The graduation project seeks to investigate how activism driven reshaping of urbandesert imaginaries can help to restore environmental justice for human and morethanhuman entities in Iquique and Alto Hospicio, Chile, regarding clandestine landfills. It examines how urban-desert imaginaries, referring to the perceptions of desert landscapes in relation to urbanization and related activities, of the past and present enable the proliferation of clandestine landfills as well as how activist efforts are reshaping these imaginaries. Through fieldwork, expert interviews, policy review and secondary sources a pattern language to restore environmental justice damaged by textile waste accumulation in the desert has been developed outlining actions and strategies to be executed by different stakeholders from the civic, public and private domain. Finally, the patterns with spatial implications have been mapped onto the territory of Iquique and Alto Hospicio to demonstrate the application of the pattern language by example. ... Read more

Utilising research in environmental psychology in order to achieve stress reduction in the design of a healthcare center. The design clusters the architectural programs based on the reason people visit certain functions within the building, and privacy aspects. This clustering of functions also allowes the design to be tweaked to achieve stress reduction unique for every program.
Changing the architectural characteristics for every function leads to a patchwork like architecture. ... Read more

Symbiosis Unearthed proposes a renovation design for three postwar flats in the 'Westelijke Tuinsteden' of Amsterdam. The aim of the project is to transform the outdated flats into a regenerative, symbiotic community by improving the existing architecture, adding two storeys, and introducing communal functions to the site. The landscape is an important part of the design; the green space in the area is transformed into a regenerative forest, that forms a healthy environment for all living beings, and at the same time provides wood for the renovation and maintenance of the flats. Through the implementation of the urban and architectural transformation, and a local wood system the postwar site is turned into a healthy, urban living environment where people live with the land, and not from it. ... Read more

This master’s thesis investigates the concepts of biophilic design, a concept that believes that the build environment can bring people and nature closer together, positively influencing both. After investigating the architectural expression of biophilic design, they are implemented in a design. The design of a library and theater brings back nature into an abandoned site, and provides a building for that serves the community on multiple levels. ... Read more

It is with the technique of adaptive reuse that the campus buildings from the TU Delft are seen as a solution towards the contemporary problem of the student housing. Starting of with an investigation towards adaptability and its measurability within the research paper. Leading towards conclusions about the cause of adaptability being tied to the shearing layers principles of Stewards brand. This, connected to the open building theory of Habraken states the structure of a building, this case being the EWI faculty of the TU delft, as case for transformation and adaptation. The new infill layer is based upon the maximisation of the adaptability over time, leading towards future changes on differentiating problems. The project contains a worked out self-build system which is designed for disassembly and thereby establishing adaptability. Furthermore this concept is taken towards the current functionality of the EWI as campus building, and thereby introducing an adaptable study space. ... 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.
... Read more

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

Due to global warming causing climate change, extreme conditions like droughts and floods are increasingly happening. Currently buildings in the Netherlands are experiencing the consequences of these extreme conditions, which they are not build for. Especially the foundations are a big problem. Therefore this paper is aiming to find a foundation typology for a family home in a flood prone area which is able to resist the dynamics of this location. Interviewing experts about foundation typologies and floodplain dynamics, analyzing data about the river and soil compositions and using literature to put the paper in context with existing information and academic content, provided information as to what type of foundation this problem needed. Though it would be logical, the technical solution is not the best when also taking into account the social, political and environmental factors. Therefore a combination of typologies is proposed. ... Read more

Urban farming can help in many ways in creating public spaces with an engaging environment. Restaurants and shops can be opened that sell the locally grown crops, tours and workshops can be given through the urban farms and Other products like compost, DIY kits and biodegradable materials can also be sold. To enhance the individual urban farming functions, in- and outputs from each farm can be connected to create circular flows within the system. These flows ensure that less outside materials are needed in the farm, and improve efficiency and cost effectiveness in certain circumstances. Table 6.2 in the appendix gives a rough estimation on how big the flows need to be in order to sustain the urban farm. Based on the findings we can conclude that different function clusters like, a production centered function, a social interactivity centered function and a public farming centered function can be created and that existing restaurants and canteens can be integrated within the system. ... Read more

