Heritage of the ordinary: an alternative view: Strategies for using cultural heritage sites as a driver of sustainable urban [re]development in Piraeus

This thesis explored urban strategies for harnessing diverse types of cultural heritage of the ordinary urban environment in order to achieve sustainable urban development. During the past century, urban expansions took place without any special regard towards existing cultural heritage expressions. Despite the significant role of heritage in...

Tirana new paradigm: From post-communist towards a sustainable city

This Graduation Project focuses on the urban regeneration of Tirana’s city centre. The chaotic transition from a communist regime towards a democratic system has generated several urban problems where the increasing informality predominates. This project works as a strategic vision which aims to create the spatial-economic conditions for a...

Towards energy transition in the built environment: The process towards energy efficient implementations in large urban areas

Cities strive to move towards a more sustainable city. In the process of energy transition in the built environment, moving from usage of fossil fuels towards renewable energy is the process obstructed which results which result in little or no action. This research will focus on several cases in Europe and analyse the cases with a focus on its...

Legacy creation strategy in Olympic cities: The path towards sustainable development?

Mega-event strategies and their impact on the development of host cities have drawn increasing interest as they have become part of wider city development strategies. However, many city leaders are challenged by a gigantic and complex task after the events: how to deal with the post-use of large event venues and facilities? How to use the events...

Paths of urbanisation in Shenzhen New Town: Exploring emerging forms of polity, community and economy, towards integral and sustainable development

A contextual and spatial approach towards resource cycles

Multiple system-based concepts exist to analyse and manage urban throughput of resource flows, examples are Urban Metabolism, Industrial Ecology and Energy Potential Mapping. Common threads in these propositions are fundamental principles valid in nature, notably homeostasis and thermodynamics. Those and likeminded concepts are valuable links in...

Assessing facade value - how clients make business cases in changing real estate markets

RELEVANCE: The value of any intervention in the built environment is most relevant for the stakeholders that are investing in it. For them all costs need to be balanced with benefits - not necessarily directly financial, but adding value to the performance of the accommodated organization. Business cases contain performance criteria like...

Rethinking the power of water - creating spatial solutions to integrate flood adaptation and renewable energy systems in sustainable urban delta development