Raquel Colacios Parra
R2 - Recognised Researcher
co-creation methodologies
sensorial urbanism
climate-responsive urban strategies
social and environmental justice
embodied knowledge
ASD PUBLICS
Raquel Colacios, PhD, is an architect and researcher at TURBA Lab, Social and Cultural Transformations Research Interdisciplinary Centre (TRÀNSIC) at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC). Her work investigates how architectural and urban design can serve as instruments for advancing social and environmental justice, with a particular focus on climate-responsive strategies and sensorial urbanism. She explores how cities can be designed -and contested-from the full spectrum of human perception, integrating sensoriality and spatial experience into planning and design processes to foster inclusive environments.
Colacios approaches participatory design as a critical lens for rethinking urban governance and spatial production. Her work interrogates co-creation not only as a practical methodology but as an epistemological shift that destabilizes dominant planning paradigms. By foregrounding lived experience and embodied knowledge, she advocates for design processes that recognize the multisensory dimensions of urban life as integral to equity and inclusion, reframing urban environments as relational ecologies where participation negotiates power, difference, and environmental adaptation. Through this interdisciplinary approach—bridging architecture, health, and social justice—Colacios contributes to cities that are resilient, inclusive, and attuned to the complexity of human-environment interactions.
Her academic trajectory includes teaching and research roles at KU Leuven, TU Darmstadt, Umeå University, and La Salle Universitat Ramon Llull, alongside her current position at UOC. She has contributed to international projects on climate adaptation, inclusive design, and urban resilience, and received recognition such as the EU Citizen Science Honorary Mention for the ASD Publics project on inclusive urban design.
Isabel Ruiz-Mallén, Francesc Baró, Funda Atun, Hayat Bentouhami , Nathalie Blanc, Lidia
Casas, Céline Clauzel, Raquel Colacios, Elsa Gallez, Amy Phillips, Paula Presser, Diana Reckien , Filka Sekulova. Greening schools for climate-resilient, inclusive, and livable cities. Nature Climate Change. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-025-02519-3
Colacios, R. (2025). Citizen science for healthier and more inclusive environments: co-creating public play spaces with autistic children. Cities & Health, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2025.2566563
Isabel Ruiz-Mallén et al. 2023. Refugios climáticos escolares basados en la naturaleza: evaluación desde una perspectiva interdisciplinaria. In Ciutats enfront l’emergència climàtica: Claus per una transició justa. Institut Metropoli. P. 61-76.
Colacios, R.; Mendoza-Arroyo, C.; Anguelovski, I. 2019. Neighborhood reconstruction, community identity, and place attachment: Mixed experiences from the mass social housing complex of Sant Cosme, Barcelona. Italian journal of planning practice,10,1-30.
Pere Vall-Casas , Anna Ribas , Marta Benages-Albert , Xavier Garcia , Carmen Mendoza , Raquel Colacios , Álvaro Cuéllar , David Pavón. 2018. Propelling public participation in urban river rehabilitation: Viu la riera!, a participatory process in the Metropolitan Region of Barcelona. I.S Rivers.
Colacios, R.; Mendoza Arroyo, C. 2017. Uso e interacción social en el espacio público: el caso del polígono de vivienda Sant Cosme, Barcelona. Urbano,20,66-77.
Mendoza Arroyo, Carmen (Editor); Ngulube, M. (Editor); Colacios, R. (Editor). 2011. Reflections on Development and Cooperation. Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura, UIC.
Martins, N.; Hobeica, L.; Hobeica, A.; Colacios, R. 2021. “Lessons for humanitarian architecture from design contests: The case of the Building 4Humanity Design Competition”. A Enhancing Disaster Preparedness. From Humanitarian Architecture to Community Resilience. Elsevier. 105-125.
Colacios, R. 2015. “Social Infrastructure as a base for urban regeneration. In favor of Identity and cohesion in socially fragmented neighborhoods”, a Development in Context: Challenges and sustainable urban strategies. Universitat Internacional de Catalunya.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Sekulova, F., Colacios, R., & Ruiz-Mallén, I. 2025. COOLSCHOOLS Policy recommendations on nature-based climate-adaptive schoolyards. Universitat Oberta de Catalunya. Barcelona
Colacios, R.; Calvo, B. 2024. PlayKit Play Aut the Box. Universitat Oberta de Catalunya. Barcelona
Colacios, R.; Calvo, B. 2024. Enhancing Inclusive urban spaces: An Innovative co-creation methodology for and with autistic children. Conference paper. 14th Biennale of European towns and town planners.
Colacios, R.; Calvo, B. 2022. ASD Friendly design handbook. Designing public spaces with children with autism and their families. Universitat Oberta de Catalunya. Barcelona
Colacios, R.; Calvo, B. 2022. ASD Publics Co-creation Guide. Designing public spaces with children with autism and their families. Universitat Oberta de Catalunya. Barcelona
Mendoza Arroyo, C.; Chelleri, L.; Colacios, R. 2019. Reframing Urban resilience implementation: Aligning sustainability and resilience. MDPI Sciforum
Researcher: COOLSCHOOLS Realizing potentials of nature-based climate shelters in school environments for urban transformation. ERA-NET Co-fund “Urban Tranformation Capacities” F-ENUTC-2021-0177. AEI: PCI2022-132958. 1/03/2022-28/02/2025.
