Driven by climate change, the increasing frequency and intensity of flood events impose growing risks on urban infrastructure. To quantify these projected risks, conventional flood risk assessments rely on generic, univariate depth-damage curves that assume a pristine building stock. As a result, these methods systemically underestimate the vulnerability of historic unreinforced masonry dwellings that exhibit pre-existing structural degradation, exposing a critical scale gap between mesoscale risk modelling and microscale structural engineering physics. To bridge this gap, this thesis develops a multivariate, state-dependent probabilistic vulnerability framework that integrates component-level structural capacities with sociotechnical recovery timelines. The framework is applied to two residential case study locations, which reveals that initial degradation shifts damage onset to lower flood depths. Mean repair costs yield a 5 to 8 percentage point divergence in median repair costs. Crucially, crossing into extensive structural damage triggers compounding procurement and permitting delays that severely elevate re-occupancy downtime, extending community displacement from two months to over a year. While component adaptation mitigates direct interior losses, preflood structural restoration is more effective in reducing median re-occupancy downtime by up to 40.7%. This framework establishes a scalable tool to improve current flood risk assessments and enable targeted climate adaptation and heritage preservation investments within ageing urban environments. ... Read more

Many species that are dependent on buildings are beginning to appear as more and more species of nature learn to adapt to city life. In the same vein, the concurrent loss of biodiversity presents a problem for the planning of vertical greening. This article attempts to explore the combination of animal nesting and vertical greening to develop a more species-friendly environment. The end goal is to create a flexible, easy-to-maintain, demountable, modular vertical greening system that can respond to changes in the ecosystem. ... Read more

The complex relationship between humans and the natural world is still visible in 2023s urban planning: a city is a place for humans, and nature gives space to all non-human species. The anthropocentric perspective within the urban environment puts humans above non-human nature. This is also the case within urban renewal in the Netherlands, which aims to improve human liveability. This aim is reflected within the ongoing urban renewal in Carnisse, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, under the leading plan of NPRZ as well. However, considering non-human species might have positive effects for both human and non-human species. This thesis addresses the research question: "How can values of ecological justice contribute to a spatial design that improves urban renewal in Carnisse, Rotterdam?" to investigate the impact of non-human species liveability on urban renewal concepts and spatial plans in Carnisse. The study conducts a systematic liveability analysis of several target species representing circa 80% of the species currently present in the neighbourhood. Based on the analysis, a toolbox is developed, which is the foundation of integrating human and non-human demands within urban renewal. With a combination of consideration of the existing structure, context consideration, the implementation of zoning, biocentrism and nature-inclusive thinking, the translation towards a spatial plan based on ecological justice values for the neighbourhood Carnisse is created. Comparing the current NPRZ urban renewal plan and the ecological justice values-based plan reveals that if ecological justice is included, the concept of urban renewal should be revised and that there is a case for a more integrated approach to the physical and social domain within urban renewal. Besides, the focus on ecological justice values might reduce the in-depth focus on human liveability compared to the approach to urban renewal. Nevertheless, the spatial outcomes of the focus on non-human liveability will (indirectly) positively affect human liveability by improving health, lowering crime rates, improving interaction between humans and non-human species, and increasing climate adaptation of the area. Therefore, implementing ecological justice values will improve urban renewal concepts and spatial plans from an Arcadian perspective by improving the non-human species' liveability and from a resource standpoint, by improving human liveability. ... Read more

We humans evolved in nature, but over the years we moved from being a part of nature to being apart from nature. This causes our mental health, with stress as the most important aspect, to suffer from our modern life in the city. A significant challenge we face is finding ways to integrate nature into our build environment for stress relief. A solution can be found in biophilic design which draws on our biologically ingrained tendency to interact with and experience nature. The problem, however, is that there are already many studies demonstrating the mental health qualities of biophilic designs, but there is not yet a translation for application for the architect. This translation was made within this project by creating a design guide as thesis, concluding with a tool for architects. Then, the TNW building on the TU Delft Campus was used as a prototype, since 97% of students at TU Delft experience stress and this building will become vacant.

To provide stress relief, the renovation design shows a new way of living by investigating the 'natural in-between place', from the user's perception. The natural in-between space is created by first opening the building for natural light and fresh air. Then the landscape flows in and the structure is revalued. This creates a new renovation approach. This renovation approach focuses on showing natural processes for multiple senses, which is the conclusion of the stress relief tool. The natural processes arise from integral interventions of building requirements and an ecologically future-proof landscape. An example is the water system. Rainwater is collected on the retention roof. This water passes through a small waterfall in the natural in-between place to storage. After use, it flows through a helophyte filter. Then it goes to the campus water grid and the water can be reused. In this process, the Mekelpark acts as a seasonal buffer. These natural integral interventions respond to the user perception, for example by providing fresh breaks, more leisure time in quality nature and awareness of natural processes.

