this project explores a post-human-centered transformation of an abandoned flour milling plant in Tbilisi through the lenses of rewilding and temporality, aiming to redefine the identity of this vast and formerly obsolete industrial facility. Through a series of interventions, the former brownfield has evolved into a living lab—a dynamic, evergrowing site of a novel ecosystem undergoing continuous ecological succession.

Individualism, the trend of prioritising individual interests over group interests, has significant implications for our urban environment, including spatial, environmental, and social unsustainable development. A shift towards collectivism represents a move towards sustainable development from these three perspectives.

This thesis proposes a spatial redesign of the Bospolder-Tussendijken neighbourhood in Rotterdam, addressing the research question: “In what way can the shift from an individualistic towards a collective approach in urban design contribute to sustainable development from spatial, environmental, and social perspectives, focusing on Bospolder-Tussendijken?”

The outcome demonstrates that a redesigned network based on the concept of the commons results in saved space and resources per individual. A neighbourhood designed to accommodate all urban activities can reduce reliance on car traffic, facilitating the creation of green spaces for the collective benefit of the community at the neighbourhood level, as well as smaller communities within. This transformation focuses on creating places of residence instead of places of going.

Sharing becomes the guiding principle, manifested across various scales, from the entire neighbourhood as the largest scale down to individual housing units as the smallest. This approach enables people to form networks and communities across these scales. By creating space for porosity and flexibility, the design accommodates diverse needs, allowing individuals the freedom to arrange locations at different scale levels according to their preferences.

The world is facing an escalating environmental crisis marked by major socio-ecological losses. Human-induced environmental threats, like biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution, underscore the onset of the Earth's sixth mass extinction, recently termed ‘ecocide’. Despite the urgent warnings from the scientific community and growing public awareness, inadequate and insufficient action has been taken to address the environmental crisis. In addition, recent research has shown that people are increasingly experiencing anxiety and feelings of hopelessness concerning these environmental issues, which prevents meaningful engagement with these topics. Yet, the role of emotions is often neglected in the Western discourse, impeding public acknowledgement of ecological grief (eco-grief).
This study recognises eco-grief as a legitimate response and the process of eco-grief as a catalyst for true engagement and pro-environmental attitudes, demonstrating how this alternative approach can inform the governance and planning of eco-centric cities. A conceptual framework based on Latour’s cognitive, emotional, and aesthetic virtues, the process of eco-grief and the X-curve for societal transitions is used to understand how people perceive the ongoing crisis.
Rotterdam Noord is taken as a case study, and a survey is used to gather citizens’ perceptions of nature, their experiences of ecological loss and grief, and their attachments to their local environment. In combination with a spatial and a governance analysis, a governance strategy is designed to create both physical and mental space for eco-grief to exist and be acknowledged in the urban context in order to contribute to a societal change towards eco-centric values. The strategy involves three elements focussed on building the relationship with our environment, revealing environmental losses and coping with the corresponding feelings.
This research contributes to debates around eco-grief by providing empirical insights from an urban setting while addressing urban-specific challenges like the “anti-urban bias” and the “shifting baseline syndrome”.

Through a deep understanding of the social-historical and architectural background of the site, this thesis presents a project proposal for the neighbourhood of Droixhe in Liege, Belgium with the purpose of structuring the multiple layers of complexity the area has. The project focuses on the urban plan of the neighborhood and how through architecture one building can attempt to solve the multiple contrasting characters of the public spaces around it based on the life the space is meant to house.

The Colonies of Benevolence, founded in the early 19th century, were a groundbreaking social experiment aimed at addressing poverty and fostering self-sufficiency in the Netherlands. These colonies, comprising agricultural lands and settlements, were designed to provide employment opportunities and housing for the impoverished population while instilling discipline, work ethic, and moral values. Over the years, the Colonies of Benevolence have evolved, reflecting significant shifts in social, economic, and political contexts. Today, they are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, highlighting their historical and cultural importance.

