Balancing Trust is a graduation project developed within the Complex Projects graduation studio at TU Delft, under the theme Bodies & Buildings. The design proposes a new courthouse in the center of Milan. The project explores how institutional architecture can balance authority with openness, rethinking the courthouse as a civic space embedded in the urban fabric. Through spatial, typological, and material investigations, the design aims to create a justice center that feels accessible and dignified, rooted in Milan’s architectural identity while responding to contemporary demands of public trust and institutional clarity.

Good Trip proposes a cancer care center for Quadronno district in Milan.

Good Trip seeks to investigate hospital architecture through the lens of pleasure. Using the real-world Clinica La Madonnina as the starting point, the research questions normative models of healthcare and the perpetuating bigness in medical institutions prevalent across European cities. In these derived hospitals, patients become bodies moved along Kafkaesque corridors, stigmatized and stripped off joy of living. Rejuvenated interest in hospitals post-Covid 19 and rising cancer incidences linked with the dawn of super-aged societies in Europe urge a radical redefining of cancer care buildings, from curing to caring.

Good Trip dwells on the generic-specific conflict between the medical briefs and healthcare spaces. The research-by-design seeks to formalize pleasure in hospital’s Third Place - the corridor - through intimacy, domesticity, and non-normative social engagement while reflecting on the hospital as both a healthcare and socio-cultural infrastructure within the city.

How did theatres shift from city stages to hidden spaces? Despite opera’s historical role as a socially cohesive art form, it has shifted toward exclusivity over centuries, detaching from everyday public life. This study examines La Scala as a case for rethinking opera house design to contribute to the social accessibility and cultural relevance of opera in contemporary society. Drawing on historical analysis, architectural theory, and case studies of contemporary theatres, the research proposes spatial strategies to transform the opera house into an inclusive cultural venue. By reimagining the opera house layout and exploring new audience-stage relationships, this project aims to position La Scala as an open, accessible site, fostering dialogue and engagement within the society. The study culminates in a design brief for a new opera house for La Scala, integrating opera in the modern sociocultural dynamics and addressing the role of opera within the city.

This book has been developed as part of the graduation studio Complex Projects, a studio within the master track Architecture at TU Delft. The central theme of the studio is Bodies and Buildings, which explores the dynamic relationship between the human body and the built environment. Within this context, students are challenged to design a ‘one-off building’ (Large-scale, complex buildings of which only one exists in the city) located in Milan, as indicated on the map.

This particular book focuses on the design of a public library, approached as more than just a space for books. The project investigates how architectural design can actively stimulate social interaction, turning the library into a vibrant, inclusive urban space. Emphasis is placed on the role of the library as an urban ‘living room’, a place that fosters connection, comfort, and a sense of belonging in the city.

From Site to Flight: Idroscalo City Airport, Milan, is a research and design project of a medium-scale airport in Milan, Italy. Using the real-world airport of Milan-Linate as a starting point, it studies the qualities of existing airport architecture and proposes how newly built airports could be designed to be more site-specific, user-oriented, and connected to their respective contexts.

This thesis focuses on how train station design should adapt to the rapid advancements in smart technologies and the growing prevalence of shared mobility. Traditional train station designs, often rooted in the past social context, may be no longer suitable for the demands of the modern era.Therefore, the goal of this train station design is to transform it into an smart shared mobility hub, which will effectively integrate various modes of transport, optimize travel efficiency and provide seamless connectivity. Beyond serving as a transit point, the station will also function as a vibrant public space, offering services and activities that cater to both travelers and local residents, making it both a transportation node and a dynamic urban destination.

The Collaborative Library is a civic space for everyone, a place where individual growth contributes to collective well-being. This development is never solitary; it unfolds with and through others, by collaborating, learning from one another, and being seen.

Architecturally, this idea is expressed through visibility: open sightlines, layered spatial connections, and the transparent character of the building. The exposure of creative work further enhances this openness, allowing users to see and be inspired by the work of others.

In this way, the design encourages communities to actively participate and engage with the Collaborative Library as a shared space of learning, creation, and belonging.

The ‘Territory on Trial’ project investigates the spatial and territorial dynamics within courthouse architecture, focusing on the courtroom as a microcosm of broader struggles over power, access, and control. The courthouse, as both a civic and judicial institution, encapsulates a fundamental tension between authority and public openness. Within the courtroom, these tensions are made spatially explicit: it is the only space where all key actors are simultaneously present, each negotiating their own form of territorial control. The courtroom therewith operates as a condensed reflection of the courthouse at large, revealing how architecture mediates authority, visibility, and participation. Historically, the courthouse was not always an enclosed symbol of state power but a civic space of openness and dialogue. In ancient societies, justice was dispensed in public settings under trees or in open-air assemblies where the presence of the community was essential to the legitimacy of the process. The Athenians and medieval Europeans alike practiced law in spaces where nature, symbolized by the tree, stood as a marker of wisdom, stability, and impartiality. These open-air courts embodied transparency and collective accountability, ensuring that justice was both seen and shared. Over time, however, as legal systems became more specialized, the spaces of justice grew increasingly formalised and hierarchical. The modern courthouse, with its monumental facades, elevated benches, and rigid circulation, reflects a shift toward spatial segregation and control, reinforcing power structures through architectural means.

