World #1

for Architecture and the Built Environment. The Bartlett has also ranked #1 in the UK for the tenth year in a row.

QS World University Rankings (2025)
About
very tall modern buildings overshadow older smaller buildings

About

UCL Urban Laboratory is a cross-disciplinary centre for critical and creative urban thinking, teaching, research and practice.

People
Catalina Ortiz

People

Find out about our lecturers, team and committee members from across UCL.

Study
University urbanism, Urban Lab Exchange course, September 2017

Study

Our distinctive centre brings together students, academics and professionals to tackle the complexity of urban life.

Events
Performance Lab: Cities Imaginaries. On May 2019, UCL Urban Laboratory hosted an afternoon of panels and evening of music and poetry at the Bloomsbury Theatre exploring how performance cultures help shape transnational urban narratives.

Events

We programme events and networking opportunities throughout the year, on and off campus.

Research
Public meeting

Research

We explore a range of subjects across disciplinary boundaries using experimental research methods.

Publications
A person stands in front of a large projected image, ready to give a presentation

Publications

We produce a range of accessible, open access publications, reports, pamphlets and digital media.

Urban Lab – Celebrating 20 years of urban research at UCL

Urban Lab's 20th Anniversary

Urban Lab 20

In 2025, UCL Urban Laboratory proudly celebrates its 20th anniversary as a world-leading cross-disciplinary centre dedicated to critical, creative and collaborative inquiry into pressing urban challenges.

Find out more

News

Shapes and the City Symposium – Call for Papers
Shapes and the City Symposium – Call for Papers

Shapes and the City Symposium – Call for Papers

The half-day symposium, organised by the UCL Urban Lab and the SHS Faculty, will take place on Monday 9 June as part of Urban Lab's 20th anniversary activities. Open to all staff and students at UCL.

09 May 2025

Catalina Ortiz Awarded British Academy Grant to Support Early Career Urbanists in the Global South
Catalina Ortiz Awarded British Academy Grant to Support Early Career Urbanists in the Global South

Catalina Ortiz Awarded British Academy Grant to Support Early Career Urbanists in the Global South

Professor Catalina Ortiz has secured £29,980 from the British Academy to run writing workshops supporting early career urban researchers in Brazil and South Africa.

09 May 2025

Applications Open for 2025/2026 British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships
Applications Open for 2025/2026 British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships

Applications Open for 2025/2026 British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships

UCL Urban Laboratory is now welcoming applications for the 2025/2026 British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships scheme.

30 Apr 2025

Ruth Glass Scholarship

Applications for the Ruth Glass Scholarship are now open for UK home students applying to study Urban Lab's Global Urbanism MASc.

Apply here

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Contact Us

UCL Urban Laboratory
Gordon House
29 Gordon Square
London
WC1H 0PP