The natural in-between place forms the connection between an ecological landscape and student activities such as living, studying, sports and culture. Besides the main ambition theme perception, the following ambition themes are also part of the design: sustainability through awareness of natural processes, climate design, healthy natural and local materials.
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With the worldwide biodiversity decline and cities that should adapt to climate change, rewilding the built environment to restore biodiversity and increase the degree of natural areas is necessary. Yet, there is currently no established overview of potential rewilding strategies for urban environments. This study explores various opportunities for rewilding the built environment through nature-inclusive design and presents a toolbox that architects and urban planners can implement in the design process to create opportunities for biodiversity and make cities greener and more resilient. Furthermore, the suggested framework can be used to create strategies on the larger scale. Rewilding strategies, however, are highly dependent on the characteristics of a specific environment and thorough site research is necessary to come up with suitable strategies. The typical Dutch post-war neighbourhood Boerhaavewijk in Haarlem is taken as a case study to demonstrate the application of these strategies. ... Read more

This project investigates the possibilities of the biobased material reed from local sources to reduce embodied energy emissions in the building sector. The drained wetlands in the Netherlands release carbon into the atmosphere leading to the inability of the wetlands to serve as carbon sinks and habitats. The rewetting of polders leads to the opportunity to grow more wetland crops. The research asks what the possibilities of locally harvested reed as a building material and its use in different building elements are linked to the whole lifecycle of Common Reed (Phragmites Australis) as a plant.

To grow this multifunctional crop on the Poelpolder on the outskirts of the city of Haarlem the rewetting of the polder is necessary. Thus, with the aid of the activity centre, the polder is transformed into a productive green fringe and adds a multipurpose to the recreational zone. It can be integrated into the residents’ daily life by providing communal functions such as a participatory kitchen and professional functions for the development and testing of reed.

The project is a case study to use common reed as arches for the load-bearing structure and show the possibilities and challenges of this biobased material. ... Read more

Regenerative neighborhood development in Amsterdam that harvests biological and technical nutrients on-site. The building's skin expands to a unique community space for local food production. The skin is seasonally adaptive through a low-tech system creatively reusing already existing climate-control components (the window) harvested from the site that were otherwise going to the landfill. ... Read more

Sustainability in its development is increasingly focusing on nature. However, this research shows that through positive development, benefits are not only gained in nature, but are actually viewed as a common good. From this emerged regenerative development and design, in which there is a judgement from a whole system perspective. Through the knowledge of place, a strategy is first developed within the design process, in which oak regeneration can respond to the respective site patterns. This knowledge should then be used to design in harmony with the larger patterns of place. This is achieved through a partnership between the place (as a living being) and other various living systems. Herein, such a partnership is presented between place, humans and oak forest regeneration. This partnership brings forth new activities and growth through co-evolution, and is made permanent by bridging with viticulture. The regeneration of wood is passed down over several generations, using it not only as a building material, but also with the manufacture of wine barrels. In doing so, this research shows how this material works and is produced, and what other uses, if any, are available at the time the material depreciates. ... Read more

As the climate is changing, the need to mitigate and adapt to the climate is getting more urgent every day. One of the biggest causes of global warming is the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Simultaneously, we are destroying one of our biggest carbon sinks; our peat soil. Peat soil in the Netherlands is destroyed by the Dutch polder system and the way the Dutch are building on top of the peat layer. This results in oxidation, which results in a release of carbon dioxide. Fortunately, there is a solution to preserving the peat soil and even regrowth. By rewetting the peat layer, the anaerobic conditions needed to maintain the peat are created. This calls for a different type of built environment in order to prevent the loss of our carbon sink. The study location of this project is Westergouwe in Gouda, which is designated for the building of housing and the soil contains our beloved peat soil. To still gratify the big housing need, a design is made of the neighborhood Westergouwe combining the urban environment with the goals of preserving and growing peat, in an ecologically responsible way. This project answers questions through literature research like: How can carbon be stored in the soil, vegetation, and in the urban environment? How can you build on peat soil without destroying it? And what is the urban ecosystem? Also, an analysis using mapping, expert interviews, and literature research is done of the polder system surrounding Westergouwe, of other environmental problems, and of suitable biotopes within this vision. After the design, is looked at how this design could be implemented in phases and which stakeholders would be involved. This type of design requires long-term planning. Throughout the process, the involvement of local and national governments is key to realizing this design. To transfer the knowledge maintained in this project, a pattern language is made and a method is abstracted. This project is not only applicable to Westergouwe, it could be relevant for a lot of places where peat is present in the soil. But not only that, because of the finiteness of the polder system, this type of design could be relevant for the whole of the western Netherlands. The author hopes that more research is done to continue the project’s search for a landscape-based urban environment that mitigates and adapts to the climate and that this project is used as a framework for further research. ... Read more

