The world faces an increasing demand for humanitarian assistance. The amount of people in need has more than doubled in the past 5 years, totalling 339 million in 2023 (Development Initiatives, 2023). Airports have a vital importance in the immediate response during humanitarian relief operations. In order to comport such operations, airports are required to absorb a certain surge capacity. Nevertheless, the existing guidelines for the design of spaces dedicated to humanitarian relief operations in airports are still incipient, with an apparent lack of involvement of the participation of professionals related to the architectural field. The aim of this project is to explore space planning innovation that can enhance the efficiency of humanitarian relief operations drawing inspiration from design principles of crisis architecture. Moreover, the design strives to demonstrate how the industrial aesthetics characteristic of logistics architecture can be effectively applied beyond this specific typology. ... Read more

By 2030, healthcare is expected to shift its focus toward harnessing the human body’s regenerative abilities to cure and eradicate chronic and genetic diseases, while enabling total recovery from severe accidents. As science and the healthcare industry transition from a “treat and repair” model to a “regenerate and restore” paradigm, hospital architecture will evolve to support the advancements in regenerative medicine.

This project is a deep exploration into the intersection of regenerative medicine and hospital architecture. It envisions a highly specialized hospital designed to treat patients by eradicating genetic and chronic diseases. The overarching idea of regeneration plays a central role in shaping the hospital’s program, site, and architectural design. This approach ensures that the hospital is tailored to meet the specific needs of human regeneration, aligning with cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs. The project integrates the four fundamental components of healthcare and regeneration under one roof: care, production, administration, and diagnosis/analysis, along with long-term storage facilities. This collaborative model creates a cohesive environment optimized for the process of regeneration. Simultaneously, the design prioritizes creating a sanctuary for patients and staff, while reimagining hospitals as vibrant, open public spaces that integrate seamlessly with the urban fabric and natural environment.

Ultimately, this project serves as a vision for how hospitals of the future can become not only centers of medical excellence but also community hubs that foster connection, healing, and innovation. ... Read more

In the heart of The Hague, a city known for its blend of political significance and cultural diversity, lies a paradox wrapped in its urban fabric. The Central Station District, bustling with a melange of government employees, academics, and a vibrant student population, ironically plays host to a silent narrative of isolation amidst its diversity. This research peeks behind the urban curtains of this district, revealing how its inhabitants, despite their proximity, dwell in social silos, disconnected from the pulse of their community.
The project focuses on reimagining the Green Border area, stretching from the Bellevue complex to the UNICEF building on Bezuidenhoutseweg Street as a canvas for urban reinvention. Drawing inspiration from the enlightening works of Richard Sennett and Stavros Stavrides, the design proposal aims to create of ‘threshold spaces’ - dynamic arenas that defy conventional social hierarchies and ignite the spark of human connection within the Green Border. These spaces are not just physical locales, but melting pots of interaction, where the daily grind gives way to the magic of spontaneous encounters.
The methodological heartbeat of this venture is a fusion of qualitative insights, gleaned from interviews and observations, with the empirical rigor of quantitative data. This dual approach forges a path towards a vertical public hub that is more than just a structure; it’s a living, breathing embodiment of Herman Hertzberger’s vision of adaptive, evolving spaces. The design narrative is aiming to stitch together the urban tapestry of The Hague into a more inclusive, engaging, and connected community fabric.
In essence, this project is not just a blueprint for urban design; it’s a manifesto for social transformation. It’s an invitation to the residents of The Hague to step out of their bubbles, to explore, to engage, and to construct a richer, more vibrant urban life. This is a vision of a city where the architecture speaks not just to the skyline, but to the soul of its community. ... Read more

University Buildings play complex roles as public buildings. They provide a space for their primary goal of teaching, learning, and research to transfer knowledge while also contributing as a public space for interaction within the university and community and further with the society of the host city. The spatial configuration and relationship between the campuses and the city changed over time as the number of students increased and the city’s morphology developed. As the learning space on the campus includes not only closed classrooms and laboratories but also outdoor areas for transdisciplinary cross-fertilization, the sense of sharing public spatial configuration gives strong co-dependency between the university and the host city.

This project, "Shaping Public Consciousness; City Miniature of a Vertical Campus" is to create not only a building, but a place, where people and city streets connect by sharing and learning the knowledge and culture under its primary function as the campus. Spuiplein in Den Haag, the project site, has experienced drastic changes through continuous demolition to construct new high-rise towers with new characteristics. For an active city like Den Haag, the spaces between buildings are crucial for the quality of publicity as they form the social behavior and attention of the city. The project explores human-oriented public spatial configuration by integrating research-by-design principles that prioritize sensory engagement, spatial fluidity, and human-centered design by adapting phenomenological elements with the use of existing building.
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Rather than completely redoing an existing building's architectural identity, the aim in this design was to amplify building characteristics and potential of its structure in a way that resonates more with the approach of sustainable urban development. The proposal touches upon the issue of vacancy within the city of The Hague through the application of adaptive reuse and therefore improving a building’s longevity. This intervention will breathe new life into its context and revitalizes a potentially vacant property, making it more adaptable to the changing needs.

