The Netherlands is short approximately 400 000 homes, and nearly one million more are required by 2030. Greenfield expansion would consume the remaining open landscapes, including protected areas such as Midden-Delfland. The alternative is to densify the monofunctional industrial estates that line the urban edge, but most existing approaches displace the industry rather than integrate it. This project asks how an adaptive spatial framework, based on Habraken’s Open Building principles, can enable the densification of a logistics site in Berkel en Rodenrijs (around 250 dwellings on the JoyLogistics plot) while integrating living, working and landscape into a system that evolves over time. Following a research-through-design method, the project develops three interlinked design principles, supported by literature on Open Building, the productive city and place-attachment theory, and grounded in four case studies: Kalkbreite, Next21, The City Dune and Superlofts. A catalyst (free shared energy from PV on the 18,000 m² shed roof and aquathermal heat from an adjacent water buffer) attracts pioneers to a low-image industrial edge. An adaptive 8.4 by 8.4 metre support, carrying modular dwellings, façade panels and four lifespan layers, lets residents stay through every life phase via a modular tenure system. Symbiosis between residents and industry workers is built over time through shared infrastructure, a gradient public deck, a productive school, a workshop, and cross-financed governance. The three principles operate as a closed loop in which architectural decisions, the tenure model and the governance structure reinforce one another: free energy attracts pioneers; modules let them stay; staying produces attachment; attachment produces symbiosis; symbiosis produces resilience; protected returns keep stakeholders investing. Each of the four precedents demonstrates one segment of this loop; this project demonstrates its closure. The result is a replicable method for densifying industrial edges without displacing industry, consuming protected landscape, or sacrificing affordability. ... Read more

This thesis explores the possibility of designing dwellings with the current inhabitants, the animals, in mind first. Over the past 50 years, wildlife has decreased by 73%, while the human population continues to grow and take more and more of the land, further destroying the nature that we depend on. This thesis aims to raise awareness of the design process and start integrating other animals into it as soon as possible, with the aim of reducing the impact of building in nature. The Midden-Delfland area has been chosen as a case study to explore this issue, with the focus being on the ‘Delfland Small Five’ to gather information on designing for them.

The main question is: How can architectural design principles be created to promote biodiversity in Midden-Delfland while looking at the Small five, while recognizing that different species respond differently to different densities?

To achieve this, literature studies have been conducted to gain insight into the lives of the Delfland Small Five, while case studies have been analysed to gather information on similar buildings. The worlds of humans and animals can complement each other through dwellings designed to blend into the landscape, preventing visual disturbance for some species and enriching or limiting the vegetation required by others. This, combined with careful maintenance, can ensure that habitats are sustained. It must be kept in mind that these principles have not yet been tested in real life, and that they should be tested in a real environment to ensure the results are feasible.
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The Netherlands is currently facing a structural housing crisis that is often reduced to a purely quantitative challenge, overlooking complex spatial and social realities. At the same time, a widening socioeconomic gap has left a doubly disadvantaged group, consisting of low-income households, single elderly people, individuals with mild physical disabilities, and statusholders, struggling to secure affordable housing while lacking a robust social infrastructure to serve as a safety net.

This graduation project, “Blurring Boundaries: Designing for a social infrastructure,” seeks to address these interconnected qualitative and quantitative challenges through integrated architectural and urban design. Utilizing a “Research by Design” methodology, the project proposes a residential complex located in the Spaanse Polder, Rotterdam, acting as a transition zone between the city’s urban fabric and the productive landscape.

The core of the design is rooted in the creation of a social infrastructure that facilitates Asset-Based Community Development and builds both Bonding- and Bridging Social Capital among diverse residents. Architecturally, this is achieved through a carefully articulated hierarchy of spaces, ranging from private dwellings to shared residential groups and fully public areas. They are designed to systematically lower the threshold for casual social interaction. The project combines spatial, social, and organisational strategies to support long-term inclusion and adaptability. The building limits its overall scale to 47 dwellings to prevent anonymity and carefully balances supportive and non-supportive residents to ensure a functional community. Dwellings are clustered into residential groups of four to five units that share communal living rooms, kitchens, and outdoor spaces to foster daily mutual reliance.

