Marginalised, dilapidated, deprived, often centres of crime, poor living conditions and even poorer life prospects. It is common knowledge that this is the reality of many urban areas in numerous mega cities and not only. Each developing country has struggled with uncontrolled urban sprawl in the rapid urbanization processes that commenced with the industrial revolution almost two centuries ago. Furthermore, natural calamities, war aftermath and poor economic outlook led to the desolation of many parts of the world. Part of a vicious circle of self-enforcing and intertwined dynamics of various character, these areas usually seem beyond salvation. However, history proves that this is not the case and although difficult, change is possible. This paper focuses on the relatively new challenge of urban regeneration by examining four case studies with the aim of pinpointing the underlying political, economic and social circumstances which generate such negative zones and the subsequent urban strategies employed for their improvMarginalised, dilapidated, deprived, often centres of crime, poor living conditions and even poorer life prospects. It is common knowledge that this is the reality of many urban areas in numerous mega cities and not only. Each developing country has struggled with uncontrolled urban sprawl in the rapid urbanization processes that commenced with the industrial revolution almost two centuries ago. Furthermore, natural calamities, war aftermath and poor economic outlook led to the desolation of many parts of the world. Part of a vicious circle of self-enforcing and intertwined dynamics of various character, these areas usually seem beyond salvation. However, history proves that this is not the case and although difficult, change is possible. This paper focuses on the relatively new challenge of urban regeneration by examining four case studies with the aim of pinpointing the underlying political, economic and social circumstances which generate such negative zones and the subsequent urban strategies employed for their improvement. A comparative study between four urban transformations, each of varying scale, geographical location and different respective prerequisites, draws the parallels and margins in an attempt to underline the main agents of change and the activation of dormant capital. The comparison is carried out following a structure, based on recurring patterns and themes, which consider various parameters such as historical context, political scene, economic dynamics, urban strategy and public involvement . By analysing examples of successful strategies from the recent past in relation to their context, connections are made between various criteria and strategic courses of action are presented as tools in the quest of making our environment more sustainable and healthy to its users. This thesis work contributes to the urban regeneration discourse and could be of use for future revitalization projects. ement. A comparative study between four urban transformations, each of varying scale, geographical location and different respective prerequisites, draws the parallels and margins in an attempt to underline the main agents of change and the activation of dormant capital. The comparison is carried out following a structure, based on recurring patterns and themes, which consider various parameters such as historical context, political scene, economic dynamics, urban strategy and public involvement . By analysing examples of successful strategies from the recent past in relation to their context, connections are made between various criteria and strategic courses of action are presented as tools in the quest of making our environment more sustainable and healthy to its users. This thesis work contributes to the urban regeneration discourse and could be of use for future revitalization projects.

In situations of crisis, regular hospitals often do not longer suffice the high demand for medical care. In this case, temporary medical structures become indispensable. The Covid 19 pandemic brought to the fore architectural challenges such as the spatial reorganization of healthcare facilities for high occupancy levels, the issue of infection control, the integration of new technologies, and the flexible and sustainable use of space. As a result, planners were urged to think about flexible and adaptable structures that were efficient in terms of materials, time, effort, and cost. This resulted in innovative solutions from which we can learn for future crisis and emergency situations. The goal of this thesis is to create a "catalogue" of design strategies within the typology of temporary medical structures that can be applied to future projects during the Covid 19 pandemic but can also be applied to other scenarios where requirements overlap. Therefore, temporary medical structures before and during the Covid 19 pandemic will be embedded in their broader context and examined according to specific parameters. These parameters revolve around hygiene, psychological aspects, program, technology, and the architectural context. The analysis of the case studies is based on publications, articles, statements, and interviews with healthcare professionals. In this way, the reader is provided with an in-depth overview of strategies that can be implemented in temporary medical structures to solve challenges posed by crisis and emergency situations.

As technology advances and materials evolve, architects and designers have access to innovative tools such as digital fabrication, robotic production, CNC milling, and artificial intelligence. These tools have made them more resourceful and precise in their work, allowing them to constantly exceed the potentials and find solutions to future challenges. With the integration of technology and design, architecture is progressing to be extremely flexible to respond to the circularity movement driving the construction industry. While these technologies empower them, it is fair to say that the role of an architect in the future may be uncertain. It would not be surprising if a person received a notification saying, ‘your house has been delivered!’ The thesis explores the post war period when the architecture started becoming flexible, modular, and prompt reflecting on the circumstances. It specifically examines how these practices are shaping the present and the potential impact they may have on the future of architecture, including the possibility of architecture without architects.