We are living in a perfect storm of catastrophes; overpopulation, desertification, deterioration of biodiversity, and a weakened ecological system are threatening our current way of living. It is essential we look for new ways of living and building. This paper is an experimental research on how to use waste-based brick as a building material to strengthen the ecological system in the surrounding environment. The context is shortly introduced, followed by an overview of the experimenting on waste-based brick characteristics, building technology, and the composition of the material and the building process. Subsequently, experiments on the durability and liveability of the material are conducted. Lastly, a conclusion is conducted for designing with waste-based brick to maximize the ecological value of different building components. In the conclusion, I reflect on an example of waste-based brick. ... Read more

Understanding the perceived stimuli and barriers by private homeowners is key knowledge to realise effective climate adaptive policy and consequently the adoption of SSCAM by homeowners. Q-methodology was used to unravel the perspectives of 25 homeowners from the Vruchtenbuurt, Den Haag and Hillegersberg-Zuid, Rotterdam on climate adaptation. The Model of Proactive Private Adaption to Climate Change structured the Q-methodology and was complemented with a policy analysis into climate adaptive policy of Den Haag and Rotterdam and a literature review of SSCAM. Four perspective groups, called factors, were identified amongst homeowners, : 1) Major problem, but what is the solution?!, 2) Together we make it better!, 3) I don't know how I am part of a solution and 4) Act when it is needed. The diversity of homeowners' perspectives implies no one-size-fits-all solution exists to stimulate adoption of SSCAM, two policy instruments which take this into account are proposed. Firstly, an extensive communication strategy is advised which clarifies the need for climate adaptive measures, establishes a relation with homeowners and stimulates homeowner's participation through an adaptive network. This should be complemented with an enabling instrument for garden and roof SSCAM, which can be tailored to the different barriers and stimuli perceived by the perspectives. ... Read more

The Second life studio focuses on the value of existing building stocks in our built environment. Five office buildings with low monumental value that lost their relevance in time are chosen as case studies, the primary interest of the studio is to explore possibilities of such building stock and to extend building life by external and internal interventions. De Knip in Amsterdam Sloterdijk representing the office tower typology in the 1990s is the subject of this project, situated in the green wedge between two extensive ecological resources, the urban goal of the district is to become a stepping stone green connection, a livable neighborhood for both human and nature. Currently used as the government tax office, the future use of the building is open for discussion. The inherent characteristics of tower typologies, changing working culture and change of demographics of the area are challenges and potentials of the building. In parallel to the global phenomenon of office vacancy problem is the growing tension between urbanism and biodiversity and the prolonged disconnection between nature and human in built environment. This thesis reflects on the role of buildings in urban ecology, it proposes a systemic change in addressing nature inclusiveness in architecture. It shows a spectrum of possible influence on design when considering nature as a potential user. Topics regarding urban ecology in building design is rather new, the value of this study is to encourage discussion and imagination. the project aims to explore the meaning of design for biodiversity in two levels. Firstly, is to understand the limitations and opportunities of buildings in conservation performance which help to anticipate alternative strategies to achieve such conservation goal. Secondly is to understand the meaning of biodiversity design to human and to human- nature relationship. Human aspect is important human can be co- conspirator that facilitate radical changes. Both directions look into adding extra dimensions, either spatial or programmatic to animal conservation in building as a way to strengthen the power of architecture. In the end, research and vision is translated into various forms, including a design toolbox for future nature inclusive design in building, multi- scale nature inclusive design application in De Knip, replicable habitat facade prototypes, typology innovations concerning the challenge of nature management and human acknowledgement; and the advocate of an Ecological building database to foster urban ecology development. Concerning the constantly changing working culture and unpredictable public health crisis, the project also seeks to open discussion regarding social resilience in work space, It questions the boundary of publicness and public ownership of a building as a type of flexibility. Taking inspiration from current public building development, parklet typology and vertical urbanism, the project proposes a two-operation model dedicating half of the building to public domain free for access. what is the impact if architects only design a robust background rather than an articulated foreground for users? The thesis experiments a bottom up approach in building management, addressing the theme of co-fund, co-build, co-create, co-design for future design. ... Read more

