How Heritage Learns explores the dynamics that come into play when public housing becomes valourised as heritage in the Netherlands and how that, in turn modulates the evolution of this protected housing. It builds on the foundation set by the thesis of Steward Brand, that buildings learn through the adaptation of their fabric to external forces: changing fashion, technologies and economy. This dissertation investigates different key drivers for change: Energy, Economy and Comfort (2E+Co). To understand how and why the housing heritage evolved over time, an ecology of ideas is developed that sees buildings as organisms evolving and learning in their environments, providing a multi-sided theoretic model for analysis. Three case studies are extensively explored: the Justus van Effen Quarter in Rotterdam (1921–22) and the King’s Wives of Landlust (1937–38) and Jeruzalem public housing complexes (1949–52), both in Amsterdam. These are all exemplary monuments of Dutch public housing and all three have undergone repeat renovations since their construction. The research not only highlighted their various learning cycles, but also uncovered exciting new information on their origins and histories. What sets public housing heritage apart is the presence of a Story. However, the case studies reveal that the Stones were modulated by dominant 2E+Co ambitions common to all public housing. Above all, How Heritage Learns shows that past promises of increased performance and efficiency were never fulfilled. Without structured reflective observation we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes. Such lessons are all the more important at a time when the built environment stands at the cusp of another revolution driven by environmental imperatives.@en

This dissertation focuses on Industrial Heritage Reuse practice in Europe, with special emphasis on the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain and Greece. This vastly complex yet fascinating topic has not been studied holistically under the circumstances of the contemporary era. In the 21st century, Industrial Heritage Reuse is required to be more responsive, more sustainable, more inclusive and more value-driven than before. An enhanced approach for the transformation of industrial relics is therefore urgently needed. The aim of this dissertation is to explore the potential of enhancement of the Industrial Heritage Reuse by identifying and analysing its influencing Aspects under the light of the contemporary theoretical conservation concepts, the current demands of the field of practice and the rising challenges of the 21st century context. Drawing upon both theory and practice on an international level, this research gives a holistic and multileveled view on the subject under investigation. Industrial Heritage Reuse and its stakeholders are investigated in the setting of the four selected countries through the detailed analysis of 20 case studies of best practice. Volume 1 introduces the research problem and explains the thesis’ rationale; it presents the research methodology, the academic analysis and it finally offers the research products. Volume 2 presents the analysis and evaluation of the 20 selected case studies, varying from Ironbridge in Shropshire, to the Technological and Cultural Park of Lavrion and from Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam to the 22@ district of Barcelona. @en

Graduation project within the studio of Heritage & Architecture. Dealing with existing (post WWII) industrial heritage. Conversion of an old military complex into a spiritual center.

The main research question for this design was: How can the human dimension be introduced in a former industrial warehouse, making the warehouse and it’s urban surroundings more suitable for residing for longer periods? The human dimension in this project was incorporated into three levels: Site level, building level and detail level. Starting from the people being able to transform the spaces according to their needs. To the adjustments to the building so that it acts upon the the factors mentioned by Jan Gehl. On site level some similar and different factors are incorporated so that people are feeling Protection, Comfort and Delight. What is currently missing at the site but can easly be incorporated to make sure that the warehouse and it’s urban surroundings are more suitable for staying for longer periods. Transforming the site from an industrial militairy site to a site where the social and educational meet to solve some issues present on site but also in the surrounding neighborhoods. The Social Educational Tangle: A human dimension for Lisbon’s industrial warehouses.The whole project is based on social connections and education, this comes together in the silos with the former warehouses. In the redesign attention is paid to the surroundings, the connections but also the functions and creating interaction between the social (public) spaces along with the educational spaces where collaboration and transmitting knowlegde is a keypoint in the design.

The Westfort Leprosy Colony in Pretoria, South Africa, was built by the Department Publieke Werken of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek in 1898-1898 under supervision of the Dutch architect Sytze Wopkes Wierda. It is the only leprosy colony of its kind that is still (almost) intact. It is part of to the national history of South Africa and has an international connection with the Netherlands and its colonies. Since 1997 the colony is abandoned. Illegal inhabitants took possession of the site and form an informal community of +/- 4.000 inhabitants. Currently the site is heavily in decay and some of the most characteristic buildings are destroyed. Most recently, in April 2016, the octagonal Dutch Reformed Church. The site is also under pressure of upcoming low cost housing developments. Despite several positive initiatives, the inhabitants of Westfort, and the surrounding neighbourhoods, live in squalor. Crime and safety are daily uncertainties. The project shows a vision about how to transform the historical centre of the former Westfort Leprosy Colony into a vivid work incubator. A place were the inhabitants and visitors can live, work, learn and recreate. The main theme is separation & connection. This tension touches every topic of the project. From the function that is about connecting people from the different sides of the city that is still characterized by the town planning of the apartheid era, to the design that is about the tension separation and connection on the site. The project shows small interventions can have a large impact by looking closely to the site and its needs.

This master thesis is part of the graduation studio named ‘Disclosing the Military City Lisbon’ as part of the chair Heritage and Architecture at the TU Delft. The studio assignment and project is initiated in collaboration with DOCOMOMO (International committee for documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the modern movement)
The start of the project was done by attending the 14th International DOCOMOMO Conference and joining the organised on-site workshop in Lisbon.

The graduation project is focused on the ‘South’ part of the Manutençao Militar Complex in Lisbon. This part has been vacant since 1992 due to military re-organisations. The objective is to adaptively re-use the total of about 34.000 m2 of vacant space.

