Anderlecht, located downhill from the city centre of Brussels, was an important industrial centre where meat was processed, and textiles were spun, woven, and dyed. Today, the remaining vast industrial lots are used as hangars for storage and reselling businesses. A stream of incoming goods deposits waste into the Heyvaert quarter, creating a residue of material sediment on the streets. These remnants offer cues and traces of the ongoing choreographies of production, exchange and everyday life that shape the neighbourhood. A collection of objets trouvés, gathered during fieldwork in Anderlecht, formed the basis for understanding the site.
This thesis approaches the city as an objet trouvé. A covered passage, a worker’s impasse, a steel structure, a hidden tower, these form the starting point of the project. The architectural interventions come from arranging and reworking these, making an assemblage. The site itself is a composite of former industrial buildings, workers’ houses and warehouses. Through their assemblage, the limits between buildings, properties, and users become blurred, creating a different relationship between city, block and room.
With careful interventions of cutting and removing, an open space is carved out to connect the covered passage and the workers’ impasse. A new canopy links these interior streets and disparate buildings, while a central garden becomes the collective room of the ensemble. Stairs are used to bring fragmented pieces together and become the heart of the two collective housing units of the project. Hemp insulation redraws the boundaries of the buildings and loops them together to create vast working halls for the textile laboratory.
Rather than proposing a complete and autonomous object, the project understands architecture as a fragment within a larger urban fabric. By rediscovering urban features, it transforms an enclosed industrial enclave into a porous ensemble that reframes living, working and the collective within the city. ... Read more

Heyvaertwijk in Anderlecht, Brussels, is a neighbourhood whose residents are unfairly treated. Public and private space keeps being taken away from them. The streets are dominated by the car trade. Safe, usable and green public space is barely present. And yet the people who live here have built something real. Community, warmth, pride. That is easy to miss if you do not stop to look.

This project stopped to look. It moved through the neighbourhood on foot, through conversation and direct encounter, before arriving at a proposal. Not to fix the neighbourhood, but to support what is already there. To give residents the space and housing they deserve and have long been denied.

The focus is Sergeant De Bruynestraat, a street on the east side of the Abattoir that comes alive on market days but goes quiet the moment the stalls are gone as faced by closed walls. Four buildings are proposed along this route: Hoek, Eetzaal, 1820 and De Herberg. Together they define a new public square. One with eyes on the street, life at different hours and a reason to be there beyond Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

This is a possibility. One in which residents can claim and build upon their space. ... Read more

The premise from the book:

"As said before this project is not a typical research. Although many sources are used, no data is collected and no hypotheses are proven. It is an active research, an artistic research one
might say, which is ongoing and really never finished.
Instead of proving arguments it is more about the practice of doing. While it starts out more analytical, which can be seen in the following pages. At a certain point the project turned more intuitive. There was a realisation that this approach would gain me more, just as the potential reader.
That is why the project is structured around three made films. All three completely different in subject, media and technology. But together in the end they might complement eachother
and reveal a greater value.
The order is one: “Terrain vague”, the film for P1, almost like a stop-motion. This mainly focuses on the Friche, and is a kind of site analysis. Two, :”Walk like me”. A camera verité style street documentary. With a combination of fiction and reality giving a glimpse of (Brussels) urban life. And lastly a film where all media are techniques are blend, and hopefully, everything from the year comes together, in one final film presenting the design of the storyhouse “A window to the world.” ... Read more

Mismatched architecture is defined as architecture whose current situations don’t match their original settings during transformation. This mismatch manifests itself as a mismatch in form, function, and context, among others. Mismatched architecture is a self-adapting process of architecture and society, it gives us an insight into the collective memories of the neighborhood.

Architecture and landscape in the urban environment are often the results of a mixture of economic, political, and social demands, and they sometimes grow into mismatched architecture when the demands gradually change over time. Sometimes mismatched architecture brings chaos and confusion, but “…in exchange, it contains a quality of freedom for production” (Kaijima, Kuroda, Tsukamoto, 2006). They are mismatched but fit.

For architectural designs, the question is, how to use the mismatched characteristics to create productive spaces?

