{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,5]],"date-time":"2026-03-05T19:08:31Z","timestamp":1772737711582,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":46,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,9]],"date-time":"2024-12-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1733702400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Architecture"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study aims to examine how interdisciplinary urban interventions within architectural education can effectively address social justice issues. Motivated by the growing need for inclusive and equitable urban spaces, this research explores the potential of collaborative design and participatory research methods to foster social awareness and community engagement. Focusing on student-led projects in cities such as Houston, San Diego, and Amsterdam, this study addresses social justice challenges across themes like Art Activism, Tactical Urbanism, environmental justice, and gender equity. Using case study analysis, digital mapping, and poster creation as core methodologies, the research demonstrates the value of multi-scalar, interdisciplinary approaches in tackling complex urban problems. The key findings highlight that integrating these approaches into architectural education promotes critical engagement with social justice issues, equipping students with practical skills for future professional challenges. The implications suggest that expanding this framework to diverse urban contexts could enhance its impact, offering a foundation for further studies on interdisciplinary design as a tool for urban equity.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/architecture4040059","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,10]],"date-time":"2024-12-10T11:17:20Z","timestamp":1733829440000},"page":"1136-1158","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Interdisciplinary Urban Interventions: Fostering Social Justice Through Collaborative Research-Led Design in Architectural Education"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"4","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7381-6663","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Asma","family":"Mehan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Architectural Humanities and Urbanism Lab (AHU_Lab), Huckabee College of Architecture, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA"}]},{"given":"Natalia","family":"Dominguez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Huckabee College of Architecture, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"1","article-title":"Agency in architecture: Reframing criticality in theory and practice","volume":"4","author":"Doucet","year":"2009","journal-title":"Footprint"},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Sandercock, L. (2003). Cosmopolis II: Mongrel Cities of the 21st Century, Continuum."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"789","DOI":"10.3390\/heritage6020043","article-title":"Gio Ponti and Villa Namazee:(De) listed Modern Heritage","volume":"6","author":"Mehan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Heritage"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"381","DOI":"10.1080\/17549175.2014.891149","article-title":"DIY urbanism: Implications for cities","volume":"7","author":"Finn","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Urban. Int. Res. Placemaking Urban Sustain."},{"key":"ref_5","first-page":"44","article-title":"The feminist struggle in Ciudad Juarez: Diverse voices and external pressures","volume":"6","author":"Mehan","year":"2024","journal-title":"Cultiv. Fem. J. Cent. Women\u2019s Stud."},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"158","article-title":"Smart cities as corporate storytelling: Social media and the discourse of urban digitalization in China","volume":"102","author":"Zhang","year":"2019","journal-title":"Geoforum"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.1353\/tj.2023.a908731","article-title":"Un Llanto Colectivo: A PerformaProtesta","volume":"75","year":"2023","journal-title":"Theatre J."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"91","DOI":"10.1525\/tph.2001.23.4.91","article-title":"Chicano Park and the Chicano Park Murals: Barrio Logan, City of San Diego, California","volume":"23","author":"Rosen","year":"2001","journal-title":"Public Hist."},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Tanguma, L. (2024, October 05). Paint on ConcreteaThe Rebirth of Our Nationality; Detail. Paint on Concrete. Available online: https:\/\/jstor.org\/stable\/community.14368418."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Texas State Historical Association (2024, October 05). (n.d.). Mexican American Youth Organization. Available online: https:\/\/www.tshaonline.org\/handbook\/entries\/mexican-american-youth-organization."},{"key":"ref_11","unstructured":"Rice Design Alliance (2024, October 05). (n.d.). Flashpoints on the Road to Black and Brown Power: Sites of Struggle in Houston in the 1960s and 70s. Available online: https:\/\/offcite.rice.edu\/2010\/07\/Cite_83_Flashpoints-on-the-Road-to-Black-and-Brown-Power.pdf."