The issues of environmental challenges, increasing per capita demand and decreasing finite stocks are triggering the demand for greener alternatives in resource production and consumption. The phenomena of bioeconomy comprehends the sustainable conversion and production of biomass for energy, health and industrial products. A vital component of bioeconomy, is the concept of the biorefinery, which has the potential to rep¬lace conventional petroleum refineries in order to produce energy and material products with 2nd generation biomass feedstock. In the search for renewable production landscapes, the current situation of pollution and contamination cannot be neglected. Tis paper investigates the situation and possibilities for the industrial site of Shell-Pernis in the Port of Rotterdam. The soils of Shell-Pernis are highly contaminated with Mineral oils, heavy metals (e.g. Zn, Cu, Cd, Hg, etc), and PAHs. In order to clean these soils and provide feedstock for a proposed biorefinery, a set of 25 different plant species is contrived, which form building blocks for ecological interventions to transform a deteriorated, fossil-based industrial site into an accessible bio-industrial park. These interventions follow the rule of multiple functions, as all plants provide various ecosystem services such as production of biofuels, bioremediation, attracting wildlife, fixating nitrogen, preventing erosion and other additional benefits. Hence, the interventions have the potential to make a polluted industrial area safer and healthier, and provide a pleasant stay for the public. This research and design project shows how Shell-Pernis has the potential to become a flagship site of the green industry where bio-economic and rehabilitating activities are shown to the outer world in order to educate and stimulate sustainable growth. ... Read more

Energy poverty means the lack of access to proper electricity and clean energy fuels. This type of poverty is closely linked to the dichotomy between developed and developing regions. This project argues that tackling energy poverty first needs to be addressed by understanding energy injustice between the urban and rural areas of developing countries. This outlook is significant because energy poverty can be seen as a vector of resource availability, power and spatial needs which is similar to the ideology of the ‘poverty vector’ (Gupta, S. P,1984). The lack of such a cohesive perspective has led to the ongoing negative impacts on economic development, health and access to basic amenities. The project sheds light on the need for a holistic approach to implement resilient energy networks that emphasizes on renewable energy transition and spatial development to address energy poverty. By taking the case of the National Capital Region of India, the project aims to bridge the knowledge gap that exists in creating resilient energy networks in areas that does not have 24x7 access to energy. ... Read more

Biodiversity in the Netherlands has been under alarming pressure for many years. Historical drivers of biodiversity loss have been agriculture and urbanization, through causing environmental pressure, loss of natural habitat and fragmentation of habitat for numerous species and ecosystems (PBL, 2014). Pressure on biodiversity remains high today as the limited amount of land in the Netherlands is used intensively and densely inhabited.  Biodiversity ensures the health and resilience of ecosystems (Vink, Vollaard & de Zwarte, 2017): it influences its functioning and ability to react and adapt to changes. People are dependent upon the world’s ecosystems through the ecosystem services they provide, but at the same time their actions are affecting the health and resilience of these ecosystems in a negative way. This relationship has to change fundamentally in order to ensure a healthy future for the worlds ecosystems and each species involved. Although biodiversity is generally higher in cities than in the rural areas around (Pötz, 2016; Vink, Vollaard & de Zwarte, 2017) many species are still under pressure. There is a lack of biodiverse and connected green spaces, disturbances such as light and maintenance are negatively affecting urban ecosystems and nesting opportunities for species that have become dependent upon the city are disappearing (Dramstad, Forman & Olsen, 1996; Vink, Vollaard & de Zwarte, 2017; CBS, PBL, RIVM, WUR, 2018). This in turn also negatively affects the ecosystem services available for people living in cities. Future urban development, such as inner-city densification, are expected to further contribute to these pressures, as nature is still largely excluded from urban planning and design processes (Snep & Opdam, 2013, Pötz, 2016; Vink, Vollaard & de Zwarte, 2017; Weisser & Hauck, 2017). This graduation project researches how knowledge from biodiversity, urban ecology and nature-inclusive design can be translated to urban planning and design. This is done by researching theory and at the same time studying the spatial aspects within the case study location of the Zomerhofkwartier in Rotterdam. The aim is to reach mutualist urbanism: a way of urban planning and design that provides conditions for strengthening biodiversity within ‘habitats’ that will also benefit people greatly. The found methods for a mutualist urban planning and design process consist of facilitating an ‘interwoven urban mosaic through strongly interconnected landscape elements’ (Forman, 2014) by designing for animals and people simultaneously (target species and target groups). Design principles that are then applied in design are: use, 3d connectivity, porosity, microclimate and time. Using these methods and design principles four mutualist habitats are designed for the Zomerhofkwartier that integrate within the ecological network of Rotterdam: a multi-level street, a public courtyard, a collective rooftop network and a collective garden. These mutualist environments provide a new relationship between the city and urban nature, between built structures and urban nature and between people and urban nature. ... Read more

