Contesting Territories: The significance of the Plein to the power contests between the Dutch government and the people

The thesis is going to unravel, in a spatial sense, the relationship between public space and the power in the Netherlands through the case of the Plein since the 1980s till now. By the analysis on the previous discussions and disputes over the design and use of the Plein, it aims to indicate the priorities of the government and the public in...

Amsterdam’s National Memorial of Names: The Meaning and Importance of Scale, and Community Participation, in the Architecture of Commemoration

Embedding an architectural project in its context exceeds the mere use of materials and spatial devices. Rather, those are simply the tools used to convey a message, and to reflect certain values. Any piece of architecture with an urban, residential location, has the potential to impact the daily lives of citizens. This is especially the case...

Perceptions, Politics, and Participation: The role and relevance of public participation in the redevelopment of Gdańsk Shipyard

This work examines the critical theory of public participation through a case study of the post-shipyard area redevelopment in Gdańsk, Poland, interrogating the relevance of such processes in a context where cultural heritage is crucial, but there is also an urgent need for new development. This centrally located, (post)industrial waterfront has...

Research on how sustainability is implemented through participation in the housing cooperative La Borda

The utilization of housing cooperatives, which is a form of affordable housing, has been an effective solution to a portion of Spain's housing crisis both before and after the Global Financial Crisis. La Borda, an innovative participatory design housing cooperative in Barcelona, was constructed in 2018 by architect cooperative LaCol and...

I participate, who profits?: How the impact of citizen participation evolved over the past 30 years in Rotterdam

This graduate thesis examines the implications of participation in urban development of Rotterdam today and how this is different from the early ‘90s. Literature research about the nuances in participation in urban planning forms the framework for this thesis. Using this base, I compare the cases of Rijnhaven redevelopment, going on right now,...

The study of development of public-participation in housing practice under changing socio-economic, political and urban environment in Amsterdam, from Dutch Golden Age to contemporary period: AR2A011 Architectural History Thesis (2022/23 Q3)

Public-participation in housing practice not only happens with architectural participatory notion, instead it was already exercised differently in the history of Amsterdam according to the governmental urban planning visions. To provide more insight for contemporary participatory practice, instead of interpreting architectural public...

Participating in the community centre from beginning to end: Research on the influence of user participation in the design of community centres in Rotterdam, 1960-1990

This thesis researches the influence of user participation on design. It focusses specifically on user participation in the design of community centres in Rotterdam, 1960-1990. First, a literature investigation has been conducted to establish context and theory on user participation in architecture. Secondly, research on three study cases has...

Feminist methodology in practice and pedagogy: Process, engagement and empowerment through architectural education and professional practice

This thesis examines the relationships between architectural pedagogy and practice within the context of feminist methodologies from the point of view of a student. If the condition of the profession reflects the (changing) reality, I enquire what implications it consequentially has on (architectural) education. By problematising the personal...

UrbanScraps: A local steel cycle for maritime manufacturing in South-Holland by 2050

Mankind is exhausting natural resources. Therefore, the need to transform the linear material flows towards circular chains is increasing. Steel is a material that is produced and used globally and has high potentials for recycling. However, in the maritime sector, steel is currently barely recycled, let alone reused in a more direct way....

Creating the Community: An investigation of ‘t Karregat and the basis and limits of user involvement in the Dutch multifunctional experiment

This paper aims to analyse the participatory processes involved in the creation and running of community centre ‘t Karregat in Eindhoven using tools and theoretical models on participatory design from the time of the centre’s creation as well as off today. The goal is to understand the limits and shortcomings of the user involvement processes...

The active museum of art: A new museum approach to increase neighbourhood asset through participation.

The active museum of art: During this Graduation project I search for a new way of positioning an art museum in the 21st century in Rotterdam south Tarwewijk. An Art Museum changes the local environment of its surrounding area. It can have a positive influence by developing neighbourhood assets but it also can lead to gentrification and...

DownScale-Up!: Downscaling global agri-food flows with an upscaled regional system

The Netherlands exported in 2017 for 91,7 billion euros and exported for even more: 62,6 billion euros(CBS, 2018). This shows the big agri-food fl ows in which the Netherlands is involved. Sadly, these global fl ows have a big impact on economic, social and environmental sustainability worldwide. For example, transport causes many emissions,...

Liv/fe Transition: to a healthy agriculture sector with livestock as an integral part of life

By 2050, South-Holland will transform into a transition based urbanity with value change at its core. Currently, consumers are disconnected from where their food is produced, leading to a high environmental impact, unhealthy choices and social injustice to the farmers’ work. The proposed strategy of change for the region would see South Holland...

Float to Circularity: Connecting human needs with the material flow in the AMA

<br/>The Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam (AMA) has proposed a transition from its current linear economic model to a circular one (Sustainable Amsterdam, 2015). However, the proposed strategy is based mainly on the participation of actors from the world of business and industry, relegating social actors to a peripheral level of its...