Urban healthcare centres face considerable pressure due to the negative health impacts associated with cities and increasing urban density. These challenges add strain to healthcare providers already dealing with imbalances in care provision. Research indicates that environmental factors play an important role in physical recovery and stress reduction, yet many outpatient care facilities lack these beneficial features, presenting an opportunity for enhancement. By integrating healing architectural characteristics, patients can be encouraged to communicate openly about their health concerns, experiencing reduced mental and physical stress during examinations or treatments. Implementing such features not only reduces reliance on pain medication but also reduces aggression toward healthcare providers and diminishes the need for recurrent visits. This paper hypothesizes that patients' stress levels have escalated since the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily due to concerns about airborne diseases in healthcare settings. Architectural features can mitigate the risk of contracting such diseases, potentially enhancing the perceived safety within these environments. Through a review of existing literature, this paper identifies current and future hurdles in healthcare centres, including airborne diseases, and proposes evidence-based design solutions aimed at enhancing patients' visiting experiences. ... Read more

This thesis explores architectural interventions to de-stigmatize psychiatric hospitals in Albania. Through research grounded in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and fieldwork in local psychiatric facilities, the study identifies key design principles such as greenery, privacy, autonomy, and community integration. The design proposal, Fshati i Mendjes (Village of the Mind), is a psychiatric care hospital in Tirana that challenges traditional institutional models, drawing inspiration from the traditional villages. It features therapeutic courtyards, natural light, and adaptive spaces tailored to patient needs. The project also aims to engage the community through educational programs and environmental sustainability, promoting mental health awareness and fostering a culture of acceptance. ... Read more

To prevent and reverse detrimental climate and biodiversity change, it is essential to motivate the housing construction supply chain to reduce the emission of carbon and nitrogen. The need to reduce the amount of emitted greenhouse gases and nitrogen oxides (NOx) is even more urgent in the Dutch housing construction. Currently, little research has been conducted into what hinders and motivates actors in the housing construction industry in their collaborative pursuit towards sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) in the Dutch housing construction industry.

The goal of this study is to provide new insights for actors in the housing construction chain, the government and science. To gain these new insights, the following research question has been formulated: How can the collaboration between actors in the Dutch housing construction industry be improved in the pursuit of sustainable supply chain management? This research was conducted through an in-depth case study research, based on literature research and semi-structured interviews with representatives from the most influential actor types in the Dutch housing construction supply chain. The housing construction supply chain contains a wide variety of actors with key players herein being main contractors, property developers and so-called first tier subcontractors

During the analysis of the interview results, an extensive amount of barriers and drivers were uncovered that actors encounter during the implementation of SSCM in the Dutch housing construction industry. For both barriers and drivers, it was found that subcontractors and property developers focus on the market and networking category, indicating they look more at the supply chain compared to main contractors. For main contractors, it seems they focus more on regulations, institutional barriers and drivers from within their own organization.

Based on the identified barriers and drivers, the following practical recommendations can accelerate the transition to SSCM in the Dutch housing construction industry. First, share knowledge with all actors in the supply chain. Second, develop a sustainable corporate culture that is reinforced both top-down and bottom-up in the organization. Third, some investments in sustainable operations are too high for a single actor to realize. Therefore, it is recommended that supply chain actors find effective ways to share financial burdens with each other in housing projects. Fourth and last, governmental institutions draft long term visions for the environment and subsequently translate this into policy.

