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-responsive techniques, local materials, and structural systems to withstand natural disasters such as earthquakes and landslides. The analysis highlights the significance of settlement layouts, passive design strategies, structural foundations, wall systems, and roofing methods that harmonize with the steep terrain and minimal environmental impacts, offering valuable insights for current sustainable and resilient design approaches for social housing in Bogota’s periphery in steep terrain.

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 resettlement housing. Biophilic design offers a solution to combine wellbeing and dwelling. However, the suitability of this design approach has not previously been tested for resettlement housing and its target group. By compiling a pattern language from literature and testing it with both case studies and the Dutch regulation framework, a toolkit has been created for architects. The suitability of applying biophilic design in Dutch resettlement housing has been shown. The toolkit contains principles for the different patterns as well as generic principles. To translate these principles into practical tools, they are supported by various tools. This way, the architect has the opportunity to properly integrate biophilic design for well-being into the design, raising the quality of resettlement housing.

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 employs methods such as literature review, research by design, and calculations. The results identify various densification strategies such as changing accessing, repurposing storage spaces, adding stories, and other extensions. The challenges associated with each strategy are analyzed. Calculations and literature research reveal that the foundation's capacity typically limits vertical extensions, recommending a maximum additional weight of 10-12%. Additionally, the inclusion of galleries is essential for certain densification types, with a maximum depth requirement of approximately 2000mm to comply with Dutch building regulations. The design project is about expanding and enhancing post-war staircase entrance buildings on urban and building scale, combined with a lightweight SIP construction method.

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 emphasizing the reuse of building materials. This paper explores the potential of data-driven design methodologies to facilitate the integration of reclaimed materials into new architectural projects. A structured design tool is developed to assess the reuse potential of building materials, incorporating factors such as material quality, disassembly index and lifecycle performance. Through a case study involving materials sourced from the Megastores shopping mall in The Hague, the research demonstrates how data-driven approaches can a guide for deposition decisions of building materials for new circular buildings. Case studies of successful architectural projects like Biopartner 5, K.118, and Resource Rows give insights into design implementation with reclaimed building materials. This study highlights the critical need for architects to adopt innovative design tools and practices to meet sustainability targets while leveraging the untapped value of donor building.

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 the context we ask what building-integrated greenery should be used to respond to conditions and challenges? We use literature to categorize the roles NBs have in a neighborhood and the parameters that influence decisions. Boerhaavewijk is then used to put it into a context. The results show that many nature- based functions have opposite parameter preferences and neighborhood characteristics can influence the decision on the building

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 surging. The architecture is changing rapidly and houses are being replaced one after another, every house a bit more slender and a bit taller than before. The turnover rate is so high that Kathmandu’s streets feel like perpetual construction sites, tirelessly building and constructing and demolishing again. Open spaces are disappearing, as well as the rich cultural qualities of Nepal's urbanism from before. These changes seem to happen without a greater plan in sight, and many say the city is become worse, not better.

Perhaps these issues are just part of a city in development: a Kathmandu that is struggling with its growing pains and the inevitable effects of urban boom. But to move forward from these pains, a couple of things are crucial: experimentation with alternative ways of building, closely working together with craftspeople and inhabitants, documenting and archiving the past architectures, and telling stories about a different city: one that is not pestered by pollution, built smartly to house everyone safely, and one that can resist the earthquakes to come.
These four ideas are the starting point for the design phase: the People’s Earthquake Museum of Kathmandu. This initiative was started after 2015 by a small community in Nepal, but has sadly been discontinued due to a lack of resources. The building aims to connect tradition with modernity: vernacular techniques with the modern needs of Kathmandu’s residents. At the same time, the building, located inside the commercial block in Gongabu Bus Park, is giving space to exhibit stories about the earthquakes, architectures that have been lost, and to showcase ways of moving forward. With museum spaces, an archive and library, auditorium and workspaces, the building revolves around reflection, mitigation, and experimentation.

This thesis is divided in four chapters:
1. Stories from KTM - photographic travelogue of Kathmandu and the Nepali rural
2. The architect, the builder, the researcher- a documentary of three interviews
3. Growing Pains - a short essay connecting the findings in Nepal with existing literature
4. The People's Earthquake Museum - a design proposal that visualizes the research results

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, improve local living conditions and alleviate the problem of over-migration from rural to urban areas. At the same time, the new housing system is flexible, adjustable and adaptable, and is able to respond to seasonal variations in natural conditions and changes in local industries.

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 sustainable rural community that can provide residents with a rural place to stay. While also mitigating the effects of rapid urbanization. The rural community should gain economic opportunities for its residents, thereby preventing migration to urban slums and enhancing overall well-being.

The proposed settlement system consists of a network of
interconnected elevated islands that offer protection from floods while maintaining accessibility between them. Each island is
equipped with spaces that can be used for healthcare and education, ensuring these essential services can still be practiced even during future higher floods. The main island will have more services such as additional schools, healthcare facilities, markets and other public buildings. Secondary islands will focus more on residential areas, while special islands will be designated for markets and tourism. The design tries to improve resilience, for example by high building plinths and land reclamation for year-round agricultural activities.