},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Elijah, J. (2024, October 05). Black Lives Matter Street Mural, Houston, TX. George Floyd & Anti-Racist Street Art. Available online: https:\/\/georgefloydstreetart.omeka.net\/."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.14361\/dak-2023-0501","article-title":"How do we work together? Enhancing the role of collaborations in architectural design","volume":"3","author":"Carnelli","year":"2023","journal-title":"Dimens. J. Archit. Knowl."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mehan, A., and Dominguez, N. (2024). Feminism in the borderscape: Juarense women against injustice. Front. Sociol., 9.","DOI":"10.3389\/fsoc.2024.1391529"},{"key":"ref_15","unstructured":"Burlington Business Association (2024, October 05). PlanBTV Walk\/Bike Will Make Burlington a Safer Place for Cyclists, Pedestrians, and Motorists. Available online: https:\/\/www.bbavt.org\/advocacy\/planbtv-walkbike-will-make-burlington-a-safer-place-for-cyclists-pedestrians-and-motorists\/."},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"Ross, R. (2024, October 05). Building a Better Block in Oak Cliff. The Texas Observer. Available online: https:\/\/www.texasobserver.org\/building-a-better-block-in-oak-cliff\/."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"New Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (2024, April 03). Pedestrian Enhancement Plan Final Report. City of Jersey City and North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. Available online: https:\/\/www.njtpa.org\/Planning\/Subregional-Programs\/Studies\/Completed-Studies\/2017-2018\/Jersey-City-Pedestrian-Enhancement-Plan.aspx."},{"key":"ref_18","first-page":"8","article-title":"Re-theorizing the collective action to address the climate change challenges: Towards resilient and inclusive agenda","volume":"46","author":"Mehan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Can. J. Reg. Sci."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Tompkins, L., and Durst, E. (2024, April 01). Can a Big Village Full of Tiny Homes Ease Homelessness in Austin?, International New York Times, Available online: https:\/\/link.gale.com\/apps\/doc\/A779625226\/AONE?u=anon~6bb4ea75&sid=googleScholar&xid=d0e9a560."},{"key":"ref_20","unstructured":"Tompkins, L. (2024, October 05). How a Tiny Home Village Helped Ease Homelessness in Austin, The Texas Tribune, Available online: https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2024\/01\/08\/austin-homelessness-community-first-village\/."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kanaani, M. (2024). The Routledge Companion to Smart Design Thinking in Architecture & Urbanism for a Sustainable, Living Planet, Taylor & Francis.","DOI":"10.4324\/9781003384113"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"941","DOI":"10.1111\/1468-2427.12053","article-title":"Cities within the City: Do-It-Yourself Urbanism and the Right to the City","volume":"37","author":"Iveson","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int. J. Urban Reg. Res."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"405","DOI":"10.1038\/jes.2014.2","article-title":"Atmospheric particulate matter size distribution and concentration in West Virginia coal mining and non-mining areas","volume":"24","author":"Kurth","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Expo. Sci. Environ. Epidemiol."},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"Department of Justice (2023). Justice Department Announces Agreement in Environmental Justice Investigation of Illegal Dumping in the City of Houston, Department of Justice (DOJ) Documents\/FIND."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1125","DOI":"10.1007\/s11252-015-0468-2","article-title":"Requiem for the urban weeds: An exploration of green spaces in Amsterdam","volume":"18","author":"Kopnina","year":"2015","journal-title":"Urban Ecosyst."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cheshmehzangi, A., Sedrez, M., Zhao, H., Li, T., Heath, T., and Dawodu, A. (2023). Socio-Spatial Micro-Networks: Building Community Resilience in Kenya. Resilience vs Pandemics. Urban Sustainability, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-981-99-7996-7"},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"Global Fund for Women (2024, October 05). (n.d.). What Is Gender Justice? The Importance of Gender Justice. Available online: https:\/\/www.globalfundforwomen.org\/what-we-do\/gender-justice\/."},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"Prager, J. (2024, October 05). Texas Has Turned Citizen Against Citizen over Abortion. How Did We Get Here?, The New York Times, Available online: https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/10\/29\/opinion\/roe-v-wade-texas-abortion-law.html."