See also: https://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:d33a301f-c199-4ad4-a233-a8fbb8a30f02 ... Read more

'The Scarred City', the theme of the Urban Architecture graduation studio in 2022/2023. This location-based studio started with Droixhe/Bressoux, a troublesome and difficult area in Liège (Belgium), as the overarching project site. Starting with fieldwork and participatory research into the hidden social structures of Bressoux and Droixhe and resulting in the importance and absence of nature in the area and its relevance, this thesis grew into a project aiming to contribute to childhood development in Bressoux and Droixhe by strengthening nature connectivity. Drawing workshops on the theme: 'what is nature?' with primary schools in Rotterdam, in comparable demographic neighbourhoods, where key to understanding children's perception of nature and observing their nature connectivity and inspired and aided in the design of a children’s community/leisure centre in Park de l’Oasis. A building which functions as the anchor between child and nature and where the design and its current natural environment go hand in hand to achieve the project’s aim. ... Read more

This thesis delves into the intricate urban landscape of Liège, Belgium, notably focusing on the fragmented neighborhood of Bressoux. The narrative evolves from the city's physical and social scars to the exploration of its diverse communities, hidden beneath the veneer of cultural diversity. Integrating insights from Italo Calvino's Invisible Cities, the study addresses the complexities of social integration and the dynamics of the multicultural demographic in Bressoux. It investigates how architecture can serve as a conduit to bridge the gap between different social groups and foster a sense of community.

The initial research phase involves extensive community engagement and documentation, revealing the isolated and divided nature of Bressoux, primarily due to the lack of public spaces and underlying socio-cultural differences. The researcher's focus shifts to comprehending the sociological impact of urban segregation, using literature references and comprehensive studies on the appropriation of space at various scales. Through photography and object analysis, the study identifies the diverse cultural markers and daily routines that contribute to the formation of social identities within the neighborhood.

Drawing inspiration from contemporary architectural principles, the research emphasizes the significance of participatory design in fostering community engagement and ownership. Analysis of case studies such as Cedric Price's Fun Palace and Lina Bo Bardi's SESC Factory underlines the pivotal role of user involvement in creating dynamic, adaptable, and inclusive public spaces. The study ultimately proposes a design strategy that encourages dialogue, participation, and the integration of diverse cultural heritages, envisioning a reimagined urban fabric that prioritizes social cohesion and mutual understanding.

As Liège grapples with the challenges of an evolving cultural landscape, the thesis project suggests a comprehensive approach to transform the urban environment of Bressoux. By leveraging the transformative power of architecture, the study seeks to facilitate a sense of belonging and interconnectedness, redefining the scars of the city into bridges that unite its diverse inhabitants.
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The 'Fluid space' project has demonstrated that the study of Finding Forms and the abandonment of assigned functions for buildings has led to a refinement of architectural design specific to the site. At the same time, the project raises questions about contemporary problems in architecture, such as sustainability and the dominant practice of function-based construction.
The results of Finding Forms experiments - influence, grid and scale studies - resulted mainly in testing intuitions, which were then translated into design aftejavascript:void(0);r a reflection. Material and technical requirements influenced intuitive forms at a later stage. This posed the project’s greatest challenge: maintaining sight of the experiments despite the guidelines of material and technical requirements and keeping choices constantly reflecting with intuition. ... Read more

Both urban voids and Bressoux are facing the same issue - exist in the city but do not belong to it. The voids are the by-product of urban planning, and the relationship between positive space (massing buildings) and negative spaces (voids) is barely included in design consideration. Generally, these spaces are perceived as a phenomenon of emptiness, neither productive in the urban fabric nor possessing a recognizable role in the neighborhood. Therefore, they never truly integrate into the neighborhood and indeed exist as urban segregation.

However, the nature of emptiness is also regarded as a kind of spatial quality and possesses a certain degree of potential. The project aimed to reposition the role of voids by seeing them as volume and a new interior to the neighborhood. By exploring the movement between interior and exterior, inverting the solid void, it is aimed to transform voids as a mending tool to reconnect the dispersed neighborhood as well as create an alternative public space that truly belongs to the locals.
... Read more

"Interwoven: Rethinking Work-Live Relations in a Post-Industrial Neighborhood" is a graduation project focused on the neighbourhood Bressoux in Liege, Belgium. This project aims to address the socio-economic challenges of a post-industrial city by reimagining the relationship between work and living spaces. By repurposing existing industrial structures within the neighbourhood and integrating new buildings, the project creates a vibrant and interconnected community. It provides opportunities for local craftsmen, entrepreneurs, and residents to work, collaborate, and engage in shared activities. Through thoughtful design, the project seeks to revitalise the neighbourhood, foster social cohesion, and empower the financial and social position of the city. ... Read more

This project was concerned with the design of a homeless shelter in the neighbourhood of Bressoux, Liège. Positions of three architects regarding the attitude of Weiterbauen are explored and expressed through an essay, ultimately shaping a personal architectural position towards the social and architectural embedding of a homeless shelter in the neighbourhood. ... Read more

