The Brussels metropolitan area is characterised by a strong mismatch between functional interdependence and institutional fragmentation. While mobility flows, housing dynamics, employment patterns and social relations increasingly operate across the boundary between the Brussels-Capital Region (BCR) and its surrounding Flemish periphery, planning competences, governance structures and territorial identities remain largely organised according to administrative borders. This produces spatial discontinuities, uneven accessibility and limited coordination in a territory that already functions as a shared metropolitan system.

This graduation project investigates how spatial design and institutional strategies can mediate the integration of the Flemish periphery into the Brussels metropolitan system. Rather than treating integration as a purely physical or infrastructural challenge, the research approaches it as a multidimensional process involving spatial systems, social dynamics and institutional frameworks. The Flemish periphery is therefore not understood as a homogeneous suburban belt, but rather as a collection of differentiated interplaces, where municipalities such as Vilvoorde, Tervuren and Sint-Genesius-Rode each relate differently to Brussels through mobility, landscape, identity and governance.

Methodologically, the project combines spatial analysis, governance research, pattern-based thinking and Research-by-Design. The pattern language translates the analytical findings into a flexible set of intervention principles organised around connectivity, centrality, borders and cooperation. These patterns structure both the institutional and spatial proposals, allowing regional strategies and local interventions to be understood as part of the same metropolitan process.

The project proposes a shift from fragmented planning towards a more relational and cooperative metropolitan approach. At the institutional scale, this is explored through soft governance mechanisms, project-based partnerships and funding incentives that can support collaboration without requiring a new metropolitan authority. At the spatial scale, the design strategies test how mobility corridors, peripheral centralities, productive landscapes, border zones and social infrastructures can become mediating interfaces between Brussels and its Flemish periphery, with Vilvoorde serving as the main case for local design exploration.

By linking spatial design with soft institutional strategies, the thesis reframes the Brussels edge not as a marginal buffer zone or a fixed line of separation, but as an active metropolitan interface. The project argues that integration should not imply the absorption of the periphery into Brussels, but rather the construction of stronger relationships between differentiated municipalities, communities, infrastructures and institutions. ... Read more

The Netherlands is currently undergoing an energy transition towards sustainable and renewable sources, aiming to eliminate CO2 emissions by 2050. This report focuses on the transition community of sustainable settlers, young people (25–45) who strive to lead a more sustainable lifestyle, yet often feel powerless to effect change. In addition to the energy transition, this group is strongly affected by the national housing shortage. This shortage is particularly pressing in Utrecht, where rapidly rising housing prices make it increasingly difficult for this community to find affordable housing. By combining bottom-up and top-down approaches, a vision is developed for this community of the future within the province of Utrecht. Using microgrids as a key energy theme, the energy transition is accelerated by introducing decentralized energy systems in urban areas, promoting sustainable energy generation while reducing stress on the national grid. This report analyses the current state of Utrecht to define a vision across four key themes from the perspective of sustainable settlers: housing, work, mobility, and energy. These individual visions may present conflicting interests. However, their integration leads to a cohesive overall vision. A strategic plan is formulated based on this vision, using stakeholder analysis to identify and map various interests. A set of targeted actions is outlined to create a realistic future scenario for the province. These actions are tailored to different types of settlements and can originate from either top-down or bottom-up initiatives. They are strategically deployed to shape a long-term strategy for Utrecht. This results in a forward-thinking strategy where spatial planning aligns with sustainable energy, affordable living, and accessible transport. The strategy distinguishes between three settlement types: city center, suburb, and peri-urban, each with specific needs, ensuring a balanced and inclusive approach. Together, these layers form a coherent vision for a more resilient and sustainable province of Utrecht. ... Read more