Plan C, a landmark building in Rotterdam erected in 1889, represents a significant chapter in the city’s urban development. Amidst Rotterdam’s rapid modernization during the late 19th century, Plan C emerged as a multifunctional solution to address pressing traffic congestion issues and symbolized innovative urban renewal strategies. This research thoroughly investigates the emergence and disappearance of Plan C and its influence on urban renewal in Rotterdam.
Through archival research and analysis of primary and secondary sources, the establishment, evolution, and eventual demise of Plan C is investigated. Primary sources include architectural archives, historical documents, and visual materials from the Rotterdam Stadsarchief and Nieuwe Instituut. Secondary sources encompass scholarly articles, newspaper clippings, and historical books, providing comprehensive insights into Plan C’s historical significance and urban impact.
The journey of Plan C in Rotterdam encapsulates the city’s urban evolution and societal challenges. From its inception as a traffic solution to its demise during World War II, it intertwines with Rotterdam’s growth narrative. Plan C’s establishment in 1889 marked a milestone, reflecting forward-thinking urban planning amid mixed sentiments. Initially thriving, it later declined due to demographic shifts and economic challenges. World War II’s bombing ended its existence, leaving behind a reminder of resilience and urban adaptation. Plan C’s story highlights urban complexities, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful planning and preservation amid urban evolution.
Overall, this research offers valuable insights into the complexities of urban renewal and the enduring significance of architectural heritage in shaping sustainable urban environments. ... Read more

The thesis explores the historical and cultural evolution of Jakarta, Indonesia, examining the influences of Dutch colonialization on the city’s architectural heritage and cultural identity. Beginning with its early origins as Sunda Kalapa in the 14th century, the city underwent transformations under Dutch rule, culminating in the establishment of Batavia in 1619. Today, remnants of its colonial past are evident in Jakarta’s architectural landscape, with colonial buildings serving as witnesses to its history. The research focuses on the Jakarta History Museum as a case study, highlighting its architectural significance and adaptive reuse practices. Through an exploration of the museum’s evolution and preservation efforts, the study aims to understand how Jakarta's colonial buildings shape its cultural identity. By examining the interplay between architectural heritage, preservation, and cultural identity, the research seeks to uncover the role of colonial buildings in Jakarta’s cultural narrative. ... Read more

This thesis delves into Dutch colonial architecture in the Dutch East Indies, exploring the connection between power structures in colonialism and architecture. This involves examining how colonial architecture is used to exert power and also how, conversely, the land itself can influence this architecture. Through a historical lens, the study explores the shift in architectural styles over time, reflecting changing political landscapes. Environmental influences, particularly the challenges posed by the tropical climate but also the indigenous cultures, are analysed in relation to architectural adaptations. Postcolonial reinterpretations and contemporary identities are also considered, shedding light on how indigenous populations interact with and perceive colonialera structures. By intertwining historical narratives with architectural theory, this research offers insights into the complex interplay between power, culture, and architecture in a colonial context. ... Read more

The Room for the River project stands as a stepping stone in water management strategies, distinguished by a paradigmatic shift in Dutch water culture towards decentralization of the decision-making process and spatial quality embedded in spatial planning projects. The research presents a comprehensive analysis of the program, focusing on the case study of Nijmegen, through interviews with relevant stakeholders, revealing insights into the planning process, its execution, and the final outcome.
The pivotal concepts of decentralization of the decision-making process towards a bottom-up approach, and the one of spatial quality strongly embedded in the design phase, are analyzed and discussed, first on a general level and then relating to the specific case study.
The outcome of the project is analyzed through the interviews, understanding the point of view of the involved stakeholders and their perception on the execution of the works, and discerned with the mapping tool, comparing the information gathered personally during visits on site to the information extracted from the interviews. Moreover, challenges such as the unforeseen uses of the designed spaces are taken into consideration in the personal analysis and discussed at the end of the research, providing possible implementation to the process for the future. ... Read more