The project is situated in the neighbourhood of Bressoux in the post-industrial city Liege in Belgium. Bressoux felt at first as a deserted place. It gave the impression that only people live here because of financial necessity. The people with better jobs move away, the ones left behind seem forgotten and neglected. “The winner takes it all!” is the attitude of our economy (Brugmans, 2016, p.6). What is left for the ‘others’? Are they the ones hidden behind the facades of Bressoux? What will their future perspective be?
In order to explore the lives of the people in multicultural neighbourhoods like Bressoux, a common ground had to be found. I believe it is food. And to be more specific: bread. Bread is used in almost every cuisine of every culture. Therefore the research follows the journey of bread trough time, space and the everyday life: Daily bread. The historical and social-cultural research of the production and consumption of bread, also led to an extended research on milling and (communal) wood-fire ovens. The research gave awareness of the importance of how we deal with our primary needs of food, warmth and community. They should be more visible and more directly involved in our daily lives.
The conclusion of the research is translated into the design. The design contains a communal oven within a living room for the neighbourhood, connected with a mill factory using the traditional stone-milling. This is situated in an existing building and surrounded by seven new-built apartment blocks. The apartment blocks consists of three or five apartments, all connected with the chimney of a tile-stove which provides most of the warmth and is located on the ground floor in a shared space.
The mill gives the neighbourhood the opportunity to buy local produces and healthy flour and the communal wood-fire oven a place to make their own bread or other food and share it with their neighbours in a warm space. The housing is based on the principle of sharing the responsibility of their warmth, which creates communities within the building block. So this project tries to give people an alternative future perspective in the winner-takes it all society by reconsidering the way we handle our primary needs. In order to hopefully improve the lives of ‘those others’, simply by giving back the control of their food, warmth and community.
... Read more

This year's urban architecture graduation studio proposes a site specific approach within the district of Bressoux, on the fringe of the city of Liège. Seeking for opportunities in the working class district, after the industry has left the stage, a courtyard on a corner is found. Behind the perimeter wall, basic necessities for those in need are taken care of. A food bank, a restaurant, a social desk, a shower. The project proposes to rethink the collection of functions by adapting the existing masonry structures through carving & grafting. Opening and adding, allowing for new ways of occupation. And then to add something new to the table. Opening the gate for 24h and introducing a shelter and transit home, offering a bed during the night. Scenographic models and drawings are used to design and represent the spaces of the courtyard, as well as the objects & life within them.  ... Read more

Reinterpreting the Elephant is about the reinterpretation of abandoned industrial buildings in the city of Liège. Through proposing a craft school in Bressoux, a neighbourhood of Liège, the project tries to reclaim craft in the city and give the city a new chance. By reusing an existing abandoned industrial building and reinterpreting the features of these 'elephants' the new building is shaped. ... Read more

The urban tissue of Bressoux, characterized by scars from its architectural and cultural history, presents a unique challenge in terms of revitalization and community integration. This research aims to explore the potential of adaptive strategies and cooperative living as catalysts for mending the urban tissue of Bressoux. The research question guiding this study is: How can adaptive strategies and cooperative living contribute to mending the urban tissue of Bressoux?

To address this question, a comprehensive literature review was conducted, focusing on urban regeneration, adaptive strategies, and cooperative living models. The study incorporates a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative analysis of case studies and interviews with key stakeholders, along with quantitative data analysis, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current state of the urban tissue in Bressoux and the potential for adaptive strategies and cooperative living to contribute to its revitalization.

The analysis of case studies from various urban contexts demonstrated the effectiveness of adaptive strategies in addressing urban scars and creating vibrant and sustainable communities. These strategies encompass a range of interventions, such as adaptive reuse of existing structures, flexible floor plans, and design approaches that prioritize community engagement and participation.

Furthermore, the examination of cooperative living models showcased their potential to foster community cohesion and social interaction. The integration of cooperative housing within the urban fabric of Bressoux can provide opportunities for shared facilities, collaborative decision-making, and mutual support among residents. This model promotes a sense of belonging and ownership among community members, which contributes to the mending of the urban tissue and the revitalization of Bressoux.