At the dawn of the twentieth century people in the Netherlands were living in poor conditions. The houses were poorly ventilated, with high humidity and little daylight. Along with the poor living conditions the first World War and Economic crisis marked the start of the century. It was that during this time in England a new housing concept arose. Ebenezer Howard came up with the concept of the garden cities. In garden cities the focus is on more peaceful living than in the cities and provides a lot of amenities. This concept was adapted in the Netherlands in several cities. But is this concept the answer to the problems of the interbellum period? The question posed in this history thesis is: ‘Are garden villages an answer to the social and economic problems of the beginning of the 20th century and, if so, how is that reflected in the design?’ In order to research this the thesis looks at three cases in the Netherlands, Vreewijk en Heijplaat in Rotterdam and Marlot in the Hague. Here we see that providing better living conditions, more amenities and teaching people how to live properly, invluences society in a positive way. Because of this it can be concluded that garden villages provide some answers to the problems of the interbellum

Research about church architecture in the past few centuries mainly focussed on reuse. In the past few years, the focus of a lot of church communities has shifted towards reconnecting with society. Architectural research about this topic in church context is still lacking. This is an opportunity for more research, since the physical built environment can highly influence the way of reconnecting is done. In this thesis, several topics are researched, including a reflection in chapter one on what the original biblical architecture of the christian story means for church architecture today. Chapter two shows how architecture and underlying values and intentions are interconnected. It also offers a historical framework to compare modern day design perspectives with the past and it shows how the focus in the current church has shifted more towards connecting with society. The last chapter examines several architectural church projects that try to reconnect with society in several ways. Architectural themes that influence this are evaluated, including a gradation in private and public, inviting outside space, flexibility, creating beauty, connecting 'normal' life aspects with 'religious' aspects, informality, creating room for silence and reflection, building highly sustainable and allow for both small and large scale gatherings. This research is not a comprehensive overview, but can be used as a starting point for more interaction and conversation between theologians, church communities and architects.

Eindhoven and Philips, two names that are inseparable from each other. Travelling by train to Eindhoven you are accompanied by the heritage of Philips next to the railway. Travelling by car to Eindhoven along the highway you pass the Medical Centre of Philips in the north and the High Tech Campus of Philips in the south. In the city white factory buildings with the Philips logo are prominently displayed in the city. In the prime of Philips around the 1930’s it was a real industrial hub. This is the reason why residents of Eindhoven are still proud of the city (Onna, 2002). The city of Eindhoven is in a large extent formed by Philips. The buildings are designed from the company architecture of Philips. Architects employed by or under direct supervision of Philips’ Technische Bedrijven (Philips Building Design and Plant Engineering Division). Optimal use of the production facilities was priority in the designs (Geevers, 2014). Because of the lack of space, the factories needed to be built higher and this gave the white towers the appearance of a ‘world industry’ (1908, p.134). The retiring of Philips from Eindhoven in 2001 can be seen as a pauperization of her identity, but as well a release. The architecture of Philips remains nowadays to the collective memory of the city (Doevendans, 2009). The architecture and city planning of Philips is still recognizable. The old production facilities are used nowadays for Brainport, creative and innovation city and reused for new functions as living, culture, recreation, and offices. But the brands Brainport and Design Capital will never win it from the trademark Philips. Eindhoven will always be able to use the name Philips for its reputation (Doevendans, 2009). The challenge for Eindhoven is to combine this tradition with the next phase of architecture. Eindhoven is an exceptional urban environment, an environment that has been made an exceptional city because of its knowledge and heritage (Onna, 2002).

Demolition or renovation has always been a matter of debate in the built environment, especially in densely populated cities with little room for new construction. In the past, people often opted for the former, demolition, but today people are increasingly realizing what has already been lost over the years. Many old fortified cities have also been wrestling with this dilemma for years; to what extent and in what way can we translate our history as a fortified town into the new built environment? By means of aesthetic images and illustrations, supported by textual explanations, an analysis was made of how the old fortress city of Zwolle dealt with this issue. Zwolle proves to be one of the cities that in recent decades has very consciously dealt with its history as a fortified city; the city canal, part of the fortress and even the city gate have all been preserved and well maintained. Also, several aspects that have been lost over the years have been brought back. The municipality of Zwolle has deliberately chosen this path and also has no intention of deviating from it in the coming years, as is evident from the new regional plan. In this plan, the municipality of Zwolle clearly states its position on the preservation and conservation of these iconic structures.

