This graduation project focuses on the adaptive reuse of the former steel cable factory Nedstaal in Alblasserdam. The industrial complex is transformed into a mixed-use complex with public functions and a central public street as a catalyst for future development. Apartments are added on the upper floors.

This project explores the problems of a lack of housing in the Netherlands, the inevitable city expansion in the future and the current linearity of the construction and agriculture industries. It aims to tackle housing needs through self-building and to establish a more nurturing and participatory connection between users and their environment through a regenerative approach to architecture. The vernacular building practices of the Hallenhuis in Drenthe are translated into tangible knowledge regarding materials, connections and tools as to propose a technical framework for a self-build design. The study is guided by the main question: How can we translate the relationship of Vernacular Architecture in Drenthe with its landscape to applicable knowledge for regenerative self-building in the modern context? In three chapters, the socio-economic roles and tectonic relationship of the Hallenhuis farm with their landscape, the opportunities and implications of a future regenerative production of building materials and the applicability of vernacular practices to modern self-building are discussed. The paper presents data on the geographical, material, economic, social and technical layers of the Hallenhuis typology and its surroundings. The evident relation between a regenerative approach and self-build architecture is accompanied by the complexity of problems and opportunities regarding the implementation of a regenerative building material network. The conclusions indicate further research is desirable and could consist of comparative studies across regions, quantification of environmental impacts and expansion of the field scope to food production, Urbanism or Landscape Design.

The construction sector is one of the most resource-intensive industries globally, contributing significantly to environmental degradation and greenhouse gas emissions. Transitioning towards a circular economy within the built environment offers a promising solution by emphasizing the reuse of building materials. This paper explores the potential of data-driven design methodologies to facilitate the integration of reclaimed materials into new architectural projects. A structured design tool is developed to assess the reuse potential of building materials, incorporating factors such as material quality, disassembly index and lifecycle performance. Through a case study involving materials sourced from the Megastores shopping mall in The Hague, the research demonstrates how data-driven approaches can a guide for deposition decisions of building materials for new circular buildings. Case studies of successful architectural projects like Biopartner 5, K.118, and Resource Rows give insights into design implementation with reclaimed building materials. This study highlights the critical need for architects to adopt innovative design tools and practices to meet sustainability targets while leveraging the untapped value of donor building.

The Achterhoek region of the Netherlands, with its sandy soils and elevated terrain, faces significant climate challenges, particularly droughts caused by changing weather patterns. Agriculture and nature in this area depend heavily on water, yet the intensification of industrial farming has disrupted the balance between these systems. This research addresses the question: “How can landscape architecture reintegrate water management, nature, and agriculture to enhance climate resilience, increase biodiversity, and secure a sustainable future for farmers?”
Through historical analysis, it is evident that traditional farming methods once maintained a natural balance between agriculture and the environment. However, industrialization has disrupted this harmony. By drawing inspiration from past systems like flowing meadows and cooperative farming communities (Marken), modern design strategies can help restore this balance. Projects such as Urtica de Vijfsprong and het Lankheet offer examples of how nature-inclusive approaches can improve biodiversity and drought resilience, while diversifying income sources for farmers.
A water-based design strategy is proposed, adapting land use to natural water levels to ensure long-term sustainability. This includes raising groundwater levels, reintegrating natural habitats into farmland, and encouraging cooperative farming models to enhance nutrient recycling and reduce costs. With these strategies, a blueprint is proposed for the region of Nettelhorst, transforming it into a model of sustainable agriculture, balancing the needs of nature, water management, and farming. Landscape architecture can play a crucial role in restoring this balance by addressing core issues and offering holistic, system-based solutions.

The following research focuses on "The Human Body Shop", an institute for human body augmentation. It is a hospital-oriented project based on the following research question: “How will human body augmentation reflect change in the hospital typology in the future?” Hospitals are some of the most critical buildings in society, but they are only part of it during times of necessity. The highly complex programs and dominant circulation systems of the traditional "healing machine" have created a labyrinth environment that society tends to avoid rather than engage with, discover, or feel connected to.

