Gustav Kjær Vad Nielsen (he/him/his)
is an architect, artist, transdisciplinary urban researcher and social activist based in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
He explores a “critical open practice” that spans action-research, critical pedagogies, curatorial and editorial inquiries, spatial design, community organizing and strategic planning. His research focuses on participatory, collaborative and civi(c/l) spatial practices in the context of socio-ecological transitions and explores experimental practices of urban governance that seek to challenge and dismantle neoliberal, hetero-patriarchal and colonial realities.
Gustav is a co-editor of the experimental anthology I, Like Many Things (2023) and the zine issues Paprika! Volume 6 Issue 10, “There’s No Place Like” (2021) and the bulletin “Architecture? “Architecture” (Architecture)” (2019). He has has published his writings in Paprika!, STYLOS, Constructs, and Scroope among other places, and lectured and exhibited widely (Venice Architecture Biennale; CHART Art Fair; LUCA; UIA World Congress of Architects; Yale North Gallery; Delft University of Technology; Aarhus School of Architecture). Most recently he has contributed a chapter to the book Agonistic Assemblies: On the Spatial Politics of Horizontality (Miessen, 2024).
Currently, he is a Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) in the Department of Geography and Spatial Planning at the University of Luxembourg with PI Markus Miessen and the Cultures of Assembly research platform. He is also a Spaces of Deliberation Fellow at the non-profit action and research institute DemocracyNext.
Prior to arriving in Luxembourg, Gustav completed a Master of Philosophy in Architecture and Urban Studies degree (MAUS) at University of Cambridge in 2024 during which he co-founded the Community Design Research Lab. While a Fulbright Student at Yale University School of Architecture, Gustav co-founded the Home Work Research Group (HMWRK) and received his Master of Architecture (MArch) degree in 2022 with nominations for the Bass Fellowship and the H.I. Feldman Prize for the project Casual, social, sudsy love at the tubs. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture (BA) degree from Aarhus School of Architecture in 2017.
Gustav has worked with the Yale Urban Design Workshop (YUDW) and Yale Urban Media Project (YUMP) in New Haven, OMA in Rotterdam and SLETH in Copenhagen, held research and teaching positions in departments of architecture, urban studies and geography at Yale University, University of Cambridge, Aarhus School of Architecture, and University of Luxembourg, and lectured at TU Berlin, Lehigh University, Berlin International University and more.
Feel free to get in touch!
@gustavkvnielsen
gustavkvnielsen@gmail.com
+45 22994796
is an architect, artist, transdisciplinary urban researcher and social activist based in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
He explores a “critical open practice” that spans action-research, critical pedagogies, curatorial and editorial inquiries, spatial design, community organizing and strategic planning. His research focuses on participatory, collaborative and civi(c/l) spatial practices in the context of socio-ecological transitions and explores experimental practices of urban governance that seek to challenge and dismantle neoliberal, hetero-patriarchal and colonial realities.
Gustav is a co-editor of the experimental anthology I, Like Many Things (2023) and the zine issues Paprika! Volume 6 Issue 10, “There’s No Place Like” (2021) and the bulletin “Architecture? “Architecture” (Architecture)” (2019). He has has published his writings in Paprika!, STYLOS, Constructs, and Scroope among other places, and lectured and exhibited widely (Venice Architecture Biennale; CHART Art Fair; LUCA; UIA World Congress of Architects; Yale North Gallery; Delft University of Technology; Aarhus School of Architecture). Most recently he has contributed a chapter to the book Agonistic Assemblies: On the Spatial Politics of Horizontality (Miessen, 2024).
Currently, he is a Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) in the Department of Geography and Spatial Planning at the University of Luxembourg with PI Markus Miessen and the Cultures of Assembly research platform. He is also a Spaces of Deliberation Fellow at the non-profit action and research institute DemocracyNext.
Prior to arriving in Luxembourg, Gustav completed a Master of Philosophy in Architecture and Urban Studies degree (MAUS) at University of Cambridge in 2024 during which he co-founded the Community Design Research Lab. While a Fulbright Student at Yale University School of Architecture, Gustav co-founded the Home Work Research Group (HMWRK) and received his Master of Architecture (MArch) degree in 2022 with nominations for the Bass Fellowship and the H.I. Feldman Prize for the project Casual, social, sudsy love at the tubs. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture (BA) degree from Aarhus School of Architecture in 2017.
Gustav has worked with the Yale Urban Design Workshop (YUDW) and Yale Urban Media Project (YUMP) in New Haven, OMA in Rotterdam and SLETH in Copenhagen, held research and teaching positions in departments of architecture, urban studies and geography at Yale University, University of Cambridge, Aarhus School of Architecture, and University of Luxembourg, and lectured at TU Berlin, Lehigh University, Berlin International University and more.
Feel free to get in touch!
@gustavkvnielsen
gustavkvnielsen@gmail.com
+45 22994796
