Design for refurbishment of child car seats – Towards circular safety critical products

This graduation project investigates the challenges of designing a safety critical consumer product suitable for the refurbishment loop of the circular economy through a case study on child car seats. Currently when child car seats are reused or resold on the second-hand market, their safety cannot be guaranteed as it is unknown whether the...

Sustainable Refurbishment for an Adaptable Built Environment

The reconsideration of the existing building stock is motivated by society’s efforts towards sustainability and resilience. The building sector has a considerable role to play in doing so. The process of refurbishment is complex, since aspects such as design decisions, existing construction, energy efficiency, and user behaviour need to be...

Interventions for the Sustainable Development of Architectural Heritage - The Example of the Soda Fabriek in Schiedam, NL

Existing historic buildings, remnants of a past long gone are often still highly operational in our time, most likely at the expense of the environment. Without interventions, their energy performance is outdated – provided they are used in a contemporary way - and they contribute to the over-consumption of energy and the increase of greenhouse...

T.E.S.T - T.echnical, E.conomical and S.ustainable T.ransformation

The problem of the expanding suburbs of the cities, and the increasing number of abandoned office buildings seems to be a challenge for architects. Responding to the demand of spatial and functional urban circumstances, research assumed the redesign of the existing facilities in accordance with the principle of flex-buildings, based on the...

Sustainable retrofit potential in lower quality office stock in the central business district

Given the relationship between energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, the built environment has significant potential to lessen overall emissions. With around half of all greenhouse gas emissions attributed to the built environment; it has a significant role to play in mitigating global warming. With large percentages...

Sustainability and within use office building adapations: A comparison of Dutch and Australian practices

Local Authorities worldwide are encouraging adaptation as a means of reducing building related urban energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The City of Melbourne is promoting the retrofit of 1,200 CBD properties before 2020 with sustainability measures as part of their policy to become a carbon neutral city. Australian cities date from...

Rietveld originals: Handle with care!

The work of architect Gerrit Th. Rietveld (1888 – 1964) is appreciated throughout the world. Many of the well-known buildings he designed have survived to the present. Some have been restored or refurbished, depending on the condition of the building, current needs of the building users, etc. Rietveld himself had a very clear vision about...