Innovation in the field of human body augmentation has initiated a shift from buildings functioning as healing machines to the human body itself as the locus of healing. This shift not only alters the human body but also transforms the hospital typology as we know it today. Future hospitals will specialize exclusively; in this case in the customized procedures involved in augmenting human bodies. These institutions will also engage in research and educate the next generation of professionals, as well as the broader society.

The continuous advancement of technology will necessitate a flexible program, which in turn will require a modular structure. This flexibility opens the possibility of reimagining the hospital as a more open and integrated environment, redefining its relationship with public spaces. These spaces will not only provide an escape but will also create opportunities for the public to gather for various activities and engage as a community within the scale of the neighbourhood; within the larger context of Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany.

The future modular hospital typology will be seamlessly interwoven with everyday life, transforming its image from that of an isolated institution to a subtle collection of buildings integrated into the urban fabric. Introducing "the Human Body Shop" - a new hospital typology that is not only part of society in times of need but also an integral part of daily life.

The goal of this thesis is to propose an architectural framework for designing a rehabilitation facility in Berlin to provide patients in need with the greatest possible recovery experience. It also provides much-needed follow-up treatment for Berliner patients following acute hospitalisation, eliminating the need for unnecessary and costly hospitalisations and allowing for early releases. The framework will be built around an examination of how architecture could influence the mental and physical state of recovering patients to improve their rehabilitation experience. This research will be implemented by researching the topics; Architecture, Clients, Program and Site. This will result in a design brief for a health promoting rehabilitation facility.

The assignment of this graduation project was to design “The Vertical Campus: A Public Hub of the Future in The Hague”, a mixed-used building that contains public, university and (governmental) office spaces of about 30.000 m2.

My problem statement addressed the issues of well-being and mental health of students in higher education and how urban densification can be designed vertically with a mixed-use building program. This led me to the architectural concept of Biophilic Design and how nature can promote evidence-based wellbeing and academic performance.

Thus, my design proposal is called “Campus of Wellbeing: The Biophilic Knowledge Hub”. Hereby, I propose a design that is situated on the edge of the park (‘Koekamp’) in front of the Central Station of The Hague. It’s a fragmented structure, a green hybrid, that merges architecture and nature, and aims to dissolve the “Green Border” between city fabric and forest. This urban concept is accompanied by the design of the ‘Biophilic Space Catalogue’. In this catalogue, I’m presenting the conclusions from my literature research that resulted into the design of different architectural spaces dedicated to various user groups, ranging from public to students or nature.

On a technical level, I was looking into how materiality and a passive climate concept can support my approach of designing healthier spaces and how a large-scale building can contribute to a better urban climate despite densification. Besides that, with this project I was also experimenting with the structure to reach my design objective of having a low impact on the ground floor because of the project's sensitive environment being located in a park including various plant and animal species.

With the advent of hybrid education since the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for campuses and educational buildings has undergone a transformation. The introduction of hybrid education has led to classrooms being more readily vacated than before, as students now have the option to attend classes remotely from home. To address this increase in vacancy, educational buildings that center around hybrid education should incorporate hybrid programming. This is where the significance of hybrid architecture for educational buildings becomes evident, also in case of the Vertical Campus that will be designed for a new green area near The Hague Central Station. This problem statement forms the following research question: How can hybrid architecture and hybrid education be connected through a building designed with hybrid building technologies located in a new green area near The Hague Central Station? The objective is to design an educational building suited for hybrid education using hybrid building technologies and hybrid design solutions for the programming whilst being located in a new green area near The Hague Central Station

This thesis examines the potential for enhancing and expanding Berlin’s existing train station infrastructure through a case study focused on the U-Bahn station Gleisdreieck. This station, positioned within Berlin’s S-Bahn ring, is poised to require an S-Bahn extension in response to a new north-south transit link. The project presents a design proposal that integrates an S-Bahn station with the current U-Bahn station, and explores opportunities to future-proof these existing structures.