Researcher: PATHS Pathways to Stress-Free Air Travel for Autistic Passengers. Funding: UOC. PI: Pere Suau-Sánchez. 2025
Play AUT the Box. Funding: EIT Community New European Bauhaus initiative. Co-PI: Raquel Colacios, Blanca Calvo. 01/09/2023-31/05/2024
ASD Publics. Funding: EIT Community New European Bauhaus initiative. Co-PI: Blanca Calvo, Raquel Colacios. 01/07/2022-31/12/2022·
Researcher: El Capital Natural i els serveis ecosistèmics a Viladecans. Funding: Ajuntament de Viladecans. PI: Hug March (UOC). 2021-2022
Análisis comparativo de la construcción tradicional frente a la construcción industrializada en altura. Funding: ANDECE. IP: Colacios, R (UIC). 10/3/2020- 10/5/2020
Nuevos Cerramientos. Funding: Gaptek S.L. Co-PI: Mendoza, C. Colacios, R (UIC). 16/12/2019-30/3/2020
Researcher: Decision-making framework for the participatory rehabilitation of urban river corredors. Funding: Obra Social la Caixa.PI: VALL CASAS, Pere. (UIC) ; Ribas Palom, Anna (U Girona). 28/2/2016-27/2/2018.
Researcher: Opin@. Talleres de cartografía ciudadana con SIG para la participación pública (SIGPP). Funding: Fundación Española para la Ciencia y la Tecnología; Universitat Internacional de Catalunya; Universitat de Girona.PI: VALL CASAS, Pere (UIC). 1/1/2017-31/12/2017.
Sekulova, F., Colacios, R., & Ruiz-Mallén, I. 2025. COOLSCHOOLS Policy recommendations on nature-based climate-adaptive schoolyards. Universitat Oberta de Catalunya. Barcelona.
March, H (ed.), Satorras, M., Colacios, R., Ribera-Fumaz, R., Ruiz-Mallén, I. (2022). Co-creant accions per a millorar la resiliència a les onades de calor a Barcelona des d’una mirada justa i inclusiva. Projecte RESCITIES. Barcelona: TURBA/UOC. https://turbain3.wordpress.com/2022/07/27/co-creant-accions-per-a-millorar-la-resiliencia-a-les-onades-de-calor-a-barcelona-des-duna-mirada-justa-i-inclusiva/
MASTER THESIS
Los procesos de renaturalización en los patios escolares. Una perspectiva de género e inclusión
a la diversidad. Maria Poveda, UOC master universitario de Ciudad y Urbanismo. 2023-24
“City response to access to play for child refugee: The case of Lebanon”. Stephanie Abou. UIC, master in International Cooperation in Sustainable Emergency Architecture. 2019-20
“Integrating refugees in shrinking cities through adaptive reuse: architectural principles for refugee housing projects. Pilar de Amo. UIC, master in International Cooperation in Sustainable Emergency Architecture. 2019-20
“Migration stories & the space in between: The construction of the sense of home for Venezuelan migrants in Barcelona”. Angélica Romero. UIC, master in International Cooperation in Sustainable Emergency Architecture. 2018-19
”Beyond coexistence: The shaping and breaking of the socio- spatial frontiers, the case of El Colli, Zapopan, Mexico”. Cristina Garcia. UIC, master in International Cooperation in Sustainable Emergency Architecture. 2018-19
“Child friendly spaces in the realm of early child development for refugee and migrant children: The case of Ketmet Playground Project in Brussels”. So Han. UIC, master in International Cooperation in Sustainable Emergency Architecture. 2018-19
“Intercultural strategies The role of culture in promoting the inclusion of newcomers. A comparison of formal and informal receptions centers in Marseille.” Andrea Benoist. UIC, master in International Cooperation in Sustainable Emergency Architecture. 2018-19
”Long-term Post-Disaster Housing Reconstruction strategies: An assessment of Chamanga, Ecuador”. Macarena Urchipía. UIC, master in International Cooperation in Sustainable Emergency Architecture. 2017-18
”Environmental conflicts between refugees and host communities: Exploring the linkages between environmental degradation and social conflicts in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda”. UIC, master in International Cooperation in Sustainable Emergency Architecture.Alessandro Sala. 2017-18
”Citizen-Architect role in housing design for integration: la Borda housing cooperative”. Berenice Diaz. UIC, master in International Cooperation in Sustainable Emergency Architecture. 2017-18
La Salle Ramon Llull, Barcelona (academic years 2024–25, 2025–26): Lecturer for courses “UNIT Urban Project. Urbanism II” and “Urban Challenges” at the School of Architecture.
Umeå University (2022–2024): Assistant professor for 4th- and 5th-year design studio courses at the School of Architecture.
KU Leuven (academic years 2020–21, 2021–22): Lecturer in the Master of Human Settlements and the Master of Urbanism, Landscape and Planning. Responsible for preparing and teaching design studio courses.
TU Darmstadt (2022): Lecturer in the Master of International Cooperation in Urban Development. Responsible for preparing and teaching classes.
UIC Barcelona School of Architecture (2010–2020):
– Lecturer in the Architecture degree program, from 2010 to 2020 in the Cooperation Area (2010–2020).
– Course coordinator for “Cooperation 1” for 11 academic years (2010–2011 to 2020–2021): organization, conceptualization, preparation, and teaching.
– Lecturer in the Master of International Cooperation in Sustainable Emergency Architecture (2010–2020).
– Responsible for courses “Socio-Spatial Workshop for Integrated Urban Upgrading,” “International Regeneration Workshop,” and “Urban Growth and City Resilience”: organization, conceptualization, preparation, and teaching.
– Supervision and evaluation of master’s theses (2017–2018, 2018–2019, 2019–2020).
– Supervision and evaluation of external internships for 11 academic years (2010–2011 to 2019–2020).
Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture (2013): Lecturer in the Bachelor of Urban Design program. Responsible for preparing and teaching design studio courses.
2024: Honorary Mention at the EU Citizen Science Awards for the ASD Publics project: Playable Cities for All.