurdp.20.00052
8) Ertas, H., Pak, B., & Newton, C. (2019). An Operational Framework for an Online Community Based on the Commons, Dissensus and Shared Knowledge. Postdigital Science and Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42438-019-00067-6
7) Newton, C., & Schuermans, N. (2013). More than twenty years after the repeal of the Group Areas Act: housing, spatial planning and urban development in post-apartheid South Africa. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 28(4), 579–587. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-013-9344-7
6) Newton, C. (2013). The peoples housing process … getting the quality in the quantity? Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 1–13 LA–English. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-013-9349-2
5) Schuermans, N., & Newton, C. (2012). Being a young and foreign researcher in South Africa: Towards a postcolonial dialogue. Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography, 33(3), 295–300. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjtg.12005_4
4) Newton, C. (2012). Victoria Mxenge: a Story About More Than Women Building Their Community. Urban Forum,23(2), 197–207. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12132-012-9150-4
3) De Decker, P., and Newton, C. (2010). Ob padcu utopije / At the fall of Utopia. Urbani izziv/Urban Challenge, 20(2), 5-13 and 74-82.
2) Newton, C. (2009). Ruimtelijk design vandaag: ontwerpen voor of met mensen? Ruimte en Maatschappij, 1(1), 60-67.
1) Newton, C. The Reverse Side of the Medal: About the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the Beautification of the N2 in Cape Town. Urban Forum 20, 93–108 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12132-009-9048-y
Articles in other scientific journals
6) Newton, C., Verstraete, J., & Maes, N. (2020). The Village People? 1M Homes Initiative. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.47982/1mh.14
5) Newton, C. & Vermeiren K. (2011) Blik op het Zuiden. Agora (27)2, 4-6
4) Van Look, E. & Newton, C. (2011) Stadsvernieuwing in ‘booming’ Addis Abeba. Agora (27)2, 24-27
3) Newton, C. (2010) Vrouwen die bouwen… Agora, (6 pages)
2) Loopmans, M., Leclerq, E., & Newton, C. (2009). Sociale Planning: Het ruimtelijk determinisme voorbij. Ruimte en Planning, 28(4), 3-8.
1) Newton, C. (2008). Wonen zoals iedereen? Agora, 24(3), 43-46.
Articles in other professional journals
3) Newton, C., Willems, E., Schipper, K., & Roorda, C. (2019). De circulaire stad van morgen. Inclusief en ruimtelijk verankerd. Ruimte, 68–71.
2) Newton, C. (2017) Ruimte voor activatie. Pilootprojecten terug in Omloop. in Bodem 5, 17-19.
1) Newton, C. (2016) Pilootprojecten Terug in Omloop. in: Ruimte 28, 80-84
Special Issues
2) Newton, C., & Schuermans, N. (2013). More than twenty years after the repeal of the Group Areas Act: Housing, spatial planning and urban development in post-apartheid South Africa. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 28(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-013-9344-7
1) Newton, C. & Vermeiren K. (2011) Blik op het Zuiden. Agora (27)2, 4-6
Published books – as (co-)author or (co-)editor
3) Rocco, R., Bracken, G., Newton, C. , & Dabrowski, M. M. (Eds.) (2022). Teaching, Learning & Researching Spatial Planning. TU Delft Open. https://doi.org/10.34641/mg.50
2) Boano, C., Hunter, W. and Newton, C. (2013) contested Urbanism in Dharavi. Writings and Projects for the Resilient City. London: The Bartlett’s Development Planning unit, UCL.
1) Loopmans, M., Leclerq E., Newton C. (2011) Plannen voor Mensen. Handboek sociaal-ruimtelijke planning. Antwerpen, Garant.
Publications – scientific editor
3) Rocco, R., Newton, C., D’Alençon, L. M. V., Watt, A. van der, Babu, G., Caradonna, G., … Pessoa, I. T. (Eds.). (2021). A manifesto for the just city. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.34641/mg.14
2) Rocco, R., Newton, C., Vergara, L., Pessoa, I., & Van de Watt, A. (2021). The New Urban Normal. Sustainability and Resilience Post COVID-19. Delft.
1) Newton, C., Tempst, W., Verheyen, J., Luyten, E., & Devoldere, S. (2016). Pilootprojecten Terug in Omloop. (C. Newton, Ed.).Vlaams Bouwmeester.
Book chapter, (inter)nationally recognised publisher
10.) Newton, C. (2022). Planning as Critical Engaged Practice: Consequences for Studio Education. In R. Rocco, G. Bracken, C. Newton, & M. Dabrowski (Eds.), Teaching, Learning & Researching Spatial Planning (pp. 264-273). TU Delft Open.
9.) Rocco, R., Bracken, G., Newton, C. , & Dabrowski, M. M. (2022). Foreword. In R. Rocco, G. Bracken, C. Newton, & M. Dabrowski (Eds.), Teaching, Learning & Researching Spatial Planning (pp. 10-13). TU Delft Open.
8) Lipietz, B., & Newton, C. (2016). Pedagogy for “real change”: The DPU/ACHR partnership. In A. Deboulet (Ed.), Rethinking Precarious Neighborhoods (pp. 233–244). Agence Française de développement.
7) Boano, C., Newton, C., & Talocci, G. (2016). Towards an architecture of engagement: researching contested urbanism and informalities. In B. Campkin & G. Duijzings (Eds.), Engaged Urbanism. Cities & Methodologies (pp. 45–52). London: I.B. Tauris.