The research findings can be used to inform and motivate main contractors, subcontractors, property developers and governments about practical implications and the use of policy instruments to achieve a sustainable supply chain in the Dutch housing construction industry. The combination of more intrinsic motivation from all actors in the housing construction chain can pave the way for creating a sustainable way of constructing houses.
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Aim: The aim of this thesis is to investigate team effectiveness in the field of construction. With this study, influential factors on team collaboration between different companies and within teams will be defined. By defining these factors, project managers of comparable project-based integrated design teams can improve the team collaboration within the project team and with that optimize their team’s effectiveness. The research focuses on a big complex building project, which will be used as a transportation hub, in the Netherlands. Research question: What are key factors which influence team collaboration of a project-based integrated design team in context of a large-scale complex building project, influenced by fast growth, different cultures and a changing scope? Methodology: The factors are explored by conducting a single case study research. The starting point was a literature study towards team effectiveness. The outcome of this study was used as input for the case study research. The case study was used to collect data, the data was generated by conducting semistructured interviews. After these interviews were conducted, observations, off the record conversations and inspection of restricted documents were used to discuss and validate conclusions. Findings: The literature research concluded in the backbone of this research. The IMOI model of Ilgen et al. (2005), structure the inputs, mediators and outcomes of the team’s effectiveness. The model is used to determine different factors that could influence the team collaboration. The case study research determined three events which are important for the further course of the project. Due to a lack of management during these events, the client in combination with leading members of the team had to overrule the management layer. The events; assembling the team, collaboration during the project and involving team members have to be managed with both organizational and interpersonal skills. Limitations of the research: It is a qualitative research; therefore, the research is always subject to biased opinions and interpretations of the data. Besides that, the research is conducted on only one case and therefore not automatically representative for all comparable cases. However, the factors resulting from this study need to be kept in mind, due to the fact that it will always be factors that influence the team collaboration, not said that they have to be the most influential for every comparable project-based integrated design team. Practical implications: The research addresses factors that affect the team collaboration of a project-based integrated design team. These factors should be taken into account when starting a comparable project team. Even though the case study of this research concluded with these factors, it is not excluded that there are more factors that influence the team collaboration of a project-based integrated design team. Therefore, more studies should be conducted in this area of research. Scientific relevance: There are a lot of studies conducted towards the team effectiveness of composed teams, however, more research is needed to define the factors that influence the team collaboration of a projectbased team. This research could be used as a starting point for further research, while it is one of the first studies conducted on a project-based team of this size and complexity, subjected to designing a big complex building project. Keywords: Project-based integrated design team, team collaboration, team effectiveness, project management, IMOI framework. ... Read more

Elderly in the Netherlands today are not all assured of a suitable home for the rest of their lives. Because sooner or later the safe place that you call home isn’t that safe anymore and does not meet the requirements that come with living on an old age. The main causes of this are mobility issues, diseases or the passing away of people close to you. This is why many old people used to move to an elderly home that assures care and safety. But because of a change in long-term care for elderly many of them do not qualify for a place in an elderly home anymore. The care demand can be met by caregivers at home, but because of the growing elderly population less caregivers will be available in the future. Meaning that more and more elderly people will live in an unsuitable and mostly unhealthy home, without proper care. How can we prevent elderly people from aging in a bad environment? ... Read more

Lelystad's first commercial area, Lelycentre, was originally intended to be the starting point of the planned city centre in the first phase in 1964, emphasising the connection to the fourth planned polder of the Zuiderzeewerken. Markermeerpolder's rejection in the 80's meant that the decision was made to develop the city centre elsewhere causing Lelycentre lose its intended position. Today Lelycentre shopping centre, which once resembled Rotterdam’s Lijnbaan, serves the local communities with a quiet but healthy bustle of activity. However the majority of surrounding office buildings have gone through a series of changes in use over the last 40-50 years and are now vacant. One such building is the former police station, which the police vacated in 2018 in favour of a more central city location. The police station is integrated into Lelycentre's characteristic elevated infrastructure and boasts a unique and recognisable façade. It is positioned as the southern gateway into Lelycentre. In a masterplan wherein much of the existing vacancy is filled with housing, this work explores a situation where the former police station a.k.a. ZIJP gebouw is transformed into a cultural centre for new and existing residents. The main challenges are establishing a balance between the architectural qualities of the existing office building whilst introducing transparency, openness, accessibility in direct contrast to the existing monumentality and sense of anonymity. Preserving and revitalising the elevated infrastructure is key, whilst creating a new relationship with the transformed ground level. The final point is to design sustainably and introduce passive design concepts. ... Read more

Aim: The aim of this research was to explore the soft side of project management, specifically the way process managers apply interpersonal skills to influence team functioning in project-based integrated design teams which apply shared leadership. This will provide insight within the context of shared leadership on the way project-based integrated design teams function, the role of the process manager, and the way interpersonal skills can be applied.
Research question: Considering interpersonal skills, how can process managers influence team functioning in project-based integrated design teams which apply shared leadership?

Methodology: The here described comparative case study uses an interpretive qualitative approach. Data was collected from two case studies, through context analysis, participant observations and interviews on behaviour, team interaction and communication.