Over the course of the 20th century, healthcare in general has seen many beneficial developments (e.g. medicine, procedures, hygiene etc.) However, when looking at assisted living facilities for mentally disabled people, a development towards an environment that largely resembles hospitals can be observed (den Duik 2015). Since the main purpose of these institutions is not to heal but to accommodate, the question arises how these institutes can strive to provide a real home for its inhabitants. This thesis presents several design considerations that may serve useful within the design process to aid into reaching this goal. These considerations are based on studying the Thomashuizen concept which was initiated by Hans van Putten with the same goal in mind. This concept is compared to the Rudolf Steiner clinic as a historical precedent from the interbellum period which is known to deviate from other historical conventional examples. After a thorough analysis, the concepts of scale, context, image and pragmatism were identified as aspects that could be considered when designing an institute that provides assisted living for mentally disabled people. A small scale may be adapted to provide a family community and more attention per inhabitant, the typologies of the farmhouse and the mansion complement this scale and fit into either the urban or rural context, while at the same time they carry the image of a home. Furthermore a pragmatic approach can be used to design space syntax in order to avoid complex interventions and thereby harming the overall image of a building.

In designing tranquillity, a historical research is conducted into the architectural design of psychiatric institutions from the 19th century in the United States. During the 19th century there was a lot of social change which led to the collaboration between physicians and architects. They tried to positively influence the healing process of patients through architectural design. Many of these design principles are still relevant today, but a number of things have been lost over time as well. Meanwhile there is still a relevant problem in the Netherlands, namely stress among psychiatric patients. This led to the question addressed in this historical research: How can a striking example of 19th century mental health care architecture be useful to reduce stress among psychiatric patients in contemporary Dutch facilities? The historical part of the study focusses on St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C. designed on the basis of the design principles of the revolutionary physician Dr. Thomas S. Kirkbride. Furthermore, the research compares this historical research with contemporary scientific research into the influences that architectural interventions have on people’s and psychiatric patients’ stress. Finally, the research ends in a number of recommended design choices based on historical principles and contemporary scientific research which is substantiated with examples from contemporary innovative Dutch facilities. Thus, recommendations are made to design tranquillity.

In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic forced an important part of the population to stay home and to experience the telework. This context of major crisis was an opportunity for utopists and idealists to speculate about the future of the general organization of our civilization. On June 9th 2020, the New York Times wrote “What If Working From Home Goes On… Forever?”. In such climate of uncertainty, especially at the beginning of the crisis, this question was relevant to ask. One year later, the generalist utopia gave the floor to a more nuanced reality. The most common tendency suggests a hybrid solution between the office and the home working with one major argument: Flexibility. What is sure now is that the concept of office building will deeply change in the next years. Or did it already? In 2016, Carlo Ratti was already asking the question “If work is digital, why do we still go to the office?”. It is because an office space is much more than a place where employees work individually behind the screen of a computer. Otherwise, telework would be commonly used since its apparition in the 1990’s. There is a need of social interactions, of knowledge sharing. The intention of this paper will be to take a step back in the history of workspaces in order to analyze and highlight its evolution as well as the changing consideration of the employee and therefore the investments made to increase his comfort at the office. Focusing mainly on the situation in Belgium, the intention is to precisely understand the social, economic and political dynamics that influenced the evolution of work environment. An emphasis will be made on the New Ways of Working strategy (NWoW), a recent approach of the office space mainly developed in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Metabolism as the avant-garde architectural movement in Japan, reflects the thinking for the future toward changes, new technology, and social resilience by the 1960s Japanese architects. The movement is deeply rooted in the Japanese Buddhist belief based on reincarnation and architectural tradition based on dismantling. From a functional point of view, ‘Metabolism’ emphasizes the flexibility or adaptability of buildings over time. In the view of materialization, ‘metabolism’ puts forward the idea of returning the material back to the economic cycle or return to nature. We see similarities in the concept of circular design, which also aims at making the building future-proof throughout its material life cycle. Though the two movements share a high level of similarity in terms of initial concept and strategy, we turn to think about what the inspiration from metabolism would be under the scope of circular design nowadays at the architectural level. At the same time, we see that a new generation of architects is still drawing from the lessons of the Metabolists. They diverge from the fetish of megastructures to more human-associated and mobility aspects of Metabolism. By analyzing projects from Japanese architects Ryue Nishizawa from SANAA and Sou Fujimoto, this thesis aims to study the interpretation of metabolism in the current context at the architectural scale, focusing on how this philosophical concept gets reflected in architectural design, structure, and materialization.

