The project focuses on the urban renewal of an abandoned postindustrial complex in Hoboken, southern Antwerp.
The meticulous process of observing a given site, understanding its identity and documenting findings through various media was inspired by referential artistic endeavors of the past and proves viable today in a time where spatial obsolescence including its potentials is at the forefront of architectural thinking.
Thus a new approach to sustainable use of existing spatial situations was worked out and applied in a final architectural design project assembling a new downtown in an area currently neglected. ... Read more

This research investigates the personal experiences, memories, and desires of individuals who live or lived transient lives, shaped by the forces of globalization and relocation. With a focus on capturing the poetic and narrative aspects of place and movement, this study aims to deepen understanding of how individuals remember their previous architectural expiriences and identify the elements that help them form attachments to spaces in a constantly changing world. The study is linked to a later application in the design phase of a mixed-use building complex in Antwerp. Employing a method of portraying the memories of people who live or have lived in Antwerp through architectural drawings, this research will visualize and document personal stories, offering a new approach to the emotional and experiential dimensions of transience. By exploring these narratives, the study aims to broaden understanding of human relationships with place, memory, and identity in times of transience. Findings are expected to highlight recurring themes of forced relocation, adaptation, and the search for stability, offering valuable insights into the ways people navigate and emotionally anchor themselves within transient environments. ... Read more

This year’s Urban Architecture studio focused on the Lageweg area in Hoboken, a district located to the south of Antwerp’s city centre. Central to this area is the Can Factory, a former industrial complex. Since 2019, the Can Factory has served as a creative hub, housing a diverse community of artists and supporting various cultural activities and initiatives. However, this function is only temporary as the site will be redeveloped in the near future. The focus of this year’s graduation studio was thus to envision an urban district that incorporates, rather than displaces, these emerging creative industries. To make the already present low town last as a downtown.

The research focus of Moving Bodies is to explore the choreography of daily life, examining how bodies move within their surroundings. It investigates the relationship between body and space through three distinct perspectives: at home, at work, and at leisure. These three aspects form the foundation of the research as well as the design project.

The design project consists out of a mix of functions that combines purpose-designed creative workspaces, residential spaces and a public swimming pool, as Antwerp has a shortage of swimming facilities. This combination directly addresses the scarcity of artist workspaces and swimming facilities in Antwerp while balancing the needs of the existing creative community with those of the wider neighbourhood.
... Read more

Invisible Voices investigates how architecture can support inclusive urban transformation by actively involving underrepresented residents in the design process. The project focuses on the redevelopment of a former factory site along Lageweg in Antwerp, located between the disadvantaged neighborhoods of Kiel and Hoboken. This location presents both spatial and social challenges, such as outdated infrastructure and limited trust between communities and urban authorities.

Rather than starting from a fixed design concept, the process began with on-site presence and engagement. Through collaborations with local organizations, including a social grocery store and a mosque, the project used various participatory tools such as drawing sessions, model-making workshops and narrative interviews. These methods aimed to capture residents’ everyday experiences and translate them into concrete architectural decisions.

The final design consists of a mixed-use urban block that brings together housing and local facilities. The ground floor includes a socially focused supermarket tailored to the needs of vulnerable residents. Above this, diverse housing typologies are introduced, responding to themes of affordability, social contact and adaptability. The spatial layout and architectural language are directly shaped by the input gathered through community involvement.

Invisible Voices responds to a central challenge: how can architecture contribute to socially sustainable densification without overlooking the people already living there? The methods developed in this project are grounded in one specific context, but offer broader insights into participatory design in post-industrial urban areas. By connecting research and design, the project highlights how architects can create spatial solutions that are both inclusive and resilient. ... Read more

This research catalogue follows the logic of movement, of temporary attachment, of getting lost and learning from it. It drifts—through places, people, fragments, images, ideas. Just like the nomadic movement it studies.
"All the customary activities of thenomad lead to wandering and movement. This is the antithesis and negation of stationariness, which produces civilization." ... Read more

Home Beyond Walls explores how architecture can foster belonging in rapidly changing urban environments. Focusing on Hoboken, Antwerp, the project combines ethnographic research, storytelling, and participatory design to reveal how personal narratives shape space. Through adaptive reuse of former factory buildings into cooperative housing and a community library, the design supports flexibility, care, and ecological continuity. Grounded in lived experience, the project offers a transferable approach to creating meaningful, inclusive urban spaces. ... Read more

