Habits profoundly physical and mental health, shaping behaviours such as exercise, diet, and
social interaction. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), responsible for 70% of global deaths,
are closely linked to unhealthy lifestyle factors, including inactivity, poor diet, and social isolation. Tarwewijk, a neighbourhood in Rotterdam, shows elevated rates of obesity, limited healthy food options, and challenges related to mental resilience and social interaction, making it an ideal context for exploring architectural strategies to promote healthy habits.

This research investigates the role of architectural design in fostering health-oriented behaviours, bridging gaps in the interdisciplinary understanding of habits, health, and architecture. Drawing from environmental psychology and anthropology, the study integrates theoretical insights from scholars like Jane Jacobs and Jan Gehl with the concept of “nudging” to subtly encourage healthier choices while addressing ethical considerations.

Fieldwork, case studies, and literature reviews form the methodological backbone, uncovering existing and missing habits in Tarwewijk and assessing architectural influences on behaviour. Key findings highlight the significance of multifunctional spaces, accessibility, visibility, and the integration of transit and destination roles in designing for health. Case studies reveal the potential of adaptive spaces and spontaneous activity programming to promote participation.

The study culminates in design guidelines tailored to Tarwewijk, emphasizing:
1.Integration of local habits into programming.
2.Addressing NCD risk factors through the program
3.Ensuring participation by enhancing multifunctionality, transit-destination synergy, programming spontaneous activities and spatial visibility.

The research contributes to understanding how architecture can influence habitual behaviours, offering actionable design principles to reduce NCD risks and foster healthier communities.

With the rising numbers of people with dementia and unsuitable houses for people with dementia there is a need for alternative housing for people with dementia. Previous studies are focussed on designing for people with dementia and not on their caregivers and the caregiver’s burden. This research focusses on decreasing the caregivers’ burden and finding a way people can stay at their home longer. Through literature studies, interviews, fieldwork and floorplan analysis I analysed how people with dementia and their informal caregivers experience their current living spaces and how they conceptualize future ideal possibilities for housing. Results indicate a design complex that allows people to move within the complex helps people to stay in their familiar environment. Furthermore, informal caregivers can rely on neighbours who are in similar situations. This research is necessary addition to current research because of its focus on people with dementia and their informal caregivers as duos who want to stay together.

This research aims to develop design guidelines that foster a healthy living environment in the Tarwewijk neighborhood of Rotterdam. The focus is on creating a project that not only enhances residents’ well-being but also contributes to local biodiversity. By integrating nature into the design, the study will explore how ecological strategies can positively impact residents. Understanding these design interventions will help create living spaces that promote healthier, more sustainable lifestyles for the community, ultimately aiming to prevent future issues related to well-being.

The research emphasizes that designing a healthy living environment is a multifaceted approach spanning various scales, each playing a vital role in enhancing the overall well-being of Tarwewijk residents. In neighborhoods like Tarwewijk, where health challenges and environmental concerns intersect, integrating nature and co-housing principles across various scales can create a supportive, resilient, and healthier environment. These elements not only improve the quality of life for individuals but also foster social cohesion, a sense of community, and biodiversity, key factors for long-term well-being. To address this, designers can incorporate various guidelines applicable at different scales to enhance residents’ well-being.

This graduation project explores how architecture can support informal care practices and foster social cohesion in urban neighborhoods. Set in Tarwewijk, Rotterdam, the project combines participatory research, feminist care ethics, and spatial analysis to understand how care manifests in public and semi-public spaces. Through interviews, observations, and mapping, the research identifies “care nodes”,  spatially defined places where informal care emerges. These findings were translated into a design proposal for a community-centered intervention, including a public square, a multifunctional building with a communal kitchen, and inclusive housing. The design emphasizes accessibility, interaction, and flexibility to facilitate everyday encounters and support care as a relational and spatial practice. Rather than treating care as a fixed program, the project approaches it as an evolving and situated form of engagement, embedded in the rituals of daily life. This work contributes to architectural discourses on care, commons, and inclusion, and proposes a methodology for designing with, rather than for, communities.

MADE TO MOVE is a design that addresses the growing health issues caused by inactivity, especially in neighborhoods like Tarwewijk in Rotterdam- Zuid. Worldwide, and particularly in lower-income areas, physical activity is decreasing, leading to negative impacts on our health. This project offers an innovative solution: an office design that encourages employees to join sports sessions after work. Additionally, the building’s roof, accessible to local residents, provides free sports and social facilities. In a city like Rotterdam, where space for sports facilities is becoming increasingly scarce, this concept offers a smart way to create more opportunities for movement without taking up additional space.

