The growing housing shortage in the Netherlands, urbanization, demographic changes, and increasing cultural diversity are placing new demands on the living environment. In cities such as Amsterdam, this leads to a greater diversity of households, lifestyles, and housing needs. At the same time, many existing buildings prove insufficiently capable of adapting to this dynamic context, as they are based on rigid floor plans and predetermined functions. As a result, spaces can only respond to a limited extent to changes in use, life phases, and societal developments, which may negatively affect both livability and social cohesion in the long term.

This research focuses on how design principles can contribute to the adaptability of residential environments across different scales: the immediate surroundings, the building block, and the individual dwelling. Adaptability is understood here as the capacity of the built environment to respond over time to changing needs and circumstances, without requiring major interventions or relocation. The theoretical framework is based on concepts such as the Shearing Layers by Stewart Brand, the frame and generic space by Bernard Leupen, and the Open Building principle by N. John Habraken, which distinguishes between permanent and adaptable elements within architecture.

Through literature research, case studies, fieldwork, and research-by-design, design strategies are analyzed and tested. The study results in a set of design guidelines that support designers in creating adaptable and future-proof residential environments. These guidelines do not prescribe fixed solutions, but rather form an adaptive framework that allows for variation, appropriation, and change, thereby contributing to a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban environment. ... Read more

In an age defined by technology, we are unnotably letting it numb us. Many of our modern mental health issues - such as depression, anxiety, and burnout - stem not only from stress but from a disconnection from our sensory perception. These health issues are not merely responses to external pressures but symptoms of a deeper deprivation: the erosion of our sensory lives. As we retreat further into screens and virtual spaces, our bodies fall out of rhythm with the physical world, losing touch (quite literally) with the textures, sounds, temperatures, and movements that once grounded our sense of being. This sensory starvation, often masked by quick dopamine fixes from digital devices, leaves the nervous system both exhausted and unsatisfied.

If architecture was once a mirror of cultural aspirations, it must now become a vessel for healing - a site where we can reawaken the sensorium. The urgency is clear: we need to design spaces that do not merely house us but revive us - spaces that restore balance through embodied experience, tactile materials, and certain atmospheric value related. Architecture, in this sense, becomes a form of medicine for a generation who has gone numb. ... Read more

Contemporary housing for young professionals is increasingly dominated by the studio apartment, a model that prioritizes individual autonomy but often results in social isolation, spatial inefficiency, and limited adaptability to changing life patterns. At the same time, collective housing models frequently struggle to balance communal living with the need for privacy and personal control. This graduation project explores an alternative housing typology that negotiates this tension through the architectural design of thresholds.

The Threshold House proposes a collective housing model for young professionals in which privacy and openness are not treated as fixed opposites, but as spatially graduated conditions. Drawing on spatial theory, proxemics, and theories of place attachment, the project investigates how transitional spaces, such as shared corridors, semi-private zones, and collective interiors, can function as mediating devices between the individual dwelling and the collective environment. These threshold spaces enable residents to regulate visibility, access, and social interaction, supporting both autonomy and community.

The research combines theoretical analysis with architectural design research. Case studies of collective housing and historical and contemporary spatial models are analyzed to understand how boundaries, personalization, and transitional zones influence everyday use and social behavior. These insights inform the design of a housing proposal in a high-density urban context, aimed at young professionals navigating temporary and transitional phases of living.

By reframing housing as a sequence of negotiated thresholds rather than a binary division between private and public space, the project positions the Threshold House as an alternative to the conventional studio model. The proposal demonstrates how architectural design can foster social engagement without compromising individual privacy, contributing to current debates on collective living, housing typologies, and the role of architecture in shaping everyday domestic life. ... Read more

Traditional public spaces are often experienced as vibrant places that form an important link between the city and the individual dwelling. They function not only as physical connections, but also as social spaces where encounters, interaction, and community building take place. Characteristic of these spaces is the direct relationship between the street and the front door, where residents appropriate their entrances and thereby contribute to the vibrancy and identity of the urban fabric.

