Jieling Xiao
Reader in Architecture and Sensory Environments | Research Degree Coordinator
Birmingham School of Architecture and Design
- Email:
- jieling.xiao@bcu.ac.uk
- Phone:
- 0121 331 5984
Jieling teaches Environmental Design across different courses at the Birmingham School of Architecture. Trained as an architect and urban designer, Jieling believes that designers need to consider more than just how the hardware of architecture functions for its users. Interested in creative spatial practice related to people’s sensory experiences, she has developed her research and research-led teaching on smellscapes and soundscapes looking at theories and design frameworks that take an appreciative approach to deal with sounds and smells in the built environment.
Jieling is one of the Art and Design Research Degree Coordinators at BCU, contributing to the doctoral education and the research environment in the faculty. She is a core member of Centre for Chinese Visual Art (CCVA) and co-leader of the Urban Cultures Research Cluster.
Areas of Expertise
- Multisensory Urbanism
- Soundscape
- Smellscape
- Environmental Design and Wellbeing
- Urban Design
- Urban Transformation
- Place Branding
Qualifications
- PhD, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, University of Sheffield, UK
- Master of Architecture (Urban Design), Bartlett, University College London, UK
- PgCert in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Birmingham City University, UK
- Bachelor of Architecture, School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Wuhan University of Technology, China
Memberships
- Academy of Urbanism
- Modernist Society
- UKAN(The UK Acoustic Network)
Teaching
Jieling delivers and facilitates seminars and workshops related to environmental design and sustainability across the school at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. For example, Structures, Environment and Technical Studies at L4 BA (Hons) Architecture, Architectural Systems at L6 BA (Hons) Architecture, Special Studies in MArch. She also teaches design in studios for BA(hons) Architecture L4 and MA Interior Architecture and Design
Research
Jieling is interested in people’s every day sensory experiences in cities across different cultures, and how planners and urban designers can learn from such. Her research focuses on understanding, assessing and enhancing the perceptual qualities of public spaces via design, public participatory and artistic inputs. In particular, how sounds and smells are perceived and considered in the design process.
Most recently, Jieling has started to work on the sensory sustainability and inclusive design research with a multi-sensory approach, addressing the climate crisis and impacts on covid-19 pandemic on communities. She is currently working as a CO-I on the GRF funded project Multi-Modal Hong Kong with PI Dr Per Magnus Lindborg from Hong Kong City University
In her research, Jieling uses walk along interviews and other participatory methods such as AR to better engage with participants and understand people’s sensory related experiences, emotions, and memories. She applies her research into teaching and industry collaborations. For example, she collaborated with the Roundhouse Birmingham and created the community walking route- Sensing Beyond the Roundhouse..
Jieling is a frequent reviewer for journals such as Applied Acoustics, Urban Science, Cities, etc. She is a sub-section editor for Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs and Review Editor of Journal of Frontiers of Psychology. She is frequently invited to speak at public events such as 2017 London Architecture Festival, 2016 Sensory design symposium at ARCC network event, 2018 Way-finding Symposium by Sign Design Society, etc.
Postgraduate Supervision
Jieling is an experienced PhD supervisor. She is currently supervising Wenbo Deng, Yifeng Liao, Ying Sun and Emma Colette. Past graduates include Dr Huichao Feng, Dr Colette Jeffery, Dr Jenny Peevers and Dr Mai Alhasawi.
Publications
Journal Articles and book chapters
Feng, H., Xiao, J., Gao, Y. and Xia, F., 2022. The meanings, changes, and challenges of the Grandmother’s house in Mosuo vernacular dwellings in Northwest Yunnan. Interiors, pp.1-28.
Xiao, J., Aletta, F., & Ali-Maclachlan, I. 2022. On the Opportunities of the Soundscape Approach to Revitalise Acoustics Training in Undergraduate Architectural Courses. Sustainability, 14(4), 1957.
Xiao, J., Aletta, F., Radicchi, A., McLean, K., Shiner, L.E. and Verbeek, C., 2022. Recent Advances in Smellscape Research for the Built Environment. Frontiers in Psychology, 12.
Feng, H. and Xiao, J., 2021. Dynamic Authenticity: Understanding and Conserving Mosuo Dwellings in China in Transitions. Sustainability, 13(1), p.143.
Xiao, J., Tait, M. and Kang, J., 2020. Understanding smellscapes: Sense-making of smell-triggered emotions in place. Emotion, Space and Society, 37, p.100710.
Xiao, J., Tait, M & Kang, J. (2018). A perceptual model of smellscape pleasantness. Cities.76(2018)105-115.