This research paper delves into the convergence of 3D printing technology within architecture and fashion, examining significant collaborations and innovative advancements in these fields. Commencing with a historical overview of notable architectural and fashion designs, the timeline serves to contextualize the subsequent case studies. These case studies exemplify the fusion of technology, nature, and architecture, featuring collaborations such as Iris van Herpen and Daniel Widrig's 3D-printed Fossil Top, Francis Bitonti and Michael Schmidt's dress for Dita von Teese, and Zaha Hadid's collaboration with United Nude to create the Flames Shoe. Through meticulous analysis, these case studies illustrate how interdisciplinary collaborations transcend traditional design processes, highlighting the transformative potential of such endeavours. Furthermore, the paper explores the redesign of the Naturalis Biodiversity Centre in Leiden, where architect Michiel Riedijk and fashion designer Iris van Herpen seamlessly integrated biomorphic panels into the atrium design, symbolizing the interconnectedness of art, science, and creativity. By examining these collaborations and innovations, this research paper aims to deepen our understanding of the role of 3D printing in shaping the future of architecture and fashion. It also acknowledges the contributions of notable pioneers such as Dr. Hideo Kodama, Chuck Hull, and Carl Deckard, who have played crucial roles in advancing essential 3D printing technologies. ... Read more

Bergen boasts a rich harbor-centric historical narrative, rooted in its erstwhile prominence as a key Hanseatic Office outpost. The evolutionary trajectory of its port infrastructure has engendered substantial urban development, epitomized by the emergence of the Bryggen precinct. Bryggen, constituting an urban fabric derived from Bergen’s medieval settlement, has retained its structural integrity from the 12th century to contemporary times. Revered as an emblematic facet of Bergen’s cultural legacy, this picturesque enclave within the port precinct garnered early recognition as one of UNESCO’s inaugural World Heritage sites. Sustaining Bryggen’s esteemed status on the heritage roster mandates the formulation of rigorous management protocols and judicious interventions aimed at conserving its historical authenticity. Conversely, Norway’s steadfast commitment to advancing its sustainability agenda engenders imperatives to curtail vehicular and maritime traffic within the vicinity. How, then, do these divergent imperatives reconcile to achieve a symbiotic equilibrium? ... Read more

Inclusivity and equality for individuals with disabilities have been significant throughout history and have had a profound impact over the last 50 years. This thesis examines the development of legislation for this group, the impact of an inaccessible environment on them, and how the library sector has played a pioneering role in promoting inclusivity even before the legal requirements were in place. Using the Public Library of Rotterdam as a case study, it illustrates how a library constructed in 1983 was already working toward an inclusive environment. The examination of the library covers physical accessibility, access to its collection, and its societal role. The thesis concludes that libraries have played a vital role in
advocating for inclusivity for everyone. Through their commitment, libraries have created a welcoming environment for individuals with disabilities, unlike many other aspects of their lives, where exclusion remains a problem. This thesis offers a fresh perspective and calls for a more wholehearted embrace of inclusivity in our built surroundings. ... Read more

The objective of this paper is to examine the relationship between city branding and gentrification, in order to critically evaluate the city branding ambitions integrated into cities’ policies worldwide. A case study of Rotterdam's central neighbourhood, Katendrecht, is used to investigate this relationship through a historical analysis of the area's development and the evolution of the Rotterdam City Brand. Although Katendrecht has undergone Urban renewal and Restructuring over past 50 years, it also faced socio-economic challenges that required the engagement of the community. In the early stages of development, residents fought to eliminate prostitution and decriminalize the neighbourhood. However, recent developments show an influx of developers and investors pushing gentrification processes due to Katendrecht's enhanced reputation, which was achieved through a marketing campaign in 2004. ... Read more

This thesis explores the relationship between the creation of escapism in Disneyland’s theme parks and Bill Bensley’s Capella Ubud and JW Marriot Phu Quoc hotels. Hotels are frequently the first place experienced upon arrival in an unfamiliar setting, and due to the transportive, experiential quality of their architecture, they can greatly influence how visitors perceive the traditions and atmosphere of these locations. To generate a sense of place and avoid bland interiors, Bensley creates rich backstories for these hotels which informs their design and enriches the guest experience. In this way, this thesis sees parallels between his hotels and Disneyland. Using analysis of hotel imagery and descriptive texts, this thesis outlines how Bensley has used similar techniques to create this sense of escapism throughout his career.
Disneyland’s visitors are able to substitute real-world experiences with those in the park (e.g. a riverboat safari), as they are perceived to embody the essence of reality, so form hyperreality However, ultimately visitors are always aware that the park is fabricated fantasy. This is where Bensley’s hotels differ from Disneyland. By grounding the hotels in site-specificity and authenticity, many visitors believe his hotels to embody the local vernacular, and to be truthful depictions of history, and thus they are more influential on visitor perceptions. Thus, this thesis uses analysis of guest reviews, travel articles and hotel photographs to demonstrate how his designs can lead to misunderstandings about local culture. Working within the framework of heritage, orientalism, and colonialism discussions, the thesis utilises critical discourse analysis to examine whether the image resulting from Bensley’s design choices perpetuates stereotypes whilst achieving escapism. Bensley’s work is particularly pertinent in this discussion as his maximalist, theatrical approach makes the celebration of surrounding heritage explicit. His work exaggerates the placemaking strategies commonplace throughout South-East Asian hotels, and so it can be used to exemplify more widespread trends in hotel design. ... Read more

This thesis examines the historic value of breakbulk warehouses for Rotterdam. It focuses on a warehouse in Merwehaven, a disused port area in Rotterdam. By showing the history of Rotterdam warehouses, redevelopments executed, and demolished warehouses a deeper understanding of warehouses for Rotterdam is given. Giving the historical context and the architectural features of the warehouse in Merwehaven and evaluating them with the assessment criteria of the Rijksdienst voor Cultureel Erfgoed determines its value for Rotterdam. ... Read more

Penang was once an important port along the Straits of Melaka, connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans, serving as a major stop point for ships sailing between Asia, Europe and the Middle East. In the 19th century, the British colonial authorities decided to undertake a massive land reclamation project to expand harbour and trade activities, resulting in the creation of Weld Quay. As a reclaimed land, Weld Quay had undergone a series of political changes imposed by different governmental administrations, including the British settlement, Japanese occupation, formation of the Malayan Union, Malaya independence and the qualification of George Town as a UNESCO heritage site. Through the notion of time, Penang‘s significant shift in the political landscape has resulted in the gradual transformation of Weld Quay‘s urban redevelopment within the physical and sociocultural realm. Evidently, the progressive transition over time erased and reconstructed the history of Weld Quay, providing opportunities for creating new memories. However, at the same time, it erodes the memories of the local community that the original land accommodates. With the concept of defamiliarization, this study seeks to trace stories that occurred on the reclamation ground through the historical perspectives of everyday life by examining the public and private memories of Penangites. Despite the change in Weld Quay‘s urban landscape caused by several major historical events, the recollection and retention of an individual‘s past experiences will eventually continue to influence one‘s perception of the present condition. Thus, this study intends to reflect on the gains and losses of urban redevelopment through the sense of defamiliarization by unveiling the overlapping history of Weld Quay in relation to the individual, social, collective and public memory of place. ... Read more

By 2050, in less than 30 years, 300 million people will become climate refugees due to the rising sea level and coastal flooding (Lewis, 2019). Inhabitants of megacities such as New York, Mumbai or Shanghai will face enormous changes within their environment. The rising sea levels, hurricanes, and floods will transform life in coastal cities and necessitate a rethink of their approach to climate change. To comprehend the different strategies adopted by coastal cities, this study distinguishes between multimillion-dollar adaptive projects and smaller-scale climate change actions by the City of New York. In addressing this global issue, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has provided a summary of adaptation options for coastal areas and cities. These flood prevention strategies not only highlight the vulnerability of coastal cities to climate change but also vary in their management strategies, such as building new infrastructure, relocating key facilities, or preserving natural habitats.
New York City, the most densely populated city in the U.S., has been facing flooding dated since 1788, and has a long list of historical records on this issue. The devastating superstorm of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, which flooded the streets, subways, and tunnels, caused around $65 billion in damages, and led to the loss of many homes. This catastrophic event raised global warming awareness and spurred action to protect the city's waterfronts. From using leftover oyster shells as a natural flood protection system to funding multi-billion-dollar projects, New York City began taking steps to safeguard itself from natural disasters.
In New York City's Lower East Side, Bjarke Ingels Group partnered with multiple engineers and planners to develop a proposal for a 10-mile protective zone along the waterfront. This project was conceptualized as a part of the Rebuild by Design Hurricane Sandy Competition in 2019. The central idea behind the project is to leverage elevated parklands, floodwalls, berms, and movable floodgates to shield communities and the $500 billion economic sector along the New York shore from the impact of natural disasters. Described by Bjarke Ingels “as the love-child of Robert Moses and Jane Jacobs," (Wainwright, 2015) the project represents a major step in the history of flood protection and social encouragement for residents to interact with the New York Dryline.
This project aims to merge the urban planning principles of Jane Jacobs, who advocated for natural growth without demolition, and Robert Moses, who emphasized on redevelopment. It combines innovative ideas with a rich historical background of the city to examine why New York City only responded to natural disasters after a subsequent calamity and whether the city can formulate an all-encompassing strategy for managing natural hazards by drawing on its past experiences. Besides investigating the history of natural disasters in the city, this paper provides a critical evaluation of the proposed adaptation strategies throughout its history.

