The traditional Dike–fish pond system in the Pearl River Delta represents a historically integrated model of agriculture, aquaculture, and community-based water management. This system not only maintained ecological balance through the integration of farming and fishing (Chen, 1995), but also fostered daily interaction between people and water, supporting the socio-economic fabric of water-based communities (Hou, Li, & Sun, 2023). However, with rapid urbanization and the expansion of the monoculture-based fishing industry, this balanced model is facing severe disruption. Traditional fishponds have been largely replaced or modified, dikes once used for cultivation have disappeared, and the spatial and ecological integrity of the system has been lost (Tian, 2019). Moreover, locally organized water management practices have been replaced by top-down, profit-driven aquaculture, eroding the social connections between people and water.
Drawing from the sociology of water, this project views the current crisis as not merely ecological, but deeply social. As Bakker (2012) emphasizes, water is inherently political and biopolitical—it is shaped by governance, culture, and community relationships. The reduction of water to a purely economic or productive resource neglects its vital social functions and undermines cultural identity, emotional connections, and communal agency. The case of Sangyuanwei, a once-thriving mulberry–dike–fish–pond system in the central Pearl River Delta, exemplifies this transformation, where spatial disintegration reflects broader shifts in the relationship between humans and water.
In response, this project proposes a landscape infrastructure design framework that re-centers the social nature of water. Through multi-scalar strategies, it aims to regenerate ecological function, restore local livelihoods, and reestablish cultural practices. At the regional level, it restructures water systems and production zones to form a network of blue-green infrastructure supporting both ecological and economic resilience. At the medium scale, it rebalances the dike-to-pond ratio to revive the multifunctionality of the system. At the local scale, it creates participatory water spaces that reconnect daily life with water through tourism, education, and community use.
Ultimately, this project raises a critical question for contemporary landscape practice: How can a landscape approach mitigate the negative impacts of the fish industry, enhance local livelihoods, and create a healthier, more sustainable, and visually attractive landscape through local participation? By reinterpreting water, water systems, and agricultural production as interconnected media carrying ecological, economic, social, and cultural value, the project offers an integrated approach that links spatial transformation with community agency, ecological resilience, and cultural renewal.

This project explores how landscape design can contribute to rebalancing flood prevention, ecological resilience, and productive land use within the Jing River Flood Storage Area (JRFSA), a key node in China’s middle Yangtze River flood control system. Located in the densely cultivated Jianghan Plain, the area faces a growing mismatch between large-scale flood management strategies and the everyday realities of agricultural production, ecological degradation, and rural development. Through the concept of Cascading Floodspace, the design introduces a multi-layered spatial framework that divides the floodplain into adaptive zones with differentiated flooding frequencies, land use patterns, and ecological functions. These zones support flood-responsive agriculture, habitat diversity, and seasonal tourism, while allowing for long-term landscape transformation without immediate disruption. The project operates across multiple scales—from regional water networks to site-specific interventions—and repositions the role of the landscape architect as both a spatial strategist and a mediator between competing values: risk and livelihood, ecology and economy, permanence and change.

This thesis investigates how fragile urban landscapes can be strengthened and rehabilitated towards a coextensive urban riverine landscape. Unexpected floods frequently devastate vulnerable communities, such as the informal settlements in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, South Africa, located in the Western Cape province of South Africa. These seasonal and increasing occurrences often destroy homes and, tragically, claim lives due to insufficient flood mitigation strategies and policies. The practice of slowing, diverting, and using floodwaters has been developed across diverse cultures and contexts into unique water strategies. These strategies have proven sustainable due to the locals’ understanding of the natural cycles and patterns. In many cases, these water management strategies have been implemented to improve agricultural productivity and the liveability of the locals - and unlike many contemporary solutions, which often rely on mechanised, and linear systems, a hands-on approach prioritises direct human involvement and care, emphasising local knowledge over engineered interventions. The value of studying such case studies is to learn from and extract principles that could inform contemporary urban approaches. The purpose of this research is therefore to explore alternative flood mitigation and riverine rehabilitation strategies that draw inspiration from existing low-tech water management practices, with a focus on simplicity, sustainability, and community engagement.

This thesis investigates the role of Façade-as-a-Service (FaaS) within the framework of circular economy business models, specifically focusing on its value for semi-public real estate owners and users. The research is motivated by the growing demand for sustainable solutions in the built environment as global efforts to mitigate climate change and resource scarcity intensify. Façade Product-Service Systems (PSS) offer a promising alternative to traditional façade procurement by integrating both the product (the façade) and associated services (such as maintenance and energy management) into a single, long-term offering. The research aims to answer the question:
HOW DO FAÇADE PRODUCT SERVICE SYSTEMS (PSS) OFFER VALUE TO SEMI-PUBLIC REAL ESTATE OWNERS”
The thesis builds on a detailed literature review of PSS, value creation, and current valuation methodologies, identifying key theoretical foundations and knowledge gaps. The core research question centres on understanding how Façade PSS creates value for semi-public real estate owners. To answer this, the study employs a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative research, including case studies, interviews, and financial simulations. The Civil Engineering (CiTG) building at TU Delft is selected as a case study to test the practical viability of the FaaS concept. Central to the analysis is the development and application of a financial model, particularly focusing on the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Total Value of Ownership (TVO) frameworks. A sensitivity analysis assesses the financial risks and uncertainties inherent in long-term service contracts.
The empirical findings reveal that while technological readiness for FaaS is relatively high, financial and cultural barriers still hinder widespread adoption. Key challenges include the lack of standardised appraisal methods for real estate with integrated façade product service systems, as well as the perceived risks associated with circular business models. However, the results suggest that when properly implemented, FaaS can offer significant value to building owners by reducing operational costs, enhancing sustainability, and aligning with long-term portfolio management strategies.
This research contributes to the field of circular real estate by advancing the understanding of façade product-service systems and providing a framework for evaluating their financial and environmental benefits. It also offers practical recommendations for stakeholders interested in implementing FaaS, advocating for a shift towards value-driven, service-oriented approaches in building management. The thesis concludes by identifying future research opportunities, particularly in refining valuation models and exploring scalable financing solutions for circular business models.

An analytical collection of theoretical, psychological, and methodological research applied
to spatial appropriation. Understanding our innate need to modify existing conditions to
satisfy personal needs begins with understanding user perception and action to uncover
the user’s needs and motives. This research is explored on the balcony and applies its
history and multi-programmatic character to understand the residents of the Lavapies
Neighborhood in Madrid. Site visit research and interviews reveal how locals reflect,
project, and respond to the current situations of their personal and communal needs
through balcony and gallery appropriations. Utilizing the Catalogue of Balcony
Appropriations, the main visual supportive source of my field research and site
understanding, revealed seven reasons for spatial appropriation. The analysis of these
seven derived four general conclusions that can be applied to learn from the amateurs of
other locations.