6) De Decker, P., & Newton, C. (2016). The impact of discourse on the development of a diversified residential future: a case study from Flanders. In: Sten Gromark, Mervi Ilmonen, Katrin Paadam and Eli Støa (eds), Ways of Residing in Transformation Interdisciplinary Perspectives (153-172). London: Ashgate.
5) Newton, C., & Pak, B. (2015). Virtuality and Fostering Critical Design Thinking: An Exploration of the Possibilities Through Critical Theory, Design Practices and Networked Learning. In P. Jandrić & D. Boras (Eds.), Critical Learning in Digital Networks (pp. 101–132). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13752-0
4) Pak, B., & Newton, C. (2015). Eversion as a generative metaphor for situating virtual worlds in architectural design education. In G. Sue, M. Lee, B. Dalgarno, & B. Tynan (Eds.), Virtual Worlds for Online Learning: Cases and Applications. New York: NOVA Science
3) Newton, C., & Pak, B. (2012). Innovative Technologies for Invigorating Critical Thinking in Architectural Design. In K. Drazic (Ed.), Eastern Surf_Kernel Panic Control (pp. 100–105). Open University of Velika Gorica.
2) De Decker, P., & Newton, C. (2012). Waarom de leeuw aan het bouwen sloeg. Bouwstenen voor een zoektocht naar de grondslagen van het Belgisch/Vlaamse woonmodel. In P. De Decker, B. Hubeau, I. Loots, & I. Pannecoucke (Eds.), Zolang de leeuw kan bouwen. (pp. 71–107). Antwerpen-Apeldoorn: Garant.
1) De Decker, P., Kesteloot, C., & Newton, C. (2008). Where are vulnerable people to live in a State obsessed with homeownership? In: Doherty J. & Edgar B. (ed.) In my caravan I feel like Superman. Essays in honour of Henk Meert 1963-2006 (pp. 7-30). FEANTSA and the Centre for Housing Research, University of St Andrews.
Other publications – as author
2) Newton, C. (2019). Spatial Justice as a prerequisite for future planning and design. In D. Stead, G. Bracken, R. Rooij, & R. Rocco (Eds.), Celebrating Spatial Planning at TU Delft 2008-2019 (p. 118). Delft.
1) Newton, C. (2015) A sense of design? In: SummerLab Series 2014. London: DPU.
Papers at international conferences and symposia, published in full in proceedings (peer-reviewed)
5) Pak, B., Newton, C., & Verbeke, J. (2012). Virtual Worlds and Architectural Education: A Typological Framework. In H. Achten, J. Pavlicek, J. Hulin, & D. Matejdan (Eds.), Digital Physicality – Proceedings of the 30th eCAADe Conference – Volume 1 (pp. 739–746). Prague.
4) Newton, C. (2010) UniverCity-Centre: the university as an anchor and its capacity for democratizing urban space. African Perspective Conference: “The African city CENTRE: (re)sourced. (25.09.09 – 28.09.09) Pretoria
3) Newton C. (2010) Haussmann revisited… Or how football ‘beautifies’ the Mother city. An inquiry into tourism mega-events and their impact on society. The case of FIFA 2010 in Cape Town. Proceedings of the 4th International Colloquium on Tourism & Leisure. July 6th – 9th Bangkok (Thailand)
2) Newton, C. (2008). The Reverse Side of the Medal: About Beautification Processes and the Effects for the ‘Ordinary People’. In B. Wu & N. Dang (Eds.), Proceedings of the Second ITSA Bi-Annual Conference. International Tourism Studies Association: Globalization, Tourism & Development: Mega Events and Urban Tourism (pp. 146-157). Shanghai.
1) Newton, C. (2005). Bourdieu’s “Effets de lieu” in the South African context or how urban planning can be a political weapon. In V. Van Acker & F. Witlox (Eds.), De Belgische Geografendagen. Mobiliteit, Maatschappij en Milieu in kaart gebracht (pp. 235-241). Zelzate: DCL Print&Sign.
Reports
3) Rocco, R., & Newton, C. (2022). Summer School Planning & Design for the Just City 2022: Final Report. (Summer School Planning & Design for the Just City). Centre for the Just City.
2) Ghyselen, S., Newton C., Prignot, N., Deprez, B., le Maire J. & Prignot, I. (2010) Raportage. Analyse des obstacles au développement de quartiers durables et solutions. (pour le IBGE, Bruxelles).
1) Newton, C., Tempst, W., Verheyen, J., Luyten, E., & Devoldere, S. (2016). Pilootprojecten Terug in Omloop. (C. Newton, Ed.).Vlaams Bouwmeester.
Miscellaneous
2) TOOLBOX Ensemble d’immeubles hauts (February 2012, French and Dutch version). avec: Bernard Deprez, Juliette Duchange,Sophie Ghyselen, Xavier Guigue, Caroline Newton, Isabelle Prignot. Chercheurs en association momentannée La Cambre – Sint-Lucas
1) Micro etude de faisabilité: Le Parc du Peterbos demain (October 2011). Avec: Bernard Deprez, Juliette Duchange, Sophie Ghyselen, Xavier Guigue, Judith Le Maire, Caroline Newton, Isabelle Prignot.