This graduation project explores how architecture can support informal care practices and foster social cohesion in urban neighborhoods. Set in Tarwewijk, Rotterdam, the project combines participatory research, feminist care ethics, and spatial analysis to understand how care manifests in public and semi-public spaces. Through interviews, observations, and mapping, the research identifies “care nodes”,  spatially defined places where informal care emerges. These findings were translated into a design proposal for a community-centered intervention, including a public square, a multifunctional building with a communal kitchen, and inclusive housing. The design emphasizes accessibility, interaction, and flexibility to facilitate everyday encounters and support care as a relational and spatial practice. Rather than treating care as a fixed program, the project approaches it as an evolving and situated form of engagement, embedded in the rituals of daily life. This work contributes to architectural discourses on care, commons, and inclusion, and proposes a methodology for designing with, rather than for, communities.

Luzia Hartsuyker-Curjel emerges as a significant figure in Dutch architectural history, reshaping urban living discourse in the post-war era. This study explores her focus on gender-inclusive design, intersecting with transformative societal shifts and architectural innovations. Through case studies and socio-cultural analysis, it investigates the prevailing context during Hartsuyker-Curjel’s emphasis on gender-inclusive designs in the 1980s. Grounded in historical frameworks and supported by literature, the research reveals the dynamic interplay between societal perceptions of gender roles and architectural works. Hartsuyker-Curjel’s projects, the Geindriedorp and Borssenburgplein developments, exemplify her commitment to inclusivity and innovation. The ‘Burgerziekenhuis voor Vrouwen’ project stands as a testament to community-driven initiatives promoting gender equality. This thesis raises questions about the appearance of underrepresentation of the BVV project in professional discourse, urging further investigation into systemic biases within the architectural profession. Overall, Hartsuyker-Curjel’s work invites reflection on architecture’s broader role in shaping societal values and fostering diversity, serving as a catalyst for creating more humane and sustainable built environments.