Suzushisa is a Japanese term and can be translated into «a pleasant feeling of coolness».

This feeling is central to this thesis, as Tokyo, the capital of Japan, has experienced in recent years, a rise in day- and night-time temperatures associated with the Urban Heat Island effect, resulting in an increasing reliance on mechanically driven air-conditioning systems. At the same time, growing cooling demands generate additional anthropogenic heat emissions, reinforcing a feedback loop that further intensifies local overheating.

Simultaneously, the Japanese government promotes energy conservation campaigns that shift the thermal challenges of heat exposure from a broader environmental context into tangible, physically and mentally health-impacting conditions within Tokyo’s ageing office environments.

Within these contemporary urgencies, this thesis explores how physiological and psychological heat stress can be mitigated through the retrofitting of Japan’s first high-rise office building, the Kasumigaseki building, completed in 1968. Its approach focuses on reducing the measured indoor temperatures through integrating vernacular Japanese architectural knowledge on passive cooling practices, while strengthening cognitive thermal resilience through data-driven insights derived from first-hand eye-tracking research.
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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. ... Read more

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. ... Read more

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. ... Read more

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. ... Read more

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. ... Read more

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. ... Read more

University students are self-directed learners who dedicate considerable time to studying in study places. Research on indoor environmental quality (IEQ) highlights the adverse effects of prolonged indoor exposure to environmental stressors, including noise. Acoustical quality can significantly influence students’ health and comfort. To evaluate the acoustical quality of study places, three groups of indicators can be considered: occupant-related, dose-related, and building-related indicators. Given that students have different acoustical and psychosocial preferences for study places, it is crucial to consider occupant-related indicators. However, existing acoustical guidelines for study places and educational buildings primarily focus on dose-related and building-related indicators, while occupant-related indicators have been overlooked. Therefore, the main research question of this dissertation was posed:
How to assess the acoustical quality of study places?
This question was answered through several research methods. First, a literature review identified indicators and methods used to study students’ acoustical preferences and needs. Then, ‘MyStudyPlace’ questionnaire was completed by university students who were clustered based on their IEQ and psychosocial preferences, resulting in nine profiles. Subsequently, students were re-clustered based on acoustical and selected psychosocial preferences, resulting in five profiles. To further explore these profiles, 23 home study places were visited, incorporating interviews, building inspections, and sound pressure level measurements. After that, 15 of these students participated in sound exposure lab experiments, which involved bodily responses, audiometric tests, and perceptual assessments. Furthermore, an indoor soundscape approach using semi-structured interviews with the 23 students examined their sound environment experiences of their home study places. This dissertation offers future research a set of suggested methods and indicators to assess the acoustical quality of study places. ... Read more