In the 17th century, both Amsterdam and Suzhou were in a period of rapid social and economic development. When faced with similar water environment and social problems such as conflicts between population and limited land resource, the residents of the two places chose completely different ways to build their dwellings. In response to such differences, this study explores the reasons for the differences between the traditional waterfront dwellings in Amsterdam and Suzhou in the 17th century. First of all, the study describes the social conditions at that time and the development processes of waterfront dwellings in the two places to construct a basic historical framework. Then it interprets the specific differences in the respective relationships between the two waterfront dwellings and the water environment, indicating the objective architectural differences. Next, it analyzes the reasons for forming the specific differences from three aspects which are social culture, lifestyle, natural environment and climate, and reveals the influence of these factors on the results of architectural form differentiation. Finally, starting from the reasons for the differences, further thinking about the current architectural practice is carried out, so as to bring some enlightenment to the readers. ... Read more

This history thesis aims to answer the question of how the development of modern tourism has affected the identity of Scheveningen at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The study is based on the analysis of predefined components of the identity of a place, based on research in the field of sociology, modern tourism and identity, as well as archival materials on Scheveningen. These sources include photo albums, illustrations, texts, newspapers and maps.

Based on the theories and definitions from the field of sociology and environmental psychology, in particular on the triadic interpretation based on J.G. Bennet’s systematics in the context of place, place identity and phenomenology by David Seamon (2012), the components of place identity are determined at the first place. Thus, the analysis of the Scheveningen identity is focused on three main areas, defined in the main theoretical and methodological axis of the thesis. Firstly, the identity of Scheveningen is explored at the level of community life. This section covers topics such as notion of community, the clash of local customs and European lifestyle, as well as focal points of social interactions. Secondly, the thesis explores the physical environment of Scheveningen. The issues of both the urban layout and transitions in the architecture are presented. At the end, the aspect of hidden meanings and contexts in Scheveningen environment, considered as a factor between the physical and social layers, is thoroughly examined.

The conclusion of the thesis explains exactly what changes took place on the three main levels of the Scheveningen identity, caused by the development of modern toursim at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
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In the significant migration cities of China, such as Shenzhen, large
numbers of constantly in movement floating population of working settlers
is said to have a severe impact on the ecological environment
(Li, Zhang & Jiang et al., 2021). Called a ‘malign tumour’ by the population
and the local government, they settle in vastly overcrowded settlements
- urban villages where poor standards force the group to
make poor environmental decisions. At the same time, due to their
dire economic situation as urban poor, they become the subject to vulnerability
in the face of harmful effects of environmental degradation.
Poor environmental hygiene of this social group has a connection with
their alienation from society and lack of integration in decision-making.
This social dichotomy between rural migrants and urban citizens is better
understood based on past policies such as the hukou household registration
system. Current design policies toward ecological situation improvement
support the hypothesis of floating population exclusion from decision making.
Based on the above finding, suggestions for improving the floating population’s
position in the society, hence strengthening their role in addressing
environmental concerns, are formed. Firstly mixed-income housing as an
alternative to luxury redevelopments in place of urban villages can work
towards better integration of rural migrant and urban citizens. Additionally,
the policies aiming to bring awareness to migrant groups about the environment
should be implemented together with the integration strategies. ... Read more

On a journey, most functions of daily life have to be paused or improvised. A few items used for the most essential of all the various activities that are normally taking place in one’s home environment are condensed in the traveller’s luggage. These items are the only available material for improvisation in addition to the spatial possibilities in the traveler’s immediate, unfamiliar surrounding. This also applies to religious and spiritual practice. The traveller who seeks a moment of reflection has to either engage in an act of space-making and
establish the sacred within the ordinary, or use sacred wayside spaces.
A visual analysis of different kinds of such sacred spaces embedded in travel infrastructures shows how old traditions found their way into modern times and which transformations they underwent on this way. As a marginal and low-key form of sacred space, the typology has adapted flexibly to the new conditions of modern travel environments. This thesis is a study of the typological evolution of sacred spaces in travel environments and of the connection between spirituality and travelling from an architectural point of view. ... Read more