Feng, H. & Xiao, J., (2018). Funerals as festivals: celebrations of life in Mosuo tribe in China. Special issue: architecture, festival and the city. Journal of Architecture and culture. Vol. 6 (3). pp.474-484.
Xiao, J. & Aletta, F., (2016). A soundscape approach to exploring design strategies for acoustic comfort in modern public libraries: a case study of the Library of Birmingham. Noise Mapping, 3(1), 264-273.
Xiao, J., & Hilton, A. (2019). An Investigation of Soundscape Factors Influencing Perceptions of Square Dancing in Urban Streets: A Case Study in a County Level City in China. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(5), 840.
Xiao, J., Lavia, L., & Kang, J. (2018). Towards an agile participatory urban soundscape planning framework. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 61(4), 677-698.
Aletta, F., & Xiao, J. (2018). What are the Current Priorities and Challenges for (Urban) Soundscape Research?. Challenges, 9(1), 1-11.
Xiao, J., Tait, M., & Kang, J. (2017). The design of urban smellscapes with fragrant plants and water features. In Henshaw, V., McLean, K., Medway, D., Perkins, C., & Warnaby, G. (Eds.). 2017. Designing with smell: practices, techniques and challenges. Routledge. pp.83-95.
Xiao. J. (2018). Smells, smellscapes and place-making. In Aletta, F. and Xiao, J. (Eds.). 2018. Perception-driven Approaches to Urban Assessment and Design. Hershey: IGI Global. pp.240-298.
Edited Book and Journal Special Issue
Sanchez, M., Frost, C. & Xiao, J. (eds.) (2018). Special issue: architecture, festival and the city. Journal of Architecture and culture. Vol. 6 (3).
Aletta, F. & Xiao, J. (Eds). 2018. Perception-driven approaches to urban assessment and design. Hershey: IGI Global.
Xiao, J., Aletta, F. and Radicchi, A., 2022. Smells, Well-Being, and the Built Environment. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/14619/smells-well-being-and-the-built-environment
Sustainability Special Issue on ‘Urban Design for Sustainable Built Environment’. (ongoing) Edited by Jerónimo Vida Manzano , Antonella Radicchi and Jieling Xiao. Link to the project: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/special_issues/urban_sus_built
Conference Presentations
Xiao, Radicchi, Hughes. 2022. “Reclaiming” the street: Socio-economic sustainability in Business Improvement Districts in the post-Covid climate. Symposium on Street ahead: post-pandemic civic spaces. Technological University Dublin. 9-10 September, 2022 (Blended).
Xiao, Aletta, Ali-Maclachlan. 2020. Challenges and opportunities of using soundscape research to revitalise acoustic design education for architectural disciplines. Amps 2020 conference: Teaching-Learning-Research: Design and Environments. 02-04 December, 2020 (Virtual).
Xiao, J. (2019). Square Dancing: the Liberation or Illusion of Public Spaces in Chinese Cities. Centre for Chinese Visual Arts 12th Annual Conference: Urban Transformations and Contemporary Art in China. 11-12 November, 2019 Liverpool.
Xiao, J., Aletta, F. & Hilton, A. (2018). Soundscape of square dances in Chinese cities: a case study of managing activity sounds in public spaces. In proceedings of 2018 International Conference on China Urban Development: Urban transformation and ‘new style’ urbanization in China. 9-12 July 2018, Glasgow.
Xiao, J. (2018). Breath Free Stations: smellscape designs and planning in urban intermodal transit spaces. In Proceedings of 2018 AMPS Conference on Health: The Design, Planning and Politics of How and Where We Live, 25- 26 January 2018, University of the West England, Bristol
Xiao, J. (2016). A case study to explore smellscape in open spaces around railway stations from the well-being perspective. In Proceedings of 2016 Wellbeing International Conference, 5-7 September 2016, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Xiao, J., Kang, J., Tait, M., & Henshaw, V. (2015). Smellscapes in urban intermodal transit spaces: understanding pleasantness as a concept for design in an English context. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Changing Cities 2: Spatial, Design, Landscape & Social-economic Dimensions, 22-26 June 2015, Porto Heili, Greece.
Lavia, L., Xiao, J., Kang, J., & Easteal, M. (2015). Developing an applied sound scape approach: Mapping the stakeholder engagement process in the City of Brighton and Hove, UK. In Proceedings of INTER-NOISE 2015 - 44th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering: Los Angeles, United States.
Xiao, J., Kang, J., Tait, M., & Henshaw, V. (2015). Use the method of walking to explore the smell environment in Chinese urban intermodal transit spaces. A case study in Wuchang Railway Station’, The intricacy of walking and the city: experiments and methods, international conference, 21-23 January 2015, Paris-Marne la Vallée, France.