The number of elderly people in the Netherlands is growing significantly, and by 2070, one-quarter of the Dutch population will be aged 65 or older. However, loneliness among this expanding demographic is a major concern in the Netherlands. The housing in the Tarwewijk neighborhood is unsuitable for elderly residents, resulting in their minimal presence in the area. Conversely, the neighborhood is home to a large number of children. Creating an intergenerational environment for both young and old contributes to the mental, social, and physical well-being of both age groups. This paper explores how such an intergenerational environment can be designed to encourage planned activities and spontaneous encounters. The themes of togetherness, play, learning, and caregiving serve as guiding principles for designing an intergenerational space.

The aging population in the Netherlands is growing rapidly, with the number of people aged 80 and above expected to double from 800.000 in 2020 to 1.5 million by 2050. This development, known as ‘’double aging’’, will significantly increase the number of people living with dementia, rising from 300.000 in 2020 to 620.000 by 2050. This demographic shift poses significant challenges for care and housing.

This research aims to explore how to design a care facility for people with dementia that enhances quality of life and autonomy. Additionally, the facility should align with the multicultural context of Tarwewijk. The main research question is:

‘’How can a care facility for people with dementia be designed to foster a humane and inclusive environment, with a focus on promoting autonomy and quality of life, for example in a neighborhood like Tarwewijk?’’.

The findings of this research show the importance of addressing three scales in the design: the environment, the building and the personal room.

At the environmental scale, the facility should integrate with the neighborhood to avoid isolating residents and encourage social interaction, enhancing their sense of autonomy. At the building scale, clear and simple layouts with recognizable landmarks help residents navigate independently. Small scale care settings, accommodating groups of 8 – 10 residents, provide a higher quality of life compared to larger groups. On the room scale, personalization and familiarity through personal items are crucial for creating a sense of comfort and belonging.

Given the multicultural context of Tarwewijk, the design must consider cultural preferences. Some cultures, such as Turkish and Moroccan, often prefer not to place their parents in care facilities, believing this reduces their quality of life. To address this, the design should include intergenerational homes alongside small-scale scale care facilities. In these homes, older adults can live with their children in one house, with separate entrances for privacy. This arrangement allows children to care for their parents while maintaining their own independence, this enhances the quality of life and autonomy of the older adults who can still live partially independently.

This research provides valuable insights into designing care facilities that promote autonomy and quality of life for individuals with dementia. It highlights the challenge of balancing safety, autonomy, and quality of life. It is important to note that this study focuses on general strategies to improves these challenges, individual needs and preferences can vary significantly. A set of design guidelines has been developed from this research, which will assist with the further design of care facilities in Tarwewijk for elderly people with dementia.

As urban individualism intensifies, communities face increasing levels of social fragmentation and isolation, especially in cities like Rotterdam, where nearly half of all households are single-person households. In Tarwewijk, a diverse and often vulnerable neighborhood, these challenges are deeply felt. This research explores how multigenerational housing communities, through architectural and spatial design, can actively promote social cohesion, mutual support, and ecological sustainability.

The central question guiding this study is: Can a multigenerational housing community concept promote social cohesion, in for example the Tarwewijk? Through a multidisciplinary methodology, including literature review, fieldwork, site analysis, mapping, data collection, and case studies, the research identifies spatial strategies that foster meaningful intergenerational interaction while supporting broader ecosystem goals.

Findings highlight the importance of shared, inclusive spaces such as communal gardens, flexible indoor areas, and layered access systems that encourage both planned and spontaneous social encounters. Another core aspect of the design approach is the integration of sustainable building materials, such as recycled concrete and rammed earth, and circular construction strategies that reduce environmental impact. The greenery structure is used not only for climate adaptation but also as a social connector, providing biodiverse, multifunctional outdoor spaces that invite community building.

This project proposes a living environment where sustainability, community, and mutual support are interwoven, balancing privacy with shared responsibility, and ecological health with human well-being. By leveraging Tarwewijk’s demographic diversity and aligning architectural solutions with ecological systems, multigenerational housing can create resilient, socially rich neighborhoods.

In the Netherlands, population aging and double aging are leading to a significant increase in the number of people with dementia. At the same time, the healthcare sector is facing severe staff shortages, and current living conditions are often not aligned with the needs of this target group. This societal challenge forms the basis for the central research question: “How can insights from the Hogeweyk Care Concept and dementia-friendly architecture be used to develop a care and living environment for people with dementia in the Tarwewijk?”