The agricultural sector, specifically dairy farming, has played a pivotal role in the development and transformation of the Colonies of Benevolence. The Netherlands has a long-standing reputation as a global leader in agriculture and dairy production, owing to its advanced farming practices, cutting-edge technological innovations, and efficient resource management. The Colonies of Benevolence provide a fascinating case study to explore the complex relationship between heritage conservation and the dairy industry, given their deep historical and contemporary connections to the sector.

This landscape design report seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis of the Colonies of Benevolence, examining their origins, history, heritage, and spatial design elements while exploring the significance of dairy farming within this context. The study aims to identify the challenges and opportunities associated with integrating heritage conservation, landscape design, and dairy farming, in order to envision a sustainable future for the Colonies of Benevolence that is both culturally rich and economically viable.

Umm Al-Fahem is an Arab city in Israel, a city of social, geographic, historic, and political importance. Once a small village, Umm Al Fahem developed to be the third-largest Arab city in the state of Israel. It endured several hegemony stages of occupation and mandates, which shaped its socio-spatial systems through the years. The social and spatial features created a system of segregation and inaccessibility within the different scales of the city, mainly reflected in the core of the city. Therefore, given the long history of the city and its constant unplanned spatial growth, and its important cultural familial heritage, the city core gradually became impenetrable to those who do not live in it, socially and spatially. It became stagnated in order to prevent unauthorized access to it, only readable and open to those who culturally belong, resulting in the need for rejuvenation.

This project’s main focus is to understand the city and its people, create intervention strategies in order to rejuvenate the core of Umm Al-Fahem to be socially integrated and spatially accessible on different scales. Through the medium of investigating the history and context of the city and proposing possible minimal and extreme spatial intervention scenarios, this project will be examining and answering the main question:
”To what extent can the socio-spatial strategies of rejuvenation make the stagnated core of Umm Al-Fahem be socially integrated and spatially accessible?”.

In light of increasing global divisions, it has been questioned whether human beings are able to connect and communicate with each other when encoutering geopolitical conflicts. The author's experiment on this matter and proposal for this project begins with what was once united but is now divided - the Limes, a legacy left from one of the most powerful rulings in history, the Roman Empire.

After UNESCO's approval and nomination, the Limes is now a linear connection covering three continents, laying the groundwork for the reconstruction of a shared cultural identity.

By zooming in on the research location in the northwest portion of the Limes, the land between old rivercourse Rhine and Meuse (now the Hague - Leiden metropolitan area) in the Netherlands, where there was once a Roman canal called Canal Corbulo now with few traces remaining on a socio level, we can see that heritage faces the same threat of vanishing and obvilion just as nature in this area.

This project seeks to investigate the past landscape, the potential of connections between time and space, and the future cooperation between heritage, environment and society.

This project's objective is to illustrate a heritage-led solution based on the concept of 'in place' to build an open-air museum that reflects the regional development of the human-landscape relationship through the presentation of narratives at diverse time scales.

This thesis focuses on applying the theory of cultural sustainability as a method in research and design to generate a landscape framework, allowing integration from monoculture lands on site to a dialogue between heritage, ecology, and human, projecting the long history of manmade landscape in this region, and reflecting the boundaries and limits humans push with nature.

Moreover, with the pilot design, prototypes of representing heritage will be adapted and implemented on to the entire Canal Corbulo line, with the optimism of serving as a template for future research and design explorations on the Limes, realising the idea of connection from place to place.

