In the context of the H&A Shared Heritage Lab, which I am part of, crucial built heritage issues are investigated in the city of Bandung, Indonesia. Bandung has many Indonesian-Dutch heritage sites and buildings as a result of the long period of colonization by the Dutch. They are part of both Dutch and Indonesian history and have become part of the expanding cities and changing landscapes of modern-day Indonesia. The challenge of this studio is to give new meaning and use to this environment, in order to realize an inclusive, thriving and healthy city, taking past, present and future into account.As part of the Heritage & Architecture team in this Shared Heritage Lab, I focused on the development of the Railroad, and its impact on the city. While initially it was on the borders of Bandung, during the years and the expansion of it, the Railway line ended up being a dead zone in the center of the city, splitting it into two, enhancing segregation and obstructing normal every-day activities. A transformation of the Railway line into a “green belt” is proposed, that includes public and green spaces, cycle path, and a new tram line. My project is located in a former military complex along the Railroad backbone, and attempts to tackle the existing problems on a neighborhood scale. The site holds both tangible and intangible values of the shared past and is transformed in order to serve current societal needs. Through the merging of traditional and modern activities with education, the aim is to maintain and develop the cultural identity and critical cultural knowledge and practices of the community, and to create the necessary environment to equip locals with skills and motivation towards their future.The architectural process is used as a tool to empower the local communities. So the whole concept is about two things - the process and the project, centralizing the users in each phase. The design explores the values of honest materiality, craftsmanship, expressive tectonics, and vernacular sensitivity. Through the deliberate selection of materials and construction methods with the potential to be adapted by local workers, the construction process will serve as a mode of capacity building and livelihood training. The transformed complex will provide much needed space for collective activities for the surrounding communities, and at the same time it will get a new life. Involving the users in the process of making the space will create a total new meaning for them regarding this place. It will become a symbol of change manifested through their effort. Empowering local people to find their own voice, will shape the citizens of a future resilient city, while important sustainability principles integrated in the project will direct the users’ behaviors towards a greener living environment for the future. The colonial heritage is both a means and a goal in this project. It provides the necessary space, and it raises awareness at the same time. The project is not only about the building of a community center, but rather, the building of a community. ... Read more

In the Shared Studio Lab, the focus lies on the translation of the design in the city of Bandung, Indonesia. The city of Bandung was once established by the Dutch as an important transport hub, governmental & military base and travel destination for the Dutch colonial society. After Indonesia became officially independent in 1949, the city saw a pressure on public spaces, networks, health and comfort as a result of the rapid growth in population. The aim of the studio is to explore the notion of shared Heritage between the Dutch and the Indonesians. The Shared Heritage Lab approach is to find a sustainable solution for these challenges by evolving the important heritage structures and areas of Bandung, in order to realize inclusive, thriving and healthy environments for working, living and leisure.This is a master thesis about how to contribute to a change in the current segregation problem of Bandung, by developing a framework for social and resilient communities along the railway. Furthermore, how can music and sports facilities offer re-connection between the “two worlds” in the shared heritage complex of KNIL Magazijne. The idea is to change KNIL Magazijne to a new cultural destination along the “new green belt” of Bandung. The cultural destination should offer a wide variety of facilities for self-organized sports, as well a series of customized workshops area for music education. The idea is that this will meet the aim of the increasing for self-organized and individual alternatives to attract local youth and create lasting social change through street sports and culture. In a growing city that is continuously having segregation issues, this can be an example of how to reconnect people into constellation towards a balanced urban city and to create a showcase for similar circumstances for the rest of the city. ... Read more

The transformation of Knil Magazijnen into a creative and learning cluster of plastic waste constitutes my attempt to explore the boundaries of heritage adaptive re-use in Bandung, Indonesia and how through the design of an inclusive and healthy environment, social and environmental challenges can be addressed in a more integrated way. In a built environment like the city of Bandung where social segregation between the formally structured communities and the more organic kampung villages dominates the city scape contributing to a significant extent to most of the urban challenges like environmental pollution the projects strives for inclusion. The project's ambition was to show how by understanding the context and by putting first the people and their needs, architecture and heritage adaptive re-use can contribute to healthier and more resilient cities. More specifically, the project unfolds with the integration of a plastic waste recycling cycle combined with a more communal environment, with creative spaces and educational facilities that not only makes people aware of the issue, the consequences but also allows waste to become part of the daily routine and thus for the people to explore the possibilities around its re-use and up-cycling and thus create business opportunities in a inclusive environment for all. The combination of bottom up and top down approaches both in terms of the programme but also in the physical materialisation of the design offers the means for change. Architecturally, the project explores the relationship between waste and people between working and public environment between openness and enclosure in various different scales. From city scale with the transformation of the former railway into a new tram line accompanied by a green belt, on a neighbourhood scale with the transformation of Knil Magazinjen into a creative and learning cluster of plastic waste, while on a building scale this integration is explored through architectural design and building technology. Even though the programme addresses the current urban challenges the development and materialisation of the design strives for flexibility and adaptability in order to enhance the qualities of the existing site. ... Read more