The central challenge addressed is the aging state of Berlin’s train stations, which increasingly fail to meet both present and anticipated needs. Through architectural and infrastructural adaptation, the study seeks to determine how Berlin’s transport hubs can evolve to support future mobility while respecting historical value. This proposal aims to achieve a careful balance between heritage preservation and forward-looking urban functionality, creating a sustainable extension that supports Berlin’s growth and aligns with future demands.

'Transitional territories: architecture of (post)-extraction in the Ağaçlı coal fields, Istanbul' revolves around the interaction between soil, extraction and architecture. The project addresses the ephemerality of extractive landscapes, imagining new ways of relating to the earth. Seeing soil not as a static being, but as a dynamic vehicle of becoming, a medium constantly in transition.
Throughout the history of Istanbul, the city has used different forms of energy supply for heating and electricity. The Ağaçli coal fields have been extracted for coal to supply the energy to Istanbul during a large part of the twentieth century. Although the rate and volume of extraction have since then reduced, the landscape is still a a testimony to the changing grounds. The history
of extraction still remains clearly visible in the topography, which is formed by different types of extraction sites. The project considers architectural modes of extraction, changing the logic to incorporate and legitimate the soil in a way that constructs new spatial relations and forms. The project questions the standard reclamation narrative by positioning itself on the frontiers of cultivated and wild land, between past and present.

The urban spaces that arise as a result of urban shrinkage and decay are loosely defined (Franck & Stevens, 2007). The ambiguity of these spaces provides a potential outlet for accidental or spontaneous encounters, informal activities and alternatives to our increasingly commodified, controlled and privatised 'open' urban spaces. Many topographic unions, particularly those that are easily accessible and large enough to contain interesting physical features, have the potential to become 'dynamic 'indeterminate spaces'' or 'slot areas' (free zones).As undefined ambiguous places, these sites are highly inclusive of environmental renewal within and outside themselves. This means that interstitial sites temporarily or non-temporarily allow for any movement to take place in the city. The design task begins with an urban memory path based on void and leftover places.The understanding of the sites as carrying memories depends on the audience. They can be anyone, human or non-human. So, let's make the audience the players. And we, the designers, are the directors.

Across a period of multiple crises and a structurally instable government, amongst other things, there has been a strong national decline in cultural activity, production, and presence in the city of Beirut. With this, national identity is faltering, and citizens begin to give up on their home nation. Who can is emigrating, and the rest lay abandoned and discouraged in an increasingly privatized and unwelcoming environment.

What role can culture play in the complex transitions cities are currently going through? What aspects can be combined in order to suggest architecture appropriate for a scenario of hardships, which also strengthens national identity and the image of the city? Ultimately, how can a building complex informed by cultural production contribute to the narration and revival of cultural activity?

The task at hand is the design of a productive building which revolves around a culturally relevant produce and manages to evoke the social rituals and greater historic context which go with it. This should strengthen and reinstate pride towards local produce, reform ties to the country and its rich lands, and also support the citizens and the complex urban life which surround it. The design of an urban winery and arak distillery shall be the assignment utilized as means of researching and exploring this challenge.

Beirut's Living Room:

Characterized by cultural diversity, Beirut has a multi-religious society, with unfortunately a rampant space shrinkage issue. With in particular the Public domain. Evidenced by limited infrastructure and virtually no affordable housing, the cityscape is strongly demarcated by historic and religiously motivated conflicts. However today, this is all overshadowed by the wide income gap.

The greed for profit on the one hand is opposed by the fundamental desire for housing on the other. The two opposing interest groups have such conflicting needs
that in the past 30 years it has not been possible to balance the requirements in a meaningful way that is acceptable to both groups. Finding a resolution here will have a decisive influence on the future of the city.

Based on the research question “How should affordable housing be designed in a socio-economically segregated context such as Beirut”, an inclusive and high density building with the main aim of affordable and high quality dwelling units was designed. A fundamental role in the design and research process was the chosen location in relation with the urban context and the developed group masterplan.

In total the master thesis shows a new approach the master thesis for a more equitable housing in Lebanon.

Exploration on the peri-urban transition zone between Trieste and its hinterland Karst through housing, recreation and transportation infrastructure. The design proposal consists of system of small interventions that take into account the land management problems of the peri-urban hills.