In contemporary residential blocks, where dwellings are stacked and accessed through a collective entrance and corridor, this direct relationship is absent. The corridor primarily functions as a circulation space and lacks the qualities of public space. As a result, spontaneous encounters decrease and the sense of connectedness among residents diminishes. Although these corridors are physically located within the city, they are rarely considered part of the urban realm. This research examines the potential of residential corridors to function as vibrant spaces of social encounter.
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This paper explores the role of transition zones—the spatial and social thresholds between private dwellings and the public street—in shaping livable, safe, and socially connected urban environments. With Amsterdam as a case study, the research situates itself within the urgent context of urban densification and the construction of large-scale residential blocks. Historically, Dutch streets and stoops embodied spaces of encounter and personalization, but over time mass production, zoning laws, and functionalist housing approaches diminished the quality of these intermediary zones. Building upon the writings of Jane Jacobs, Herman Hertzberger, Jan Gehl, Aldo van Eyck, Christopher Alexander, and others, this paper argues that transition zones are crucial for stimulating social interaction, fostering a sense of ownership, and softening the divide between public and private realms. Through a literature review, case study analysis, and site-specific research on Amsterdam’s Strandeiland, this paper establishes the principles and dimensions that make transition zones successful. It further critiques contemporary large housing blocks where collective circulation spaces often fail to create meaningful social environments. The study concludes by outlining a set of architectural strategies to integrate attractive, functional, and adaptable transition zones into highdensity urban developments. The final part of this graduation project will consist of a research by design process, testing these principles in practice through the design of a new residential block in Amsterdam. ... Read more

The goal of the municipality of Amsterdam is to build 150.000 houses before 2050 within the borders of Amsterdam, combined with the growing number of loneliness in Amsterdam, could result in both mental health problems and social problems. When these new houses are not planned properly, the quality of living in Amsterdam will drastically lower. Due to these problems, this research will focus on the relationship between neighbours and residents of large-scale city blocks. This will be done by researching and improving the social interaction between neighbours to lower the levels of loneliness and ensure a feeling of ‘home’ within a large-scale city block. The main research question will therefore be: How can large-scale city blocks be improved to create more opportunities for social interaction between neighbours?”. Ultimately, this research aims to find design guidelines that can be used to design a large-scale city block without undermining the unique qualities of the project.
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Contemporary social housing development in the Netherlands often prioritises standardisation over progressive and imaginative design, resulting in an undesirable dullness of the urban environment. However, there are also advantages to standardisation in the built environment, like reduced design costs, quicker construction times, higher technical quality, and potential for circularity/sustainability. In short, there is an unwanted lack of architectural diversity and individual living style and freedom, caused by a strong focus on standardisation and its benefits. To change this current state, other forms of social housing complexes have to be explored. Buildings that support diverse living conditions for diverse inhabitants, that favour equitable housing over equal housing, with architectural emphasis on the unicity of its users. Housing that invites people to explore their style of living, that evokes a feeling of freedom of style. ... Read more

The foundation of this research lies in the social experience of living together and how architecture can contribute to a more profound sense of belonging. What began as a curiosity about the social potential of shared space evolved into a broader exploration of how people form relationships, with one another, and with their environments. Rather than focusing on housing as a purely functional solution, the project considers how feelings of ownership, recognition, and comfort emerge through design. These aspects are explored across multiple scales: from the city and building to the corridor, doorstep, and living room. The project examines how collective and transitional spaces can become active zones of community-building when spatially and socially considered. Through design strategies such as clustering, varied access, and interaction zones, the architecture fosters a resilient framework where people not only live but also connect, engage, and belong. Ultimately, this research highlights how architecture can support resilient, inclusive communities through spatial design that responds to both personal and collective social dynamics. ... Read more

We need a new way of designing when it comes to large-scale residential buildings. A way that reflects a high-density urban environment; complex, dynamic, vibrant, and lively. We must design for urban flow.

Current densification efforts often produce closed-off structures, disconnecting inhabitants from the urban flow of the city they live in. Large glass plinths, empty barren public space, and entrances that are meant to facilitate many homes, but are hidden away, create a streetscape that is illegible for people and doesn’t function well on a human scale.

