KZ

K. Zhao

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Towards a Socially Resilient Urban Village, the Case of Dongguan

Master thesis (2023) - K. Zhao, G. Bracken, M. Lub
Rural migrants are being evicted from China’s metropolis. Urban villages used to be a refuge for rural migrants fleeing excessive living expenses, where they might find reasonable housing, social connections, and even work opportunities. However, as these villages are now being redeveloped mainly to create land revenues for local municipalities, rural migrants are being evicted and left vulnerable. This can also create vulnerabilities for the cities themselves. Despite the amount of literature on urban village development and redevelopment (Hao et al., 2013; Kochan, 2015; Lai et al., 2021; Li et al., 2014; Zhou, 2014), there is little research on the social problems, particularly problems for rural migrants, brought by current mode of redevelopment, which occurs frequently nowadays. This study aims to answer the question of how urban villages can be redeveloped to create socially resilient communities by using multiple methods, in both social and spatial aspects. The study aims to address the issue of urban village redevelopment in China's metropolises and its impact on rural migrants by proposing an alternative art-driven redevelopment strategy. A comprehensive solution package that includes urban design, policy recommendations, and participation strategies that take into account the social resilience of migrants will be developed. To do this, the study will first use methods such as stakeholder analysis and engagement, as well as spatial analysis and urban design at a community scale, using the case of Zanhualing Village as an example. The ultimate goal is to create a strategic plan for numerous urban villages across the city of Dongguan to create a more resilient city overall. ...

Affordable circular bio-based building for South Holland

The Province of South Holland, not unlike the other provinces in the Netherlands, has a big housing demand. To meet it more building materials are needed in a short time frame. The current building sector is not environmentally friendly. Hence, a transition to a more sustainable building sector is necessary. Bio-based building materials are the possible solution for this. By transitioning to the bio-based building industry not only the construction sector would be affected, but the agricultural and waste industries would also undergo a positive transition.

With this information the following research question is formulated “How can the PZH synergize the circular bio-based industry and organic agriculture in order to improve the quality of life in a just way?”.

To answer this question an analysis was done of the current building sector, the bio-based building industry, the urbanisation strategies, and the landuse in the Province of South Holland. Out of the analysis, the potentials were concluded and a vision for 2050 was created. The implementation of the vision was elaborated by four different illustrative strategies and locations. Each of the them focuses on the implementation of one specific layer of the vision.

By transitioning the building sector into a circular bio-based building sector the Province of South Holland will have more biodiversity zones, an environmentally friendly and faster way of building, increased access to organic food for everyone, an increase in the health of inhabitants, and new job opportunities.

In short, by transitioning to the bio-based building material industry, Butterfly Effect will be created.
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