In Bangladesh, like in all other countries climate change is causing significant changes to weather and climatic conditions. Bangladesh and more specifically the Sylhet region face adverse effects such as tidal flooding and riverbank erosion among other natural disasters. Besides endangering communities, these natural disasters destroy agricultural lands and infrastructure important to the continuation and advancement of a community.
Another growing phenomenon in Bangladesh is migration as a form of resilience. Bangladeshis in flood-prone areas practice climate-induced micro-migration to deal with the situation (Mustari &
Karim, 2017). This project looks to the indigenous communities in Bangladesh and other wet land areas to find solutions to the problem. Research has shown that indigenous adaptation techniques and
knowledge practices have been used by indigenous communities in Bangladesh and other regions to mitigate the effects of climate change and stressful environmental conditions (Amin, Asaduzzaman,
Kabir, Snigdha, & Hossain, 2021).
The objective of this research is to design a housing solution that responds to flooding in the Sylhet metropolitan area. For this reason, it is important to study the effects of flooding on the target group
as well as their homes, the migratory patterns of the displaced people and the indigenous strategies and technologies that may be used to mitigate these effects.
This research is imperative to the livelihood and sustainability of communities in the low-lying areas of Sylhet and to the new methodology of technology where indigenous wisdom is seen as a necessary technology rather than primitive techniques. The research will aim to answer the question “How can indigenous and traditional knowledge systems inform resilient housing solutions that support micro-migration as a climate adaptation strategy in Bangladesh?”

The case with the housing crisis is that there is not only a lack of housing, but most annual new residents for the housing in The Netherlands are migrants. This comes from the fact that almost all annual increase in population in the Netherlands are migrants. Within the urban densification theme, these migrants will mainly be housed and integrated in the existing neighborhoods in densely urban areas. However, these neighborhoods and housing are currently not designed for this target group. This affects the social integration and the feeling of being at home for these migrants, which adversely affects the livability of neighborhoods for other target groups. Therefore this study examined the social and functional aspects that stimulate social integration. This revealed several architectural and urban design ingredients that stimulate the social integration, such as a communal living room with a shared kitchen, which can be used as activity spaces, collective gardens, social galleries and loggias.

The Netherlands is currently dealing with a housing shortage. Within this housing shortage, there is a specific shortage in suitable elderly housing. With the Reformation of Long-Term Care elderly need to live longer independently at home whereby an explicit appeal is made to the social network of the elderly for the provision of (informal) care and support. If neighbours are encouraged to provide informal care to elderly people in their neighbourhood, they contribute to the possibility of the elderly living at home independently for longer, and the pressure on current informal caregivers is also reduced. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to form a design strategy by answering to following main question: “What design strategy can be used to design independent livings for elderly with a light need of care, integrated into an existing neighbourhood, in such a way that it stimulates neighbours to provide informal care?”

To answer this question first the developments in the history of elderly housing were studied to see what we can learn from it nowadays. This resulted in a timeline with the main development. In addition case studies of historical projects were done, which gave insight into design elements that could be still helpful nowadays. By providing different scales of interaction different places of encounter can be created and form a gradient in socially active places. Providing buffer zones between private, semi-private, semi-public
and public spaces also contributes to this.

Furthermore, the needs and wishes of elderly that stimulates their independence were researched on the scale of the dwelling and the scale of the neighbourhood. Physical, functional and social aspects, could be found. Physical aspects like accessibility, activity and recognition are important. On the functional aspect it is important to make it as easy as possible for elderly to use key facilities. Social aspects like providing a contact rich, and multi-generational living environment are important to create a socially sustainable
environment.

Then there was researched what could stimulate neighbours to provide informal care. Social cohesion plays a very important role in this. Knowing and seeing your neighbour is very important for the willingness to provide informal care. Once people know their neighbour and see the help he or she needs, they are willing to provide it.

Therefore, case studies from recent projects that are designed with the stimulation of social cohesion in mind were conducted. This gave insight in how design can effect the social cohesion and therefore stimulate people to provide informal care. First of all the connection to the surrounding is important.
Furthermore, dwellings should be designed for a mix of households and organized around a shared place. The shared place should still have a feeling of security, so residents feel more comfortable to use them. A balance between public and private is therefore important. Providing for a transition between private, semi-private, semi-public and public plays an important role in the stimulation of encountering each other.

By combining the outcomes of all the sub-questions, a design strategy is created that could be used to design independent livings for elderly with a light need of care, integrated into an existing neighbourhood, in such a way that it stimulates neighbours to provide informal care.

The high prices and housing shortage are significant problems for the Dutch population. Thus, besides a general housing shortage, there is also a shortage of housing aimed at the needs of Empty Nesters. Homes are not always life-course resistant, and alternative housing in the desired living environment is lacking (van Staaij et al., 2021; real estate market, 2022; Dynamis, AM, & Whooz, 2021). The purpose of this research is to create a design strategy for densifying an existing residential area by creating a dwelling concept that is suitable for the Empty Nesters households as an attempt to stimulate the flow of the housing market for younger families. As such, this thesis aims to investigate and answer the following research question: ‘How can new dwelling concepts for Empty Nesters, be integrated into a densification strategy for postwar neighborhoods, to stimulate flow in the housing market for younger families?’ To answer the main research questions, this study uses an approach that complements what was learned from literature research on Empty Nesters, relocation motives, housing requirements, and user needs with insights from both theory and practice of architectural examples. a clear picture emerged about the target group; what characteristics they differ in, what moving motives they have, what housing profiles this group has with connecting housing preferences and what spatial, functional and social qualities they need. By combining the outcomes of all sub-questions, a design strategy was created that could be used to design housing that is attractive and focused on the Empty Nester, integrated into an existing postwar neighbourhood, in order to stimulate the flow of the housing market. Thus, this strategy and the design created by using this strategy answer the central question of this research.

