This project reimagines a former factory site, called the Blikfabriek, in Hoboken, Antwerp, as a vibrant social and cultural area. This project presents a potential new urban masterplan for the site and an architectural design for a community theater. The project begins with research into neighborhood dynamics, particularly the lack of inclusive public spaces. Responding to these insights, the group masterplan introduces a sequence of shared spaces along a new central axis that activates the site throughout the day.
Within this framework, the individual project transforms an old factory hall into a community theatre and drama school. This project is set in one of the abandoned factory halls. Key architectural elements of this hall, such as the orginal load bearing structure and the original brick facade are preserved as much as possible. A spacious theatre café forms the social heart of the building, opening onto a public square with flexible seating that invites casual interaction. Studios, rehearsal rooms, and study nooks provide quieter, inward-facing spaces for learning and reflection. The design of these spaces is rooted in researching and observing the community and residents in Hoboken.
By blending adaptive reuse with human-centered design, the project fosters community engagement, supporting both structured cultural programs and informal everyday use. It highlights architecture’s potential to strengthen social ties in diverse urban contexts.

This thesis discusses the heritage approach of adaptive reuse as a way to preserve and protect abandoned churches in Limburg. For this, a discussion is had on the social and cultural dynamic and history of Limburg. This is a province in the Netherlands with a deep historical connection to the Catholic religion. This paper explores the province’s formation under the United Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1867, and the continuous influence of Catholicism as a unifying force in the region. In recent decades, however, the region has witnessed a great decline in Catholic engagement. This has led to the closure of many historic churches. Adaptive reuse has emerged as a strategy to adapt and repurpose these now abandoned historically important spaces to preserve their architectural, cultural, and social significance, while also meeting the new needs of the community in which these churches are located. This research explores how adaptive reuse can contribute to the social environment and the culture in these communities, offering a practical solution for the preservation of historic church buildings. Through a case study of the reuse of the Dominican Church in Maastricht as a bookshop, this paper shows the use of adaptive reuse as a heritage approach to revitalize historic churches and create a social connection between the inhabitants of the province. Ultimately, adaptive reuse serves as a bridge between past traditions and present realities. Making sure that Limburg’s religious and cultural heritage remains vital and relevant in today’s day and age.