In large-scale urban housing, the link between the city and the home is the residential building itself. The building must function as a transition zone between public space and the private domain of the home, facilitating a continuation of space, scale and movement from city to dwelling and vice versa.
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This research focuses on the renovation and densification of post-war neighborhoods, often characterized by a monoculture in both housing and green spaces. These areas lack variation and connectivity, which not only limits biodiversity but also reduces the quality of life for residents. The main research question is: Which regenerative design principles for the renovation and densification of a post-war
building contribute to the densification of biodiversity within the ecologies of the urban fabric? he aim is to demonstrate that urban densification does not have to come at the expense of biodiversity but instead offers opportunities for synergy. To answer this question, methods such as literature review, case studies, and ecological analyses were employed. By studying urban biotopes and the dynamics between humans and nature, design principles were developed to integrate biodiversity into existing urban structures. Key guidelines include location-specific design, introducing more variation and strengthening connections, or disconnections. The research shows that cities are not inherently detrimental to biodiversity but possess their own ecology where flora and fauna adapt. By applying regenerative principles, cities can be transformed into living environments that support both human well-being and biodiversity. A focus on natural habitats, such as nesting opportunities for birds and bats, makes buildings an integral part of the ecosystem. The conclusion is that urban densification offers an opportunity to combine biodiversity with human needs, provided that flora and fauna are included as key actors from the start of the design process. This research highlights the importance of regenerative designs that redefine cities as dynamic ecosystems. Recommendations include developing methods to measure biodiversity in urban projects and involving ecologists and residents in the design process. This research provides valuable insights for architects, urban planners, and policymakers striving for sustainable and biodiverse urban development. ... Read more

The idea of home, while uniquely personal and familiar to each person, is somewhat elusive. Despite its intangibility, it captivated my interest. Returning from living abroad, I was figuring out what home means to me, and this made me think about how this feeling of home is reflected in current housing design. My interest in the concept of home deepened, partly due to my research on home ownership in Amsterdam during the first weeks of this graduation studio. As I discovered, ownership can manifest in different things, such as owning property or as a feeling known as mental ownership. It is a tricky concept: how do you turn that intangible feeling of home into something one can grasp and understand? At which scale does the feeling of home operate? Is it primarily at the individual dwelling or building levels, or does it extend to the broader city? ... Read more

This graduation comes from a deep interest in understanding why some buildings foster vibrant communities, while others do not. Now that interest in cohousing is rapidly growing, both from grassroots movements and top-down initiatives, grasping the factors that explain why some communities thrive has become increasingly significant. Cohousing may have many advantages from mental health, and informal care to enviromental benefits. Yet it is not simply shared spaces that create these advantages. It is the community itself. The goal of this graduation was therefore to bundle insights on how to design cohousing so that it facilitates community engagement.

A pattern language was developed with the intention of aiding both resident-led initiatives and architects. A pattern language is a network of interrelated design solutions to common problems. After a wide literature review, case studies and in practice testing, a cohousing pattern language was formulated that balances complexity and comprehensiveness. 7 base principles and 40 design patterns explain how architecture can facilitate community engagement. These patterns and principles are integrated into an 8-step framework tailored for the Dutch cohousing development context.

For the design part of this graduation project, the pattern language has been implemented to design an affordable and sustainable floating cohousing building for the Dutch delta. This architectural design addresses the housing and space crisis by exploring the floating frontier of architecture. The floating urban villa may house 5 to 20 people and with minimal adaptions can facilitate a wide range of engaged communities. Up to 7 floating villas can together form a layered cooperative housing community with a layered framework for expression.

There is simple formula or design solution for cohousing so that it facilitates community engagement. Each community, location, and project is unique and requires specific and co-designed solutions. The book may help that process as it has identified abstract principles and concrete patterns that provide valuable guidance for designing spaces that support thriving, engaged communities. These are applicable to a wide range of cohousing lifestyle visions, architectural typologies and contexts. Ultimately, it is up to architects and residents to creatively integrate constraints, principles, context, and patterns to co-create cohousing architecture that facilitates their unique, engaged community.
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In the context of the current housing shortage, climate challenges, and the growing need to live in harmony with nature again, this design research focuses on improving the post-war neighbourhood of Groot-IJsselmonde in Rotterdam-Zuid. It focuses on different scale levels: the neighbourhood, the building, and the home, using the Biophilic Design concept as a guide. The monotonous, post-war voids have given way to a lively, diverse residential landscape that acts as a connector. The densification and transformation strategies are carefully designed to promote encounters: between old and new, between people and the natural environment, and between people.

During my research, I discovered that the key to social and ecological harmony lies in the connections between the different scale levels—connections that are currently missing in Groot-IJsselmonde. By developing corridors and natural routes, integrating welcoming gardens and lively places of encounter, and creating a diverse mix of households, I was able to add important connecting elements. The overall result is reinforcing the neighbourhood's natural character and qualities: a lively, inclusive and sustainable living environment that enables social and natural harmony. ... Read more