RESEARCH QUESTION
How has New York City's approach to natural hazards, particularly flooding caused by hurricanes and storm surges, evolved throughout history and what adaptations have been implemented to address these challenges?

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In 2022, the Outline Zoning Plan S/K15/27 was approved by the Hong Kong Government, confirming the demolition of Cha Kwo Ling Village (hereinafter: CKL Village) for high-density residential development. The fate of CKL Village and the responses it instigated raises how various stakeholders value the same space differently, but lack a sufficiently comprehensive framework and inclusive, common platform to express and negotiate them. Consequently, the unarticulated heritage assets often become subordinate to urban development.

Thus, this thesis analyses four perspectives - namely the Government, the Developer, the Villager, and the Hong Konger - to understand their respective valuations of CKL Village, and whether there are potentials amidst their similarities and differences. In academia, these perspectives have previously been addressed in relation to Hong Kong's heritage; but since the Anti-Extradition Law Movement (2019), there is a need to renew the understanding of these societal stakeholders and their motivations.
Thus, this thesis serves as a theoretical rehearsal of gathering and aligning different voices, utilising UNESCO's values and attributes framework, and resonating with the first two steps of the Historic Urban Landscape concept.

In doing so, the thesis presents two key critiques against the Hong Kong Government's current heritage mechanism. Firstly, the underlying monument-based approach that fails to address heritage assets in the form of groups and landscapes. Secondly, the reluctance to engage with the existing communities who currently occupy the heritage. Finally, as the thesis framework has revealed specific and different interests for each perspective, it calls for an active negotiation between them, beyond the scope of thesis writing. ... Read more

This thesis takes the ancient Chinese village of Hongcun as the main object of study, focusing on the specific functions and modes of operation of the water treatment system in Hongcun as well as the cultural and social context behind it. And the role of different water treatment methods used in Hongcun is analysed in terms of both sustainable and aesthetic values. This thesis also links the water treatment system of Hongcun with the modern concept of the sponge city, explaining the similarities between the two and using Hongcun as a prototype to provide guidance for the construction of modern sponge cities. ... Read more

“Difficult heritage” often becomes a crucial point of current political and public debate in countries with totalitarian past (Vyazemtseva, 2020). This term refers mainly to architectural and sculptural monuments that were erected during the rule of totalitarian regimes, and it was first used relatively recently, in 2008 (Macdonald, 2008). At that time the question of the protective status of these monuments as cultural heritage arose due to the physical aging of buildings and structures. Often, when monuments of «difficult heritage» are markers of identity for many generations, the question of the legitimacy of their existence in a modern city does not arise. However, the values expressed by «difficult heritage» cease to be relevant, and functional and economic requirements change. Then there is a need to reconstruct architecture in accordance with the reaction of historical memory to the changing times.
This situation leads to a critical reflection on the «difficult heritage» and sometimes to the complete neutralization of its negative meaning. Often the initiator of the reconstruction of such sites is the state, and the authors are prominent architects who offer their solutions in projects connected with historical memory. This paper analyzes recent examples of interaction between architects and architectural objects from the heritage of the German and Soviet dictatorships - the Haus der Kunst reconstruction project in Munich (David Chipperfield Architects, 2016) and the Space Pavilion of the V.D.N.H. reconstruction project in Moscow (MS Architects, 2016). The paper aims to identify the basic principles of modern German and Russian architects' work with «difficult heritage» and to find similarities and differences between them. The architectural reconstruction projects of the Haus der Kunst in Munich (2016) and the Space Pavilion at the V.D.N.H. (Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy) in Moscow (2016) are compared, as well as the exhibitions presented in these museums, the statements of the authors of the projects and public discussions around them. This work draws attention to the problem of ways to rethink «difficult heritage» and enriches the discussion of it with detailed research of contemporary architectural projects.
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It was thought that because of the rise of the digital age, public libraries would eventually go extinct. However, research shows that nothing could be further from the truth. Visitor numbers are rising each year and new libraries are opened. There has been a change in the typology of public libraries that ensures the important role the library has in society to this day. This paper will analyse this change, which is very important for the future of public libraries. The past developments in public library design and organisation are researched and the current value of the public library is analysed. This will lead to the case study conducted on the Forum Groningen. This is a multifunctional library building that was opened a little over three years ago and is an example of the “new” public library, and everything that comes with it. The paper will dive into the process behind the building, the typology and design, and the perception of the building by the public and by experts in the field. The combination of literature research and analysis will give an overview of developments in the realm of public libraries, connected to the Forum Groningen as an embodiment of this change. ... Read more