In current times sustainability is a major priority in the building industry which contributes largely to country’s total energy consumption. Additionally, educational buildings make up a large part of building stocks around the world and these buildings are responsible for large part of energy consumption especially by heating, cooling, and ventilating these building. To reduce energy usage, we must look for preservation and sustainable new designs, especially for solutions relying on renewable and natural sources and passive systems. Besides, thermal comfort in educational buildings is important since it significantly impact student’s physical, mental health and productivity. Therefore, this research aims to investigate whether we can learn from the passive climate responsive architectural elements invented millennia ago, which form the traditional courtyard house typology of Yazd, for sustainable solutions regarding thermal comfort in educational buildings.
This thesis starts with introducing the features by examining the different elements that play an important role in providing comfortable indoor climates of the residents. To find out the usability of these architectural typology and its features and whether we can learn from it for current times, a case study analysis was conducted which investigated the adaptive reuse project of the faculty of Arts and Architecture in Yazd.
The results showed that it is evident this architecture and its knowledge has been of great importance for livability and will persist to be of great usefulness in times we seek for passive indoor climate solutions because climate will become more similarly to Yazd. To realize thermal comfort in educational indoor spaces innovative, adaptive, climate responsive, socio-cultural context and local material inspired solution should be implemented. ... Read more

This thesis examines in what way designers should reassure that the use of parametric design can be switched from esthetical purposes to problem-solving purposes for future global challenges throughout Zaha Hadid Architects’ historical approaches and developments. In order to find the answer to the research question, it is important to know how parametric design has been approached in the past, especially from Zaha Hadid Architects’ perspective. Thereafter, to find out in what way parametric design has developed over the years. At last, to know how parametric design could be used for environmental and societal matters by proposing new guidelines for the usage of parametric design. This research shows that in order to reassure those ambitions, it is important to change the parametric design intent into a more environmental and society focused process to get a more sustainable and social parametric design result. ... Read more

In this history thesis the impact of Islamic/Middle Eastern architecture on so-called Western architecture will be explored with the main focus on the Gothic style during the 12th and 16th century in Western Europe. During architectural studies the impact of non-Western architecture on Western architecture is often neglected. Most western sources on the subject are old and are powered by orientalism which is important for the perception of these sources. The exact moment that an architectural concept originated is impossible to say as architectural influence is a constant motion of inspiration,
although an estimate of when it emerged can be made. Based on the findings from the literature and case study analysis, it can be concluded that Islamic architecture had an influence on the architectural Gothic style during the Middle Ages. The Islamic architecture itself was a synthesis of different architectural influences due to the variation of the Middle East. Both architectural styles share similarities in characteristics that were transferred through various methods. Gothic architecture and Islamic architecture both want to show the godly through nature, this concept manifests itself in the usage of ornamentations. This influence is shown through historical examples and first examples in the world that show certain concepts and techniques that originated from the Middle East region. ... Read more

In his influential work ‘On collective Memory’, French sociologist Maurice Halbwachs described an intrinsic relationship between the past and present, a reconfiguration of the perceived past through the lens of its current generation’s ideas and experiences. This represents an increasing challenge in the urban realm due to the growing amount of historized fragments left within its fabric as a result of the modern societal obsession of leaving traces behind. This thesis therefore investigates what influence commemorative architecture has today as integral parts of our city and the negotiation necessary to work this historized palimpsest. To do this, the city of Vienna, Austria will be investigated as the turbulent decades following WWII led to a first reconstruction of national memory based on a founding lie in its ‘Opferthese’. Once that mythos crumbled in the 1980s, it resulted in palpable shifts of its collective memory which were materialised in a tangible form through monuments around the city. Through an excursion to Vienna, the circumstances leading to the construction of three prominent monuments, their performance and the broader developments of Vienna’s memory politics were studied. Local and foreign papers on Vienna’s past century and collective memory, historical photographs, newspaper reports, vocal reactions to the unveiling of the monuments, personal writings as well as archival research formed a supplementary background to the excursion for this study. The thesis investigates it through three parts, foremost, it creates an overview of the events shaping memory politics in Vienna post WWII. This historical understanding will be accompanied by a theoretical framework on the concept of collective memory based on predominantly on the theories of Maurice Halbwachs and Pierre Nora. The second portion will include thorough case studies of three important Viennese memorials: ‘Judenplatz Holocaust Memorial’ (2000), ‘Memorial against War and Fascism’ (1988) and ‘Deserter Monument’ (2014). This chapter will connect them to the context of their realisation, historical site context, design, and spatial performance. Thereby, understanding how collective memory forms public space and its perception through physical edifices. Lastly, the paper forms a connection between the theoretical ideas and their physical manifestations. Through a broader view of urban effects, the findings of the research and the dialogue between them, it hypothesises on the increasing historicization of our cities, its memorial landscape and the constant negotiation architects and inhabitants face in the context of our palpable past. ... Read more