In the light of climate change and growing urban populations, our cities are under immense pressure. This graduation thesis aims to improve the liveability of pre-war neighbourhoods through the implementation and/or adaption of greenery. Greenery in the urban environment has a whole list of (possible) positive benefits like water drainage, increased biodiversity and air purification. There is one benefit that can also be a disadvantage for people with a lower socio-economic status: the rising property value. Due to a rising property value people that can not afford higher rents might be forced out of the neighbourhood. This form of gentrification is called green gentrification because it is gentrification caused through greenery developments. The aim of this project is to implement greenery into the neighrbouhood to improve liveability without the negative effects of gentrification. The main question addressed in this thesis is thus: How to green pre-war neighbourhoods to increase liveability for current residents, with minimising the risks of gentrification? Liveability is a broad and subjective concept which involves many different perspectives from both humans and nonhuman species. First a strategy was developed with the use of three main existing theories: Patchcorridor- matrix, 3-30-300 and Just Green Enough. Additional to these theories appropriation of public space is also important in the approach, to facilitate the different perspectives on liveability in a flexible way. The proposed approach is focused on small scale developments which are connected for ecological benefits and facilitate appropriation. To explore the implementation of this approach, this thesis is looking at the neighbourhood Oude Noorden in Rotterdam. The approach resulted in an neighbourhood strategy and a design for the Moerkapellestraat. In this design parking is seen as a way of appropriation which allows multiple uses for ‘parking’ spots. Parking spots now become a space for appropriation and improving liveability by residents themselves, allowing a variety of uses. To improve the liveability of current residents, with a human and nonhuman perspective, and limited risk of gentrification this thesis proposes a strategy focused on small scale greenery developments scattered through the neighbourhood. These small scale developments need to be ecologically responsible and connected to facilitate biodiversity. Appropriation provides the opportunities to let residents fulfill their individual needs in a flexible and low cost manner.

While the department stores are in heavy weather, the need for housing is increasing everyday. Redesigning old department stores to be used as housing is a necessary solution. So how to fit appartments in a large building, that is so unfit to be used for housing in its current condition? While researching the V&D department store in Leiden it was confirmed that the building needed thorough changes to adapt to a housing function.To adapt the building for its new function the building block is changed into an open-block structure. Resembling the structure used in most high density urban environments. At the same time this open structure compliments the already existing connection between the Aalmarkt and Breestraat side of the building. While opening up the building it was important to preserve its valuable elements, and where elements were removed or introduced, to relate to the original department store. The result is a building with a stepped open-block structure to balance the amount of light, floorspace and functions. The open structure creates terraces for the apartments which also serve as traffic space. An open public courtyard is introduced on the ground floor, reintroducing the old connection through the building. The inside of the building and the Marsmansteeg get new facades, using materials that relate to the main facade at the Aalmarkt. Using the valuable old V&D store a building is created which mixes public functions and housing in the heart of the city.

This project takes a critical look at the relationship between Willemstad’s quality
of place and the socio-economic, socio-cultural and environmental well-being of its
local population. As a reaction, a set of Urban Design Principles for US (the locals)
are proposed.

The scope of this graduation project is the study of two domains, (1) territorialism and territoriality, (2) contested and conflicted environments. These domains are discussed in relation to spatial planning. The project examines the ongoing conflict in Cyprus as the main case study. Particularly, it studies the manifestations of territorialism through analyzing how the border between the two contested territories transformed over time. The outcomes of the territorial division of the island caused by the Turkish invasion in 1974 are examined firstly. Secondly the outcomes of the re-bordering of the green line in 2003 and henceforth are investigated. Results from this analysis, identify a broad variety of existing territories with a different status. Additionally, they demonstrate a lack of effective bi-communal cooperation and planning that is adequate to meet particular environmental challenges. Results also show the potential for more territorial cooperation through different domains, based on the existing socio-spatial conditions. Outcomes of the analysis are used to define new territorial cooperation with responsibilities that are shared across communities, and a more important, mediating role for supra-national authority and an increased focus on environmental challenges. These are used to propose a spatial plan¬ning framework for conflict mediation, that will activate sustainable development in Cyprus, addressing the direct and indirect outcomes of the deficiencies of territorialism.