Findings: This research highlighted the complexity of hospital design project organisations. The case studies address three managers: process manager, design manager and project controller – who each have their own responsibilities and focus. The emphasis of this research is with the process manager, who adapts to what the project team needs in that situation and can apply interpersonal skills by reflecting and ask questions (Why? What? When? Where? How?) to stimulate creative and critical thinking and engage project team members to interact with each other (trigger shared leadership). These skills can be applied to obtain organisational purposes, such as financial goals and to manage information which can contribute to project progress. Stagnation of project progress occurs when topics or problems are attempted to be solved at the wrong organisational level, thus “at the wrong table” (in Dutch: “het probleem wordt op de verkeerde tafel gelegd”). The different strategic levels influence each other, which in turn may alter the communication, and functioning within the team, as well as the project outcome. Furthermore, this research indicated that BIM is often seen as a goal in its own right, thus as a 3D Revit model, rather than a means to support shared understanding or shared mental model, and thus act as a boundary object. Findings indicated the need for a BIM to be dealt with as an information management system. Therefore, the outcomes of the study and it is recommended to involve a BIM coordinator to enact the use of BIM as a boundary object amongst project team members.

Practical implications: This research emphasizes on the importance of interpersonal skills and the importance of information sharing to team functioning. This can provide insight for project team composition, recruitment and training, and tendering processes. ... Read more

Project tackles the issue of low density and underpopulation in Lelystad by an attempt to retroactively densify the city historical core. The architectural intervention consists of revitalization vertical addition of dwelling function on one of the Lelystad very first buildings - the shopping center Lelycentre. Building is assesed in aspects of cultural and architectural values and building technology and scenario for its adaptation is proposed. Project touches the issues of safety, quality of public space and livability of the neighbourhood and explores the possibilities offered by high density and proximity of mixed functions. ... Read more

This study was aimed at developing a design guide for stress reducing healthcare facilities for people with a chronic disease and their caregivers. This study was conducted with literature research, interviews and analyzing reference projects. The results of the literature research show the impact of stress on the different users, the importance of informal care in the Netherlands and proof that stress can be reduced by architecture in the healthcare environment, for all users. The interviews resulted in six psychosocial needs that where translated to a set of design principles with use of the reference projects. These design principles can be used as a design guide. A sustainable and stress reducing radiotherapy clinic was designed in Leeuwesteyn, Utrecht, implementing the design principles from the research. With multiple care functions, divided in three departments, the building foresees in all care needed (mental, physical and medical care). Main concepts are a clear routing, four atria and a nice view on greenery. Separate routings for employees and visitors, and a separate space for all the users are making this building stress reducing. Daylight is guaranteed in all spaces without depriving the privacy, with the use of special façade materials as metal mesh and vertical bamboo slats. Therefore, the building is a stress reducing environment for care without worries. ... Read more

This project adds back quality to the living conditions of the most dense district of Casablanca. By providing the district Maârif with a common center, I consolidate the currently disconnected neighborhoods. The main program on this site is focused around education. Education here is being used as a social equalizer and to communize the district. Because this shared resource can quickly adapt to the ever-changing needs, I hope the users will feel strongly connected to this shared facility and strengthen the identity of the district. ... Read more

The population of the Netherlands is ageing. The number of people above 65 is expected to grow from 3.1 million in 2017 to 4.8 million in 2040. The increasing ageing population results in more elderly in need of care and a lower percentage of young people able to provide formal care. The classical welfare state seems to gradually change to a ‘participatiesamenleving’, a society in which people initially take the responsibility for themselves. Elderly live independently as long as possible instead of living in an intramural setting. When they are not able to take care of themselves, they can appeal to their social network for more support. Formal care will be additional to the informal care. The participation of the social network is therefore important, not only to handle the shortage of formal care, but also to give people the possibility to live their own, trusted life. The research provides insight into the importance of the relationship between architecture and the provision of informal care to elderly in need of care, which is an increasingly important issue. Architectural tools that fulfil the needs of the informal caregivers can be used by architects while designing environments that stimulate informal care provided by people of the social network of elderly in need of care.
'Het Verticale Hof' is an example of such and environment. It is a housing project with public functions on the ground floor. It is an environment for residents, informal caregivers, the community and professional caregivers and will stimulate informal care. ... Read more