Historically, our society has demonstrated tendencies of exclusion towards those who misfit the norms. While there may be innumerable factors that come into play in these scenarios, such tendencies of marginalization seem to hold a strong connection to aspects of the built environment. As one of the many standardized systems in our world, design and architecture follow guidelines that commonly comply with a ‘one size fits all’ approach, catering toa mainstream majority while disregarding individuals who misfit such standards. Such scenario of design disablement is commonly true for users of assistive technology, whose scope of devices are rarely considered within traditional design practices. Although such
technologies may be partially accounted for through codes and regulations regarding wheelchair access, the usability of other forms of mobility assistance - such as walkers, crutches, canes, scooters and adaptive limbs - remain absent in such guidelines. With architectural practices focusing on the needs of non-disabled bodies, the needs of mobility aid users seem to go unrecognized, leading to disadvantageous spatial conditions that restrict their capabilities. Taking that perspective into consideration, it’s possible to say that the ambulation restraints of individuals who rely on mobility aids is less about their physical capabilities and more about architecture’s lack of receptiveness towards their reliance on the
use of assistive devices. Bringing to light the complexities between the built environment and the use of mobility devices, this investigation seeks to recognize the joint influence between the demands imposed by spatial design and the ranging capacities of those who may use it. Although other minorities may also face barriers of flawed design, the primary concern to be addressed within this framework is the capability limitations imposed specifically on individuals who face reduced mobility and rely on assistive ambulation devices.

This study and design explores the possibilities and opportunities of multi-generational co-living for elderly in need of care, within an ageing society like The Netherlands. Younger and older generations are proven to have mutual benefits with each other; mentally, socially and therefore physically as well. Co-living of elderly together with other age groups like families with children, students and adults could be a concept that can show the enrichment these different groups have on each other. This is achieved by creating a partly shared/collective and partly private built environment, where architectural design is used to stimulate social interaction, sharing, caring and doing activities together. In this way, the elderly will be included in society, a big desire they wish to become reality.

The number of elderly is growing rapidly. Different societal problems that already exist will continue to grow if nothing changes in policy, like a shortage of care staff, a shortage in housing, loneliness among elderly and other problems. Facilitating intergenerational reciprocity can contribute by adressing these problems and offering a healthy future of the elderly with enough care capacity. The main question 'How can architecture support reciprocity in intergenerational relationships that include elderly?' is answered from several perspectives and translated into architectural interventions. Three different perspectives are taken into consideration, directly and indirectly leading to reciprocity: Co-care, co-dividuality and comunity. For reciprocity within professional care context (Co-care), the workload needs to be reduced to create more room for reciprocity to happen. Several architectural interventions can be done that directly or indirectly impact the workload within professional care For reciprocal releationships to happen within the personal context (Co-dividuality), elderly need to have a sense of equal value. This can be facilitated by different architectural means, some of them being applicable for all elderly. Other architectural interventions leave room for the uniqueness of each elderly. Some co-dividual aspects also impact healthy living and have a indirect impact on reciprocity. Co-munity functions as the catalyst of the other two perspectives. For reciprocity to happen within community, there needs to be social involvement. Social involvement is distinguished on three differentlevels: Bonding, bridging, and linking. All levels need different kinds of architectural interventions to facilitate reciprocity. Taking all the researched perspectives into consideration, a positive feedback loop can be seen, resulting in less need for care and improving health. All topics discussed in this research are interconnected connected and when facilitated, they offer 'growth' of every other aspect.

This thesis focusses on the influence of the built environment on the stigma of elderly. Stigma and assumptions over past care concepts influence care giving and age-exclusion, which create a misconception of the current state of care facilities. This misconception limits the possibility of an inclusive built environment for the elderly. The perception of age differs for each individual, culture, country, and gender, which is why this research focused on how stigma of growing old in the Netherlands can be decreased. This research uses quantitative data to examine how the built environment contributes to decrease stigma about aging in society? Stigma is a social problem which causes problems in health, social connections, and self-esteem. Social awareness, education, contact, a supportive environment, appropriate care systems, decreasing and acting against stigmatic behavior, encouraging empowerment, promoting greater understanding, and increasing experiences can lower stigma. Architecture defines the context in which social events take place and how care and social systems are organized. It can provide expectations as well as limiting or give access to information and functions towards specific stigmatic groups. Using thematic analysis 5 key design elements were discovered to decrease stigma using the built environment, namely by creating a positive or similar value as the surrounding, through empowering the stigmatized group, by providing the necessary needs and desires for the individual, by creating communities and by facilitating awareness.

Exhibition 5 - 26 March 2018, Faculty of Architecture (Delft University of Technology), Corridor

Co-curators of the Exhibition "Housing for the Global South", at the International Social Housing Festival, held from 13 June to 21 June 2017 at Het Schip Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands