The project explores the transformation of Blikfabriek, a former can factory in Hoboken, Antwerp, through research into site-specific theatre and on-site observation and analysis. A masterplan was developed collaboratively, reimagining Hoboken’s industrial landscape with a focus on permeability, programmatic diversity, and the preservation of spatial qualities. Within this framework, the design proposal centers on a theatre and housing, combining spaces for living and working. ... Read more

This research explores how layered cultural heritage can serve as a guiding framework for spatial design, using the park Arentsburgh area in Voorburg, the Netherlands, as a case study. The park Arentsburgh area is historically rich yet spatially fragmented site, existing of the archaeological remains UNESCO World Heritage site Forum Hadriani, the former 17th century estates Hoekenburg, Arentsburgh and Heeswijk, and the national monument park Arentsburgh. Despite its monumental designation, much of the area’s historical depth remains underrepresented or physically disrupted by modern development. In response to this condition, the following research question is applied: “What landscape strategies can be developed and applied to visualise different layers of heritage above ground?”

The different layers are classified within a landscape biography offering a conceptual structure for understanding their varying degrees of continuity and spatial expression. Hidden Heritage (Forum Hadriani), where traces are still present but not represented above the surface. Lost Heritage (17th century Estates, the traces have been removed from the landscape and can only be recalled through historical maps and writing. Damaged Heritage (Landscape park), physically present in the landscape, however its spatial integrity has been partially compromised by developments.

This research develops landscape strategies to visualise and reinterpret historical layers in the fragmented site of the park Arentsburgh area. Building on the classification of heritage into Hidden, Lost, and Damaged categories, the strategies are extracted by looking at the larger context and relevant reference projects for each layer. Strategies for Hidden Heritage are emphasising original scale, highlighting underlying spatial structures and reinterpreting historical elements through new materials. Strategies for Lost Heritage are improving spatial characteristics tied to historical parcellation, reconstructing garden typologies where possible and reinstating historical materials. Strategies for Damaged Heritage are re-establishing internal connections, restoring sightlines and using consistent materials to reinforce spatial coherence. The design process is structured as a collage, drawing from the design strategies and overlapping historical materials and spatial traces to assemble a coherent yet layered landscape design for the park Arentsburgh area. Grounded in the concept of palimpsest and informed by academic eclecticism, the project seeks not to replicate the past but to synthesise its traces into a contemporary spatial framework. The aim is to integrate the multiple historical layers into a landscape design that not only makes heritage legible but also supports public functions. ... Read more

My research interest stems from a personal fascination with finding calm in a fast-paced society. Throughout my life, I have often struggled to feel truly relaxed in urban environments, particularly during my time living in Rotterdam. At times, I found it freeing to escape to the rural area where I grew up. However, I believe that by becoming more familiar with city spaces and discovering pockets of relaxation, it is possible to reduce this tension, making city life more manageable and enjoyable.
Despite these challenges, I find urban life exciting and dynamic. There is always something happening. Yet, I am driven by the question of whether the seeming contradiction between the vibrancy of cities and the need for tranquility can be reconciled.
This interest is not purely personal. Rising stress levels are a societal concern (Lederbogen et al., 2011), and I believe hat while architecture alone cannot fully solve this issue, it can play a vital role. Cities are also becoming increasingly anonymous, as traditional communal spaces fade or transform. For example, the diminishing role of churches, once central as spiritual and social gathering points, reflects broader social shifts (Gehl, 2010). The growing sense of individualism presents not only social challenges but also spatial ones. If we can find better ways to share spaces and functions while maintaining a feeling of ownership, we can each enjoy more usable square meters in our daily lives, without needing to increase the total built space (Hertzberger, 1991).
Today’s cities are busier than ever. As urban populations grow, life becomes increasingly fast-paced, dense, and disconnected. This intensification leads to higher levels of urban stress, manifesting in anxiety and social isolation (Evans, 2003). Amid this intensity, people still long for places of solitude, reflection, and connection places where they can pause, recharge, and feel a sense of belonging. These urban sanctuaries, often modest and tucked within the city fabric, offer tranquility and connection despite the lively urban context.
Through my research, I seek to highlight the importance of these urban sanctuaries, demonstrating their value and exploring how their qualities can be incorporated into architectural design.
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This master thesis investigates how landscape architecture can contribute to the social and cultural reinterpretation of a historical border, specifically the Berlin Wall, part of the former German-German border. The research refers to the ongoing public and cultural debate in Germany regarding a wall that has physically disappeared but remains mentally present for many Germans and Europeans. The study explores how this phenomenon can be interpreted through the lens of landscape architecture, using Henri Lefebvre’s spatial triad: perceived, conceived, and lived space.

The perceived space reveals that, although the border has been overgrown by the everyday landscape in many places, it remains legible in several locations. The conceived space identifies the mental border based on demographic data, which is especially apparent along the Berlin-Brandenburg urban edge. The lived space highlights both new functional possibilities and the memory of victims of the GDR regime.Together, these elements form a landscape palimpsest, a layered historical reading of the study area.

Based on these findings, a set of design principles was developed. Bernard Tschumi’s Manhattan Transcripts served as inspiration, particularly for integrating crime scene sketches into the lived space. Ten areas were selected for design intervention, based on criteria such as the current visibility of the border, proximity to the mental border, and potential for large-scale landscape gestures.

The resulting design removes visible scars of division in certain areas, symbolizing unification. Conversely, in locations where escapees lost their lives, the border is marked through landscape interventions offering space for commemoration, reflection, and encounter. This is done by mapping the sketches of the crime scenes mapped onto the landscape and made into a spatial design. Additionally, intersecting infrastructure that connects across the former border serves as a symbol of reunification. In this way, the design addresses contemporary border-related issues in German society.

This forms a design strategy with ten sub-areas spread along the Berlin-Brandenburg border to send a signal and initiate a discussion on a better social demographic unification of Germany, at the edges of the city where the political administrative power is located. ... Read more

This study assesses 30 monuments in Gorinchem across five value dimensions—age, social, functional, memorial, and aesthetic—identifying six highly vulnerable to flooding, drought, and overheating. Using value assessment matrices and climate-risk mapping, the research highlights the need for adaptive reuse strategies. Based on these findings, a site was selected for design intervention. The project traces its historical evolution from early urban development to its role as the headquarters of De Vries Robbé Co., exploring the relationship between industrial activity and the river. The design transforms an abandoned post-industrial warehouse into a public swimming facility, preserving its age and memorial value while enhancing its social and functional role. It demonstrates how architectural interventions can revitalize built heritage and foster urban vitality. ... Read more

The Dutch infrastructure sector faces a dual challenge of renewing aging infrastructure and achieving sustainability goals under the constraints of limited resources and high societal demand. This research explores how value integration can facilitate transition governance at the tactical level, bridging the gap between strategic visions and operational realities in infrastructure renewal projects.
Through a qualitative research design, this thesis combines theoretical exploration of transition theory, value methodology and the activity theory with empirical data collected via semi-structured interviews and a further elaboration through a collaborative scenario workshop. Findings highlight drivers to implement sustainability into the organisational fabric as well as barriers, such as fragmented governance, resistance to change, and misaligned priorities between national and regional levels. By analysing opportunities for integrative solutions to these barriers, the study identified four key tactical activities for value integration: collaboration, alignment, co-creation and sharing. The study reveals the critical role of tactical governance in translating strategic goals into operational actions, emphasizing the need for cohesive decision-making, stakeholder engagement, and adaptive governance mechanisms. The proposed Value Integration Model addresses these challenges by identifying activities and conditions essential for embedding integrated values into governance frameworks, fostering alignment across organizational levels and among diverse stakeholders.
This research contributes to the field by operationalizing value integration as a practical tool for managing complex transitions under high-pressure scenarios. It offers actionable insights for policymakers, infrastructure managers, and practitioners, demonstrating how value integration can drive systemic change and support the dual objectives of sustainability and infrastructure renewal.
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Hospitals, as public buildings, establish connections with people in ways unparalleled by other structures. The architecture of a hospital directly influences its functionality, profoundly impacting the delicate balance between life and death. In today's information society, where the body is increasingly viewed as a collection of data for tracking health, the focus shifts decisively towards preserving life.

The focus of this graduation project is the development of a hospital tailored to a concept known as the ‘Human Data Twin.’ This project seeks to explore the effects of digitalization in healthcare, specifically examining how datasets and artificial intelligence (AI) influence the architectural design and functions of hospitals. The term ‘Human Data Twin’ refers to the unique concept of digitizing the human body with large datasets to create a human data twin (HDT) in cyberspace. This allows hospitals to conduct real-time simulations, optimizations, and evaluations, providing personalized diagnosis to empower individuals in making informed decisions, enhancing health performance, and extending life expectancy.

The transformative approach to healthcare through digitization has extensive implications, potentially necessitating the creation of new spaces within hospitals. Research indicates that the AI revolution in medicine introduces new dynamics to spatial relations in the diagnostic process, with AI likely to play a key role. The architectural design of hospitals needs reevaluation, presenting an opportunity to promote the health, physical activity, and mental well-being of society.

The project holds significant relevance in the current context, drawing inspiration from near-future predictions of technological advancements in healthcare. It envisions a transformation from generalized to personalized and precision medicine, facilitated by data science and technology. By doing so, the project aims to spark discussions around the imperative nature of collaborating with technologies like AI, which will drive changes in hospital functions, processes, and design. This discourse will also highlight the ethical challenges and considerations inherent in such advancements. Broadly, the project aspires to establish guidelines for designing hospitals of the digital future. ... Read more

This thesis examines the dramatic transformation of Sarajevo’s Olympic landscape following the Bosnian War, which erupted just eight years after the city hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics, an event that initially symbolized unity and international cooperation. The war led to the destruction of both physical infrastructure and the cultural and social values that characterized the city. The primary objective of this research is to contribute to the revitalization of this landscape. The Olympic landscape is understood as a layered entity, comprising physical, social, and cultural components. Sarajevo continues to struggle with social and cultural divisions, underscoring the need for initiatives aimed at bridging these gaps and fostering community spirit. Central to this study is the redesign of the abandoned bobsleigh track on Mount Trebević, which serves as a symbol of both glory and devastation. By incorporating sports and cultural programs, the revitalization efforts seek to rediscover the Olympic spirit, restoring social cohesion. Ultimately, the thesis argues that landscape architecture can play a vital role in revitalizing Sarajevo’s Olympic landscape by restoring physical elements and creating spaces that could heal the social and cultural scars of war, thereby helping the city reclaim its identity as a symbol of peace and unity. ... Read more

The sustainability of the building industry and the increasing demand for new buildings creates an opportunity where materiality and adaptability of the build environment needs to be reassessed in order to answer to the following issues. The research paper delves into the subject of adaptability in the built environment and checks the influence of materiality on such topics. The research scope touches on spatial adaptability in addition to the high-rise oriented case study where mass-timber buildings with potential of altering its function in the future. The result of the research will provide a quantifiable score of spatial adaptability for each case study that will indicate the degree of spatial adaptability. ... Read more

The survival and development of the city of Maastricht are facing enormous threats from the increasingly frequent and severe fluvial floods, while the leisure industry is the most vulnerable to flood damage as a crucial segment of the economy, accounting for about 50% of the total economic damage. However, flooding is essentially just a natural process with numerous ecological benefits, and can even stimulate diverse recreational activities under certain conditions.

Therefore, this report aims to explore integrated transformation from an urban design perspective for the city of Maastricht to adapt to river flooding and to promote sustainable leisure industry. It implies a transformed urban fabric that prevents the damage caused by river flooding and converts floods into a resource for sustainable leisure industry development through a series of spatial interventions and programs that cross three scales (regional scale, city scale, and neighborhood scale).
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This master thesis explores the application of the theories from Den Heijer's dissertation ‘Managing the university campus - Information to support real estate decisions’ in the context of analysing vacant shopping malls in revitalisation processes. The aim is to develop a decision-making process that can be used by decision makers to make time-efficient, informed and optimal decisions about the future concept of these shopping malls. Building on the existing knowledge, a new framework in the form of a step-by-step plan has been developed. This step-by-step plan combines the theories from Den Heijer's dissertation focusing on shopping mall revitalisations and extending them to the heritage context and thus the analysis of the past. By applying this new framework within revitalisation processes, optimal decisions can be made tailored to the project and the process can be accelerated. As a result, the vacancy rate of these shopping malls and its social and urban consequences, like an increasing number of crimes or the loss of identity are shortened. ... Read more

This thesis studies the Modern Malls in the Netherlands that were formed in the 1960s. The problem with these malls is that they have changed through time to keep up with the changing demands of the users, a development that has changed the once open ex¬troverted malls into introverted closed struc-tures. The closed structure of these malls, combined with rising vacancy and the ever-changing behaviour of the mall users, results that the malls in the Nether¬lands are struggling to survive. By analysing the open forms introduced by Sennett, the aim is to develop an intervention method to open op the modern mall. The interventions show that the open forms relate to different sca¬le levels depending on the intervention. The materialisation and architectural elements play an important role in the effectiveness of using open forms as intervention methods in Modern malls in the Netherlands. ... Read more

1. Minimal intervention of vacant office building.
2. Self-organized interactive and independent community for future tenants to rejoin the civil society. A complex of living, working, and learning.
3. Slow and small energy strategy including rainwater collection, food forest, and PV panel positioning.
4. Circular business model act as guidelines for all design decisions.
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At the same time that we’re solving climate change, we are building cities for another 3 billion people until 2050. That’s a doubling of the urban environment. The most extensive of this construction, and especially housing projects for the coming decades, will take place in emergent and developing countries. We, as architects, engineers, developers, and government officials, have the opportunity and important responsibility to give shape to our future. But our decisions not only impact the environment but also our social well-being, economic vitality, our sense of community and connectedness. In Africa, the number of urban dwellings will triple from 400 million to 1.26 billion by 2050. If we zoom into sub-Saharan Africa, 80% of these buildings are not yet built, compared to 30% in Europe. Therefore, I see this project as an opportunity to use the knowledge and lessons we have learned over the past to give these countries a head start in developing their cities. Today’s choices will have an impact on the decades to come.
With the continuously rising temperatures due to climate change and already elevated outdoor temperatures, the current housing situation in Benin is battling elevated indoor temperatures. They strongly affect the thermal comfort and, generally speaking, the well-being of people. With the rapid growth of cities and the shortage of currently available housing stock, builders and developers focus on quantity rather than quality. Many housing projects that are being built do not consider the specific climate conditions. Too often, they follow the occidental low-income housing model (Plattenbau, HLM) and battle temperature variations with mechanical cooling systems (air conditioning) and standard universal amenities. The needed urban infrastructure to supply these new dwellings with the necessary services is expansive and takes time to build. The existing networks are overloaded, and water and electricity supply interruptions are commonplace, even in the cities. Proper waste disposal and garbage collection are mainly non-existent, and landfills are the final waste destination.

Therefore, a sustainable building approach in Benin and in general in countries with a hot and humid climate is not only a way to have a positive impact on the environment, but instead, it is a fundamental means that allows lower energy use and lower long-term costs of use while improving the thermal comfort and quality of life. People want a modern, hygienic and spatially sophisticated living environment and housing of the same standard while keeping a sense of cultural and social identity. Those social and cultural patterns must be considered a “compass” during the design process at all scales.
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At present, almost two years after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the detrimental effects that this situation created on economic and social environments of cities are still fresh and far from being over. As these issues had a particular impact on tourism around the world, government and businesses in tourist-driven cities lost their main source of income. Consequently, under these excruciating circumstances, many local entrepreneurs are not able to pay the usual high rents, hence forcing shops, restaurants, and lodging facilities to close their doors. Moreover, in these monofunctional cities, the lack of alternative markets makes finding a different use for real estate properties a difficult task, thus building’s vacancy rates are on the rise. Therefore, this research aims at developing a managerial strategy for the built environment capable of coping with the issues derived from the pandemic, while also providing relief to other intrinsic problems that these cities are facing, such as gentrification and lack of economic diversification, due to overtourism. Accordingly, by studying and analyzing the city of Venice, this research seeks to identify market trends for future scenarios in which plausible solutions can be developed and implemented. Thus, delivering a comprehensive urban strategy and policy recommendations that could help Venice and other local governments to improve their own urban resilience, in hopes for a brighter future. ... Read more

