MS
M.J. Smit
122 records found
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Resilience: Insights from Vernacular Architecture
Analysis of Inca, Sherpa, and Black Sea Vernacular Architecture for Landslide-prone Precipitous Terrain in Bogota's Informal Settlements
This paper examines the causes of landslides and the resilient architectural strategies employed in three vernacular case studies from the Inca Empire, Sherpa communities in Nepal, and the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. It explores how their architecture integrated climate-r
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This paper explores the densification of nontraditional post-war staircase entrance apartments in the Netherlands as a potential solution to the housing shortage. It examines the characteristics of nontraditional construction systems and their load-bearing capacities. The study
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Dutch resettlement housing for refugees is stressed due to the ongoing refugee crisis. As a result, the quality of housing cannot always be guaranteed, with negative consequences in terms of wellbeing. Architects, therefore, need tools to better integrate well-being into resettle
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Reuse Potential in Architecture
Developing a data-driven approach to implement reused material in architectural circular buildings
The construction sector is one of the most resource-intensive industries globally, contributing significantly to environmental degradation and greenhouse gas emissions. Transitioning towards a circular economy within the built environment offers a promising solution by emphasizin
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Boerhaavewijk needs to be renovated to meet national carbon neutral goals and improve the public space. Nature-based solutions are effective tools to tackle its urban challenges. Renovation projects rarely incorporate NBs due to their added complexity. To effectively apply NBs in
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Soft Stories
Merging tradition and modernity in Kathmandu's shop-house
Kathmandu is aching, its border neighborhoods stretching out, moving up to the rim of the valley. The city is soon reaching its limits for urban expansion, and perhaps it already has: most agricultural land has been replaced by urban settlements, and the city’s population keeps s
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Work-Life Nexus
Exploring a new housing system that combines local housing and industries based on haor condition in Tahirpur, Sylhet
The project focuses on the natural conditions, the industrial and housing situation in the haor region of Sylhet, Bangladesh. The aim is to create a new housing system suitable for rural areas, combining local industry and housing. This will increase employment opportunities, imp
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Urban dreams, rural realities
Mitigating rural to urban migration through economic empowerment and flood resilience in the Haor region of Bangladesh
This graduation report presents the reserach and design for a rural settlement system in the Haor region of Bangladesh. This area exists of a unique ecosystem, that is vulnerable to frequent and long lasting flooding. The primary objective of this project is to create a safe and
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Food in floods
Improving food security during monsoon season by optimizing housing conditions and space
Floods are part of Sylhetis’ daily lives and profoundly influence their lifestyle and overall well-being. Within this context, it is noted in this study that one of the main problems people encounter in the Haors is that: Despite local adaptation strategies to cope with flash flo
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Floating heritage
Floating heritage
This project presents a solution where the Bede, a floating nomadic community in Bangladesh, can be preserved while simultaneously allowing space for the needs of the culture without having to hide their identity. It uses traditional and affordable techniques, preserving not only
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A Resilient Haor
Living in the wetlands of Bangladesh
The Surma River in Bangladesh sustains the livelihoods of millions residing along its banks and serves as a vital resource for activities such as fishing and bathing. Since the water quality of the river is negatively impacted by multiple factors including waste disposal, these p
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This study explores the Vernacular Architecture of the northeastern Indian State of Assam to develop a sustainable building model tailored to modern societal demands. Over two months, field research was conducted, including analysis of traditional Assamese buildings and interview
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Rising from the [Coal] Ashes
Envisioning a Circular Post-Coal Community in Muara Enim
Coal mining closure as part of the energy transition and global shift towards sustainability will have significant impacts on society, especially for coal-producing regions in developing countries that not only have to deal with the technical aspects but also the complex social,
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Even for social housing?
Realising high quality affordable social housing with the use of local bio-based materials and shared facilities.
The research and design show how to use local wood from an ex-production forest in het Goois Natuur Reservaat (GNR) in an affordable (social) housing project. With the use of efficiënt building and community housing principles affordability is established, while still creating hi
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Resilient Waters: An amphibious Housing Solutions for the residents of Tanguar Haor, Bangladesh
A resilient design balancing vernacular and modern architecture to navigate forthcoming changes
This thesis addresses the challenges of poverty and environmental sustainability in Tanguar Haor, Bangladesh, by developing an innovative amphibious rural design. The project integrates critical elements of vernacularity, modularity, resilience, and self-reliance to enhance the l
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Housing for the Women of Haors
Imagining an alternate feminist future to increase women's access to resources
Nieuwe borgen
Towards a regenerative farmyard in the Oldambt
There is a growing distance between humans and their material surroundings. The Oldambt region in North Groningen and its farming culture serves as an example. Despite numerous initiatives to regenerate this area in recent decades, these efforts have struggled to gain footing, du
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A Territorial Approach to Industrial Housing
A densification strategy for post-war neighbourhoods
Industrial production techniques can be used to reduce the current housing shortage in the Netherlands, industrialising the construction process ensures a quicker and more sustainable way of increasing the housing stock. However, the risk that comes with the standardisation of ar
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Wederopbouw 2.0
Densifying and revitalizing post-war neighborhoods with Biobased top-ups
To address the current housing shortage, new houses must be added, but at the same time many existing houses need to be made more sustainable to meet climate goals. This project explores the potential for densifying and revitalizing post-war neighborhoods. It builds upon the orig
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The building industry's emphasis on cost-driven standardization has led to more waste, prompting a need for resource-efficient methods. While coreless-filament winding (CFW) with materials like flax fibers show promise, a research gap is present. This study explores how computati
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