Design for a co-housing development near Lelylaan station in Amsterdam, based on the concept of the Homo Ludens. The design is supported by thematic research into the use of a design game for the co-creation of co-housing. ... Read more

As a result of global warming sea levels have recently started to rise and pose threatening scenarios to increasingly densifying urban areas worldwide. As the low-lying Netherlands will be one of the first to witness the consequenses of rising sea levelsa and increasing river water discharge, alternatives for its built environment will have to be explored in order to be able to adapt in time. As the Netherlands has been successfully holding off the water for decades, the country is globally seen as a pioneer in water management solutions. Therefore the Dutch are in the position to lead by example. However, the phenomenon of rapidly accellerating sea level rise is something Dutch water management has never dealt with before. Uncertainty and rapidly changing predictions make it difficult to decide on drastic and costly measures in time. In order to facilitate a transition from the established defensive landscape towards living with water instead, a new flood resilient building type can facilitate in adapting to near future predictions, while also raising awareness for the urgency of rising water levels and contributing to the current housing shortage. In order to achieve this it is necessary to step away from the defensive landscape and outdated water management strategies. This research will elaborate on predictions regarding sea level rise and changing weather conditions in the densifying outer dike area of the urban center of Rotterdam. Contemporary approaches towards building dikes, the importance of engaging private parties in generating flood resilient solutions and the possibility to utilize water and flood defence barriers as a flexible building ground in densifying urban areas will be discussed. Ultimately leading to a novel mixed-use housing typology with the overarching goal to reduce the flood risk in densifying outer dike areas and contribute to a changing mindset towards living with the increasing risk of flooding. ... Read more

The TU Delft (strategic framework 2018-2024) aims to have a CO2 neutral and circular campus that departs from the linear economy to closed material cycles by 2030, meaning that the campus becomes climate neutral. Currently, the TU Delft is accountable for 47.957 tCO2-eq emissions, uses 166.038 MWh of energy for electricity and heat , and is for approximately 5-15% circular. There is a need to improve in order to meet the goals set by the TU Delft. On campus the Applied Physics buildings consumes the most energy, equivalent to 12.873,2 MWh or 425 kWh/m2 in 2018 for electricity and heat combined. The technical state of the building is mediocre and is in need of a thorough renovation to meet the current standard. The goal of the graduation project is to develop a re-design and renovation strategy for the Applied Physics building, by re-using as many of the existing materials and closing the energy flows on a local level. Architecture – reuse existing The building is designed by the architecture firm Roosenburg, Verhave and Luyt and built in 1963. It has an area of 43.100 m2, making it one of the largest buildings on campus. The building is located in the centre of the campus next to the Aula and the Library. It is embedded in the urban fabric of the TU Delft with a 175-meter-long rhythmic façade facing toward the Mekelpark. The concrete façade has a sense of monumentality however, it has quite a closed look and is not overly inviting to visit. The new architecture starts from the existing building and the desire to reuse as many of the existing materials as possible to reduce the CO2 impact of the renovation. An inventory of the materials present in the structure and façade has been made. 93% of the materials analysed are in the concrete structure and therefore this will be completely reused. The remaining 7% of the materials are located in the façade and they will be carefully harvested. Prefab biobased façade panels, based on the existing structural grid, will be attached to the existing structure. On site the harvested materials will be re-used to clad the newly insulated façade. Energy flow To move away from an energy system that runs on fossil fuels, there is a need to introduce so called cyclifiers to create a closed loop system. Firstly, the energy consumption needs to be reduced by introducing a well-insulated façade and a smart building system that regulates the temperature and ventilation. The remaining energy needs to be produced sustainably. A biogas plant is introduced that turns waste into three valuable products, namely biogas, fertiliser and clean water. The biogas plant runs on waste from the sewer system as well as on algae, which are integrated in the roof of the atrium that is added to the building. The algae serve a triple purpose because they provide sun shading in summer, absorbed CO2 and are a renewable energy source. PV panels are added to the roof and facades of the building to produce even more renewable energy. The heat for the whole campus is supplied by a geothermal source connected to the already existing heat grid and a heat and cold storage is added to the building. ... Read more