Adaptive re-use of colonial heritage in Bandung, Indonesia. ... Read more

Developing and testing an approach to the densification of Indonesian inner cities that grows from the values of shared heritage to create a synergy between its formal street and urban kampong structure ... Read more

What will the future of the shared heritage city center of Bandung, Indonesia be? When researching the current city center, it became clear that the historical structures of the city cannot cope with the growth of the city. In the past there was space for water, green and heritage, however traffic and people are taking over now. This results in a city that has to deal with a big societal water problem of floods, shortages and pollution. In the past people lived in harmony with nature and appreciated the value of water. Nowadays people mainly experience the negative impact of water, causing a decline in the awareness of the value of water. Besides this, due to extreme urbanization, there is no place of escape from this bustling city. No place where people can hide from time and the daily routine. This leads to a design strategy with different scales of impact. First, it focuses on the scale of personal nourishment. With the design of a bathhouse, people are able to experience the benefits of a sustainable future in which we live with clean water and at the same time have the opportunity to escape and take a moment for cleansing both body and mind. Secondly, the design is a reinterpretation of the water cycle. This includes an ecological water system, based on the reuse of water through recycling, reducing the amount of new fresh water. This ensures a future with water and as well as having a positive impact on the current urban water structure. The project location, Jalan Braga nr. 43, is situated in the middle of the historical city. The building, constructed around 1915, makes the connection between the bustling shopping street, Jalan Braga and an enclosed garden adjacent to the Cikapundung river and the Kampung. It harbours water traces of flooding and historical water systems. This challenging site fits into the ambition of the project and has the power to create a showcase for similar circumstances in the world. The program of the building forms a circle of moments of escape, a transition from stress to mental and physical rest. The design of the building responds to the old heritage structures. It uses and strengthens the values of the different parts of the existing building. Each part contains another moment of escape. The circulation of the program is connected to the waterflow of the treatment system, which runs through the entire building. The commercial part of the building, connected to Jalan Braga, will host a teahouse to sit down and have a drink. It also contains the first part of the ecological water filter system. The in-between part, the node, makes the connection with the remainder of the building and offers a place to breathe. Spaces that can be used for yoga to find your physical rest. Besides this it forms the collector of rain as an important part of the ecological water system. The part of the building adjacent to the river hosts the bathhouse for men and women to let people experience the benefits of the filtered water. The bathhouse is built upon the old robust walls which enclose the garden. This enclosed garden, taman tertutup, offers a place in which you can escape and discover the last part of the water system, the constructed wetlands. Based on the vision of seeing shared heritage as an inspirator for a sustainable future, every intervention highlights cultural values. Values which are enhanced in the design by the use of the elements of water, green and light. These elements, the tools of awareness for shared heritage, guide you through the building and inspire how we can adapt heritage buildings for a sustainable future, in which we can live with water. Take time, escape and become aware of the eternal future of water. ... Read more

The problem statement focuses on the livelihoods of the residents of the kampongs in the historical city center of Bandung, Indonesia. The livelihoods within the kampong are mainly based on self-employment in the form of goods and services. This type of economic activity is widely known as the informal economy and consists of certain risks. The conditions and circumstances in which they work, which is in most cases, established on a ‘work at home’ basis, are not designed as such as the type of work requires it to be, such as the lack of sanitary facilities and the required space and light, in other words, a healthy work environment.
These observations led to the following design question: how can the cultural values within the kampong community be implemented in order to contribute to the transformation of the old colonial city center of Bandung and vice versa? Therefore, the purpose of this project focuses on sustaining balance in the livelihoods of the local kampong residents through the cultural values of their community within the colonial city center of Bandung.
The design solution is based on creating public and semi-public space within a colonial heritage building, where both the residents of the kampong as well as the users of the historic city center, or more specifically the Braga Street. Thus, this resulted in the transformation of the old Hellerman building, where the heritage is used as a showcase for reconstruction, reinterpretation, and adaptation, and where the programme is based on urban farming, communal kitchens, dining space, and an education hub.
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Het Stedelijk is a highschool which is situated in Zutphen, at the northern border of the neighborhood Nieuwstad. Due to its height, shape and materialisation, the building stands out of its contexts and function as a border between the neighborhood and the park, which is behind the building. More highschools are situated in this area, which makes the area active during weekdays, but not active in the evenings and the weekends. This project is focused on the transformation of Het Stedelijk, to re-activate the area and connect the neighborhood with the park again. ... Read more