Economic opportunities are enhanced through the creation of
attractive communal spaces that encourage small businesses such as shops and tea stalls. The implementation of pro-poor tourism further enhances income generation options in the form of jobs as well as allowing residents to collectively host tourists and share the generated income. The development of community-led housing cooperatives further promotes social cohesion and economic stability, enabling even the poorest residents to participate in the community and be benefitted from it.

The report begins with an introduction to the challenges of urbanization, particularly in Bangladesh, followed by a concise contextual analysis covering ethnographic, environmental, and climatic data. An examination of the regional context and existing settlements provides insights for the design, which is then detailed from a macro to micro scale. The design process is elaborated from the regional plan to the layout of the main island, the configuration of clusters, and finally the individual units and construction details.

The results of this project include a layout of the interconnected islands on a regional scale. Which is then followed by a detailed layout of the main island with strategic placement of public facilities and residential clusters around shared courtyards. Roads are designed in a DNA-like pattern to control traffic flow and create vibrant neighborhoods with distinct public functions at key intersections. The introduction of renewable materials, such as bamboo, for construction and the establishment of resilient agricultural practices further contributes to the sustainability of the settlement.

In conclusion, this proposed settlement system addresses the challenges faced by rural communities, specific to the Haor region of Bangladesh. By incorporating economic and social initiatives into the design, the project aims to create a livible and resilient place to stay that can be used as a model for other regions worldwide facing similiar challenges.

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 practices are not safe for people to continue.
Seeing as the Tanguar Haor sits in the floodplain of the Surma river and, the river is polluted with waste and plastic from cities and villages along the riverbanks, the trash that is discarded into the Surma can eventually end up in the Tanguar Haor and pollute the water and soil.
The Tanguar Haor is a wetland located in the Sunamganj district, west of Sylhet, and is very low lying land. Due to the low lying nature of the haor it is inundated for around 7 to 8 months a year. It is highly affected by rainfall and floods since it lies at the foot of the Meghalaya mountains. When heavy rains occur upstream or in the catchment areas of these rivers, the water flows downstream into the delta, causing rivers to overflow their banks.
The land’s lack of elevation makes it difficult for floodwaters to recede quickly, leading to prolonged inundation.

This graduation project tackles living in the ever changing wetlands of Bangladesh. A project about flood resilience and circularity and the intersectionality of several problems they face: lack of sanitation, waste and water pollution and frequent flooding.
The design proposal takes the strengths of the current settlement and way of living and turns them into a more liveable, circular and flood resilient village.

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 floods, the scarcity of space remains a limitation to cultivating crops essential for a balanced diet. This situation prompts the following question: How can we improve food security and dietary diversity while ensuring adequate housing conditions for the local population? To address this inquiry, extensive examination of case studies, scholarly research papers, and field observations has been conducted. Subsequently, an architectural design for a new settlement in the Haor region has been proposed. Prior to this, the agricultural practices and adaptive strategies employed to manage flood conditions are thoroughly analyzed.
In the subsequent section of this paper, careful considerations are made regarding the selection of suitable vegetables and fruits, as well as the size of food storage facilities to be integrated into the settlement design.
In conclusion, it is evident that given the constraints of population density and limited spatial resources within the new settlement, agricultural spaces can produce enough rice for seven days of flash floods, enough vegetables for 12 days in the year, and enough fruits for 20 weeks.

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 the Bede traditions, but also the traditional shipbuilding techniques of Bangladesh. In addition, the design improves the daily lives of this marginalised group.

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, environmental, and economic dimensions. Comprehensive planning and intervention are therefore needed to ensure a just and seamless transition to a better life for the local people. On the other hand, this future planning of the coal mining region presents a massive opportunity for architects and designers to reflect and move beyond conventional practices toward a non-extractive building culture. This new culture entails taking into account the elements of place and time in the process of planning, designing, and sourcing materials. This project investigates the possibility of integrating the energy transition plan, land reclamation process, and agroforestry culture into a regenerative development strategy in the soon-to-be-closed mining area by envisioning a circular Post-Coal Community in Muara Enim, one of the oldest and biggest coal regions in Indonesia. Supported by thematic research on urban metabolism using material flow analysis to map the problems and potentials related to energy and materials in Muara Enim, the results of this project underscore a range of strategic interventions—from site planning the former mining pit for agroforestry, reclaiming the unused mining infrastructure for building materials, to developing a building system using phytoremediation plants and fast-growing timber with small dimensions that go hand in hand with the replanting and reforestation process of the mining area.

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 interviews with local residents. The research highlights the climate-responsive features of indigenous structures, such as natural ventilation and use of local materials like bamboo and clay. In contrast, contemporary constructions using concrete and steel often fail to address the region's climatic challenges, leading to increased environmental impact and inadequate living conditions. By integrating traditional practices with modern techniques and a more innovative utilization of local resources, the proposed model of Contemporary Vernacular Architecture (CVA) aims to create resilient, culturally relevant, and environmentally sustainable buildings, fostering a balance between nature and people.
Based on the CVA model, a structural system was developed that responds to the local context of Assam while considering socio-cultural desires. In the next step, the structural system was adapted to the specific needs of the Akshar school in Guwahati. Merging the CVA model with the specific needs of the school led to the design of a dorm and workshop. The project aims to inspire the next generation of Assamese youth to become more aware of the potential around them and within themselves.