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"Critical Threats (2024, October 05). (n.d.). Data Analysis of the Mahsa Amini Protest Movement. Available online: https:\/\/www.criticalthreats.org\/analysis\/data-analysis-of-the-mahsa-amini-protest-movement."},{"key":"ref_30","unstructured":"YaleGlobal Online (2024, October 05). (n.d.). Human Trafficking Casts Shadow on Globalization. Available online: https:\/\/archive-yaleglobal.yale.edu\/content\/human-trafficking-casts-shadow-globalization."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"155","DOI":"10.1080\/01924036.2014.986040","article-title":"The fight against human trafficking in the Amsterdam Red Light District","volume":"39","author":"Spapens","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int. J. Comp. Appl. Crim. Justice"},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"NAACP (2024, October 05). Race & Justice. Available online: https:\/\/naacp.org\/issues\/race-justice."},{"key":"ref_33","unstructured":"U.S. Census Bureau (2024, October 05). 2020 Census Illuminates Racial and Ethnic Composition of the Country, Available online: https:\/\/www.census.gov\/."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"784","DOI":"10.1177\/1468796819833871","article-title":"Racism, whiteness, and burnout in antiracism movements: How white racial justice activists elevate burnout in racial justice activists of color in the United States","volume":"19","author":"Gorski","year":"2019","journal-title":"Ethnicities"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cheshmehzangi, A., Sedrez, M., Zhao, H., Li, T., Heath, T., and Dawodu, A. (2024). Resilience vs Pandemics: Innovations in Public Places and Buildings, Springer Nature.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-981-99-8672-9"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"165","DOI":"10.1080\/17549175.2024.2354284","article-title":"Informal placemaking: Social activism and practices of art and culture","volume":"172","author":"Erek","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Urban. Int. Res. Placemaking Urban Sustain."},{"key":"ref_37","unstructured":"Department of Justice (2024, October 05). Justice Department Settles Discrimination Lawsuit against Owners and Operators of Houston, Texas-Based Sports Bar, Available online: https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-settles-discrimination-lawsuit-against-owners-and-operators-houston-texas."},{"key":"ref_38","unstructured":"Jones, Z.C. (2024, October 05). Ari Lennox Says She Was Racially Profiled Before Being Detained in Amsterdam, CBS News, Available online: https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/ari-lennox-detained-amsterdam-airport-racially-profiled\/."},{"key":"ref_39","unstructured":"BBC News (2024, October 05). Texas Walmart Shooting: El Paso Gun Attack Leaves 20 Dead, BBC, Available online: https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-us-canada-49221936."},{"key":"ref_40","unstructured":"Rodriguez, F. (2024, October 05). Migration Is Beautiful. [Artwork]. Available online: https:\/\/favianna.com\/artworks\/migration-is-beautiful-2018."},{"key":"ref_41","first-page":"130","article-title":"Interdisciplinary Pedagogies for Social Equity in Architectural Education","volume":"77","author":"Shibley","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Archit. Educ."},{"key":"ref_42","unstructured":"Awan, N., Schneider, T., and Till, J. (2011). Spatial Agency: Other Ways of Doing Architecture, Routledge."},{"key":"ref_43","first-page":"429","article-title":"From abandonment to hope: Community-household and community-landlord relationships in New York City\u2019s low-income housing","volume":"37","author":"Leavitt","year":"1990","journal-title":"Soc. Probl."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mehan, A. (2024). The Affective Agency of Public Space: Social Inclusion and Community Cohesion, Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG.","DOI":"10.1515\/9783111035642"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7810","DOI":"10.17645\/up.7810","article-title":"Citizen Participation, Digital Agency, and Urban Development","volume":"9","author":"Tappert","year":"2024","journal-title":"Urban Plan."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7093","DOI":"10.17645\/up.7093","article-title":"Digital Feminist Placemaking: The Case of the \u201cWoman, Life, Freedom\u201d Movement","volume":"9","author":"Mehan","year":"2024","journal-title":"Urban Plan."}],"container-title":["Architecture"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2673-8945\/4\/4\/59\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T16:50:49Z","timestamp":1760115049000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2673-8945\/4\/4\/59"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,9]]},"references-count":46,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,12]]}},"alternative-id":["architecture4040059"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/architecture4040059","relation":{},"ISSN":["2673-8945"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2673-8945","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,9]]}}}