The educational system is outdated. This project focusses on a new educational system based on creativity as described by several modern educationalists. The project deals with multiple heritage aspects and answers not only to the question of conserving heritage, but also to a wider social question. ... Read more

As one of the medieval cities in the Netherlands, Zutphen has the most typical identity of a stronghold city: the inner city is surrounded by layers of the solid city wall, city moat and fortification. However, during inevitable city expansion, most walls were torn down and moats were filled up.
The main target building in my project, St.Elisabeth elderly home, was built partly on the former position of the city wall and partly on its inner side with a short distance. The volume of the building cuts down the connection between the city and the city wall. Thus, this valuable heritage on this site only serves as a hidden treasure, which is also a loss of urban land use in Zutphen. The building accommodates the elderly while it doesn't offer much quality in elderly living. Facing the ageing issue in Zutphen or even the whole Netherlands, one of
its identity in urban tissue, traditional courtyard space, could be a trigger to create better living space and revitalize heritages in the regeneration of this historical area. ... Read more

This thesis focuses on the Klein Vaticaan area of Zutphen. The Klein Vaticaan was part of the Roman Catholic community within Zutphen, and consisted of an ensemble of buildings located in the neighborhood of the Nieuwstad. The Klein Vaticaan grew significantly throughout the years; at its peak it was roughly the whole eastern part of the Nieuwstad. The ensemble functioned as a whole, all being part of the Roman Catholic community, providing education, care, and activities for the inhabitants of Nieuwstad. In the more recent years the buildings within the Klein Vaticaan were sold, which caused a transformation of the area. The transformation resulted in a loss of coherence within the ensemble and a loss of connection with the Nieuwstad. This causes the following dilemma: How to restore the coherence in an ensemble, and restoring the connection with the surroundings, the neighborhood and the city, without losing the historical characteristics of the place? To restore the coherence it is important to understand values of the past, these values are summarized in a matrix, which formed the basis for a transformation framework.
With this thesis I want to answer the following research question: How can an ensemble of heritage buildings be transformed in order to create a coherent and resilient site, which reconnects with the city?


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Redeveloping Baudartius College, a high school designed by Jan Rotshuizen in the '50 in the city Zutphen (the Netherlands). ... Read more

Graduation project within the studio of Heritage & Architecture. Dealing with existing (post WWII) industrial heritage. Conversion of an old military complex into a spiritual center. ... Read more

The Westfort Leprosy Colony in Pretoria, South Africa, was built by the Department Publieke Werken of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek in 1898-1898 under supervision of the Dutch architect Sytze Wopkes Wierda. It is the only leprosy colony of its kind that is still (almost) intact. It is part of to the national history of South Africa and has an international connection with the Netherlands and its colonies. Since 1997 the colony is abandoned. Illegal inhabitants took possession of the site and form an informal community of +/- 4.000 inhabitants. Currently the site is heavily in decay and some of the most characteristic buildings are destroyed. Most recently, in April 2016, the octagonal Dutch Reformed Church. The site is also under pressure of upcoming low cost housing developments. Despite several positive initiatives, the inhabitants of Westfort, and the surrounding neighbourhoods, live in squalor. Crime and safety are daily uncertainties. The project shows a vision about how to transform the historical centre of the former Westfort Leprosy Colony into a vivid work incubator. A place were the inhabitants and visitors can live, work, learn and recreate. The main theme is separation & connection. This tension touches every topic of the project. From the function that is about connecting people from the different sides of the city that is still characterized by the town planning of the apartheid era, to the design that is about the tension separation and connection on the site. The project shows small interventions can have a large impact by looking closely to the site and its needs. ... Read more