Metabolism as the avant-garde architectural movement in Japan, reflects the thinking for the future toward changes, new technology, and social resilience by the 1960s Japanese architects. The movement is deeply rooted in the Japanese Buddhist belief based on reincarnation and architectural tradition based on dismantling. From a functional point of view, ‘Metabolism’ emphasizes the flexibility or adaptability of buildings over time. In the view of materialization, ‘metabolism’ puts forward the idea of returning the material back to the economic cycle or return to nature. We see similarities in the concept of circular design, which also aims at making the building future-proof throughout its material life cycle. Though the two movements share a high level of similarity in terms of initial concept and strategy, we turn to think about what the inspiration from metabolism would be under the scope of circular design nowadays at the architectural level. At the same time, we see that a new generation of architects is still drawing from the lessons of the Metabolists. They diverge from the fetish of megastructures to more human-associated and mobility aspects of Metabolism. By analyzing projects from Japanese architects Ryue Nishizawa from SANAA and Sou Fujimoto, this thesis aims to study the interpretation of metabolism in the current context at the architectural scale, focusing on how this philosophical concept gets reflected in architectural design, structure, and materialization.

The focal point of this thesis lies within the state building situated on Bezuidenhoutseweg in The Hague. Having been inaugurated in 1985, the edifice functioned as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for approximately 35 years and, from 2021 onwards, as a temporary accommodation for the Dutch Parliament. This thesis, therefore, evaluates the building and its subsequent expansion concerning its role, architectural qualities, and functionality for both purposes. The thesis examines the overall development and situation of the building to provide a balanced answer to the main question, ‘In what way do the distinctive architectural qualities of the former Ministry of Foreign Affairs contribute to the building’s functionality in its role?’ The structuralist design by Dick Apon is characterized by a strong emphasis on the human scale in form and finish. The fragmented facade design plays with introverted and extroverted parts, making it highly suitable for the ministry’s function but less so for parliamentary functions, which benefit from a high degree of transparency. The strongly hierarchical structure of the building supports the ministry’s working methods but completely stifles the dynamics between politicians and the press. The thesis concludes that the building provides much more functional accommodation for the ministry than for the Dutch Parliament. Therefore, this thesis ultimately recommends relocating the ministry of Foreign Affairs after the return of the Parliament and restoring it to its former glory.

“Comfort […] is in short supply. Not because the world is running out of it but because, in the face of the climate crisis, we have to collectively adjust to its going away” (Barber, 2019, p. 44). During the last century, the Western hemisphere has grown accustomed to high standards of comfort reliably enabled by the built environment. Within the realm of thermal comfort, fossil-fueled mechanical HVAC systems are expected to mitigate heat during warmer seasons and provide warmth throughout living and working spaces in winter months. However, the understanding of and measures to achieve thermal comfort are a construct of modern societies. And they come at a price: cooling and heating accounts for approximately 20% respectively 50% of building energy (Wang et al., 2023). Facing the challenges and implications of climate change, this paper aligns with Professor Barber's contention that the status quo on comfort needs to be revisited and it is architects who are “on the front lines”, who are responsible for “exploring life after” and to explore and build noncarbon possibilities for “a world at the edge of discomfort” (Barber, 2019, p.50). The thesis delves into the historical evolution of comfort in the built environment, with a primary focus on thermal comfort and the overlooked influence of microclimates in our lives. The study explores the historical transition from vernacular ways of shaping interior microclimates through today's prevailing practices that are dependent on fossil fuels to contemporary movements to redefine our understanding and way of achieving thermal comfort. The exploration of thermal comfort has evolved throughout history, from ancient attempts of individuals who sought refuge from extreme climate conditions to sophisticated scientific models using multidisciplinary methods to answer simple questions – when do we feel comfortable and what is the amount of discomfort we can acclimatize to and embrace? Barber, D. A. (2019). After Comfort, 45–50. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.17613/a32k-mg16 Wang, F., Yang, B., Deng, Q., & Luo, M. (Eds.). (2023). Personal Comfort Systems for improving indoor thermal comfort and air quality. Springer Verlag, Singapor.

After the second world war two movements evolved as a reaction to the developments the war brought into society and built environment. The comparison involves the movements metabolism and structuralism both from the lenses of the protagonists of these movements: Kenzo Tange and Herman Hertzberger respectively. This thesis aims for an understanding of the core principles of each movement, the origin of these and how they translates themselves into the design of building through the lens of the protagonists of both movements. By doing a literature study, a case studies and a comparative analysis this thesis tries to understand how these movements relate to one another. The research revealed that structuralism critiques the fast paced and functionalistic approach of the CIAM for the reconstruction of cities. It puts an emphasize on the human scale: in particular user experience and the personalisation of spaces. Metabolism reacted to the scarcity in land parallel with the rapid growth of the population of Japan. It focusses on the future change of demand in space by allowing buildings to grow and adapt: unlimiting metabolism for biological organisms only. The Centraalbeheer Achmea building shows the high level of thinking in detail for the user experience in contrast to the Shizuoka Broadcast Centre. Another contrary aspect is the direction of creating spaces in which one colonizes land while the other colonizes air by building higher. Both movements have their own experimental creative approach in which they question the way people thought about architecture. By understanding the principles of these movements and how they translate into design, this thesis offers an insight on how different society and built environment can shape architecture differently.