To ensure long-term adaptability and ecological responsibility, the building employs a flexible,
demountable timber skeleton structure utilizing BauBuche laminated beams. This structural grid allows for adaptable floor plans of 30, 45, and 60 square meters to suit diverse and evolving household compositions. Finally, financial feasibility and sustained affordability are secured through a management cooperative model, where middle-income households cross-subsidize lower-income units. Ultimately, this research demonstrates that integrating cooperative organizational models, flexible sustainable construction, and deliberate social infrastructure can successfully empower disadvantaged groups and foster resilient, socially inclusive living environments. ... Read more

The Netherlands faces a significant housing shortage alongside a steady rise in single-person households, a combination that increases the risk of social isolation in daily life. This graduation project investigates how the design of shared transition zones in a mixed-use residential building can support informal social inclusion without relying on programmed activities or community management. Drawing on the theoretical work of Jan Gehl, William H. Whyte, and Richard Sennett, three spatial conditions are identified as central to everyday encounter: intimacy, visibility, and programmatic activation. These conditions are translated into three architectural principles, light, gradient, and threshold, that shape the design of a mixed-use apartment building located in the Spaanse Polder in Rotterdam. The building's stepped form ensures direct sunlight reaches a central courtyard, the spatial organisation creates a gradual transition from public to private rather than a hard boundary, and semi-private threshold zones at each dwelling entrance allow residents to be present in shared space without being exposed. Through case study analysis, research by design, and physical modelling, the project demonstrates that social inclusion in housing is less a matter of organised programming than of careful spatial design, where the gallery, courtyard, and threshold are treated as primary architectural spaces rather than residual circulation. The project concludes that meaningful collective life depends on the coexistence of encounter and retreat, and that the most socially valuable spaces in a building are often the ordinary ones that ask nothing of the people who pass through them. ... Read more

This graduation project explores how mono functional industrial areas at the urban polder edge can contribute to solving the housing crisis while preserving their economic function. Situated within the ZUS masterplan for Rodenrijs Business Park, the project proposes a housing concept in which residential units are built above an active logistics layer. Rather than replacing existing industrial activities, the design integrates living and working functions through a layered spatial approach.

The project focuses on a site located between two existing warehouses and investigates how housing, logistics, ecology, and affordability can coexist within a single development. By elevating the residential program above the logistics infrastructure, valuable land is used more efficiently while the surrounding open landscape, including Midden-Delfland, is protected from further urban expansion.

Through architectural design, phased growth strategies, and climate-responsive interventions, the project demonstrates how industrial estates can evolve into inclusive and sustainable mixed use environments. The findings contribute to a replicable model for transforming monofunctional urbanpolder edge locations across the Netherlands. ... Read more

This graduation project investigates how concrete can function as a future-proof structural framework for adaptable live-work environments. Developed for the transformation of the Spaanse Polder in Rotterdam, the project responds to contemporary challenges of housing shortages, the displacement of productive activities, and the need for more sustainable building strategies.

The proposal introduces an adaptable support-infill framework that combines a durable concrete structure with replaceable timber infill elements. Rather than evaluating sustainability solely through short-term carbon reduction, the project explores how longevity, adaptability, and reuse can contribute to long-term environmental performance. By integrating low-carbon concrete innovations and designing for multiple programmatic lifecycles, the framework is intended to remain relevant and adaptable over a lifespan of up to 200 years.

The building accommodates creative makers through affordable live-work typologies that support both domestic life and small-scale production. At the urban scale, the framework acts as a repeatable strategy that reconnects housing and making, contributing to a productive urban network within the evolving district. Through the integration of social inclusion, adaptability, and architectural quality, the project demonstrates how a permanent structural framework can support changing spatial, social, and economic needs over time. ... Read more

This graduation project explores how assisted living for
people with an intellectual disability can become more
socially inclusive as part of the future transformation of the
Spaanse Polder. Instead of seeing care housing as an isolated,
protected facility, the project looks at how architecture can
promote public familiarity and everyday participation.