This thesis critically examines how such architectural hierarchies shape behaviour, social interaction, and perceptions of justice. It explores the ways in which spatial design can either sustain or subvert authority, asking what it means for a public building especially one so symbolically charged as a courthouse to be genuinely open and democratic. This continuing tension between ideals of accessibility and the practical imperatives of security and order lies at the heart of the inquiry. Drawing on case studies, theoretical frameworks, and spatial analysis, the research investigates how architectural form, scale, and materiality influence civic experience and shape the perception of justice. It questions whether the courthouse can evolve beyond its traditional typology to become a civic space of participation and engagement one that reflects not only authority, but also empathy and inclusivity. Within the context of Milan, with its layered legal traditions and increasingly diverse urban fabric, this thesis positions the courthouse as a lens through which to reconsider how architecture can embody the principles of equity, transparency, and public trust.

Ultimately, the project seeks to contribute to a broader understanding of how spatial design influences civic life and the social meaning of justice, offering new perspectives on how public institutions can balance dignity with openness, and authority with accessibility.

This thesis focuses on research and design of future airports. The innovations in the aviation industry are guiding for the design. The main innovations that the design is based on are the supersonic airplanes fueled by hydrogen and efficiency focused technologies.

Berlin, a city characterized by its diversity, creativity, and resilience, stands as a vibrant hub with a rich history, influential club culture, with a prominent global position. The city’s identity has been shaped by a series of transformative events, from its growth along the Spree in 1724 and the cities expansion with characteristic blocks in 1862, up to the significant impacts of World War II and the division imposed by the Berlin Wall in 1961. The subsequent reunification process led to redevelopment, urban planning, and the evolution of Berlin’s dynamic, multicultural identity.

Aligned with this historical narrative, the city’s spatial structure, public transportation network, and urban development have undergone continuous evolution. The Berlin railway network, dating back to 1846, has expanded and adapted to the city’s growing needs, as evidenced by the i2030 expansion plans for railways (Start - i2030, 2023).

However, the evolution of train stations, integral to the city’s transportation infrastructure, has taken a distinct turn. Once serving as waiting shelters, stations have transformed into commercial entities prioritizing profit and efficiency often at the expense of inclusivity. While the program focuses on becoming a symbolic gateway to the city, there is a growing sense of exclusion despite train stations being the daily crossroads for diverse populations.

In the spirit of Berlin’s anarchistic character, which advocates a bottom-up approach to city-making, this thesis proposes a radical departure from the conventional model of train stations. Instead of admitting to the profit-driven agenda of the state-owned railway operator, Deutsche Bahn, the thesis advocates for a user-centric architectural approach which will make it inclusive. By delving into the essential needs of Berlin’s community, passengers, and commuters, the aim is to establish a harmonious balance between profit-driven objectives and the diverse requirements of the local population.
The thesis seeks inspiration from anarchism, a philosophy advocating for the absence of top-down authority. This departure from conventional architecture involves challenging the prevailing paradigm of “hostile architecture,” marked by exclusionary designs, towards a more inclusive and versatile approach focused on liveability. Through the lens of anarchistic principles, the proposal aims to redefine the S-Bahn stations along the Berlin ring, offering a compelling vision for a more user-friendly, community-oriented, and progressive environment as prototype station.

This thesis proposes a prototype station for the current S-Bahn station at Frankfurter Allee, where the seamless integration of functionality and user experience becomes the focal point. The “Frankfurter Allee Locals Foundation”, consisting of rotating local residents, jointly owns the rentable units added to the station’s program. Its former identity as containerbahnhof has been repurposed for the rentable units at this particular station.

Some recommendations on how to design a prototype station for the S-Bahn ring in Berlin combining all flows with local identities are the outcome of the research through design.

According to the net zero land consumption stipulated in the European Green Deal, Berlin will no longer expand outwards and land resources will become tight. Under such circumstances, the construction of new places often leads to the demolition of old places, and many of the demolished places contained public memories and were of great significance to people. Therefore, it is hoped that the city can accommodate more spaces and activities through venue sharing. As a time-operated building, the train station can use its vacancy period to carry out other activities. In order to fit in with its operating cycle and at the same time protect Berlin's declining characteristic cultural industry, the night live is chosen to use the train station during its vacancy period. However, the night live has its unique needs, and the common station space cannot fully meet the needs of the night live and realize the conversion of different programs.

Based on the above statement, the research question is proposed, which is how to switch a train station to a night live venue during its vacancy period?

