This research focuses on the relation between the compact city and urban life. Literature suggests that a holistic approach to further compacting a city means also integrating urban life qualities. This is currently lacking in Western European practice due to pragmatism, decentralisation and neo-liberal plot-led development. This while both concepts are crucial for sustainable cities. Therefore an optimization of their relation is needed in order to make better choices regarding densification. The result is a research-by-design that researches three distinct themes that are related to incorporating urban life. These are urban volumes, urban network and urban quality. The Dutch densification site ‘Central Innovation District’ in the Hague is used as a case study for applying the found design principles. In order to measure and predict the character of spaces, modern modes of measuring the city are used. Most prominently are the methods of space syntax angular integration, betweenness shortest path algorithms and the spacematrix GSI/FSI density ratios. Moreover, because of its focus on the human scale, 3D modelling is a crucial part of the research. The research concludes that the compact city and urban life can be integrated with eachother by following a set of principles for volumes, slow traffic networks and urban quality. What is needed is a broader overview of what attractors and pedestrian flows will emerge in a plan area. The associated centralities can then be used to shape the volumetric properties in such a way that significant densification can be achieved while urban life values like human scale stay assured.

The AMA region wants to make the transition towards a circular economy. To make the circular economy happen, social, environmental and economic challenges have to be integrated in the transition. This report will identify these challenges and propose a vision, a development strategy and projects/policies to propose a new system in the sector where most of these challenges come together: the agrifood sector. The agrifood sector being one of the most polluting sectors in the world plays a key role in a circular economy. The project uses the circular economy as a tool to establish normative change in the case of the imbalanced agrifood sector. The development strategy of the project provides a framework for a future circular economy in a fairer agrifood sector. The framework encompasses localising the food network and creating a local circularity in the flows of energy, water, heat, fodder, CO2 circulation and organic material. This localisation aims to create jobs for the low to middle educated people that are struck by socio-spatial polarization. It also suggests new ways of protein production and of the usage of peatlands. The conclusion is that, while already a big portion of the circular economy can be realised, more research is needed to be able to make the circular economy happen in the agrifood sector. To balance the sector, it has to be deconcentrated and localised. This localisation is essentially a modern form of the traditional sector from the 18th and 19th century. Therefore it’s called an agronomic renaissance. Due to the traditional nature of the sector, institutional change has to happen, which can only be achieved by a long term strategy, strong policy and a periodical review. Giving the sector guidance and a perspective is important to instigate the change needed for a circular agrifood system that also accounts for the social, environmental and economic challenges mentioned. This project gives a possible direction for this long term perspective.