The design combines care housing with public spaces such
as a café and library, allowing for low-threshold encounters
between residents and the neighbourhood. The different
needs of residents are reflected in two living environments:
the Sanctuary group, which is focused on a less stimulating
environment, and the Social Hub group, which is focused
on a more social environment.

The project shows that inclusive assisted living requires more
than just making things accessible; dignity, visibility and so
cial infrastructure are also important, as is the possibility for
residents to participate in everyday life at their own speed. ... Read more

This graduation report investigates how transitional housing for individuals and families exiting crisis shelters can be architecturally and spatially integrated within the transformation of the Spaanse Polder in Rotterdam. The research addresses the gap between emergency accommodation and permanent housing, focusing on the one- to two-year transitional phase in which residents need safety, stability, autonomy, and gradual social reintegration.

Rather than approaching transitional housing as an isolated care facility, the project proposes a mixed collective housing model embedded within an emerging urban district. The design combines a balanced resident composition of one-third students, one-third residents aged 55+, and one-third people receiving a transitional housing place. Each residential floor is organised as one large shared apartment with approximately ten furnished private bedrooms. Residents share bathrooms, circulation spaces, outdoor areas, kitchens, and collective living rooms.

At the architectural scale, the project creates a gradient from private rooms to collective spaces and public neighbourhood functions. At the urban scale, a public library activates the two-story plinth and connects the building to its surroundings. In this way, the project positions transitional housing as part of ordinary urban life: safe, affordable, socially inclusive, and non-institutional.
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The growing housing shortage in the Netherlands, urbanization, demographic changes, and increasing cultural diversity are placing new demands on the living environment. In cities such as Amsterdam, this leads to a greater diversity of households, lifestyles, and housing needs. At the same time, many existing buildings prove insufficiently capable of adapting to this dynamic context, as they are based on rigid floor plans and predetermined functions. As a result, spaces can only respond to a limited extent to changes in use, life phases, and societal developments, which may negatively affect both livability and social cohesion in the long term.

This research focuses on how design principles can contribute to the adaptability of residential environments across different scales: the immediate surroundings, the building block, and the individual dwelling. Adaptability is understood here as the capacity of the built environment to respond over time to changing needs and circumstances, without requiring major interventions or relocation. The theoretical framework is based on concepts such as the Shearing Layers by Stewart Brand, the frame and generic space by Bernard Leupen, and the Open Building principle by N. John Habraken, which distinguishes between permanent and adaptable elements within architecture.

Through literature research, case studies, fieldwork, and research-by-design, design strategies are analyzed and tested. The study results in a set of design guidelines that support designers in creating adaptable and future-proof residential environments. These guidelines do not prescribe fixed solutions, but rather form an adaptive framework that allows for variation, appropriation, and change, thereby contributing to a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban environment. ... Read more

Traditional public spaces are often experienced as vibrant places that form an important link between the city and the individual dwelling. They function not only as physical connections, but also as social spaces where encounters, interaction, and community building take place. Characteristic of these spaces is the direct relationship between the street and the front door, where residents appropriate their entrances and thereby contribute to the vibrancy and identity of the urban fabric.

In contemporary residential blocks, where dwellings are stacked and accessed through a collective entrance and corridor, this direct relationship is absent. The corridor primarily functions as a circulation space and lacks the qualities of public space. As a result, spontaneous encounters decrease and the sense of connectedness among residents diminishes. Although these corridors are physically located within the city, they are rarely considered part of the urban realm. This research examines the potential of residential corridors to function as vibrant spaces of social encounter.
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Contemporary housing for young professionals is increasingly dominated by the studio apartment, a model that prioritizes individual autonomy but often results in social isolation, spatial inefficiency, and limited adaptability to changing life patterns. At the same time, collective housing models frequently struggle to balance communal living with the need for privacy and personal control. This graduation project explores an alternative housing typology that negotiates this tension through the architectural design of thresholds.

