Forum Boerhaave

The post-war neighbourhood Boerhaavewijk in Haarlem is an example of rational modernist urban planning following the design guidelines of air, light and space. Repeated typologies or ‘stamps’ of terraced housing and apartment buildings created by industrialised methods of construction were the answer to the population boom experienced in the 60s...

Timber Top-Ups on Reinforced Concrete structures to increase dwellings area

In recent years, the Netherlands has witnessed a growing housing shortage, prompting an ambitious plan by the government to address the demand through increased construction of new housing until 2050. Moreover, as part of environmental commitments, new dwellings and existing housing stock must align with current energy performance standards and...

Pre-Design Assessment of Demountable Short Superstructures

Rijkswaterstaat aims to build circularly from 2030 onward, with the purpose of having a fully circular economy by 2050. Therefore, the aim of this study is to design a reusable modular superstructure, with a small span, which can replace an existing so-called volstortligger superstructure. This is a structure that Dura Vermeer often uses and it...

Unfolding circular techno-aesthetics: An exploration of shape-change through Woollen Woven Textile-form

Textiles are unimaginable out of our lives - from the moment a human is born until existence stops - textiles are touched by wearing, seeing and feeling them. Where it once was fundamental for survival, today, the textile industry has grown towards a system that prioritises speed, efficiency and uniformity (Goldsworthy & Politowicz, 2018)...

Circular Design of Electric Toothbrushes: Concept design of an electric toothbrush ready for the circular economy

Electric toothbrushes are the most effective method for maintaining oral hygiene, but also the method with the greatest environmental impact. Most of the impact of electric toothbrushes comes from transport, materials and parts. This means that by extending the product life and enabling local loops, the environmental impact of electric...

Reversible 3D printing onto textiles for footwear design

3D printing is currently blooming in a lot of different industries, including fashion in the form of 3D printing onto textiles. In parallel, fashion circularity is an increasing movement that has emerged due to the negative impact that fashion creates on the life on this planet and the planet itself. Therefore, a shift to responsible consumption...

Towards Circular ICUs: Reuse of intubation devices as a catalyst for systemic change

This project aims to reduce the environmental impact of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the department which provides constant care to critical patients. One of the most common and wasteful ICU procedures is intubation. Intubation is needed when patients cannot breathe by themselves. Can we design a circular intubation procedure as a catalyser...

Metabolic's Circular System Design Process: Applying systemic design for co-creating circular economy solutions

The current ‘take, make, waste’ linear economy has caused many ecological and social problems; that’s why the circular economy aims to close the loop so businesses can thrive while natural resources sustain and regenerate. Metabolic, a sustainability consultancy that helps clients transition towards the circular economy, recognizes that a...

Airguard Circular Ski-Helmet: A Vision for Transitioning Ski-Helmets into the Circular Economy and its Systems of Maintaining, Increasing & Regaining Product Value

This thesis project aims at exploring the challenges of sustainability within the segment of ski-helmets. It should lead to locating opportunities for transitioning them into the Circular Economy.<br/><br/>Ski-helmets are single-impact items, comprised of multiple different materials in inseparable product assemblies that prevent disassembly and...

IDencity: Adaptive Reuse of Car Park Hakfort

"NEW HERITAGE” The studio New Heritage focuses on the existing housing stock within Amsterdam Zuidoost: „Many neighbourhoods face social problems of liveability and demographic changes. Moreover, this housing, like all of our stock, should meet the future standards of energy performance, which leads to an urgent need for...

The roadmap towards circular cruise ships: Preventing waste discharge into the environment

Waste streams from cruise ships come back into nature which negatively influences the environment. Research has shown that actions need to be taken to reduce climate change. Not only the government should take their responsibility, but also other businesses, like the cruise industry. The cruise industry is a growing business and cruise ships...

Circular Codes: OOP Methodology for Collaborative Domestic Circular Environments

In the context of western linear resource culture, this work represents a socio-technical approach to circularity in the built environment. Object-oriented programming is explored as design method for collaborative domestic environments, in particular to promote circular cooking adapted to local socio-cultural practices.