This research has resulted in the development of design guidelines from three perspectives: architectural, care-related, and location-specific. These guidelines contribute to a holistic design that, on the one hand, improves the quality of life for people with dementia, and on the other hand, addresses the pressure on the healthcare sector. The design principles can be applied at various scales: from a dementia-friendly neighborhood that emphasizes social cohesion, to the room level, where a homely and recognizable environment is provided.

In addition to improving the formal care structure, the research also focuses on strengthening informal care. By designing with the aim of creating communities at the neighborhood and district level, mutual involvement is stimulated.

This study focuses on the challenges and opportunities in developing
age-friendly living environments in Tarwewijk, Rotterdam. The research highlights the importance of supporting elderly to live independently within their community by addressing deficiencies in housing, accessibility, and social cohesion. Using the WHO Age-Friendly Cities framework and case studies, including the Knarrenhof concept, the study explores design solutions such as fostering interactions in various zones of a building, shared spaces and routes, and accessible infrastructure. The three pillars – building, community, and care – form the foundation, with a stronger community reducing the need for formal care for elderly. The findings serve as a design guide for creating sustainable, supportive environments that promote independence and social cohesion.

Imagine a world where all children have equal access to education, regardless of their cognitive, motor and social levels or diverse needs. Unfortunately, reality is different and children with additional needs often attend separate schools, sometimes even far away from home. Things need to change so that all children can attend school together and close to home. But this presents some obstacles, for example in terms of staff, money or the building.
This study examines the school building as a supporting factor for inclusive education and focuses on the following research question: What characteristics of the physical educational environment promote inclusive primary schools in the Netherlands?
To answer this question, children and staff from two inclusive schools in the Netherlands are interviewed. Together with literature, design guidelines will be created.
Together one school, respecting diversity, surrounded by calmness. That is how a school building supports inclusive education. The design guidelines can be divided into these three main themes.

This thesis states the current urgent problem in the global context where the prevalence of depression among university students is increasing. Most of the university students who suffer from depression due to peer competition, high demands on themselves, inability to handle relationships well and other problems leading them to feel helpless, upset and anxious. In the Netherlands, even with a complete psychiatric care system, depressed patients still have to face a lot of problems in terms of treatment, such as long waiting lists and expensive treatment. Therefore, an increasing number of people are motivated to concentrate on depression prevention.

About depression prevention, there have been some research and measures at the social level and psychological level. At the architectural level, most of the mental-related research has focused on medical buildings, with limited research on daily living environments. It is relevant
to combine depression prevention measures and architectural design measures for university students to research and design their daily living environment to positively support depression prevention. The targeted group is healthy university students. For these university students living in student residences on campus, campus and residence are the places that they spend much time. In order to investigate how the design of campus and residential spaces can support depression prevention, the design guidelines are generated through four research methods: literature research, observation, interview and case studies. The design guidelines are categorised into three levels of importance and two scales. Based on the design guidelines, the design (including campus scale and residence scale) will be done.

Overall, through the research process, the design guidelines relate to the three aspects of physical, social and mental health. This research argues that promoting these three aspects of healthy lifestyles among university students can contribute to depression prevention for them.

The Dutch elderly housing system has a gap for vulnerable elderly. The Dutch policy on elderly care is to continue living at home for as long as possible and moving into a nursing home with 24h care when living at home is not possible anymore. However, a large group of elderly is not served by this policy. This group is the group of so called vulnerable elderly. Living at home might be tough for them because of the incidental care they need, but moving into a nursing home is unnecessary. For these groups of elderly a new housing form is needed. In order to create this new housing types, transformation of existing vacant buildings could be a solution. Empty plots to build on are become increasingly more scarce and with the climate crisis the existing building in The Netherlands should be renovated in order to improve their sustainability. In this thesis research was done on what design guidelines would be needed in order to create a new social housing complex out of an existing building. The results show that a form of co-housing with mixed living for elderly could be a solution. In these co-housing complexes the emphasis lies on creating social connections through shared spaces. These social connections improve both mental and physical health, whilst at the same time relieving pressure on the Dutch care system by increasing informal care between resident. The results of this investigation are a number of design guidelines which need to be implemented in an existing utility building for transforming this building into a succesfull co-housing for elderly. These desgin guidelines are combined into a building concept showing the basic design ideas for creating a senior co-housing complex with mixed living.

The ageing population in the Netherlands presents challenges in elderly care, including rising health issues, a shortage of healthcare staff, and escalating costs. This study explores the association between healthy ageing and Blue Zones, regions in the world where long and healthy lives are common. Genetic factors contribute to 25% of lifespan variations, while non-genetic elements, such as unhealthy habits and social conditions, play significant roles. Environmental factors also impact the ageing process. The research aims to create a healthy urban living environment in the Netherlands, drawing inspiration from the lifestyle lessons in the Blue Zones. The main research question delves into how Dutch living environments can promote healthy ageing and assist the elderly in maintaining vitality. Sub-questions explore the key elements contributing to healthy ageing, the implementation of the Blue Zone concept in the living environment on the scale of the neighbourhood, street and building, and how the concept can be applied within Dutch urban living environments. Building on the principles of Blue Zones, the study focuses on three key spatial domains within the living environment: Physical Activity, Green/Blue Spaces, and Social Connection. The research goal is to provide practical design guidelines for architects and urban planners, aiming to reduce healthcare costs and chronic diseases in the ageing population. Implementing these guidelines in Dutch urban environments enhance the overall health of the elderly, maintaining their vitality and independence for as long as possible. To achieve the best health benefits, a societal shift towards proactive engagement and inhabitants’ responsibility for their living environment and health is needed to create a healthy living environment.

With a growing elderly population in the Netherlands, this also challenges our existing housing options and the care system. In particular, the risk of dementia significantly increases with age. About 68 percent of people with dementia in the Netherlands live at home and get care from their family or close social network; often their partner. When an informal caregiver can no longer manage the care of someone with dementia, it becomes a significant reason for considering admission to a nursing home or an assisted living facility. There are currently few options for both partners to continue living together when they wish to do so.
To explore the collective requirements of both partners, the following research question was answered; ‘What living environmental features can support elderly couples who wish to live together while one of them experiences dementia, to maintain their shared living arrangements?’.
Literature research, fieldwork, interviews and case studies show several design guidelines that can be considered when designing for people with dementia, as well as their unaffected partner. For the partner with dementia, ‘wayfinding’, ‘accessibility’, and creating a ‘home-like small-scale environment’ were found to be important to consider while designing for them. For the ‘healthy’ partner, it was found that it is important for them to be able to ‘live a normal life’, to ‘take some pressure off’ of them, to ‘ensure the safety of their partner with dementia’, and to ‘be able to do things together with their partner and separately’.
As the elderly population continues to expand, it is crucial to explore innovative living alternatives to ease the strain on informal caregivers and the healthcare system.

This research is about designing for people with dementia. The Dutch population is aging and
double aging, causing an increase of people with dementia. This also causes a growing imbalance between people who need care and people who can provide care. Adding to this are the current living arrangements for people with dementia not sufficient. Therefore the central question in this research is: what living environment features can contribute to the quality of life of people with dementia, and provide them with the care they need.

The aim of this research is to define design guidelines that provide people with dementia with sufficient housing and a qualitative living environment through all stages of dementia. And to see if this can contribute to the efficiency in care, so that people with dementia can still get the care they need.

This research obtains information through literature study, case studies and a fieldwork in an elderly care home to provide an answer to the main question. This research defines four main topics that contribute to the quality of life of people with dementia: distinctiveness, familiarity, independence and biophilic. This research investigates these topics on different scales. First the scale of the dwelling, than the building, and at last the near surroundings. Finally, this research has a chapter from the perspective of the caregiver on the living environment for people with dementia. This results in design guidelines.

It can be concluded from this research that by bringing together the fields of dementia,
dementia care and architecture, a qualitative living environment can be created for people
with dementia with a high quality of life. A higher quality of life will contribute to the efficiency of care and a decrease in the demand for care.