“Traces of transition” explores the architectural and social potential of an overlooked and banal industrial structure in Hoboken, Antwerp, once a rim-painting factory, now a decaying shell. Confronted with its imminent demolition, the research repositions the building not as obsolete, but as an organism, an active agent with a ongoing story. Through explorations into transformation, temporality, and user agency, the project challenges and critiques the dominant narrative of demolition and sterile replacement that characterises much of today’s urban development.
Drawing from the traces left behind, the story of the former rim painting factory was pieced together into a short 4 act film. The building is reimagined into a cultural and residential centre for the local youth, a demographic greatly marginalised in Hoboken. Inspired by the concept of “Low Road Buildings” as defined by Stewart Brand, as we all the local Blikfabriek cultural centre, the project celebrates adaptability, imperfection, and freedom of use. The building is viewed as evolving and unfinished, rather than a static monument waiting for its death.
Through narrative, scenography, videography, photography, mapping and physical modelling, the thesis constructs a living archive of the building’s past, present, and speculative futures, ultimately advocating for an architecture that learns, adapts, and resists erasure.
... Read more

The theme of this year’s Urban Architecture graduation studio was ‘Last Green in Town’, which focuses on the twenty-four hectare piece of wasteland in the northeast of Brussels called the Friche Josaphat. The Friche used to be a marshalling yard but is now a field of wild nature and great biodiversity, where the railroad tracks that cut the site in half are still in operation by a local train line. The piece of land is very closed off to its surroundings by borders of trees, fences, and the railway, so accessing it is difficult. This has caused residents that live close to the Friche to know little about it, whereas the Friche is not at all empty and lifeless.

I propose the design of a small neighbourhood that consists of multi-generational living in combination with a hospice. The hospice is designed to be an intimate part of the neighbourhood, making it a part of life, rather than the end of it. With this new neighbourhood, the Friche will be valued again as a nature reserve that now becomes part of the city of Brussels again. But most importantly, the design responds to the housing problem that Brussels is facing. By designing for multi-generational living, I give space for different forms of households to live in the city, which contributes to not only quantity of new housing, but also social quality.

The Ways of Dwelling research that runs through the design like a red thread, is the analysis of the ways of dwelling of my grandparents. With this research, I mapped out the different patterns, rules, habits and uses of my grandparents in the different houses that they have lived in during their lives. They have experienced different family structures, that each resulted in a different way of using certain spaces in a home. I made a set of drawings where you can see these patterns in the floor plans of their homes using different colors to categorise everything. Some parts of the drawings fold open, which allows you to compare how and why certain spaces were used differently over time. The texts in the drawings describe ways of use, tied to different spaces, so the reader can find out in what way my grandparents lived.
With the findings from Ways of Dwelling, I set building rules for the design, which resulted in the design of the small neighbourhood that contains adaptable apartments, family houses, multi-generation houses, communal spaces and a hospice. The building rules determined a number of choices in the design, such as the entrance of the houses, the liveliness of spaces, the adaptability, and the design of the hospice. This way, the research became a practical design tool for the design.
... Read more

Brussels, a city built on a wet marshland, has a rich history of landscape design and engineering. Earth was removed and resettled to create higher ground while parks and avenues were built to patch the gaps among different infrastructures. Thus the network of green spaces and parks in Brussels has become an important topic of its modern and contemporary urban development. Recently, there is a massive abandoned trainyard around the north-east suburbs of Brussels, waiting to be urbanised and transformed into a new neighbourhood. This situation was chosen to be the brief of the graduation studio of the urban architecture studio 2023 at TU Delft. ... Read more

In light of the endless capitalistic growth and energy & climate crisis, the project rejects the prevailing anthropocentric defitnition of a "comfortable" interior. The thesis begins with on-site fieldwork and personal interviews within elementary education. The research of "micro-climates" or micro-atmospheres in an elementary school is projected on the design location, benefiting from the micro-climates of the location. The result is a school building design in Friche Josaphat in Brussels. The design of the school focus on the careful placement between the city and the ecological site (Friche Josaphat), and experiments with a new interior climate for the education. The building envelope is imagined as a gradient of spaces instead of on clear separation of in-/outside. The layout and envelope design of the classrooms create thermal and atmospheric varieties as a productvie way to engage with micro-climate while reducing energy consumption. ... Read more