This research provides valuable insights into the potential of adaptive strategies and cooperative living as means to mend the urban tissue of Bressoux. The findings underscore the importance of context-specific interventions that take into account the unique history, culture, and social dynamics of Bressoux. By embracing adaptive strategies and promoting cooperative living, Bressoux can embark on a transformative journey towards a revitalized urban fabric that fosters community cohesion, sustainability, and a high quality of life for its residents. ... Read more

In light of the current discussion in architecture regarding healthcare, we often disregard the qualities of “old-fashioned” healthcare buildings.
In the neighbourhood of Droixhe, Liege, this is no different. The site used to be inhabited by a thriving healthcare residence named ‘Les Murlais’, however, its thoughtless demolition erased not just the physical entity but also a caring architectural gesture that once shaped lives. The scar is still visible as the concrete pit was all that remained.
‘Une Centre de Vitalité’ is a design proposal seeking to redeem the qualities of ‘Les Murlais’ by addressing and implementing patient-based design with an ecological approach regarding the concrete pit as a layer of the site which should be respected. The design provides flexible spaces for the currently neglected healthcare practices of the neighbourhood and in addition spaces for physical activities and sports. A healthcare building in a residential area should not be a fenced-off place for illness but a place to regain strength and come together. The design proposes a nature-inclusive building with attention to biobased materials and forward-striving climate concepts. ... Read more

More than a House reimagines the training center for Olympique de Marseille—the French city’s professional football club—on the grounds of the former Monastere Serviane in the city’s eastern suburbs. The training center reinterprets the cloisters of Western European monasteries to integrate the club headquarters and training facilities with all-in-house fashion brand workshops around a series of interconnected courtyards, each encompassing one primary programmatic denomination, that cascade from the ridgetop monastic buildings to the training fields in the valley below, sequentially organized by the degrees of privacy and isolation required by each group.

Fashion and sports’ longstanding symbiosis emphatically demonstrate garments’ figurative capacity for broader cultural and economic dynamics. Progressive over-commodification in both industries has been clearly evident in brands’ names and logos signifying often self-proclaimed ideals despite displaying lackluster commitment at the expense of the loyal fan. Redefined by a slower fashion paradigm and regionalized economic networks, the football club is the preeminent champion to endorse regional identity and brands through fashion.

On the premises of the all-in-house training center, football kits are made from recycled kits following the Fashion House “On the House” certification standard, having been exchanged by recurrent fans in a closed-loop and unlicensed process that is self-financed from the club’s ready-made fanbase’s impassioned support for what the club represents. Cultivating fan loyalty with quality on-field play and off-field apparel, the training center regiments training and optimizes performance—of athletes and garments—to ensure that fashion will be driven by fans’ brand loyalty, made all-in-house, and made with quality and integrity. ... Read more

Viaduct 53 is a club that combines unique experiences and business accommodations for its local and international members and guests.
Nightlife always played an economic and cultural factor in both regional and social growth. From Speakeasies to the iconic Studio 54 and the contemporary night scene, peculiar places have served as unique spectacles that embraced the desire for inclusivity, self-expression, and social standing. In 2040 pervasive sedentary and digitalized lifestyles inflate the fragmentation of reality through images, Viaduct 53 satisfies that image obsession and the thrill of escapism to a converted reality.
The club is located in Zurich’s industrial district in one of the most visited shopping streets of the city, developed in 2004. Taking advantage of the area’s characteristics and being certified by Fashion House with the Growing the Scene certification the club is designed for the spectator to explore it from the entrance to each room of the premises. Under the arches, the club stands hidden by a hill of greeneries. Once inside, through the food vendor at the tip of the shopping street, the ambient of the spaces, the arches, and the various levels cause a feeling of detachment from daily life leaving the spectator free to fulfill all his desires. ... Read more

Through a deep understanding of the social-historical and architectural background of the site, this thesis presents a project proposal for the neighbourhood of Droixhe in Liege, Belgium with the purpose of structuring the multiple layers of complexity the area has. The project focuses on the urban plan of the neighborhood and how through architecture one building can attempt to solve the multiple contrasting characters of the public spaces around it based on the life the space is meant to house. ... Read more

Maastricht has a long history as an industrial city and used to be well-known for its ceramics, rubber and paper industries. Due to the decline in industrial production, workspaces and industrious activities are leaving the city and are becoming increasingly secluded from the public sphere. With the Studio theme being gleaning, the project is looking to find value in the existing while giving it a new meaning through interventions and adaptions. It therefore aims to introduce workspaces into the urban fabric of Maastricht and make them meaningful for the urban environment on the site of a former paper mill. Through the lens of philosophical anthropology, these workspaces become essential spaces in the city, facilitating a plurality of activities, allowing encounters and exchange and enriching the urban experience. ... Read more