This project is a renovation project of an old music school in Winterswijk. The Boogie Woogie has played an important cultural role in WInterswijk for a long time. This music school has both values and many problems and the owner of the music school has a management problem of the building because of decreasing the number of students. The municipality of Winterswijk has a plan to make a new culture cluster on the site of the music school and on the plan they want to demolish the music school building. As I have found many values of the building through deep research, I propose a new cultural cluster master plan with keeping the music school building by changing the music school program to a public library and a coworking space. Through this project, I hope Boogie Woogie music school could keep memories of the community in Winterswijk and help to revitalize Winterswijk.

The Raadhuis (1938-1939) is located in the centre of Winterswijk, together with its surroundings, it offers great possibilities to create a communal centre on this site again. In its past this has already been the case with the post office, banks, church and of course the town hall on site. Next to that the Winterswijk offers a perfect tourism network: shopping tourism in the centre and natural tourism in the Nationaal Landschap Winterswijk. Besides, the hinterland also contains a dense structure of agricultural activities, in which a lot of agricultural knowledge can be found. These elements of the existing situation - a good basis for a communal centre and the agricultural knowledge of the hinterland - can mutually enhance each other. The site and its adjacent buildings offer a perfect basis to make it communal, while the former town hall has the perfect characteristics to pool agricultural knowledge in the form of a Think Tank. In this Think Tank the knowledge of people from academical, governmental, and executive field can be bundled. It is a place where experts can come together for debates, workshops, or informative events, to come up with better ideas for agriculture now and in the future. But also laymen can get to know agriculture. This can be done in the Think Tank pavilions in the park and the tower, but also in the restaurant on the ground floor or during information nights. On the north side, a courtyard is created encapsuled by an arcade. A place to have a break during the debates or to have a presentation on the tribune, with a perfect view on the park and façades of the former town hall. In the existing building the wings on the ground- and the first floor are opened up again to improve the natural light inlet. On the second floor the council chamber gives room for debates and presentations and the wedding room is transformed into the study room. In all rooms the characteristic structure is kept in sight. On the ground and the first floor this is the for that time very modern concrete load bearing construction, for the most important rooms - the wedding room and the council chamber - these are the wooden trusses. In the new design these existing structures are kept in sight.

Located southeast of Albania, the village of Tushemisht is characterised by numerous water springs and freshwater canals emanating from these springs and dispersing through the village creating a network of water lines, and small water basins. Small houses clustered around these water lines, in some cases incorporating water into their courtyards and even their indoor environments,
create a harmonious and balanced environment. Like many other areas of Albania, Tushemisht has undergone a rapid urban development which has affected the quality and values of the urban and natural landscape. As such, new buildings such as vacation homes oriented only towards the impressive lake view
are replacing old, small and diverse houses that are already well integrated into the existing typical landscape. Land that was once used for agriculture purposes is being transformed into construction land where more multi-
story residential buildings are build that have nothing in common with the landscape and the typical architectural tradition of the village. The old tradition of fishing, fish farming and land cultivation have been replaced by
tourism-based economy. In general, people’s relation to water, and nature is being lost and alienated though time. Embedded in a culture of high informality and uncontrolled developments, the characteristic water element
of the village is in constant danger. Hence, it i crucial that these qualities are preserved and improved in the future by laying the groundwork for sustainable
development. This research aims to create a new design strategy to guide sustainable development of the village of Tushemisht by enhancing its landscape qualities. The design strategy consists of a new vision plan which
proposes a set of guiding principles for new buildings, water ways, routings, new boarders and road relocation. Furthermore, the design strategy will provide guiding rules based on existing housing typologies as well as introduce spatial elements to improve promote social and economic development within the village

The Syrian civil war has created a large refugee influx in the urban environment of surrounding countries. Half a million of Syrian refugees have settled in the metropolitan area of Istanbul, evoking an ad hoc humanitarian response. This master thesis proposes an interdisciplinary long-term approach, operating at the intersection of humanitarian aid and urban planning and design. It investigates how a spatial strategy, that takes into account the complexity of the urban environment, long and short-term goals, and involved actors, could enhance the integration process of refugees. The research predominantly focuses on qualitative data in the metropolitan area of Istanbul and a multiple case study on two districts: Sultanbeyli and Zeytinburnu. Integration can be considered as the process in which refugees become an accepted part of society, where interactions between refugees and the receiving society determine the direction and outcome. It comprises a legal-political, socio-economic, and cultural-religious dimension. As a final result, the collaborative process in which the spatial strategy is constructed and an exemplary spatial strategy are developed. This strategy enhances the cultural-religious integration of refugees and the receiving society, by employing the potential of interactions in public space.