Within the expanding and mutating city of Brussels, there exists a derelict piece of land, a friche that is contested by humans in the midst of a pressing housing shortage. The friche once operated as a marshalling yard but discontinued its operations in 1994. Owing to a lack of human appropriation and a lapse in policy making, this yard began to rewild itself, becoming a safe haven for non-human inhabitants. Development authorities found themselves at odds with locals and ecologists who advocated for the emergent landscape to be left to its own devices, eventually leaving the friche in a state of limbo and uncertainty.

And with this passage of time, a heterotopia was born.

The heterotopia is a counter space in the city, removed from traditional time and place, that demands a rite of passage and that, which begets several places at once.

As an ode to this last, heterotopic green in Brussels, this project becomes a balancing act and mediator between the friche and the city : a border of collective housing, an “alt"(ernate) house/community space and a bathhouse that would be nestled and hidden within these borders.

The bathhouse intends to serve as a vessel for the purification of the being (human and non human) as one transitions from the surrounding city into the haven of the heterotopic friche, purged from the weights of regular life and time. The “bathhouse of enchantments” is therefore, a physical and metaphorical place where not only people but also other migratory guests of the friche come to rest their weary minds and bodies. It is not only a spiritual vessel of wellness, but also performs a social function of synergizing communities and rekindling an intimate relationship with the nature of the friche that is so far missing.
In addition to this, the proposal also becomes a water collection and management system for the east side of the friche, where it can initiate and facilitate the growth of a constructed wetland as a habitat and resting place for the growing species of migratory birds, bees, dragonflies and others.
The design unravels in layers and tales - from the urban-ness of the housing, to the transitory nature of the collective alt-house and finally, to the heterotopia of the bathhouse and its temporal gardens. It narrates the complete journey of moving through the city, into a sublime and magical realm. Time becomes the essence of the project, where the bathhouse and alt-house shape shift, appear and disappear with a play of time on three scales - daily, seasonal and longue durée.

The proposed intervention perhaps serves as a precedent - a newfound narrative of brownfield and post-industrial plot development, which are so often the “last greens” in town. Peeling and delayering, dissecting and revealing the “as found”, it embraces the need for the heterotopia and its virtues in the city, which would otherwise be obscured in the tenacious and expanding urban realm.
... Read more

Analysing the possible relationships between nature, ecology, and industrial landscapes through the lens of our relationships and perceptions of nature in the Anthropocene. The project discusses the historical development of industry, and the opportunities these developments pose, as well as discussing the current intrinsic and circumstantial qualities of industrial landscapes with regards to biodiversity and non-human life. ... Read more

“From Humus to Human: A Repository of Remembrance” explores the profound and intricate connection between humans and soil, delving into the fundamental aspects of human identity, belonging, and the cycle of life. It highlights the natural process through which we emerge from the earth, only to ultimately return to it, symbolizing the unity, continuity of life.

The project is situated in “La Friche Josaphat,” a former marshalling yard in Brussels that, over time, has been gradually reclaimed by nature. Inspired by this unique and evolving setting, the design proposal emphasizes the preservation of a patch of tall spruce trees, which stand as a powerful symbol of growth, resilience, and the enduring flow of life. These trees are surrounded by the ‘repository,’ a gallery of niches where visitors can retreat in solitude, reflect, and engage in personal acts of remembrance. These niches offer a view leading toward a memorial garden, creating a tranquil and serene atmosphere for honoring memories, fostering reflection, and experiencing quiet contemplation.