The Dementia Art Academy is an integral part of the expansion of the TU Delft and is situated next to the new Delft Campus train station on Tanthofdreef. The design serves as a cultural hub for the neighborhood where various art forms, students, artists, but above all, individuals with dementia come together within one building. The design stands out as a pioneer in contemporary dementia care. The academy offers respite care, including guest rooms for individuals with dementia, providing temporary relief for caregivers at home, ultimately enabling those with dementia to remain living at home longer. Its design pushes the boundaries of dementia care by adopting a fresh approach in its architectural layout. Throughout the day, individuals are free to roam the grounds and move wherever they please, without constraints on their freedom in the form of fences or locks. The design facilitates this concept with the use of rounded shapes in its interior and exterior, guiding the way and minimizing the risk of getting lost. The building provides a warm inner world contrasted against a harsh outside world, encouraging its visitors to linger within the complex and is distinguished by its recognizable red color, making it easily recognizable in its urban setting. The academy features an auditorium, dance studios, music rooms, lecture halls, an exhibition space, and a cinema. Shared artistic facilities, including art forms like visual arts, music, dance, and gardening, where the guests can participate in daily activities, are spread across the ground floor and 1st floor. Through a long organic corridor traversing the building, the various art forms are interconnected, with art serving as a guiding (red) thread throughout the structure. The complex is characterized by a green inner courtyard featuring a centrally covered stage, vegetable gardens, a terrace, and various organic pathways.The academy encourages independance, autonomy and improves the overall well-being of people suffering from dementia. It is a place where individuals with dementia are integrated into society and treated as ordinary people, where students and individuals with dementia can learn from and with each other.

A person with a physical disability often has no choice but to rely on their families. Between the physically disabled and the family caregiver, there is a co-dependence which affects both sides and how they live their individual daily lives. It is reported that this co-dependence creates feelings of burden and stress, social isolation and emotional loneliness for both the people with disabilities and their family caregivers.

There has been a good number of policies issued in the Netherlands with the aim of allowing as many people as possible to participate fully in society. The main aim is to help people with disabilities to live as they wish through changes in the social domain that will lead to noticeably fewer barriers. However, when it comes to participation and “barriers”, the first thing that comes to mind is the physical barriers that make access challenging. But accessibility and participation are also about the experiences people have once they access a particular environment. In other words, accessible and inclusive spaces are spaces that not only people can get into, but that they also feel welcome to be into. In the end, when we talk about an accessible society, we are talking about more than just the physical or practical barriers - the social barriers that are part of the social structure and the way the society and living environments are organized.

In this research, the question "What kind of architectural and urban living environments can be integrated in the daily lives of the physically disabled adults (PDA) and their family caregivers (FC) to reduce their social isolation?" is explored through interviews, observations and literature study. The findings are then organized into a set of design guidelines and design applications in an effort to create an inclusive living environment.

The main design concept as a result of the research suggests the design of an “Incluive Living Environment“ which offers public functions, social amenities and housing which are all available for everyone - regardless of their age, ability or family configuration - where a healthy environment of interaction and understanding can be created. A living environment where a strong community and social network can be formed where disabilities and care is not a burden or something to be ashamed of, but it is accepted, understood, and shared. A living environment where the care is shared by forming healthy communities where social bonds are formed between individuals that live in proximity to one another, light care can easily become a “shared value“. This helps to release the pressure, burden and shame that is primarily experienced by physically disabled adults and their families, and reduce their social isolation.

Under the influence of negative experiences, childbirth can be harmful and have negative effects on women’s (mental) health. One of the factors affecting women’s experience of childbirth is the physical environment. Unfortunately, contemporary maternal healthcare facilities are often designed from a highly-regulated and medicalized maternity care perspective, instead of a woman-centered design approach. In order to comply with women’s (environmental) needs and to create a more women-centered design approach, design guidelines have been formed based on literature study, fieldwork including semistructured interviews, and case studies. Using these guidelines, the architectural environment could contribute to a positive experience, improving health & well-being, for women during the stage of LDRP* in a maternal healthcare facility.

*an acronym for labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum

Health Creation as a holistic approach towards health – This new perspective on people's health aims to overcome the purely physical view of health and emphasize the importance of mental and social health. In this respect, the elderly and the socio-economically disadvantaged have been identified as target groups that require increased accessibility and awareness in the areas of health and social inclusion.
This led to the main question of this research: How can the principles of Health Creation be embedded into architecture that supports (elderly) people in remaining both physically and mentally active as well as socially integrated?
To answer this question, fieldwork investigations, conversations with experts in the field of healthcare as well as people from the target group, literature studies, documentaries, and case studies were involved.
These investigations showed that the existing health environment in the form of hospitals and general practitioners is not suitable for making people aware of their health. By integrating health-creating methods into a community setting, the institutional character can be eliminated, overcoming psychological barriers and positioning itself as an antithesis to the existing health environment. Elements of human-centered architecture, intergenerational interactions, nearby care, and the Blue Zones have proven to be pioneering approaches and can be implemented to generate a health-creating environment!