The amount of elderly in the Netherlands will increase significantly in the upcoming years. According to the CBS (2018) by 2030 a quarter of the Dutch population will be aged 65 or older. Due to the growing number of elderly people, the number of elderly people with dementia is also increasing. The current built environment does not respond to the needs and desires of elderly, especially for those who suffer from dementia. Therefore, we have to look into new living concepts that will fit the needs of the elderly, now and in the future. My goal was to develop a new concept where people can live until they die, even when they suffer from dementia. A design where people take care for each other and where people with dementia are seen as a valuable part of society again.
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The population of the Netherlands is aging. This well-known characteristic of the present-day’s society is caused by multiple factors like low birth rate and improvement of healthcare. Dementia is one of the most common diseases that occurs to aged people. Most people with severe dementia are usually situated in a nursing home where they are assisted by caregivers day and night. These are protected facilities, in both urban and suburban context, which are separated from the society and daily life. This leads to several issues such as isolation and loneliness within the nursing homes. Also, isolation simultaneously stigmatizes people with dementia. People who are still living in their homes and capable of functioning are being excluded from society. However, nursing homes are often not an option for elderly migrants who are suffering from dementia. There are not enough nursing homes where they can seek help at the moment due to lack of anticipation –the Dutch government is not yet prepared for the considerable amount of dementia patients with migrant backgrounds who has different needs and wishes. This large group of people are excluded from the society and are taken care of by their families who are often overloaded due to the fact that they usually don’t get help from professionals. Elderly who cannot get help are forced to return to their respective original countries and are afraid to age in the Netherlands. This project is a proposal towards a new form of living and ageing in a safe environment as an Asian migrant in the Netherlands, with the aim to social inclusion of the elderly.
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The study aims to investigate humane housing solutions for rapid urbanisation happening all over the globe, specifically engaging with the case of Nalasopara, Mumbai, taking into account issues of density, affordability, economic development, gender and participation. ... Read more

We all refer to it in our daily lives; we talk about a concert as having a good vibe, we talk about a social situation as being ‘gezellig’, we talk about the impression of a part of town as being gloomy and we even talk about the mood of a day as having a sense of anticipation. Atmosphere is a familiar conversational subject, but at the same time it is remarkably undefinable. We return to the use of the term constantly despite its ambiguous quality, or maybe even because of it. And this atmospheric description that seems to be applicable to every situation always concern a spatial sense of ambience.

Remarkably, the notion of atmosphere remains largely unaddressed in architectural education and practice. The appreciation for the art of building is still largely dependent upon the supremacy of it’s functional, aesthetic and conceptual value. The essential task of architecture to support human life by engaging with human experiential reality has been frequently overshadowed by these formal inclinations. Atmosphere could be defined as the very initial and immediate experience of space, and thus can be understood as a notion that addresses architectural quality. Fortunately, there has been a development in which architectural practices are showing a renewed interest in atmospheric quality in the built environment. Leading advocates of the value of the atmospheric dimension in architectural design include architect Peter Zumthor, architectural theorist Juhani Pallasmaa, philosopher Gernot Böhme and environmental sociologist Jean-Paul Thibaud.

Despite the fast-growing research field, the discussion on architectural atmosphere does entail a certain ambiguity. After all, the atmospheric experience is something personal, ephemeral and vague, but above all it is hard to conceptualise. We seem to be able to immediately sense the atmosphere of a place, but it seems to be very difficult to capture in text or design. We are able to intuitively recognise atmosphere, like when we recognise the essence of the weather in a glance, but we are not able to define, analyse or understand its phenomenological origin. The Argentinian poet Jorge Luis Borges captures this difference between intuitive and analytical identification as follows: ‘We might say that we know something only when we are unable to define it…This is what we know what poetry is. We know it so well that we cannot define it.’.

Despite the elusive character of atmospheres, is it suggested by the intuitive recognition and appreciation of the atmospheric dimension that we are able to share this intuitive sense with a larger community. The atmospheric experience seems to have a collective quality about it. Therewith the atmospheric experience has the inherent quality to be as much the realm of the layman and daily use, as it is the realm of the expert and professional discourse. I believe that non-architects primarily sense the atmosphere of a place or building, opposed to appreciating distinct visible and formal concepts. Therewith non-architects have the advantage of approaching places and atmosphere more intuitively, whereas architects to often assume an intellectual and theoretical approach. Layman may not have the vocabulary to verbalise their sensitivities for the atmospheric dimension that is acquired through an architectural or artistic education, but the notion that the sensitivity for the atmospheric dimension is largely intuitive indicates that the actual sensitivity does not necessarily differ between layman and expert. And this exceptional transcending quality is why atmosphere may be the ultimate intermediary between architectural quality as perceived by the architects who design the architectural plan and architectural quality as perceived by the inhabitants of the architectural environment.

