Biointegration of architecture and ecology system

Many species that are dependent on buildings are beginning to appear as more and more species of nature learn to adapt to city life. In the same vein, the concurrent loss of biodiversity presents a problem for the planning of vertical greening. This article attempts to explore the combination of animal nesting and vertical greening to develop a...

Broadened inclusiveness for urban renewal: A spatial design contributing to ecological justice for Carnisse. Rotterdam

The complex relationship between humans and the natural world is still visible in 2023s urban planning: a city is a place for humans, and nature gives space to all non-human species. The anthropocentric perspective within the urban environment puts humans above non-human nature. This is also the case within urban renewal in the Netherlands,...

The Natural In-Between Place for Stress Relief through Biophilic Design

We humans evolved in nature, but over the years we moved from being a part of nature to being apart from nature. This causes our mental health, with stress as the most important aspect, to suffer from our modern life in the city. A significant challenge we face is finding ways to integrate nature into our build environment for stress relief. A...

Nature-positive Architecture: A Regenerative Design Approach of a Winery in the Quarry of the St. Pietersberg

Sustainability in its development is increasingly focusing on nature. However, this research shows that through positive development, benefits are not only gained in nature, but are actually viewed as a common good. From this emerged regenerative development and design, in which there is a judgement from a whole system perspective. Through the...

Exploring Opportunities for Rewilding the Built Environment through Nature-Inclusive Design: Case Study Boerhaavewijk, Post-War Residential Neighbourhood in Haarlem, The Netherlands

With the worldwide biodiversity decline and cities that should adapt to climate change, rewilding the built environment to restore biodiversity and increase the degree of natural areas is necessary. Yet, there is currently no established overview of potential rewilding strategies for urban environments. This study explores various opportunities...

Re-Reed Architecture: A Circular Activities Centre for Nature and Neighbourhood

This project investigates the possibilities of the biobased material reed from local sources to reduce embodied energy emissions in the building sector. The drained wetlands in the Netherlands release carbon into the atmosphere leading to the inability of the wetlands to serve as carbon sinks and habitats. The rewetting of polders leads to the...

The Nutrient Neighborhood, Haven-Stad, Amsterdam: Prototype of a sustainable neighborhood with integrated regenerative food production and local material reuse

Regenerative neighborhood development in Amsterdam that harvests biological and technical nutrients on-site. The building's skin expands to a unique community space for local food production. The skin is seasonally adaptive through a low-tech system creatively reusing already existing climate-control components (the window) harvested from the...

Nieuwe Hof: Exploring food-space

Relationships between food and space are explored in a peri-urban setting in Zuid-Limburg. Spatial tensions between urban, rural and ecological landscapes are also investigated through an estate design on an agricultural plot.

Integration of bifacial PV in agrivoltaic systems: A synergistic design approach

Solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies offer a renewable alternative to power generation that is based on fossil fuels; however, to meet the rising demand in electricity a substantial amount of surface area is required. This will inevitably lead to the installment of these systems on agricultural land, subsequently intensifying the land-use...

Decoding the vector of energy poverty: Understanding the components of energy systems in the urban-rural context of NCR, India

Energy poverty means the lack of access to proper electricity and clean energy fuels. This type of poverty is closely linked to the dichotomy between developed and developing regions. This project argues that tackling energy poverty first needs to be addressed by understanding energy injustice between the urban and rural areas of developing...

Mutualist Urbanism: Achieving mutualism between urban development and strengthening biodiversity through nature-inclusive urban planning and design: the case of het Zomerhofkwartier in Rotterdam

Biodiversity in the Netherlands has been under alarming pressure for many years. Historical drivers of biodiversity loss have been agriculture and urbanization, through causing environmental pressure, loss of natural habitat and fragmentation of habitat for numerous species and ecosystems (PBL, 2014). Pressure on...

New perspective on the [food] landscapes in MRA 2050: Developing a new perspective & design for resilient and attractive agricultural landscapes in the metropolitan region of Amsterdam in 2050

The purpose of this graduation report is to give an overview and inspiration on the route towards a resilient & attractive metropolitan [food] landscape of Amsterdam in 2050. The topic of research is the impact of climate change, unsustainable agriculture and urbanisation towards 2050, on the agricultural landscapes in the metropolitan...

Praying for Water: The Mosque as a Catalyst Towards a Decentralized Water Supply System in the Informal Urban Settlements of Bandung, Indonesia

Praying for Water deals with several water related challenges in Bandung’s informal urban areas, first and foremost the lack of safe drinking water and proper sanitation. Although being based on the proposal for a decentralized water supply system, a rather holistic solution approach is followed. Beyond the use of appropriate technical...

Upwards along the pipes: Utilizing the recyclable potentials of local organic waste to revitalize the Cikapundung river area in Bandung, Indonesia

“Upwards along the pipes” focuses on the Tamansari subdistrict in Bandung, Indonesia, in which the Cikapundung river is a central physical element, dividing the highly dense informal settlements in two. The project tries to tackle several ecological and spatial issues occuring within the site, including a large amount of (organic) waste being...

Growing dwellings: The explorative design of a dwelling supporting biodiversity

This research has two main purposes: (1) to show the quality of dominant nature, above man and (2) to demonstrate the investigation of biodiversity in a city environment both by designing a prototype of a dwelling. The city environment, in this case, is Amsterdam; the dwelling is designed in the Jordaan. The location is chosen because this...

Turning off the Tap: A climate resilient spatial solution for fluvial flooding in the United Kingdom

The main goal of this project is to develop a sustainable method to mitigate flooding of the non-tidal rivers in the United Kingdom which can be used by all stakeholders within the climate scenario of 2050. <br/>The focus on non-tidal rivers will mean the focus of flooding will be mainly on fluvial flooding, while pluvial flooding will be a...