As housing shortage has to do with the insufficient supply of inexpensive houses and limited capacity for offering qualitative demands of the actual users, there is a discrepancy between what the current housing market provides and how new target groups want to live.
Especially, the existing post-war houses show how they were originally designed solely for the nuclear family, where the currently predominant target groups such as single-person households, young professional, the elderly, and student do not fit in.
One of the reasons is that the meaning of home during the twentieth century, when the post-war residential projects were realized, does not match with the one in the current housing situation.
For example, the meaning of home in the twentieth century was grounded to a physical unit of a ‘house’ where ‘home’ implied the (nuclear) family life apart from social, public, and working life. Consequently, the meaning of the home around the nuclear housing has been strictly divided by the dichotomous logic between home and work and set as the default setting around majority of domestic architecture.
Now, as the meaning of home has become less grounded in the physical space of a ‘house,’ ‘home’ can be defined by emotions, memories, and rituals. Therefore, the meaning of home today is more flexible and ambiguous, from where home can be a place to be productive as an integrated workspace. For instance, the kitchen and the balcony become improvised offices while simultaneously serving the traditional domestic functions. These new forms of productive home-life imply an indistinguishability between work and home.
Despite the radical changes over the last fifty years in living society, the traditional form of the home is still the most prevalent idea. Because the architecture in the housing market still reproduces the existing parameters of which the home is traditionally conceptualized, the architecture perpetuates the tradition in its spatial organization. Therefore, it is significant not only domestically but also societally to examine how this shift of the meaning of home has influenced the residential environment as it lost its initial characteristic as it had.
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Urban densification is essential to keep the green spaces surrounding Dutch cities, especially in the Randstad. The current Dutch housing stock, of which a significant portion was built during the 1960's and 1970's, lacks a flexible layer in which people in urgent need of housing can find (temporary) affordable housing. Short-stay housing, which encompasses people living somewhere for a day, up to a couple of years, could provide this flexible layer. Target groups for short-stay housing fare well by social interaction, stimulating integration into Dutch society and opening up new possibilities in their life. This social interaction can be partially provided by introducing the sharing economy into an existing neighborhood, providing sustainable options regarding ownership or mobility.

The project 'Between a Day and a Lifetime' therefore proposes an urban densification strategy in which a short-stay housing concept, based on principles of co-housing and the sharing economy, creates densification in a way that it enriches the lives of the current ánd future inhabitants. ... Read more

The growing concern about a mental health crisis and a looming threat of the loneliness epidemic worldwide that was further escalated by the COVID-19 pandemic forced people into isolation and created a new form of ‘work from home’ lifestyle. Nonetheless, the loneliness epidemic can be traced back to the 19th-century design principles that designed our current cities with reference to industrial tools such as the car instead of the ‘human scale’. Many of these modernist ideals had negative implications on the mental health of the residents in post-war districts. Moreover, with the need to build more homes, the current housing market values densification strategies that are primarily for profit and not for the needs of the people, which continues the pattern of ‘living together apart’. Consequently, there is an urgency to tackle isolation among the inhabitants of Groot-IJsselmonde, specifically Thamerdijk and post-war neighbourhoods being primarily targeted for future densification schemes. Interventions are therefore required to encourage degrees of social encounter. A research-based approach explored within five different lenses, sociological, historical, urban, building and dwelling scale is translated into a design project that could potentially allow for more positive densification for both current and future residents. ... Read more

In this research, I strived to explore solutions to the question:
How to maintain or enhance a sense of community in post-war neighborhoods undergoing regeneration processes
The outcome of this research provides a guideline for architectural planning, in creating an environment that reflects the importance of a sense of community in the built environment. The outcome can be viewed as a manual for analyzing and retrofitting neighborhoods, focusing on the shared spaces and maintaining or enhancing a sense of community. By focusing on a specific site, and examining its characteristics, I formed a guideline on how to treat specific issues with architectural interventions. I examined theories by various researchers (such as Gehl, Whyte, David Sim, and Bernard Tschumi) as well as architectural drawings of master plans that focus on shared spaces as an integral part of the vision.
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This graduation project explores the circulation of materials, people and knowledge, against the threat of poor and toxic living environments, within the design of Social Housing in the Global South. The project's approach to affordable housing development, which is rooted in the concept of assemblage thinking, revolves around the idea of creating spaces relationally, acknowledging that architecture is always already entangled with histories, stories, desires, places, materials, and lives. It challenges the prevailing trend of segregation and homogeneity by embracing a diverse mix of typologies, fostering inclusivity, and mitigating the rigid binary oppositions that characterize the unsustainable and segregated ways of life in São Paulo. The project is an anti-monoculture manifest that follows the flow of matter and ideas while emphasizing the rejection of homogeneous living environments and encouraging the co-existence of difference, dismantling oppressive dichotomies. ... Read more