Aligning the urban environment to concrete urban processes, increasing the liveability, is one of the major challenges urban planners are facing. Adapting the built-environment to cope with soil sealing, climate change, the densification of cities with the ‘compact city’ concept and other urban demands, constantly pressure the quality of urban environment. Being part of the Dutch building culture for centuries, urban domestic gardens have played a significant (spatial) role in Dutch cities, taking up a significant part of the urban environment, and providing a private outdoor space for residents. The ongoing urban processes can or will affect the role urban domestic gardens play and how they are being used or implemented into the urban environment. For this research, the neighbourhood the Tarwewijk in Rotterdam has been used to investigate and explore how urban domestic gardens can contribute to a more liveable urban environment through a sustainable urban regeneration, in response to concrete urban demands. The research shows that rethinking the implementation of urban domestic gardens leads to an increase of the liveability in the Tarwewijk, by using specific, transferable values to improve the quality of the public spaces and buildings. Transferring the values related to eating, learning, working, playing and meeting from the social environment, and greening, cooling and infiltrating from the physical environment into public spaces increase the accessibility to values of gardens, without the need to provide urban domestic gardens to every single household, taking up valuable space in existing cities. It also shows that the regeneration of urban domestic gardens to semi-private shared gardens serve as a mechanism for the densification and diversification of the built environment, improving urban structures and physical forms, with related social processes and liveability.

The project developed as a continuous effort to define the idea of spolia. A term that surpasses the re-appropriation of material becoming an active approach to architecture becoming an attitude towards the city and the landscape in the consciousness that a deep relation is established between the forms and the culture that generate these forms. The project developed a Sport Hall in Brussels as a social condenser.

The main research in question regards what is Bricolage in architecture. This topic is strikingly valuable to contemporary demand, given the fact that there is a considerable amount of buildings and building elements that do not carry a value that is strong enough to be considered historical or cultural. In fact, often the meaning of Bricolage crosses the line with the one of Spolia, which consists of a twist respect to the first one, in the sense that a Spolia gains a further value, recalling a former life, a significance that revives identity and history. The questions of this research investigate the role of bricolage and spolia in today’s context and the way in which bricolage can be applied to architecture, and the value that bricolage assumes within it, in particular, related to monetary value, durability, and sustainability. There is a limited amount of resources available, and even if the moment in which they are going to be over seems distant, it’s going to be reached. Thus, it is of extreme relevance to start learning now the possibilities of second hand construction materials, the processes and limits to overcome, as well as the potentials. There are many ways in which the subject of Bricolage in architecture could be approached, leading to different orientations within the field. Nevertheless, the focus of the thesis is directed more towards the material sphere, in which the potentials of re-use and adaptation of building elements of various nature are investigated.Simultaneously, the possibilities of integration of both the new and the old materials are pivotal aspects to be scrutinized, while on the other side, the material properties should be taken into consideration for the components and elements to work together. In addition, the portion of the research that is most relevant to be described consists of the study and onsite observation and analysis of the practice of dealing with the concept of bricolage in these terms, that regard the reuse of materials and any available elements of architecture. The design results in a series of buildings realized with the most reused materials possible, with a program and a composition responding to the needs of the area. To be more specific, it will involve the realization of a promenade composed on one side by a work of sew and cut, dealing with existing buildings combined with new ones.Eventually, the design is based on actual resources found available, partially from site demolitions, partially from contemporary demolitions around the city of Brussels, and, as a third source, in the moment in which the first two ones are not enough, from Opalis, an online database presenting all the major resellers of second hand construction elements in Belgium. These material resources, instead of a design limit, will represent a potential for future design approaches that will inevitably be taken into consideration in future times.

The productive complex is located in Anderlecht, Brussels, a city characterized by mix of living and working space ever since industrial revolution. On the one hand, the proposal will reshape the fragmentary site block in order to reinstate a well-organized and functional intermediate urban element. On the other hand, on the context of revitalization of productive industry in urban area, the complex is intended to provide flexible working spaces, common facilities and educational programs for ont only local industry but also the neighborhood community.