Incorporating existing materials and components is a leading factor of this design, aligning with the goal of fostering the tactile core and grid system of the building. This goal emphasizes a sustainable method of designing buildings, where the need for reuse is recognized. The strategy of the additional voids uses absence of building to accentuate the existing building. These voids produce non-hierarchical spaces which support environments that are open and dynamic to the campus users. The design enhances the free flow of people and increases the exchange of knowledge by placing these voids in a overlapping order. This method makes sure that the architecture promotes communication and cooperation among its users in addition to fulfilling its functional role of letting light into the existing building.

Collectief demonstrates that architectural transformation is not limited to maintaining a building's historical and aesthetic qualities by rethinking the usage and interaction within the space. By demonstrating that contemporary interventions can live with and enrich the historical environment, this method broadens the scope of how we conceive about and carry out architectural alterations, resulting in creative spaces that are also reflective of their heritage. Architectural changes require more than just looking back at the past. They should utilize the past to be able to apply this into the current zeitgeist and sustainable future development .
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Shedding light on knowledge for a new vertical campus in the Hague ... Read more

This graduation project is part of the Public Building studio.
The studio has set the following assignment: Design a vertical campus within a hybrid building in the centre of the Hague. The design should encourage social interaction between different social groups.
This project also answers the design/research question: How can a vertical hybrid campus building enhance its porosity to promote increased public accessibility and foster social interaction?
You can find all the research input and output in the design journal.
The conclusion of the assignment and research question is the project. You can find it attached. ... Read more

It is certain that cities must prepare for densification in the coming years due to urban population growth. High-rise buildings as urban housing have long been seen as a solution to address housing shortages. This typology efficiently utilizes limited space, allowing a relatively large number of urban residents to settle in the urban area. Now, the urban built environment is reaching the point where social and societal problems are also experienced in this typology. Residents of high-rise buildings struggle with feelings of loneliness and are unable to anchor themselves in the urban community. It seems that our urban designs have led to increased anonymity and a loss of social contact in high-rise living. The lack of social engagement within a community or social isolation has adverse effects on mental health, resulting in dissatisfaction, stress, and poor public health. Ultimately, this societal problem will also influence the urban developments negatively. As a result, the characteristic structure of high-rise buildings must be studied and reconsidered for the sake of the mental health of the urban population. The built environment must come up with solutions to encourage social interactions through design interventions in high-rise buildings and focussing more on public interior spaces. ... Read more

This graduation project represents an exploration of the potential for underground urban developments and develops a vision for these as an extension of the urban fabric. The final architectural representation of the project is a mixed-use complex situated above and around the
existing Farringdon underground stations. The design is predicated on transforming existing buildings, adding extra underground space, and connecting them to the context. The design incorporates the primary concepts of blurring the boundaries between above- and underground spaces, creating a public ground floor realm in the middle, and an idiosyncratic architecture that responds to the needs and opportunities of the underground addition. ... Read more

This research delves into the multifaceted identity of Tunis, exploring how its rich history, cultural diversity, and urban dynamics intersect to shape its sense of place and belonging. The main research question guiding this study is: What is the relation between urban & social changes and the loss of “the Port-city Identity” in Tunis? Through a multidisciplinary approach that combines urban anthropology, cultural geography, architectural analysis, the study examines various neighborhoods and public spaces in Tunis, including Lac1, Lac2, Rades, La Goulette, and Carthage. Using fieldwork, interviews, observations, and mental maps from participants, the research uncovers layers of meaning embedded within the city's built environment and collective memory. From the bustling port of Rades to the historic ruins of Carthage, each neighbourhood offers unique insights into Tunisian identity, reflecting a blend of ancient traditions, colonial legacies, and contemporary challenges. The study also explores how Tunisians interact with public spaces, navigate historical sites, and negotiate their sense of belonging, shedding light on the complex interplay between physical landscapes and social practices. A significant finding, revealed through field research, is the endangered situation of local fishermen. The research discovered that these fishermen, who are vital to the region's maritime culture and identity, are being pushed out due to urban development. Their informal docking spots, crucial for their livelihood, are at risk of disappearing, which could lead to their displacement and the loss of an essential element of the port city's identity. The findings underscore the importance of preserving cultural heritage, fostering dialogue, and promoting inclusive urban development in Tunis. By embracing diversity and its port city heritage, Tunis has the potential to emerge as a vibrant and resilient hub of creativity, innovation, and cultural exchange. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of Tunisian identity and offers insights for policymakers, urban planners, and researchers seeking to navigate the complexities of identity and urban space in the 21st century. ... Read more

This thesis challenges the political imagination of the border as a fixed structure, aiming to change the way the public thinks about and interacts with borderscapes. It explores how borderscapes, particularly those between Morocco and Algeria, serve as platforms for showcasing state identity and ideology, while simultaneously becoming spaces where border communities question and redefine these ideologies.

