CV
Vita Žlender is at the UIRS employed as a researcher, where she investigates the importance of open space for human health, green infrastructure planning and implementation, and innovative methods for exploring spatial issues and evaluating research data. Her research interests include the management of peri-urban open spaces and inclusive spatial planning and possibilities for integrating new concepts such as ecosystem services, nature-based solutions and green infrastructure, in spatial planning. Since commencing work at the Institute, she has been involved in international and domestic projects. Her work at the Institute also includes publishing the results of the research in which she participates in scientific and professional journals and presentations at conferences and symposia. In addition, she works as a reviewer of domestic and foreign scientific journals.
She graduated from the Department of Landscape Architecture at the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana and received her PhD from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland on the topic of suburban landscape development and management. After completing her doctoral studies, she worked in practice in Slovenia, Switzerland and most recently as a lecturer in landscape architecture at the British-Chinese Partner University in Wuhan, China.
Since 2025 she is the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Urbani izziv / Urban Challenge: https://www.urbaniizziv.si/en-us/
Selected current projects
- C3Places Using ICT for Co-creation of inclusive public places (C3Places (EU))
-1 (2017 - 2020)
- (VEN ZA ZDRAVJE)
MZZ (2017 - 2019)
- Going Out for Health - Promoting Green Space Planning Guidelines for Active Lifestyle among Stakeholders at Local Level (VEN ZA ZDRAVJE 2)
MZ (2020 - 2022)
Education
- PhD (Univerza v Edinburgu, ESALA - 2014)
- Diploma (Univerza v Ljubljani, Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za krajinsko arhitekturo - 2009)
Significant scientific and professional articles
- Žlender, V. (2021). Razvoj prostorske metode določanja obmestnih krajin. Urbani izziv, 32, 2, doi: 10.5379/urbani-izziv-2021-32-02-03
- Žlender, V. (2021). Characterisation of peri-urban landscape based on the views and attitudes of different actors. Land use policy, 101, 10518110.1016/j.landusepol.2020.105181
- Žlender, V., Šuklje Erjavec, I., Goličnik Marušić, B. (2020). Digitally supported co-creation within public open space development process: experfrom the C3Places Project and potential for future urban practice. Planning practice + research, 35, 5, doi: 10.1080/02697459.2020.1829286
- Žlender, V., & Gemin, S. (2020). Testing urban dwellers’ sense of place towards leisure and recreational peri-urban green open spaces in twoEuropean cities. Cities, 98, 102579, doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2019.102579
- Šuklje Erjavec, I., Kozamernik, J., & Žlender, V. (2019). Ven za zdravje: priročnik za načrtovanje zelenih površin za spodbujanje telesne dejavnosti in zdravega življenjskega sloga. I. Šuklje Erjavec & J. Kozamernik (Eds.). Urbanistični inštitut Republike Slovenije.
- Žlender, V. and Ward Thompson, C. (2017). Accessibility and use of peri-urban green space for innercity dwellers: A comparative study. Landscape and Urban Planning, 165, 193-205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2016.06.011
- Šuklje Erjavec, I. & Žlender, V. (2020) Categorisation of digital tools for co-creation of public open spaces: key aspects and possibilities. In: Smaniotto Costa, C. (ur.), in sod. Co-creation of public open places: practice - reflection - learning, (Series Culture & Territory). Lisboa: Edições Universitárias Lusófonas. DOI: 10.24140/2020-sct-vol.4-2.1
- Žlender, V. (2014). Uporaba in dostopnost zelenih površin v Ljubljani in okolici: Potrebe in želje starejših prebivalcev Ljubljane. Kakovostna starost, 17/3, 2014.
- Zlender, V. (2014). The accessibility factors influencing the use of peri-urban open spaces. ECLAS 2014 Conference Proceedings, Porto, 340-342.
- Žlender, V., Šuklje Erjavec, I. Understanding the exploitation plan and business model in EU-funded research projects by applying the business model canvas approach in public space. Prostor : znanstveni časopis za arhitekturu i urbanizam. 2023, letn. 31, št. 1(65), 85-95 str. ISSN 1330-0652.
- Žlender, V., Gemin, S. Different environments and physical activity before and during the COVID-19 lockdown: Data from Slovenia. Land. [Online ed.]. 2023, vol. 12, num. 2, str. 1- 21. ISSN 2073-445X.
- Žlender, V. Proučevanje potenciala za zagotavljanje kulturnih ekosistemskih storitev pri načrtovanju zelene infrastrukture v obmestni krajini: Pristop z matriko strokovnih ocen. Urbani izziv. [Tiskana izd.]. 2024, letn. 35, št. 1, str. 77-92, 168-183, ilustr. ISSN 0353-6483.
Participation in conferences
- Šuklje Erjavec Ina, Kozamernik Jana, Žlender Vita (2021). Development of evidence-based guidelines for designing green opens spaces to promote urban health through physical activity: experience from Slovenia (poster presentation)
17th International Conference on Urban Health: Transforming our Collective Urban Future: Learning from COVID-19 ( - online).
- Žlender Vita, Goličnik Marušić Barbara (2019). Integration of perception and usage of periopen spaces in planning documents: how can appropriate format of information help?
4th Open Science Meeting: Transforming Land Systems for People and Nature ( - Bern, Švica).
- Vita Žlender (2017). Green infrastructure in peri-urban areas: The importance of urban dwellers’ sense of place for
recreational use of peri-urban areas
GreenInUrbs ( - Orvieto, Italija).
- Vita Žlender (2015). Urban dwellers’ experience of peripheral green open spaces
IUFRO 2015 ( - Tartu, Estonija).
- Vita Žlender (2014). The accessibility factors influencing the use of peri-urban green open spaces
ECLAS 2014 ( - Porto, Portugalska).
- Vita Žlender (2014). The use of and, accessibility to, peri-urban green open spaces
PECSRL 2014 ( - Göteborg, Švedska).
- Vita Žlender (2013).
Future Connections conference ( - Edinburg, Škotska).
- Vita Žlender (2013). Meaning of people's perceptions and usage for sustainable management of peri-urban open spaces
ESEH 2013: Circulating Natures: Water-Food-Energy ( - München, Nemčija).
Functions
- Editor-in-Chief of the journal Urbani izziv / Urban Challenge (2025 / )