The project deals with a real time issue of housing shortage, the urgency of which requires feasible solutions. It looks to the cities with different eyes and encourages seeing the otherwise overlooked opportunities. The proposed design of single occupant housing responds to this typology’s increasing demand. It also takes advantage of its small scale being an ideal intervention for the restricted size of these un-used spaces, off-site smart production, and ease of transport. The intention of this graduation project is to provide the target group: students and young professionals, with affordable housing in the vibrant city centers. Its aim is to find the needed structural and technical solutions to design lightweight units that attach to existing buildings, inspired by innovative and sustainable methods. The proposed units would intervene on a neighborhood and create new experiences and opportunities within it. By creating spaces to be shared by these units and the neighborhood a new way of dwelling is encouraged where ownership and the limits of private and public are re-questioned to create a coherent society with a more efficient use of space, which is becoming more sacred by the moment. ... 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

Amsterdam is a growing city and aims to build 7500 houses per
year in the coming years (Gemeente Amsterdam, 2018). at the same time people are moving away from Amsterdam to live in more green spacious and healthier environments. This project aims to introduce the qualities of the Western Garden Cities of Amsterdam to the centre of the city by applying this system in a vertical manner. Additionally the project aims to use mainly CO2 sequestering materials to create a negative CO2 footprint. The research for this project resulted in a CO2 negative Green roof Built up using mainly bio-based products. ... Read more

St. Maarten has been subject to outside influences since its existence. From the indians that traveled through the caribbean and made their stops on the island 3500 years ago, until the time that the economy started to influence the way that life is lived. From the 1950s onward, the tourism sector started to grow which provides income for the largest part of the people on St. Maarten. This economical prosperity increased the total population from a little over 2000 inhabitants in 1955 to around 42.000 people today, excluding the illegal immigrants (which is said to be around 30.000 more people). This accounts only for the dutch side of the island.

St. Maarten has had to expand very quickly from the 1950’s and these expansions resulted in relatively monotonous urban environments where public space is scarce and social interactions do not occur alot. The buildings are built in a farely standard way which are mostly bungalows constructed out of concrete. The buildings and neighborhoods do not respond to the tropical savannah climate that they are in and when walking through a typical middle class neighborhood you would not expect these buildings in a tropical climate.

This way of building was not always a normality. Before 1950 the buildings on the island looked like they did in the picture in the top right border. Buildings were constructed using a wooden frame and wood finishes placed on a foundation of local natural stones. This way of building fits the natural climate better because these buildings are light and have more openings in the facades to let i natural ventilation. Yet, there is one aspect of the climate that made these buildings disappear which is the hurricanes that occur once every couple of years. Concrete ofcourse is a stronger material and quickly became more popular when it became more affordable than wood.

This project is a exploration to design a residential typology which not only responds to all aspects of St. Maarten’s climate but also its context and culture. ... Read more

The current building environment has a lack of adaptability, which means that buildings are often demolished and rebuilt. In almost all cases, biological and technical materials are mixed by using glues, adhesives or wet seals, therefore materials can hardly be reused, if at all.