I believe that architectural atmospheres are more effective than the architectural discourse has been willing to rationally admit. I would even argue that the atmospheric dimension of a constructed environment is the key to architectural quality. Therefore in this research I would like to explore how the atmospheric dimension may attain its proper place in architectural design. The main question of the research considers:
How can an architect integrate atmospheric quality in the design of architecture and the built environment?

Dissecting this question into four parts, we will consecutively explore the phenomenon, the perception, the process and the plan. The research thesis will start with an introductory chapter in which we will look into what the perception of atmosphere entails. In chapter one we will look into the conditions under which atmosphere may be perceived. Subsequently we will look into the atmospheric dimension in relation to the design process, and finally we will explore its relation to the architectural realm.

Atmosphere by definition, seems to lack definition. This inherent paradox will echo throughout this research on how to construct atmosphere. The very act of analysing and defining the atmospheric phenomenon may result in the dissolution of its very quality. Therefore the research approach is built around the duality between an analytic and an intuitive approach. Even though the main body of this research considers a theoretical exploration of the atmospheric dimension in architectural design, I have sincerely attempted to protect the ambiguous quality and integrity of the atmospheric phenomenon. However in order to counteract this theoretical and analytical approach and to appreciate the personal, ephemeral and ambiguous qualities of an atmospheric experience I simultaneously kept a so-called atmospheric journal. This highly personal document, called Encountering Atmosphere - a personal account of the atmospheric dimension, contains memories, observations and encounters of atmospheric experiences. A multiplicity of sketches, images and words illustrate the way matter, light, rhythm, age, imperfection, fragility and life move me to evoke a rich emotive response to space and matter that seems to be the essence of atmosphere.

Furthermore, I aim to integrate the acquired knowledge on the integration of atmospheric quality in the design of the built environment in the subsequent design project of my graduation. I aim to have absorbed the acquired theoretical knowledge on this topic in a way that makes it part of the subconscious dimension of the design process, ultimately allowing me to intuitively integrate atmospheric quality in my own architectural design. My search for the integration of atmospheric quality in the design of architecture and the built environment will not end at the closing of this document, but will continue as I explore its application during my own design process. I aspire both the research project and the design project to accumulate the knowledge and experience to provide me, and hopefully others, to find the essence of the atmospheric dimension in architectural design. ... Read more

The omnipresence of the aging mass-housing estates in Europe has created a new frontier for innovative approaches in architecture, particularly in the architecture of renovation. This new movement has the capacity to address two major aspects of contemporary architecture: the role of architects in catering for sustainable development (ecological, economic, and social development) and, more importantly, addressing the needs of changing society (e.g. from monologue to digital). A close look at masshousing projects in the Netherlands reveals the enduring impact of the doctrines in practice at the time of their construction. These principles, predominantly influenced by structuralism, present compelling opportunities for the transformation of selected buildings. Accordingly, a main goal of this graduation project is to study the housing demand of current, multi-cultural, Dutch (in a larger scope: European) society and therefore to explore possibilities for sustainable development, and for improving the living condition in the existing, post-war, masshousing complexes. To do this, this research examines the impact of mass-customization by means of a new, adaptable to the dweller housing structures, introduced in the existing urban fabric with the aim of supporting the development of sustainable communities. From the field survey and publications discussing social problems in the mass-housing neighbourhoods, it can be observed that the existing post-war mass housing model no longer caters to the needs of current and new users. The potential of structures to deal with this shift will be studied through the thorough analysis of relevant and successful mass housing renovation precedents. Through this, research conclusions will be drawn as to the extent and type of design intervention in 3 scales: individual dwelling unit, housing block and local urban settlement (i.e. within 3-4 adjacent blocks). ... Read more