Research shows that despite the border closure between Algeria and Morocco, border communities remain connected through informal cross-border trade. These communities continuously find ways to cross the border to meet their needs, creating new opportunities for social and economic growth. This impacts local markets and ways of living, fundamentally challenging our understanding of borderscapes.

Taking the informal as inspiration for rethinking urban spaces, the project proposes dynamic design strategies for redefining the borderscape, using Oujda, a city in northeastern Morocco near the Algerian border, as a case study. It builds on the existing politics of tolerance, fostering the creation of self-organized settlements along an abandoned railroad that once connected Algeria and Morocco. The long-term vision is for these growing settlements near the border to lead to the gradual reopening of the border, with a traveling market serving as a connector and an agent of resilience and change in borderscapes. ... Read more

This thesis explores the intricate relationship between residents and cities, with a focus on Venice as a case study. It investigates the impact of external agents on the city’s evolution, highlighting challenges such as demographic decline, economic dependence on overtourism, all symptoms of an unlivable city. The study employs a hierarchical analysis to understand Venice’s problems, em- phasizing the urgency of preserving its residents, in terms of private, collective, and public living. Utilizing urban and architectural studies, the research proposes pragmatic solutions, advocating for a balance between curated experiences and authentic urban history. The Giudecca sestiere is taken into account, an island with the potential to challenge Venice’s issues and become a res- ident-centred space, contributing to the broader discourse on urban preservation and livability. Here, Gino Valle’s Social Housing Complex from 1984 is examined, establishing limitations and potential for architectural interventions. ... Read more

‘Back to the User’ addresses a critical issue in contemporary architectural practice: the dissociation from the user. In the software industry, 10% to 40% of a project’s budget is allocated to ‘User Experience (UX) Research’, which focuses on assessing and fulfilling users’ needs and experiences throughout the entire design process. This investment not only doubles sales but also nearly triples user satisfaction. Despite its proven value, UX Research is significantly underrepresented in architecture. This paper explores how to better integrate and utilize UX Research in architectural practice, proposing a new methodology.

The methodology closest to UX Research in architecture is ‘Post-Occupancy Evaluation’ (POE), but only 5% of architectural firms in the EU offer (and even fewer conduct) it during the design phase. Architects may talk closely with clients, but not with users. Additionally, most UX Research involves 1:1 prototype testing with users to ensure that the design meets its intended benefits. In architecture, ‘prototyping’ usually consists of 2D plans, visualizations, or scaled models, which are often not comprehensible, accurate, or immersive enough. While constructing a full 1:1 prototype is possible, it is not economically, spatially, or sustainably feasible for large projects—or is it?

With the rise of Virtual Reality (VR), we can now test virtually unlimited 1:1 designs, leading to more objective, evidence-based conclusions. This paper explores this approach through participatory qualitative sessions using VR, where multiple design variations are tested and rated by users based on their satisfaction levels. The data collected informs design decisions, resulting in a final proposal to address the challenges of post-Soviet, concrete-prefab panel construction in the ‘Jižní Město’ district of Prague, Czech Republic. This ‘Back to the User’ methodology, is in fact a practice’s step ‘Back to the Future’. ... Read more

This socio-architectural research is a critical reflection upon post-war rehabilitation methodologies and outcomes. The paper observes the current national and international aid response, and other involved actors to the war in Ukraine. Concepts such as “taking responsibility” and the “ability to respond” serve as guidelines for assessing and critiquing different stakeholders and actors. It also looks at what influences the outcomes of post-war recovery, as well as the importance of citizens involvement in the different stages of planning and project developments. It is through the identification of different means of communication and the reach of emergency responses that we can explore and analyze the needs of the citizens, their resilience and hopes for the future of Ukraine. Moreover, the study aims to break down the ambiguous relationships between response-ability, becoming and com-munity resilience to create a clearer connection between the three. This would allow the architectural research to narrow down on post-war resilient design, going beyond the traditional route of emergency/temporary housing or shelter provision, and valuing community resilience, as well as flourishing local economies and public participation. ... Read more

The project explores how does the change in tempo of movement and programs influence the design of spaces and vertical typology. It redefines speed and tempo in terms of learning trajectories in order to give a new identity to the 21st-Century Vertical Campus. ... Read more

The Master Thesis at TU Delft titled "The Marketplace of Ideas: Sharing and Discovery" proposes a vertical campus design developed within the Public Building Graduation Studio. This design introduces a university campus that is integrated into the cityscape of The Hague, suggesting an urban redevelopment and functioning as a public center of life. It creates a place where the public, industry, and politics intersect. ... Read more

A large increase in enrolled students, reduction in public involvement and funding, dated building stock and limited integration with corresponding cities are pressing challenges Dutch universities are facing. Furthermore, the characteristics of students and their ways of working evolving. All whilst the educational institutes in our growing knowledge-based society are transcending their traditional objectives. New solutions ought to be sought for these challenges. This thesis is a project that explores the design of a campus-like hybrid typology in an urban setting and proposes a framework for education.