This study examines the complex interplay of utopian vision, embodied experience, and social change within the context of modernistic religious architecture. Using Manfred Tafuri's critique of architectural utopianism (1976) and Giorgio Agamben's potentiality theory (2004) as a framework, the thesis analyzes two seminal structures: Peter Zumthor's Bruder Klaus Field Chapel and Le Corbusier's Colline Notre Dame du Haut. These case studies reveal how the manipulation of architectural elements such as form, materiality, and light creates opportunities for disruption and transformation within the visitor's experience. While embodying elements of utopian aspiration, the chapel's success hinges on the visitor's ability to engage with these design elements and connect on a personal level. Beyond Tafuri's focus on the inherent limitations of architectural utopianism, this study draws on Agamben's theory to explore how Bruder Klaus and Notre Dame du Haut offer spaces for potentiality to manifest. This potential allows for personal and spiritual transformation that departs from experiences evoked by traditional hierarchies found within many religious structures. The thesis contends that the pursuit of spiritual transformation through modernistic religious architecture exists within a complex and dynamic interplay of utopian idealism, embodied experience, and the realities of social and political power. Keywords: Modernist architecture, religious architecture, utopianism, potentiality, embodied experience, Peter Zumthor, Le Corbusier

This paper explores the potential of Additive Manufacturing (AM) in contemporary architecture within the context of Industry 4.0 and sustainability goals. The paper provides a historic overview of manufacturing through classification of Industrial revolutions. It discusses the societal, environmental, and technological shifts brought about by Industry 4.0, emphasizing its socio-economic implications and the perspective on circular economy, a requirement for sustainability. The integration of AM into architectural practice is examined, focusing on its role in digital fabrication and the opportunities it may provide alternative, more sustainable design solutions against architectural challenges. Through case studies, diverse applications of Additive Manufacturing in architecture, ranging from sustainable construction elements to innovative façade cladding this paper aims to demonstrate the potential of Additive Manufacturing Technologies within architecture and design practices. Additionally, it discusses the importance of including curricula on ‘designing for Additive Manufacturing’ in educational institutions as they play a big role in shaping the future of architectural practice. By positioning itself within this historical continuum, the research lays the groundwork for further exploration and innovation in digitally manufactured architecture.

Ornaments have been a cornerstone of architecture since its beginning, many types of ornaments have been created as means of expression for designers and developers, transferring ideas of religion, politics, and society. But in the historic timeline of architecture, the inclusion of architectural ornaments has stagnated, and with a rapid expansion of urban sprawl ornaments have become a rare sight. With the use of psychological research, this urban environment has been adapting in many ways to increase psychological wellbeing of its inhabitants by, for example, increasing the availability of nature. Cities are adapting, but architecture which could increase wellbeing by intensifying ornamentation, struggles to break from the stagnation. However, by creating designs based on psychological research, architectural concepts that positively influence the wellbeing of city inhabitants are emerging. This paper elaborates the process of the revitalisation of ornaments in contemporary architecture and its benefits to mental health.

This thesis aims to investigate the impact of green architecture features on the well-being of children and staff in Dutch preschools, addressing a gap in previous research. It considers six forms of well-being: physical, emotional, environmental, financial, personal development, and work-life balance. Seven green architecture features are outlined: energy efficiency, water efficiency, environmentally preferred building materials, waste reduction, toxic reduction, indoor air quality, and smart growth. Greenery in architecture is noted to reduce stress, promote social interactions, support child development, stimulate personal growth, and encourage physical activity, with potential drawbacks such as allergic reactions and excessive sunlight exposure. Four Dutch preschools, Open Air School, Het Volle Leven, IKC De Kleine Kapitein, and De Avonturier, are analyzed, highlighting the impact of Green Architecture features on the well-being of the children and staff and how this is visible in architectural elements. Common green architecture implementations include biodiversity, waste reduction, strategic window placement for airflow and natural light, and multifunctional layouts supporting interaction and ventilation. These features positively influence energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and smart growth, ultimately enhancing physical and emotional well-being.