This project investigates the potential for social integration, social mix, and social cohesion by densification in post-war neighbourhoods with Den Haag Zuidwest as a case study location. The current status of housing and public spaces in post-war neighbourhoods results in challenges regarding social segregation and social dissolution that are at the moment mostly tackled by the regeneration of entire neighbourhoods with little consideration of the existing population. Additionally, a pressing need for additional housing and densification within city borders with limited available urban space. The project looks for an approach that prioritizes the residents’ interests over systematic demolition and gentrification.

Densification of post-war neighbourhoods has the potential to help achieve social goals by increasing physical and psychological connections between a neighbourhood and the rest of the city, increasing population diversity, and improving social cohesion. Densification can shift the city's focus to currently deprived post-war neighbourhoods which can result in the enhancement of public spaces.

These social goals can be achieved through densification with a set of specific design principles that focus on; better and differentiated physical connectivity to enhance social integration and social mix, spaces for diversity and inclusivity for more social mix and social cohesion, and a more distinct character and composition in the neighbourhood to contribute to social integration and social cohesion. Additionally, densification can provide financial incentives for the renovation of the existing building stock and improvements in the public space.

Current visions and structure plans for Zuidwest and similar post-war neighbourhoods suggest a variety of improvements in the social realm, but they fail to present clear guidelines on how to achieve these goals with spatial interventions. These plans are often vaguely described and do not present specific concrete rules and guidelines which results in a slackening of these plans during implementation, failing to have solved the problems at the end of large-scale interventions.

This project aims to do things differently by starting with a problem statement and a vision for the improvement of the situation in Den Haag Zuidwest. Thereafter, this research provides an elaborated structure plan for Zuidwest as a whole, which proposes improved connectivity and differentiation and an exploration of the potential for densification. Then, where most plans tend to stop, the research presents a design for an exemplary more zoomed-in location with an emphasis on diversity and inclusivity and character and composition in combination with the aforementioned structure plan. To be able to translate the findings from this research and design approach for a specific location within Zuidwest, a set of rules is derived from the design that can be applied in the design of other locations in Zuidwest. Additionally, indications for phasing, stakeholder involvement and financial feasibility are given.

Lastly, a short note of the possibility for transferability to similar post-war neighbourhoods with similar problems is explored to increase this research's relevance.

To conclude, this project explores how spatial design and densification can improve social integration, social mix, and social cohesion in post-war neighbourhoods most of which are lacking. The research focuses on the potential symbiotic relationship between densification and these social goals. In the hope of advocating for more in-depth redevelopment visions and plans for derived post-war neighbourhoods. ... Read more

Steel is a widely used and very circular material, it can be recycled endlessly but that consumes a lot of energy, therefore, it is one of the most polluting industries in the world. Only 2% of this pollution is caused by production, the other 98% is caused by transportation during the production and recycling process. Half of the pollution caused by transport is by export en import of scrap metal from and to the port of Rotterdam to Asian and African countries, this also creates geo-dependency on non-EU countries for essential materials. We will use research through design approach, quantitative (LISA data and Openstreetmap data) and qualitative methods such as research on the steel cycle, scrapyard activities, stakeholders, and social and spatial environment. The main objective is to reduce the logistic effort by closing loops more locally by creating a network of bigger and smaller hubs and reinstalling makers- and manufacturing industries around the hubs in a symbiotic relationship. Hereby we aim to move metal recycling higher up in the R-ladder of circularity. Different socio-spatial, techno-economic and governmental strategies should make scrapyards more attractive and interesting locations and intertwine them more into the urban tissue. Hereford, they should attract makers- and manufacturing industries around the scrapyards to form a symbiosis in the use of metal and scrap metal. Simultaneously, this increases dutch manufacturing and increases the local economy and decreases geo-dependency. The end of the report provides a set of strategies that can be applied to scrapyards throughout the country to improve the locations and the network between them. This project can form a precedent, both for other bigger industrial or port cities in Europe, as well as for different material flows. ... Read more

The Holocaust is one of the most horrendous events in history, therefore people should be educated on the topic to create remembrance. Museums are the designated places for this; however, traditional museums are not most suited. According to neurophysiology, re-imagining and emotional connection are most important to make people remember. New memorial museums or countermonuments provide in this new type of museum, with the Jewish Museum Berlin by Daniel Libeskind being one of the first and with that experimental examples. Daniel Libeskind supported his design with a paper called ‘Between the Lines’ where he explains the concept of the design writing he tried to create a building of contemplation and memory. His design is focused on creating a haptic experience, especially at the underground level with several highly experiential spaces. According to most experts, architects and ‘normal’, he succeeded in this task and created a museum that speaks to the emotions, especially in those spaces that make the visitors think and create a lasting memory. Hereby he provided a museum that makes people never forget the horrors of the Holocaust. ... Read more