The Threshold House proposes a collective housing model for young professionals in which privacy and openness are not treated as fixed opposites, but as spatially graduated conditions. Drawing on spatial theory, proxemics, and theories of place attachment, the project investigates how transitional spaces, such as shared corridors, semi-private zones, and collective interiors, can function as mediating devices between the individual dwelling and the collective environment. These threshold spaces enable residents to regulate visibility, access, and social interaction, supporting both autonomy and community.

The research combines theoretical analysis with architectural design research. Case studies of collective housing and historical and contemporary spatial models are analyzed to understand how boundaries, personalization, and transitional zones influence everyday use and social behavior. These insights inform the design of a housing proposal in a high-density urban context, aimed at young professionals navigating temporary and transitional phases of living.

By reframing housing as a sequence of negotiated thresholds rather than a binary division between private and public space, the project positions the Threshold House as an alternative to the conventional studio model. The proposal demonstrates how architectural design can foster social engagement without compromising individual privacy, contributing to current debates on collective living, housing typologies, and the role of architecture in shaping everyday domestic life. ... Read more

The goal of the municipality of Amsterdam is to build 150.000 houses before 2050 within the borders of Amsterdam, combined with the growing number of loneliness in Amsterdam, could result in both mental health problems and social problems. When these new houses are not planned properly, the quality of living in Amsterdam will drastically lower. Due to these problems, this research will focus on the relationship between neighbours and residents of large-scale city blocks. This will be done by researching and improving the social interaction between neighbours to lower the levels of loneliness and ensure a feeling of ‘home’ within a large-scale city block. The main research question will therefore be: How can large-scale city blocks be improved to create more opportunities for social interaction between neighbours?”. Ultimately, this research aims to find design guidelines that can be used to design a large-scale city block without undermining the unique qualities of the project.
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This paper explores the role of transition zones—the spatial and social thresholds between private dwellings and the public street—in shaping livable, safe, and socially connected urban environments. With Amsterdam as a case study, the research situates itself within the urgent context of urban densification and the construction of large-scale residential blocks. Historically, Dutch streets and stoops embodied spaces of encounter and personalization, but over time mass production, zoning laws, and functionalist housing approaches diminished the quality of these intermediary zones. Building upon the writings of Jane Jacobs, Herman Hertzberger, Jan Gehl, Aldo van Eyck, Christopher Alexander, and others, this paper argues that transition zones are crucial for stimulating social interaction, fostering a sense of ownership, and softening the divide between public and private realms. Through a literature review, case study analysis, and site-specific research on Amsterdam’s Strandeiland, this paper establishes the principles and dimensions that make transition zones successful. It further critiques contemporary large housing blocks where collective circulation spaces often fail to create meaningful social environments. The study concludes by outlining a set of architectural strategies to integrate attractive, functional, and adaptable transition zones into highdensity urban developments. The final part of this graduation project will consist of a research by design process, testing these principles in practice through the design of a new residential block in Amsterdam. ... Read more

In the Netherlands, socio-economic inequality remains a pressing issue, with urban areas experiencing the most significant challenges. Economic disparities between regions and within cities contribute to unequal access to opportunities and services. This inequality affects low-income households, leading to persistent cycles of poverty. Major cities, including Rotterdam, reflect the negative consewuences of this phenomenonwith some neighborhoods particularly affected by poverty and isolation. In the south of Rotterdam, a significant proportion of residents face socio-economic challenges, with many households living below the poverty line. This economic burden affects their well-being in a number of ways, including reduced access to basic services, limited social opportunities and a lack of supportive resources in the community. This can lead to social isolation, increased stress and reduced quality of life. It is important to understand the nature of relative poverty before considering how the built environment can serve this target group. This research aims to investigate how the built environment in Rotterdam South can actively contribute to improving the well-being of low-income households by incorporating shared resources, practices, collective living structures and communal spaces. ... Read more

In an era of accelerating urbanization and sensory overload, cities increasingly lack spaces that support mental restoration and emotional well-being. This graduation project explores the architectural potential of calmness as a spatial quality, using Rotterdam South- a socially diverse and often disadvantaged urban context- as both a case study and design site.