After demolishing, there are not always instantly new permanent plans in the Netherlands due to an unfavourable location for example, which can lead to unused areas. These areas can stay untouched for years even for some decades, while there is a shortage of housing for starters and students for example. ... Read more

On September 6th of 2017 Sint Maarten got struck by Hurricane Irma, which caused severe damage to the houses, especially to the informal settlements. Sint Maarten is a Caribbean island with a rooted past from its history that has caused severe economic difficulties. Along with, a high amount of migration that has been common among he islands, Sint Maarten has a tourism-led economy. In Turn, the hurricane also affected the tourism-led economy as many visits to the island declined. Lots of building materials on the island are getting imported. The island is lacking of local building resources and knowlegde. This project aims to propose an alternative housing solution and local economic business model for the people living in the informal settlement Cay Hill. This study is investigating the possibilities of creating a synergy between an informal settlement, local craftmanship and cultural economic opportunities on Sint Maarten. ... Read more

Implementation of an embedded kinetic system into the context of the Marineterrein into an existing building and proof of the functionality and workability both on a conceptual and constructive level of elaboration.This project attempts to make use of so far neglected time and space and hence intends to reduce the financial and environmental impact of any proposed space. The aim is to develop a system that makes use of embedded kinetic architecture in a way, that spaces can adapt to the ephemeral spatial needs of different users, user groups or functions in order to lower the price and footprint of a unit via reducing its size during times of reduced need. A kinetic architecture that responds to utilitarian demand. The aim is to combine different functions that can complemented as their activity patterns usually do not overlap, following the idea, that a reduction of living space affects the user least while not there and hence would reduce the reciprocal impairment of these variable spaces. It is important whatsoever to find a good way of reduction of a unit to no more than its functional minimum. For the case of imponderable changes of schedules the affected space will have to be functional at all times. The final result of this study is a functioning design proposition and an engineered kinetic system in a central European context, functional in respect to acoustic and thermal insulation and the required need for privacy and feeling of ownership of any unit. ... Read more

The primary objective of the project is to not only manifest the gigantic challenges of recovering after hurricane Irma which took place in 2017 but also to point out the socioeconomic disarray in the island before the hurricane itself.
Irma clearly had a tremendous influence on numerous issues. However, the island had been struggling with many problems far beforehand. Consequently, the recovery program is still extremely difficult as the rebuilding/construction issue is not the only problem calling for resolution. Destroyed buildings and people struggling with rebuilding their houses are only the tip of the iceberg.
Sint Maarten’s history is strongly interconnected with natural disasters and - simultaneously - lack of proper governance and preparedness plans against more and more frequent hurricanes in the region. The above context triggered my interest in disaster relief methods and post-disaster projects which, later on, formed the base of my design. Researching into the best possible contemporary disaster relief frameworks, showed effective ways of tackling natural disaster related problems. This also helped with designing a solution that results in effective community based relief. Thus the outcome of my research is directly translated into the design by creating ‘a building learning centre’, an institution which promotes hurricane-proof building knowledge among communities on Sint Maarten. The centre helps to create an optimised and self-sufficient disaster relief on the island and - hopefully - even beyond. The long-term goal is to enable gaining knowledge around building methods which would be held by skilled construction workers. These people would gradually improve building environment over the years. This will eventually contribute to minimising damages with every hurricane to come. The school's program and specific knowledge of 'hurricane-proof craftsmanship' could help in creating communities that actively participate in strengthening and speeding up the recovery time after possible future disasters. The design would not only bring potential relief programme but also a way for diverse income generating solution for local communities. The programme of the school includes also traineeship which enables locals to combine employment and training in order to gain a nationally recognised qualification. In this way many people, who struggle economically, could gain new opportunities. These contribute to creating financial stability and help with rebuilding homes faster after hurricane.
The centre’s design and program are both based on the effective disaster relief elements. They bring knowledge, contains co-planning and co-designing aspects, which - as a consequence - create trust within the community and other actors. All the above can be accomplished by creating an on-spot fixed building, which hosts facility working on the resilience and at the same time building itself being a community facility as an asset-based design.
The relief method (i.e. building learning centre), merged with economic diversification program, would hopefully provide people with knowledge and experience in order to become more self-sufficient and less dependent on outside help. The inspiration of hurricane preparedness and post-disaster projects not only aims to deal with the ‘tip of the iceberg’ problems but also to create a long term strategy. ... Read more