The design results are divided into three parts. The first part is the metro station used during the day. In this part, while realizing the normal operation of the basic programs of the station, adjustments to the space and programs are made based on the elements and needs of the night live, while optimizing the user experience in the day, so that the station can meet users’ expectations beyond efficiency. The second part is the night live venue used at night. In this part, adjustments are made to the parts that cannot be satisfied by the original space of the metro station, the adjusted space should be able to adapt to the programs of the night live and utilize the benefits brought by the unique characteristics of station space to optimize its experience. The third part is about how the two building types can be converted into each other. Starting from space, facilities and management, a complete conversion process is designed to answer the research question.

This thesis proposes an inner city hydrogen-powered seaplane port located in Rummelsburger Bucht, near the centre of Berlin. By using seaplanes, the airport would be a small-scaled airport with the approximate size of 50,000 square metres next to the Spree and no runways on ground would be necessary. With innovations of the hydrogen fuel, airports could be more environmentally friendly, sustainable and thus could be located at the heart of Berlin, benefiting medical passengers from rural areas and domestic travellers escaping the city for a break.

Berlin, as a metropolitan city in Europe, is linked with diverse ground transportation within the city. To promote the concept of UAM (Urban Air Mobility)/AAM (Advanced Air Mobility), the introduction of vertiport design as an innovative and sustainable heliport drives the transport efficiency and processing service for the rising number of regional travellers. The research part addresses two main aspects following three primary literature materials. One is from the perspective of human experience with architecture, and the other is from technical considerations such as the functional concerns of airport design. And the design aims to represent the verticality of the movement between eVTOL(Electric Vertical Take off and Landing aircraft) and passengers, at the same time, the project sets an ambition to create a new design strategy and expression of the building typology, vertiport towards future aviation infrastructure.

Hospitals, as public buildings, establish connections with people in ways unparalleled by other structures. The architecture of a hospital directly influences its functionality, profoundly impacting the delicate balance between life and death. In today's information society, where the body is increasingly viewed as a collection of data for tracking health, the focus shifts decisively towards preserving life.

The focus of this graduation project is the development of a hospital tailored to a concept known as the ‘Human Data Twin.’ This project seeks to explore the effects of digitalization in healthcare, specifically examining how datasets and artificial intelligence (AI) influence the architectural design and functions of hospitals. The term ‘Human Data Twin’ refers to the unique concept of digitizing the human body with large datasets to create a human data twin (HDT) in cyberspace. This allows hospitals to conduct real-time simulations, optimizations, and evaluations, providing personalized diagnosis to empower individuals in making informed decisions, enhancing health performance, and extending life expectancy.

The transformative approach to healthcare through digitization has extensive implications, potentially necessitating the creation of new spaces within hospitals. Research indicates that the AI revolution in medicine introduces new dynamics to spatial relations in the diagnostic process, with AI likely to play a key role. The architectural design of hospitals needs reevaluation, presenting an opportunity to promote the health, physical activity, and mental well-being of society.

The project holds significant relevance in the current context, drawing inspiration from near-future predictions of technological advancements in healthcare. It envisions a transformation from generalized to personalized and precision medicine, facilitated by data science and technology. By doing so, the project aims to spark discussions around the imperative nature of collaborating with technologies like AI, which will drive changes in hospital functions, processes, and design. This discourse will also highlight the ethical challenges and considerations inherent in such advancements. Broadly, the project aspires to establish guidelines for designing hospitals of the digital future.

The architecture of transportation is recognized by the contemporary lifestyle of society. For the built environment and the future of aerospace infrastructure architecture this legacy needs to be properly examined, respected and continued. This new form of urban infrastructure will introduce a mixed-use building where passengers can check in and travel between distinct urban drone stations. The network in which these vertiports will exist is expected to grow considerably in the coming century to accommodate a decline in car use. The expected increase in demand requires the design to include a modular approach, allowing terminals to easily expand or downsize as needed in the future. Additionally, the design will feature a warehouse dedicated to postal services, where packages and post can be sent through the city via drones. The location of this drone hub is strategically located next to the Hauptbahnhof-station on the unused plot of land adjacent to the tunnel trench where the tracks go underground. This area around and over the train tracks is ideal for apron platforms. Due to the extensive tracks, the project’s site offers a significant potential for future expansion. Developing a cornerstone of tomorrow’s urban landscape.

This thesis examines the potential for enhancing and expanding Berlin’s existing train station infrastructure through a case study focused on the U-Bahn station Gleisdreieck. This station, positioned within Berlin’s S-Bahn ring, is poised to require an S-Bahn extension in response to a new north-south transit link. The project presents a design proposal that integrates an S-Bahn station with the current U-Bahn station, and explores opportunities to future-proof these existing structures.

The central challenge addressed is the aging state of Berlin’s train stations, which increasingly fail to meet both present and anticipated needs. Through architectural and infrastructural adaptation, the study seeks to determine how Berlin’s transport hubs can evolve to support future mobility while respecting historical value. This proposal aims to achieve a careful balance between heritage preservation and forward-looking urban functionality, creating a sustainable extension that supports Berlin’s growth and aligns with future demands.