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 livability of this flood-prone region.

Tanguar Haor, characterized by its unique wetland ecosystem, faces significant issues related to seasonal flooding, which aggravates poverty and interferes with sustainable development. The proposed design uses local building traditions to ensure cultural relevance and acceptance. It employs modular construction techniques to facilitate easy assembly, maintenance, and scalability, making it adaptable to the dynamic environmental conditions of the haor.

A key design principle is resilience, which aims to withstand and quickly recover from flooding events. Amphibious structures ensure that buildings can float during high water levels and return to their original positions as waters recede, minimizing damage and displacement. The design also places a strong emphasis on community self-reliance, incorporating features such as rainwater harvesting and local material usage. These elements not only enhance community autonomy but also reduce dependency on external resources.

Through a holistic approach that integrates traditional knowledge with innovative design principles, this thesis illustrates how an amphibious rural design can offer a sustainable and practical solution to improve the living conditions in Tanguar Haor, addressing both poverty and environmental challenges. The findings highlight the importance of this interdisciplinary approach, which has the potential to create resilient and self-sufficient communities in vulnerable regions, ensuring long-term success.

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 high quality housing in a natural environment. Damage to the environment due to building in such an area is limited by using prefabrication, a good layout and nature-inclusive design.

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, due to a lack of connection with the landscape. The region requires a regenerative approach to new developments, with its abandoned farmyards presenting an opportunity. This led to the following research question: How can landscape stewardship contribute to a regenerative farmyard with a tectonic that depends on the regional landscape?
The research investigated three elements—landscape stewardship, tectonic, and the regional landscape—using the method of wandering, as a tool for observation and encounter. The design explored the emergence of a regenerative building culture rooted in the landscape, focusing on how farming as an ecological relationship with the landscape could support this development. The designer developed a set of design principles based on the three elements derived from the research. They can be applied to farmyards in the area. The three elements—regional landscape, landscape stewardship, and tectonic—are interrelated in research and design. The design aims to illustrate the interrelation of these elements in its architecture and their contribution to the regeneration and preservation of the Groninger landscape, encapsulated in the concept of “Het nieuwe Borgen.”

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 original design principles of these neighborhoods light, air, space, and living in green environments, reinterpreting them for modern needs. The balance between private and public spaces is subtly reshaped, enhancing social control within the community. The monotonous neighborhood is densified by adding smaller, more diverse housing units on top of existing houses. This is made possible by removing the heavy exterior of the existing buildings and renovate with lightweight biobased materials, which at the same time ensure better insulation of the existing home. These materials offer a sustainable alternative for current construction materials and are gaining popularity. Designers must understand their properties and how to effectively use them, the research focuses on gaining more insight in these materials. The results of the study include schemes that allow the different alternatives to be compared using various criteria. The top-ups accommodate diverse household types, connected by a second-floor gallery that links the different rows of houses. On the south side, this gallery is designed wider to provide an outdoor space for residents, encouraging neighborly interactions. Transitions between private outdoor areas and collective gardens and streets are subtly defined, ensuring privacy while promoting interaction and social control. Ultimately, the design offers a sustainable solution to the housing crisis by densifying and upgrading existing homes, while revitalizing post-war neighborhoods.

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 architecture is a generalisation of the built environment. We have seen this narrative before in Dutch housing history, when after the Second World War cities and villages were quickly expanded using a system-building approach to housing and neighbourhood development. This soon sparked up critiques, one of them coming from Kenneth Frampton. Frampton argued that modern architecture is shaped by its ways of production and that architecture can only resist universalisation by designing with the elements arising indirectly from the site, which he explained through the theory of critical regionalism. This theory, combined with case studies on context-specific housing and prefabrication systems is used to write the research paper. This paper investigates the dichotomy between specificity and repetition in the architecture of housing projects to find a strategy for designing context-specific industrial housing. This design approach is then used to create a design for a desification of the post-war neighbourhood stamp found in Boerhaavewijk. The design is formed by its surrounding (urban) landscape, to create a neighbourhood with a strong local identity that reactivates the urban environment. The local peat landscape is sourced to form a system of prefabricated 2D and 3D elements that construct the buildings. Reintroducing the historic peat landscape on site will reactivate the public space, by removing the dominance of the car from the street and returning it, through nature, to the inhabitants while also functioning as a climatic buffer and a resource for the newly added homes. This way, the new architecture can direct the post-war neighbourhood away from its monotony and anonymity towards a rooted and distinctive neighbourhood.

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 computational design, coupled with coreless-filament winding, can create modular, demountable, and aesthetically valued fiber-based building systems. The methodologies chosen are research-by-design and prototyping, which generates various design options that are supported by literature and insights from an expert in the field. The viability of flax fiber-based building systems, using CFW, relies on the intended function. While flax is optimal for structural and thermally insulated elements, addressing weatherproofing and flammability necessitates a combination of different fiber types in bespoke fibrous tectonic structures.