The project locates itself in the administrative city of The Netherlands, The Hague. It’s centrally situated and is surrounded by ministerial institutes, the central station that functions as the city gate, and the old historic centre. The project’s formalisation is largely a result of critical contextual and programmatic analysis and aims to be responsive to both manners. Its central positioning and proposed urban routing reinforces the connection between project and city. The Framework for Education links the future city gate – which is the extension of the central station - with multiple city-scale facilities. The Framework for Education is a unified city block of partly revitalised entities and activates under-utilised urban realm.

The main entrance as the forecourt enhances under-utilized urban space and exchanges the current situation, an envelope almost being an impenetrable fortress, with a portal towards a realm that supports learning, fosters interaction, and actively promotes publicly accessible activities. Simultaneously extending the outdoor public space into the interior, enhancing the direct connection and circulation throughout the project. This is continued by the revitalisation of the city block its inner courtyard. The current situation, a car park, is exchanged with an inner garden that functions as the social heart of the city block, as it simultaneously takes play in a newly established urban axis.

The project proposes an educational system for the future. Here the educational institutes are considered societal exemplars. The future-proof educational institute continuously contributes towards solutions, instead of problems. Architecturally, this is formalised in adaptability. The project steers towards the creation of a system with low-embodied carbon. Realised through a structural framework of mass timber and concrete elements which creates the physical framework for the educational system, its interior spaces and its adaptable capabilities.

Theoretically, the project becomes a machine facilitating a programmatic infill in a moment of time. Simultaneously providing the ability to grow and adapt to whatever the educational system might become in the future. Architecturally the project reinforces the experimental nature of education and encourages creativity – being a continuous “work in progress”. Aligning with the project it’s contextual positioning, influenced by readings from R. Sennet that “the public realm is a continuous process”.
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Food is a vital part of our lives and throughout history it has shaped our cities. However, our current agricultural practices exhaust our natural environment and are threatened by climate change. Next to that, the design of our food system is highly susceptible to global instabilities. With the population only increasing and more people living inside cities, the pressure on the food system is only growing. This increases food insecurity and further planetary urbanization.

Urban agriculture is seen as a possible method to transform the food system into a sustainable system. In research, the qualities of urban agriculture and its effect on the food system are discussed. Yet, the effect on the direct surroundings are mostly ignored. At the same time, when these effects are reviewed, little differentiation is made between different types of urban agriculture. Hence, this paper focuses on the question: How can urban agriculture be implemented into cities to improve the liveability of the city? This is done using literature review, case study analysis and design experiments.

The research shows that the effect of urban agriculture on liveability is highly dependent on the strategy that is being implemented. Liveability consists of six dimensions: Stability, education, healthcare, facilities, social cohesion and physical environment. No direct effects can be measured on stability education and healthcare. Nevertheless, literature suggests there might be indirect positive effects. Facilities, social cohesion and physical environment can be improved through urban agriculture. Here, the strategy that is being implemented determines which dimension of urban agriculture is improved. There is not one strategy that improves all aspects of liveability, instead each strategy has its own strength. Other aspects that influence the liveability are the production system, activity, area, location, product and destination. Altogether, there is not one design in urban agriculture that can improve liveability, some aspects of urban agriculture might decrease liveability. Hence, a balance needs to be found between changing the food system and creating a qualitative living environment.
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This thesis explores how contemporary community centers can be improved to better serve the needs of future generations of elderly. The research is positioned by previous studies that elaborated on subjective values attached to space and the theory of aging-in-place, and emphasizes on the role the community center could play in creating more social interaction for the elderly who age-in-place. It highlights the significance of social connections by addressing loneliness which is an significant topic relation to the elderly. The study includes observations, interviews, and a survey involving 35 individuals aged 50 and older. The findings underscore the importance of tailored programs for the future generation of elderly, such as adapted space for elderly with dementia and intergenerational involvement. Further research is needed to delve into specific design features that enhance social interaction within the community centers. ... Read more

The project navigates the intricate connections between fashion, architecture, and urban development, culminating in developing a “fashion city” as a unique urban typology. By exploring this intricate relationship’s historical, socio-economic, and environmental facets, it provides novel insights that can guide future urban planning and design in the context of the fashion industry’s influence. ... Read more