In a recent conversation with journalist Loreta Koleci at Zëri in Albania, UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani discussed the growing housing pressures reshaping Tirana. She highlighted the sharp rise in rents, the rapid expansion of short-term rentals through platforms such as Airbnb, and the city’s increasingly vertical skyline dominated by new high-rise towers. Together, these trends are … Continue reading
The Gogocast team at Gogo.al recently hosted UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani for a wide-ranging conversation on urban planning in Albania, undertaken during her visit as part of the GERMIN Fellowship. This podcast has emerged as a notable platform in the Albanian media landscape, distinguished by the hosts’ commitment to thoughtful and rigorous public dialogue. Although Dorina … Continue reading
UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani recently appeared on ABC Radio Brisbane to discuss park programming and the role of public amenities in promoting community wellbeing. The conversation focused on the free outdoor gym equipment installed by the Brisbane City Council in many local parks. While opinions vary on the cost–benefit of such initiatives, Dorina supports these facilities … Continue reading
UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani recently appeared on Allison Tyra’s Infinite Women podcast to discuss how women experience and navigate contemporary cities. In the episode, Dorina and Allison delved into the persistent gender divide in urban planning — tracing its historical roots and considering how these inequalities continue to shape the built environment today. These themes lie … Continue reading
Artificial intelligence is beginning to shape the future of urban planning, raising questions about how cities are designed and how planning processes unfold. This past weekend, UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani and other commentators from across SEQ shared their insights on this emerging topic in a conversation with Ellen Fanning and Kenji Sato on ABC Radio Brisbane’s … Continue reading
UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani has warned that Brisbane risks a transport “disaster” at the 2032 Olympics following the Queensland Government’s decision to scrap the Gold Coast light rail extension. Speaking to the Australian Associated Press, she argued that without seamless rail connections, commuters could face multiple transfers — for example, travelling from Brisbane Airport to Gold … Continue reading
E-bikes aren’t bikes as we’ve known them – they perform more like a car, motorbike or e-scooter. We need to start thinking of e-bikes as a distinct form of transport. If you want to know more about this exciting new mode, read a new piece in The Conversation, by Rick Buning and Dorina Pojani, both part … Continue reading
Queensland has tightly restricted the construction of townhouses and apartments for decades, and that’s the way it seems set to stay. Interviewed by The Guardian, UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani said that increasing density doesn’t have to mean tower blocks: “That’s a failure of the imagination. What about the missing middle: row housing, four- to five-storey apartment … Continue reading
Cities like Brisbane should loosen restrictions around vendors and vending sites if they want to avoid creating dreary and unsafe public spaces. That’s what UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani argued on the Brisbane Times recently. The interview was based on her team’s recent research published in Urban Planning. They observed the sights, sounds, smells and movements at … Continue reading
UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani was recently featured in a Bloomberg CityLab article discussing the transformation of Tirana’s iconic Pyramid. Originally built as a monument to dictator Enver Hoxha, the Pyramid has been reimagined by Dutch architects MVRDV into a vibrant cultural and educational hub. The article provides insights into how this redevelopment reflects Western influences and … Continue reading
Working from home has often been cast as a cultural or political issue — a matter of preference, productivity, or ideology. But in a new article for The Conversation, a UQ|UP team (Dorina Pojani, Ying Lu, and Neil Sipe) argue that it’s also an economic issue — and a compelling one at that. Drawing a … Continue reading
The term “forever renters” has emerged to describe individuals who, whether by choice or necessity, anticipate renting for the foreseeable future. UQ|UP member Dorina Pojani recently spoke with ABC News about the urgent need for systemic changes to support this growing demographic. Read the full article here. Dorina emphasized that as homeownership becomes increasingly unattainable … Continue reading
In the wake of Cyclone Alfred, Brisbane faced its fourth major flood in 50 years, reigniting discussions on urban resilience. In an interview with The Guardian, UQ|UP member Dorina Pojani stressed the need to design homes that can withstand such disasters. She also highlighted the importance of siting new developments on higher elevations, away from … Continue reading
The twin housing and planning crises in Australia have reached such a level of urgency that they are now making international headlines. UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani recently shared her insights with Diari Ara, a prominent paper in Barcelona, for an article titled Australia, where being a full citizen means being an owner. The article, written by … Continue reading
Australia is no longer a nation of homeowners, and UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani went on ABC News WA – TV and digital – to set the record straight. In her interviews, she highlighted build-to-rent as a crucial piece of the housing puzzle, acknowledging that many Aussies will rent forever. While more rentals won’t instantly slash prices, … Continue reading
In her most recent ABC News interview, UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani didn’t hold back on the challenges of community consultations in housing developments. While acknowledging the importance of public input, she pointed out a hard truth—long-winded consultation processes driven by NIMBYs are stalling much-needed housing projects, worsening affordability crises in our cities. Her message? We need … Continue reading
A new episode of the ‘A is for Architecture’ podcast was just released! UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani speaks to Ambrose Gillick about her book ‘Trophy Cities: A Feminist Perspective on New Capitals‘. They explore how new capital cities – Brasilia, Canberra, Abuja, Sejong, Astana and even Washington DC – are conceived of as totalized projects, dominant visions competing … Continue reading
Join PRN for a Lunch & Learn event – or Dinner & Breakfast depending on your time-zone – discussing how parking issues are approached internationally. UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani will talk to Wendy Nash from Get Around Caboolture. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow (4 February) at: 10.30am Brisbane11.30am Syd/Mel/ACT/Hob11.00am Adelaide08.30am Perth RSVP on LinkedIn: https://lu.ma/8mvum78z Continue reading
Once again, inner-city Brisbane homeowners are attempting to block a medium-density housing project in their neighbourhood. UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani says the inner city is the perfect location for more medium-density housing. Read the ABC News article, by Kenji Sato: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-30/highgate-hill-brisbane-residents-oppose-apartment-development/104873710 Continue reading
One of the leading stories in today’s Conversation was by UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani. She argues that we need to rethink our attitudes around homeownership and renting in Australia. Read the full story: https://theconversation.com/home-ownership-is-slipping-out-of-reach-its-time-to-rethink-our-fear-of-forever-renting-245848. And listen to follow up interviews on: ABC Radio Sydney (start on minute 1:36:00): https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/sydney-mornings/mornings/104807958 2SM Brekkie Program: https://2sm.com.au/shows/2sm-breakfast/ Continue reading