This thesis investigates how restorative urban design strategies can minimize or compensate stressors and overstimulation in dense urban public spaces, with a focus on the Lijnbaan in Rotterdam’s city center. Rapid urbanization has led to increasingly dense cities where people are exposed to continuous sensory input such as noise, crowding, visual clutter, traffic, and pollution. By 2050, more than two-thirds of the global population is expected to live in urban areas, which intensifies the issues of environmental overload, attention fatigue, and psychological stress. While these challenges are well documented in environmental psychology research, their translation into spatial and multisensory urban design strategies is still limited.

The research combines literature review, walk along interviews, site analysis, and a research by-design approach. Important theoretical frameworks are Attention Restoration Theory, Stress Reduction Theory, and Perceived Sensory Dimensions. The study explores how urban stressors and stimuli are perceived through the senses and how their interactions can either intensify or reduce sensory overload.

Findings show that stress or overstimulation is caused by multiple sensory stimuli working together, and not by single stressors alone, and that spatial conditions strongly influence how these stimuli are perceived and experienced. Restoration is therefore not achieved only by reducing input, but by shaping the quality, rhythm, and legibility of sensory experiences.

This led to the development of the Urban Restorative Sensecape Theory (URST), which has five principles: modulation, rhythm, gradation, engagement, and spatial language. The core principle of URST is that restoration does not arise from the absence of stimuli or stressors, nor from escaping them by relocating to other spaces. Instead, restoration arises from the quality, gradation, manageability, and meaningful interpretation of sensory stimuli, while still allowing urban environments to remain lively and rich in sensory experience, and supportive of calm.

The thesis also includes a design proposal for the Lijnbaan, where the five principles from URST are translated into a network of interconnected restorative public spaces. These support sensory balance, restoration, and inclusive urban experience.
... Read more

Portscapes are one of the most important hubs in the global economic system that facilitate the movement of goods and shape the socio-economic conditions of their surroundings. However, in times of climate change, they face unprec- edented challenges to completely transform their current ways of operating and fully reduce their contribution to a linear economy and socio-spatial injustice. These challenges go far beyond purely economic considerations and calls for a closer analysis of their current spatial impacts and system flows.

Despite their significance, the spatial effects of Portscapes and their role in a shift towards sustainability and circularity is rarely the main focus of urban and regional design efforts. Drawing upon key theories such as circularity, decentralisation, socio-spatial justice, and sustainable land use, our approach involves a multidisciplinary analysis of ports and Portscapes in the Eurodelta portlandscape in North-Western Europe. Through analysis we have identified the different functioning of portscapes, the stakeholders they encompass and the spatial dynamics shaping ports, Portscapes and Port Landscapes.

Our goal is to develop a strategy for the future of the European Portscape after a successful transition towards circular and just development to create a sustainable Eurodelta. This is achieved through a set of five objectives; integrating the ports, Portscapes and portlandscapes; increasing the resource efficiency of Portscapes; regenerating Portscapes for humans and nature; embracing technological innovation; facilitating a socially just transition.

The spatial implications of these five objectives should not be neglected, and our strategy outlines what changes need to happen and when. In four Phases of spatial interventions and regulatory frameworks, we propose to build a just and truly circular Portscape, in harmony with the Eurodelta Port Landscape.

This report holds key implications for both academia and practice, as further light is being shed on the spatial dynamics of Portscapes and potential transition pathways. By understanding the interplay of ports with their surrounding environments better, policymakers, urbanists and other related stakeholders can make informed decisions that promote sustainability and resilience. Ultimately, our efforts regarding the creation of more sustainable Portscapes contribute to broader (global) goals of addressing climate change, promoting socio-spatial justice and ensuring inclusive development.
... Read more