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 Without interventions, their energy performance is outdated – provided they are used in a contemporary way - and they contribute to the over-consumption of energy and the increase of greenhouse...

Consumer acceptance of refurbished mobile phones

Now the detrimental consequences of human consumption become apparent, companies search for ways to extend the product life cycle. Refurbishment is an accessible and cost-effective strategy to regain value from used products and contributes to a more circular consumption model. Driven by a growing commercial interest in refurbishment, this...

Circularity; the reuse of an office building

This graduation project addresses two problems, the high vacancy rate of office buildings in the Netherlands, and the linear approach of take-make-use-dispose, which results in the depletion of natural resources. In this project, an office building is transformed for other multiple functions with the old materials of the building in...

Structural Analysis of Polyurethane Bonded Aggregate on Block Revetments

For centuries dikes in the Netherlands have been protected against wave attack by revetments constructed of pitched blocks. Due to new insights into the behaviour of pitched blocks and increased hydraulic boundary conditions, a significant part of those dikes does not meet the current prescribed standards and safety norms anymore. As a result,...

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...

Armamentarium, Delft - Arts, Crafts and Science Laboratory: "From the isolated enclave to the intimate place of social life and creativity/history and innovation"

The current assignment constitutes a concentrating documentation of the research, analysis and re-design implemented within the R-MIT Graduation Studio [Research on Restoration, Modification, Intervention and Transformation] at the TU Delft Faculty of Architecture, during the academic period of 2013-2014. The specific theme of the current studio...

Omval Area, linking city fragments trough subtle architectural interventions

The defined project location is strongly delimited by different infrastructures. The first limiting factor is the two railway and metro lines, which are on approximately five meters high overpasses cutting the site from north to south. Secondly there is a main road that wraps around the eastern and northern border of the site. And finally the...

Developing a mobile device for a Circular Economy

E-waste, price volatility of resources and the constant increase of the middle class world population expecting the same ‘high quality’ life standards have (amongst other) made some companies consider their options. In the reports of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, one aspect of the circular economy model aims at decoupling sales revenues from...

Life cycle façade refurbishment for post-war residential buildings

In this graduation research the life cycle energy (embodied and operational energy) of a refurbishment project is researched by means of a literature study and a case study design. A design approach is made to make the life cycle energy as low as possible for the case study, an existing post-war residential building in Utrecht. The focus of the...

From post-war living environment to contemporary neighbourhood; The case of South Kolenkitbuurt in Bos en Lommer, Amsterdam

The urban and dwelling development of Bos en Lommer district, at the time of its realisation, was aiming at attracting people in order to offer them better living conditions. Nowadays, the area has become dull and resembles in many spots an abandoned place, mainly because of separation between the different ethnic or social groups who reside it....

The development of a Product Service System for a Bugaboo stroller

In this thesis a product service system for a Bugaboo stroller is developed. The main objectives are to come up with a PSS that has benefits for people, planet and profit. The objectives are defined as follows: 1. People: The PSS should convince people to lease a stroller instead of buying one. 2. Planet: The PSS should be a sustainable...

Refurbishing Shrinking Vrieheide

Energy refurbishment project in a shrinking area in Heerlen. Systems Thinking was used as a methodology for defining the relations with its surrounding and their potentials for the existing building.

Building envelope refurbishment of multiresidential postwar buildings: Investigation via a case study

This project is aiming to reduction of energy demands, and greenhouse gas emissions consequently, by achieving less heating demand and higher thermal comfort for residential buildings. The choice of refurbishment as the best solution for that is investigated. For the needs of the project, a case study was used, carefully chosen to be...

Façade intervention of post-war high-rise office buildings

“How can Dutch ‘post-war’ (1950-1972) office buildings be refurbished externally using a unitized second skin façade system in a future-directed building physical and energy efficient way, that is aesthetically innovative and applicable to a wider range of similar office buildings?” “How can the original architectural character of the building...

Refurbishment solutions for post-war housing blocks / Renovatie oplossingen voor naoorlogse flats

This thesis is about different refurbishment solutions or strategies which can be used for post-war housing blocks (1945-1975). The main focus is to reduce the energy demand for this typical building period. This is done by a research to different façade possibilities that can be used. The main objective is to refurbish the buildings in such a...

The Sustainable Refurbishment of BK City

Climate change - and particularly its long term-implications - has become the greatest challenge that scientists and politicians have to face. The building sector worldwide and, more specifically, the existing building stock, have been identified as major contributors to both global energy consumption and environmental damage. This study aims at...