When visiting the site the building that struck me the most was the silos. Because of it’s height, contrasting shape and standing at the end of a long street it immediately caught my eye. I have chosen the silos to focus my graduation on due to its key role as landmark, as face of the site (and surroundings), its vital role in my strategy for the complex and my fascination for the building.

The Manutenção Militar Complex (MMC) was an industrial facility that produced food, uniforms and other goods for the Portuguese Army. The first bakery was accommodated in a former Convent – Convento das Grilas – by the end of the 19th Century. During the 20th Century, due to the needs during the First World War and the Portuguese Colonial War in the 1960s, the complex was expanded. Whilst the Portuguese Army reached 200,000 men in the 1960s, it is now reduced to 20,000 active soldiers. Gradually the factories closed and Manutenção Militar was finally substituted by a public enterprise MM-Gestão Partilhada in 2015. The termination of the industrial production raised the problem of finding new sustainable uses for this area on the Tagus riverfront, between the Pombaline City Harbour – Terreiro do Paço – and the Contemporary Parque das Nações. This is a challenging task: any future solution needs to have a dialogue with this current industrial heritage, which is deeply connected with recent Portuguese history, as well as with the Lisbon riverside area and the contemporary city.

Having lost its productivity, MMC became isolated from its context. Most of its links to neighbour and region broke as a result of its changing role. A series of dilemmas
mainly exists as social conflicts and spatial conflicts appeared around the
border as result. However, as the carrier of social conflict in MMC and witness of colonial war, the enclosed border embraced the introverted character of MMC, which is its site spirit in the history. When the introverted character of site encounters the demand of connection, how to re-link MMC to the neighbourhood while protecting its site spirit turns into the main problem to be solved from my perspective.

The strategy of the design assignment on the masterplan level stresses the importance of the age – friendly design and the sustainability of the development. The main users (target groups) will be local residents (of various age) and the newly discovered social group: Active Third Age Generation - so called Young Seniors. The place of the planned intervention was chosen carefully and it reflects the major ideas of the proposed masterplan and, in my opinion, can also serve as the catalyst of the whole project.

The Supermarket building is facing Rua do Grilo, one of the main streets in Beato district. It’s also one of the first building of MMC when the site is approached from the city centre side. At the same time its history goes back even to the XVII century therefore Supermarket is one of the most interesting structures on the site. The empty plot next to it poses another interesting challenge of the future design.
The function of the new development is combining two target groups mentioned before. Respecting the notions of place making, the main space of the upper floor of the building will consist the public garden which at the same time will connect the street level with the level of the MMC. In the volume above there will be an open school for elderly where they can learn or teach improving their skills and learning new ones. It will be mainly addressed to the local residents and it will aim to improve the condition of their lives: creating the meeting space and opening opportunities for the second jobs. In the basement, more profitable function will balance the social character of the school. The new apartments for elderly will secure the sustainable relationship between the buildings.

The MMC is a secluded military zone that used to produce food for the army of Portugal in times of war. The area is vacant and decides the neighborhood of Beato, but it is now open for public development. The proposition in this paper is to transform the main production factory (milling factory) in a Culinary Art school. You will read about the struggle and scientific research that led to this design. The Culinary Art school interacts with the city on different levels of scale. The masterplan that accompanies the design reinstates the rich and royal green history of Beato. The design focusses on telling the narrative of Beato and the milling factory as singularities of this industrial heritage.

Disclosing the military city Lisbon My project involves a former military site located in the edge of Lisbon. The project is located in the district Beato located near the harbor north of the center of the city. This project is closely related to the studio of Heritage & architecture as it is not only worth keeping, but can and needs to be used to improve the quality of the neighborhood. With this project we find a new use and purpose for the unused site and near urban surroundings. We analyze the area and use this knowledge to create a funded design that shows the quality of the existing and the future. This project is a socially relevant project as it is being redeveloped at this moment by the municipality of Lisbon. A MODERN MANUFACTURING COMPLEX The manufacturing complex is the name for the new purpose of the project. The complex consists out of an upper floor zone with semi-private functions like creative workspaces, schools, conference rooms, hotel, craft brewery and winery. The ground floor is a public area with public spaces, craft shops and a museum. The area can be used by local inhabitants, young skilled entrepreneurs and eventually tourists. The site has zones where the different target groups can conduct their daily activities. The upper part will offer contemporary housing for new users. THE MEETING SPOT The focus of the design is in and around the old warehouse. This area is a meeting spot where all users and target groups can come together and enjoy and experience the qualities of the complex. This area is focused on recreational and cultural activities like a market square, exposition spaces, a food hall, tasting rooms, sport center and activity center. This area is the main entrance of the enclosed complex. This results in a design that is the mediator between the outside world and the manufacturing complex. MATCH The old warehouse has a new public use. This building located in the meeting spot is an old building with a new purpose where the old can be seen, touched and experienced. The focus of the building design is on the relation with the surroundings, the strength of the building characteristics and the relation between old and new. THEMES The project has focused on the problem statement translated into the research question ‘How can an enclosed industrial area work together with the urban surroundings as a tool to become reconnected that will serve as an incubator for future developments?’ With the help of themes the project uses the existing to create a new purpose without losing the values and character of the site. The themes are input for the design strategy and concept. The following themes related to the heritage studio are determined. The main theme ‘unite‘ is overarching social related. Bringing together different target group by promoting social cohesion on site. A new purpose is needed for the complex, but this might have negative consequences like gentrification.