focus on a type of heritage residential building from China called the Quadrangle Courtyard, and examine the challenges and opportunities involved in preserving and adapting these buildings to meet the needs of contemporary urban transformation as the Reform and Opening-up(1978-date) in China. ... Read more

Sep Ruf (1908-1982) was one of the most significant architects of German post-war modernism and played a key role in the rebuilding of several cities after World War II, particularly Munich. Along with other German modernist architects and supporters of the New Building movement, Ruf sought to initiate an intellectual renewal of architecture as a foundation for the city’s reconstruction, aiming to counter the neoclassical architecture of the Third Reich with a style characterised by lightness, asymmetry, and transparency. The fluent transition between exterior and interior spaces, the considerate embedding in the existing urban context, and the combination of traditional and modern architectural elements are essential principles of Ruf’s post-war philosophy, leading to the development of a new formal language and architectural expression that captured the “spirit’s atmosphere” and reflected the changing social values of Munich’s post-war society.

This thesis analyses three case studies of Ruf‘s work during the first phase of post-war modernism from 1945 to 1963. It provides a historical and architectural analysis, as well as a socio-societal analysis based on local newspaper articles from the era, demonstrating how Ruf‘s architecture responded to various social challenges after World War II and encouraged public debates about evolving social values in the public, private, and religious domains. The construction of Munich’s first high-rise apartment building Theresienstraße (1950-51) was a low-cost social housing project, which offered high-quality living conditions to all social classes. The transparent facades and publicly accessible courtyards of the Neue Maxburg (1952-58) were emblematic of a new social and legal democratisation and stand for Munich’s reintegration into the European and international world community. The modern formal language of the church of St. Johann von Capistran (1957-60), built in the course of the Eucharistic World Congress in Munich, was a precursor of the liturgical reformation of the 1960s. Overall, this paper highlights Sep Ruf’s contribution to the development of post-war modernism and the broader social and cultural changes of the time in Munich. ... Read more

This thesis examines the impact of colonialism on the urban development of Kuching, a city in Sarawak, Malaysia. Many port cities in the greater Southeast Asia region were born from their strategic location along the trade route between India and China, which attracted Western powers to establish control over these coastal entrepots and their natural resources. As a result, the ruling class imported foreign cultures and urban planning templates from their home country to facilitate their governance over the colonies, traced from the urban morphology of present-day city centres.
Compared to other colonial cities in Peninsular Malaysia, Kuching gained little attention from scholars and historians due to its less significant location on the periphery of the British Crown Colonies. Analysis of archival maps and first-account sources revealed the growth of Kuching from a riverine settlement to a vibrant port city under the governance of the Brooke administration, founded by Sir James Brooke and succeeded by his bloodline. Since the White Rajahs enjoyed more autonomy from the British regime during their rule, they adopted a hybrid approach to urban planning by incorporating local settlement patterns within the city’s expansion. The result is a collage of formal and informal forms in Kuching’s urban fabric, reflecting the vernacular qualities of its multicultural population.
Beyond direct influences on urban morphology, there are remnants of colonial themes within the economy, social structures, and future planning strategies of post-independence Kuching. The heavy focus on commercial activities around the Sarawak River port during the early 20th century resulted in underdeveloped secondary industries and an influx in rural-to-urban migration, with lasting impacts still visible today. Moreover, colonial social engineering - most apparent in land tenure legislation, created biased perceptions of political space and racially segregated enclaves. Anthony D. King (1977) also traced the export mechanism of Western urban planning from educational institutions and planning bureaus left behind by colonial powers after granting colonies their independence.
Overall, the research highlights the impacts of Western ideals in post-colonial Kuching and the growing awareness to preserve its rich cultural heritage as a port city. This study aims to contribute to the ongoing discussion on urbanism in growing societies and provide valuable insights for urban planners, policymakers, and researchers.
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