A City for and by Night Workers: Lecture

Night workers are a precarious and often invisible labour force powering the essential services and economies that keep our cities vibrant and functional 24/7.

In this lecture, we'll explore the emerging nocturnal geography of labour, unveiling the critical roles played by night workers in sustaining urban life. From healthcare and logistics to hospitality and beyond, we'll shed light on the complexities of the night-time economy, highlighting the challenges faced by those who work in the dark.

We'll unpack the spatialisation of work shaped by urban platforms, the formal and informal responses to these dynamics, and the urgent need for policies that protect and value the socio-economic wellbeing of night workers.

Biography:

Alessio Kolioulis is a Lecturer in Urban Economic Development at The Bartlett Development Planning Unit, UCL. His expertise lies at the convergence of urban economies, development planning, and creative industries, focusing on London's night-time economy. Since 2023, Alessio has been a Co-Investigator of Facing Inequalities and Democratic Challenges through Co-production in Cities (Fairville) Horizon Europe Project, and he was previously a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Bartlett School of Architecture/UCL Urban Lab with the project Night spaces: migration, culture, and integration in Europe (NITE). Alessio’s research delves into urban inequalities, especially in relation to nocturnal labour and sustainability. Outside of academia, Alessio actively consults, contributing to urban and cultural strategies for city governments and international bodies. He is the author of a number of book chapters and articles on night-time economies urban geography.