The ‘Repository of Remembrance’ is embraced and protected by a ring of dwellings. These clusters of housing units serve as both a physical and symbolic mediator, between the rhythms of everyday urban life and the sacred, reflective realm of remembrance.
... Read more

The premise from the book:

"As said before this project is not a typical research. Although many sources are used, no data is collected and no hypotheses are proven. It is an active research, an artistic research one
might say, which is ongoing and really never finished.
Instead of proving arguments it is more about the practice of doing. While it starts out more analytical, which can be seen in the following pages. At a certain point the project turned more intuitive. There was a realisation that this approach would gain me more, just as the potential reader.
That is why the project is structured around three made films. All three completely different in subject, media and technology. But together in the end they might complement eachother
and reveal a greater value.
The order is one: “Terrain vague”, the film for P1, almost like a stop-motion. This mainly focuses on the Friche, and is a kind of site analysis. Two, :”Walk like me”. A camera verité style street documentary. With a combination of fiction and reality giving a glimpse of (Brussels) urban life. And lastly a film where all media are techniques are blend, and hopefully, everything from the year comes together, in one final film presenting the design of the storyhouse “A window to the world.” ... Read more

The project’s main goal was to confront the homogenized (or general) architectural landscape that I believe has dominated since the industrial revolution. This investigation is rooted in the belief that buildings should always relate to their context, drawing from both historical and contemporary insights. The Arriere Garde project emerges as a testament to this philosophy, establishing connections on three scale levels: urbanistic, architectural, and technical.

Urbanistically, the masterplan is tries to get rid of the rigid boundaries, creating a seamless integration with the existing neighbourhood. The building is strategically positioned to act as a bridge between the current neighbourhood and newly designed masterplan. By incorporating a diverse program - a train station alongside community-focused functions such as a library, co-working spaces, and a coffee bar - the design reinforces its role as a connector: connecting the new with the past.

Architecturally, the project resonates with the local context through its massing and materiality. It captures the essence of its surroundings, reinterpreting architectural details in a contemporary manner. This dialogue between the old and the new ensures that the building is not an isolated object but a harmonious addition to its environment. The design speaks the language of its local context, yet with a modern articulation that respects and revitalizes local traditions.

Technically, the use of local materials is a vital part of the project. Historically, buildings have been tailored to their environments through the use of indigenous materials and construction techniques. The Arriere Garde project adheres to this tradition, integrating passive design principles to achieve a sustainable building. The choice of materials, coupled with natural ventilation and the use of high thermal mass materials, reflects a commitment to both environmental responsiveness and contextual adaptation.

In conclusion, the project champions the idea that architecture must transcend mere function and form to engage deeply with its context. By weaving together local architectural traditions, vernacular history, and contemporary innovations, the Arriere Garde project exemplifies a 'contemporary vernacular.' This approach underscores the importance of designing buildings that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also contextually rooted, fostering a sense of place and community. Through this lens, the project offers a solution to the homogenized architectural landscape, advocating for a future where buildings are intrinsically connected to their context, creating environments that are both meaningful and enduring.
... Read more

Everything ages, and everything ends. Borders blur, and definition collapse. Inspired by Robert Smithson's work on landscape and entropy, this project explores the process of aging - time becomes a medium to strengthen the connection between building and people. Buildings cannot avoid time nor are they sand static. They are affected by their environment and they affect us. There is a special connection which forms when a building ages/ patina, as we see it grow we start to form a connection with it - in a sense the building transforms from a space which we live in to a space where we lived with. To wrap all those ideas together, mostly bio-base materials were used. The affect of the environment creates an aesthetic for the bio-base materials which conveys its sustainable vritues. Furthermore the affect of the environment also highlights the fragility of the skin of the building which hence encourages people to care for it and extend its life. ... Read more

'The Scarred City', the theme of the Urban Architecture graduation studio in 2022/2023. This location-based studio started with Droixhe/Bressoux, a troublesome and difficult area in Liège (Belgium), as the overarching project site. Starting with fieldwork and participatory research into the hidden social structures of Bressoux and Droixhe and resulting in the importance and absence of nature in the area and its relevance, this thesis grew into a project aiming to contribute to childhood development in Bressoux and Droixhe by strengthening nature connectivity. Drawing workshops on the theme: 'what is nature?' with primary schools in Rotterdam, in comparable demographic neighbourhoods, where key to understanding children's perception of nature and observing their nature connectivity and inspired and aided in the design of a children’s community/leisure centre in Park de l’Oasis. A building which functions as the anchor between child and nature and where the design and its current natural environment go hand in hand to achieve the project’s aim. ... Read more