Parkstad Limburg is a conurbation of eight municipalities in South-Limburg in the Netherlands. It’s a typical post-industrial city on the coal mine belt which crosses Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. Due to the stop of coal mining this region lost its pillar industry and now is facing a series of problems of shrinkage in economy and population. In the past 40 years, the region has been continually seeking ways to transform and revitalize but the situation doesn't change. A more flexible strategy should be used to deal with the uncertain future of the region. When the future development is uncertain, use strategy to maintain the value of existing land, maximize the benefits of the intervention to prepare for the future. Increase potential rather than tap and consume the potential of this area. Now as a shrinking region, the population is declining, a large number of houses are vacant, people no longer need so many urban areas, whether they can replace these urban areas with natural systems, giving wildlife more space and opportunities. Consider the entire natural and urban system as a large ecosystem, the project aims to create a new balance between nature and urban systems to add the ecosystem value of Parkstad Limburg to prepare a resilient future. The thesis did the test design in different scales to answer the question of how to reorganize the urban and natural system and give a variety of possibilities to enhance biodiversity. The proposal does not only serve human, but also for other flora and fauna, improving the living quality of all kinds of users in Parkstad.

By investigating the High Speed Railway in Hong Kong , (HKXRL), the device described by Steve Graham as a "Glocal Bypass", this project aimed to use the nostagic local elements to reimagine the possibility of "sharing" Highspeed tunnel as an infrastructural connection to revitalise HK Industry - with the support of the global supply of electronic waste.

The Design as Politics theme for this year is migration, which was the starting point for this project. I took this to mean, in general, ‘movement’ - rather than migration across countries for economic reasons or from danger zones as refugees. Instead, I decided to focus more on how the daily migration of people affects the spaces in which we live, and how this may negatively impact those places where people migrate in and out on a regular basis.

This led me to choosing my site, Slough, based on a daily migration of people in and out of the town for work, resulting in a daily turnover of inhabitants. This will soon be reinforced with the building of Crossrail - a high speed railway line crossing London, bringing central London much closer. In addition, access to Heathrow Airport will be improved, encouraging migration to further afield. The project, as it stands, combines these two aspects of migration as it links the Slough Trading Estate (where much of the daily migration happens), to Heathrow Airport and thus the world.

My case study is about Slough and Heathrow, and in particular what will happen to Slough if Heathrow is to expand, as planned, with a third runway. As something very unpredictable, the project became about how to create a shock absorber in Slough that could take any changes that might happen at Heathrow, which would greatly affect the town of Slough. The daily migration of people in Slough relies on the presence of Heathrow.

The approach of Design as Politics is generally to focus on research about both the project itself, but also a much wider social context. The parameters set by the studio are incredibly wide, which meant that it took a long time for this project to reach a point from which it could be developed. I undertook research into policy surrounding the Heathrow expansion and what this meant in real terms and political terms, as well as looking at plans for Slough and the area I am focusing on - the Trading Estate. This was an interesting approach as it really began from a much bigger picture, from which I had to distill the project down to something specific to the site, but still with the larger intentions.

In a wider social context, the project is not only a hub for Heathrow and the Trading Estate, but acts as a shock absorber for Slough. In uncertain times, where it is unknown whether the airport will decline or expand, the project aims to use architecture to take the shock of any eventuality, ultimately fortifying Slough in terms of economy and liveability through strengthening a partnership with Heathrow. In terms of migration, the scheme aims to balance the difference between those who commute into Slough and those who commute out - a difference which is based on education and skills.