The project originates from a fascination with the growing need for tranquillity in cities and the under-addressed issue of mental health prevention. While much attention is given to treatment, little is done to proactively design for mental well-being. Mental health remains one of the four greatest burdens on the Dutch healthcare system, yet spatial responses are scarce.

Framing the design as a metaphorical pilgrimage, the project proposes a sequence of spaces that guide visitors from stress toward serenity. Extensive fieldwork, literature review, and sensory mapping were conducted to identify environmental stressors and urban relaxants, resulting in a conceptual framework of public, social, and personal space. This framework informed the proposal for a Centre for Calmness in Vreewijk, a historical garden suburb in Rotterdam South.

The centre includes a bathhouse, therapy facility, tea house, library, gallery, and workshop space- each embodying elements of introspection, cleansing, and community. The bathhouse in particular draws from historical typologies where collective bathing offered both ritual and refuge. The architectural design seeks to merge collective gathering with private contemplation, creating a balance between vibrancy and tranquillity.

The thesis also proposes a transferable pattern language for designing calming spaces, supported by a set of architectural guidelines and potential future locations for a broader calmness network across Rotterdam South. This dual focus- on a singular spatial anchor and a scalable urban strategy- aims to influence how cities address mental well-being through design.

Ultimately, this project advocates for architecture that heals, reconnects, and restores. It positions the built environment not merely as a backdrop to life, but as an active participant in the mental resilience of its inhabitants.
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Heijplaat village, completely encircled by the Waal/Eemhaven in Rotterdam South, is categorized by the municipality as a “very safe neighbourhood.” This graduation project problematizes such evaluation under the same safety index as all other neighbourhoods in Rotterdam, despite its one and only geographical specificity.

Safety is a complex yet crucial aspect in the discussion of building social sustainability. Notably, the Rotterdam municipality launched a new safety initiative (“Veiligheidkoers”) in 2022 to make the whole city, including the port, more resilient. Traditionally, the port and the neighbourhood have been approached as separate entities with distinct natures and expertise. However, as the leading contributor to the delta and the water-related dialogues globally, discussion of the port-city interface is critical and immediate in the Netherlands, especially because the impact of what the port brings to the city, and even more significantly, what the port brings to the people, is transboundary. In this sense, the case of Heijplaat-Waal/Eemhaven presents a unique classification of “port-nested-village,” calling for a specialized and nuanced approach to reframe the notion of safety in the port-city interface. ... Read more

The foundation of this research lies in the social experience of living together and how architecture can contribute to a more profound sense of belonging. What began as a curiosity about the social potential of shared space evolved into a broader exploration of how people form relationships, with one another, and with their environments. Rather than focusing on housing as a purely functional solution, the project considers how feelings of ownership, recognition, and comfort emerge through design. These aspects are explored across multiple scales: from the city and building to the corridor, doorstep, and living room. The project examines how collective and transitional spaces can become active zones of community-building when spatially and socially considered. Through design strategies such as clustering, varied access, and interaction zones, the architecture fosters a resilient framework where people not only live but also connect, engage, and belong. Ultimately, this research highlights how architecture can support resilient, inclusive communities through spatial design that responds to both personal and collective social dynamics. ... Read more

Contemporary social housing development in the Netherlands often prioritises standardisation over progressive and imaginative design, resulting in an undesirable dullness of the urban environment. However, there are also advantages to standardisation in the built environment, like reduced design costs, quicker construction times, higher technical quality, and potential for circularity/sustainability. In short, there is an unwanted lack of architectural diversity and individual living style and freedom, caused by a strong focus on standardisation and its benefits. To change this current state, other forms of social housing complexes have to be explored. Buildings that support diverse living conditions for diverse inhabitants, that favour equitable housing over equal housing, with architectural emphasis on the unicity of its users. Housing that invites people to explore their style of living, that evokes a feeling of freedom of style. ... Read more