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