The MMC was an industrial facility that produced food, uniforms and other goods for the Portuguese Army. During the twentieth century the complex was expanded. Whilst the Portuguese Army reached 200.000 men in the 1960’s, it is now reduced to 20.000 active soldiers. Gradually the factories closed and Manutencao Militar was finally substituted by a public enterprise in 2015. The termination of the industrial production raised the problem of finding new sustainable uses for this area on the Tagus riverfront, between the Pombaline City Harbour and the Contemporary Parque das Nacoes. This is a challenging task: any future solution needs to have a dialogue with this current industrial heritage, which is deeply connected with recent Portuguese history, as well as with the Lisbon riverside area and the contemporary city. ... Read more

This master thesis is part of the graduation studio named ‘Disclosing the Military City Lisbon’ as part of the chair Heritage and Architecture at the TU Delft. The studio assignment and project is initiated in collaboration with DOCOMOMO (International committee for documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the modern movement)
The start of the project was done by attending the 14th International DOCOMOMO Conference and joining the organised on-site workshop in Lisbon.

The graduation project is focused on the ‘South’ part of the Manutençao Militar Complex in Lisbon. This part has been vacant since 1992 due to military re-organisations. The objective is to adaptively re-use the total of about 34.000 m2 of vacant space.

When visiting the site the building that struck me the most was the silos. Because of it’s height, contrasting shape and standing at the end of a long street it immediately caught my eye. I have chosen the silos to focus my graduation on due to its key role as landmark, as face of the site (and surroundings), its vital role in my strategy for the complex and my fascination for the building.
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The Manutenção Militar Complex (MMC) was an industrial facility that produced food, uniforms and other goods for the Portuguese Army. The first bakery was accommodated in a former Convent – Convento das Grilas – by the end of the 19th Century. During the 20th Century, due to the needs during the First World War and the Portuguese Colonial War in the 1960s, the complex was expanded. Whilst the Portuguese Army reached 200,000 men in the 1960s, it is now reduced to 20,000 active soldiers. Gradually the factories closed and Manutenção Militar was finally substituted by a public enterprise MM-Gestão Partilhada in 2015. The termination of the industrial production raised the problem of finding new sustainable uses for this area on the Tagus riverfront, between the Pombaline City Harbour – Terreiro do Paço – and the Contemporary Parque das Nações. This is a challenging task: any future solution needs to have a dialogue with this current industrial heritage, which is deeply connected with recent Portuguese history, as well as with the Lisbon riverside area and the contemporary city. ... Read more

The strategy of the design assignment on the masterplan level stresses the importance of the age – friendly design and the sustainability of the development. The main users (target groups) will be local residents (of various age) and the newly discovered social group: Active Third Age Generation - so called Young Seniors. The place of the planned intervention was chosen carefully and it reflects the major ideas of the proposed masterplan and, in my opinion, can also serve as the catalyst of the whole project.

The Supermarket building is facing Rua do Grilo, one of the main streets in Beato district. It’s also one of the first building of MMC when the site is approached from the city centre side. At the same time its history goes back even to the XVII century therefore Supermarket is one of the most interesting structures on the site. The empty plot next to it poses another interesting challenge of the future design.
The function of the new development is combining two target groups mentioned before. Respecting the notions of place making, the main space of the upper floor of the building will consist the public garden which at the same time will connect the street level with the level of the MMC. In the volume above there will be an open school for elderly where they can learn or teach improving their skills and learning new ones. It will be mainly addressed to the local residents and it will aim to improve the condition of their lives: creating the meeting space and opening opportunities for the second jobs. In the basement, more profitable function will balance the social character of the school. The new apartments for elderly will secure the sustainable relationship between the buildings.
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Having lost its productivity, MMC became isolated from its context. Most of its links to neighbour and region broke as a result of its changing role. A series of dilemmas
mainly exists as social conflicts and spatial conflicts appeared around the
border as result. However, as the carrier of social conflict in MMC and witness of colonial war, the enclosed border embraced the introverted character of MMC, which is its site spirit in the history. When the introverted character of site encounters the demand of connection, how to re-link MMC to the neighbourhood while protecting its site spirit turns into the main problem to be solved from my perspective. ... Read more

The Manutenção Militar Complex (MMC) is situated along the river just outside of the city center of Lisbon. Within the industrial complex they produced food, uniforms and other goods for the Portuguese Army. Whilst the Portuguese Army reached 200,000 men in the 1960s, it is now reduced to 20,000 active soldiers. This meant that the factories of the MMC complex finally closed leaving a large industrial area ready to be transformed for future use.
For the design a transformation framework was created considering the cultural values, the social and economical values of the MMC and my own fascination. With this thesis I want to answer the following question: How to transform the Manutencao Militar Complex into a social, multiple generation community while maintaining its distinctive character? ... Read more