With a pressure on public space due to a predicted increase of users, the changing climate and a non-supporting existing urban structure with a focus on space for vehicles, there is need for improvement of public space in the neighbourhood Oude Westen in Rotterdam. The research question guiding this design research is:

"In the context of densification, what are the synergies of the urban microclimate and usability for the public space of Rotterdam?"

From the perspective of usability and microclimatic design, the design goal leading from the research question is stated as:

"What interventions within the street scape can improve the public space by an integrated approach of the urban microclimate and usability in relation to densification for Rotterdam Oude Westen?”

The research is focused on the added benefit of public space design, optimized to the urban microclimate and usability. The key climate issues affecting the usability and quality of public space in the Oude Westen are water nuisance and heat stress. Added to that, there is a trend of privatisation of open space and an inside-oriented urban lay-out. With a high percentage of interest in participation among the residents and numerous successful local initiatives, the neighbourhood leaves opportunities underused for becoming the attractive and liveable neighbourhood its location enables.

This design research proposes two neighbourhood structures for improving spatial and experiential legibility with the focus on slow traffic. Secondly, four small scale design locations visualise the spatial and non-spatial interventions for creating great quality public space with conditions for inviting and encouraging use & natural processes. ... Read more

The purpose of this graduation report is to give an overview and inspiration on the route towards a resilient & attractive metropolitan [food] landscape of Amsterdam in 2050. The topic of research is the impact of climate change, unsustainable agriculture and urbanisation towards 2050, on the agricultural landscapes in the metropolitan region of Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. With the challenges and the problems that arise from these, it becomes inevitable to design a transition of the [food] landscapes in the region. Therefore the following research question is defined: ‘‘How to design a new perspective on the food landscapes in the metropolitan region of Amsterdam towards 2050 for a landscape that is resilient to the effects of climate change, to restore the ecosystem (in the freshwater) of the landscape and create opportunities for new activities to start that will strengthen the connection between cities and landscapes, for a resilient & attractive region?’’ A new method is used to find solutions for the three challenges in an integrative way, as there is a lot of potential in the synergy of the solutions. The maximization method provides an overview of individual solutions for the problems in the region, which can be used if the challenges change over time. Subsequently, in the optimization phase, the solutions with the most potential to be combined are given (water storage, new food types, a circular water system, purifying nature & greenhouses). In the final integration phase, the solutions are integrated into the landscapes of the region. An innovative element in this research is the addition of scenarios for the future transition of agricultural landscapes to the maximization method to create climate resilient, purifying agriculture or recreational [food] landscapes. This, together with interviews, results in a new perspective on the [food] landscapes in the region, that is a design for the landscapes created by the synergy between the solutions for the challenges (with a focus on the purifying & climate resilient scenarios). With a new perspective, pilot projects are designed to give an example of the new perspective solutions through the scales and by using the unique characteristics of the agricultural landscapes in the region (in Waterland, Haarlemmermeer, Zaanstreek & the Beemster). In the conclusion, the new perspective combined with pilot projects will create solutions for the challenges in the metropolitan region of Amsterdam towards 2050. ... Read more

“Upwards along the pipes” focuses on the Tamansari subdistrict in Bandung, Indonesia, in which the Cikapundung river is a central physical element, dividing the highly dense informal settlements in two. The project tries to tackle several ecological and spatial issues occuring within the site, including a large amount of (organic) waste being disposed in the river, decreasing the healthy living conditions of the site. The current situation lacks any form of decent centralised or decentralised wastewater treatment management and/ or infrastructure. Furthermore, there is a lack of public open spaces and functions within the kampungs, while the city in the future has to face an increasing population density, putting even more pressure on the city and especially these already dense kampungs. The project contains the development of a fast and easy applicable on-site wastewater treatment system which is able to directly prevent river pollution, while incrementally developing into a permanent decentralized wastewater treatment plant with an integrated public function, utilizing the potential beneficial values of recycled organic waste, in the forms of biogas and fertilizers. These output resources make environmental care economically more beneficial and appealing for local inhabitants. The integrated communal food market provides a platform for the kampung inhabitants to optimally benefit from the gained resources, by communally growing and selling food grown due to the gained fertilizers and cooked on the produced biogas from water treatment. ... Read more