Many studies have researched the effects of gender inequality in many different fields. In the field of architecture however, it has proven a struggle to translate the social to the spatial domain. Through a combination of a literature study, interviews and site visits this thesis aims to answer the question “How can a gender-sensitive spatial design in Rotterdam South stimulate women’s space claiming and public space participation?”. In part 1, the research shows gender inequality negatively affects women’s space claiming and public space participation. Walking practices, memory and (lack of) control — the three factors in space claiming — are shaped by gender roles, collective experiences of unsafety and street harassment as well as the male hegemony. Public space participation is affected as well: women use the public space in a mobile manner, task-oriented manner or do not use it at all. Female perception of public space is generally more negative and feelings of unsafety are more common. Additionally, women continuously scan their environment, meaning the maintenance and design of the public space are vital to gender-sensitive design.

In Rotterdam South and Bloemhof, the gendered aspects of space claiming and public space participation are clearly present and the outcomes of the literature review are confirmed by the interviews and location analysis. Gender-sensitive design can contribute to a more women-friendly urban environment, empower them to partake more often in the socio-spatial domain, and encourage a sense of social safety, social control as well as encourage the (extended) use of the public space, thus stimulating women’s space claiming and public space participation. The research outcome helped create principles for the design process and other design guidelines, which are provided in chapter four and the attachment Blueprints for Change. In part 2, these principles and guidelines are applied to a real context and design, showing the possibilities of gendermainstreaming. This goes to show, spatial designers can now design female Spaces of Power. ... Read more

The Netherlands has over 60.000 national monuments (Cultural Heritage Agency, 2021), excluding landscapes and city views. With this many monuments comes the substantial task of maintaining and conserving these buildings and thereby preserving Dutch heritage and cultural identity. Over time, non-profit organizations have taken it upon themselves to care for these monuments, becoming a large though not well-researched actor in the field of monument care. This paper therefore aims to answer the question: “How do non-profit organizations in the Netherlands participate in the field of monument care since the enactment of the 1961 Monuments Act?”. A literature study shows that many governmental changes have affected the role of these non-profit organizations, starting with the origin of the 1961 Monuments Act. Some non-profits are older than Dutch monument law, but only in recent decades have non-profit organizations really gained influence due to the decentralisation of monument care. Seven currently active non-profits were investigated and it was found that non-profits can be classified into three categories: advisory, protective and managing non-profits. Further results showed that non-profit organizations have a primarily positive impact on the field of monument care and that the presence of non-profits have resulted in a new, contemporary monument care system, where the government works together with these private instances in a sustainable, mutually beneficial manner. ... Read more