Research, analysis and advice on how cities adapt to a changing climate.

Commissioned studies, policy analysis and reports for public institutions and international organizations. Doctoral research at Université Gustave Eiffel (LATTS) — Paris.

01 — Research & Writing

Heat adaptation in Paris

Analyses and case studies from my doctoral research: public space, buildings, courtyards.

 02 — The Masterplan

A podcast on cities

Long conversations on cities, society, technology and culture.

 03 — Past Work

Smart cities & education

Program coordination, course development and research at IAAC Barcelona, 2017–2023.

 04 — Library

A reading room

References on heat, climate and cities — a growing library.
Climate AdaptationUrban HeatClimate GovernancePolicy AnalysisQualitative ResearchThe Masterplan Podcast
01 — Research & Writing

Heat adaptation in Paris.

Selected written work from my doctoral research on how Paris adapts to urban heat.

Analysis

Heat adaptation in public space

How the city cools its streets, squares and parks — instruments, actors and materials.

In preparation
Analysis

Adapting buildings to heat

Renovation, solar protection and the thermal performance of the existing building stock.

In preparation
Case study

Courtyards

The cool block: courtyards as a resource for heat adaptation.

In preparation
Overview

The Parisian case study

Framing heat adaptation in Paris: how heat is problematized, governed and materialized.

In preparation

The Sociotechnical Materiality of Heat in the City

Doctoral thesis · in progress · theses.fr ↗

Supervised by Jonathan Rutherford & Martine Drozdz. MSCA-COFUND CLEAR-Doc fellowship.

LATTS — Laboratoire Techniques, Territoires et Sociétés

Member profile · latts.fr ↗

Research axis: Politique, marchés et mondes urbains (PMMU). Marne-la-Vallée.
The Adaptation Toolkit

There is no single fix.

A recurring finding of the research: cooling a city is not one policy. It is vegetation and shutters, insulation and fountains, behaviour and district networks — and the coordination it takes to make them work together. Click through the layers.

INSULATION + THERMAL MASS DISTRICT COOLING RES CITY OPS REG COORDINATION + LEGAL FRAME DOES IT COOL?
Fig. 01 — The adaptation toolkitNo silver bullets
02 — The Masterplan Podcast

Long conversations about cities,
society, technology & culture.

Since 2022. In-depth interviews with people who think about how cities and societies work.

Listen onSpotify Listen onApple Podcasts Watch onYouTube
03 — Past Work

Smart cities, urban technology & education.

Master in Urban Planning & Data Analytics, IAAC Barcelona — 2017 to 2023.

Role
Program coordination · Course development · Research agenda
Topics
Smart cities · Cartography · Data analysis · Computational tools
Also
Teaching and tutoring · Admissions · Alumni community (ongoing)
Selected projects
Research · IAAC Advanced Architecture Group

Mapping Spain's Healthcare System ↗

COVID-19 map series: hospital accessibility and capacity, ICU availability, risk areas by demography. Research & coordination, with A. Markopoulou (lead) and I. Neri (data visualisation).
Teaching · Computational Urban Design

Urban Planning & Design Simulators ↗

Seminar series building data-driven planning tools with students: water & microclimate, land use, green space, air pollution, pandemic response. With E. Bettucchi, I. Neri, R. Aguirre (2018–2020).
Teaching · IAAC, 2017–2021

Courses & seminars

QGIS — Cartography & Urbanism · Urban Data Analytics · Internet of Buildings studio · Theory of Cities · Big Data Urbanism (Digital Futures).

Master thesis · 2016/17

Future Flows

Self-driving cars and public space in Sants, Barcelona: modelling how 488 shared autonomous vehicles could replace ~7,000 cars — and what the freed street space becomes.

Research developed with
Foster + Partners BuroHappold Carlo Ratti Associati MVRDV The Why Factory Mobility in Chain inAtlas Urban Standards City Intelligence Lab Noumena
04 — Library

Readings on heat and the city.

A selection from the reading behind the research — academic and not. Filter by theme. Growing regularly.

About
Alex Mademochoritis

PhD candidate at Université Gustave Eiffel (LATTS), specializing in climate adaptation, urban heat and the socio-technical dimensions of sustainable cities — how governments, public institutions and technical experts design and implement adaptation strategies across infrastructure, buildings and climate governance. Background in qualitative research, stakeholder interviews, policy analysis and interdisciplinary collaboration; previously at IAAC Barcelona. Host of The Masterplan podcast. Open to working with international organizations and public and private institutions on climate adaptation, urban policy and sustainable development. English, French, Spanish, Greek.

CV

Experience.

↓ Download CV (PDF)
2023 — Now
PhD Researcher
Université Gustave Eiffel · Paris

Doctoral research on urban heat adaptation at LATTS (Laboratoire Techniques, Territoires, Sociétés), École Doctorale Villes, Transports et Territoires.

2025
Visiting Research Fellow
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya · Barcelona

International mobility at the Urban Transformation and Global Change Laboratory (TURBA Lab).

2023 — Now
Community Manager
Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia · Remote

Alumni network of architects and urban technologists.

2017 — 2023
Admissions Manager · Program Coordinator · Tutor
Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia · Barcelona

Education programs, admissions and tutoring in GIS and urban technology.

Education

PhD, Urban & Regional Planning

Université Gustave Eiffel · 2023 – ongoing

MSc, Urban Planning & Data Analytics

Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia · 2016 – 2017

BSc, Interior Architecture, Decorative Arts & Design

University of West Attica (formerly TEI of Athens) · 2009 – 2015
Recognition

MSCA-COFUND CLEAR-Doc Doctoral Scholarship

Université Gustave Eiffel · 2023

3-year European fellowship funding doctoral research at LATTS (Grant n°101034248).

IAAC Scholarship

Master in Urban Planning & Data Analytics · 2016

Merit scholarship for the Master in Urban Planning & Data Analytics program.

Contact

Available for commissioned work.

Deliverables
Policy analysis · Background papers & literature reviews · Case studies · Field research & interviews · Reports for non-specialist readers
Focus
Urban climate adaptation · Heat · Buildings & infrastructure · Climate governance
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