This interdisciplinary research project focuses on the adaptive reuse of Het Steiger Rotterdam church, employing a comprehensive approach integrating extensive research and cohesive design strategies. The study begins with a thorough analysis of contemporary churches' architectural and urban context, emphasizing spatial appropriateness in religious architecture. A distinctive methodology is applied to conduct a value assessment, offering profound insights into heritage values intrinsic to the church's architecture and its historical significance. Tailored methodologies and design strategies are devised to expand and transition the existing structure while preserving the perception of religious space and monumental value. The design prioritizes aesthetic beauty, proportion, and a lasting structure, diverging from the 'zero church' concept, with careful consideration of sustainable material usage and minimized carbon footprint. This research showcases a significant advancement in sustainable architectural interventions, exemplifying the harmonious blend of sustainability and aesthetic appeal. The project sets a notable precedent for preserving and revitalizing religious architecture in contemporary society through meticulous research, innovative methodologies, and thoughtful design choices.

Beyond Colonialism: Macau’s Struggle for Postcolonial Architectural Identity will look back at the emergence of architectural images that shaped Macau's current Special Administrative Region (SAR), particularly during the transition from colonial to postcolonial times. The 442-year colonial state and the post-colonial period, which began in 1998, have influenced architectural ideologies over time due to an evolution of self-identity, place identity, people, and material culture. Beginning with the earliest colonial settlements and progressing to current international applications. Throughout history, urban and architectural decisions have always been associated with economic prosperity and foreign culture when it comes to shaping a city’s identity.

In Macau, postcolonial architecture has been adopted, demonstrating the influence of colonial ideology and modern capitalist globalization to the present day. Gambling and tourism have transformed the city from a traditional enterprise with a self-sufficient culture to Asia’s global entertainment and financial hub. Aside from colonial architectural ideologies, the thesis seeks to demonstrate how other Western ideologies and preferences, such as Chinese and American, can influence local architectural and community identities. Furthermore, it attempts to interpret the social and cultural implications of architectural transformations. This will be investigated through a variety of sources, including books, research papers, and articles that examine both local and Western perspectives on Macau’s urban development history.

Certain economic developments added a new dimension to a city that had grown due to significant changes in local architecture. As a result, architectural meanings are evolving in unexpected ways, resulting in disparate ideas of monumental architecture that contrast with the cultural context. This thesis will also investigate the extent to which foreign perceptions of casino architecture reflect historic identities and social values brought into the modern era.