The formation of social space through architecture is becoming increasingly important in today's society. In order to design social space as effectively and sustainably as possible, however, it is first important to know the current society and its problems and grievances. Furthermore, social scientists, architects and spatial planners can learn from the development of social spaces in the past decades. The development of social space will be the main component of this work.

Utopias aim at the ideal human being and the perfect society. They achieve this goal both by designing physical space and by designing social space. Utopias have therefore accompanied the cultural history of mankind since time immemorial and often reflect the current zeitgeist or represent a counter-design to the prevailing social conditions. Utopias are therefore holistic wishful architectures.

A prominent example of such wishful architecture from the time of the Third Reich is the design of the World Capital Germania. An urban design created by the architect Albert Speer for the German capital Berlin. This utopia designs social space in the sense of the ruling Nazis' thinking about representation and power. The architecture is supposed to give people the feeling that an individual person alone is powerless in the face of the community. Therefore, structures of gigantism can be found repeatedly in the architecture of the World Capital Germania. Speer wanted to use the design of the physical space to ensure that the population would develop into a cohesive community.
A clear counter-design after the WWII is the concept of New Babylon by the architect Constant Nieuwenhuys. Unlike Albert Speer, Constant Nieuwenhuys places the individual in the center and predicts an architecture of individual possibilities. Through the elimination of all work and the automation of all processes, people have the freedom to build and design their own environment. All people are thus placed on the same social level.
In today's society, climate change and the depletion of the planet in particular play a significant role. NEOM is a design of a futuristic city that aims to sensitize people and to pay more attention to the environment with its 100% sustainable architecture. Furthermore, NEOM's design also puts people back in the foreground, whereby the innovative progress of this project is based on the community.

The development of social space and the goal of architecture can be seen not only in the overall architectural structure, but also on a smaller scale, many insights can be gained. These will be discussed in more detail in the essay.

The comparison of the various influences of physical architecture on social space and the analysis of the historical reasons for the emergence of the different utopias bring great added value to modern architectural, as well as urban planning projects. This large-scale analysis can substantiate the concept of social space and broaden the view on this topic.
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This article offers a critical reflection on the impact of the urban development on the social lives of Riga’s population throughout the second half of 19th century by exploring the role of architecture in the social and physical segregation of the city. Like many typical East-Central European cities in this period, Riga was ruled by the Baltic German elite who had a complete control over the government and all mayor industries that shaped the cities daily life. At the same time the native Latvian population belong to rural peasantry who had almost no rights. However, as result of serfdom emancipation and the rapid industrialization of the 19th century, Riga’s population experienced massive growth as many rural peasants came to city in hope for better lives. With it the population growth came the urban developments that would shape the urban fabric of the city for ages to come. The cultural notions and physical struggles manifested themselves into the urban texture that can be observe even today.

Through investigating the social and political landscapes and their relationships with the physical development of the city, complex relationships can be presented that shape our daily lives. Through the ideas of space and power by Paul-Michel Foucault and the embedded relationships between physical space and urban inequality we can investigate how the city was shaped according to the ruling class. In addition, like Newton’s third law each action is met with equal counter action, the proletariat responded with increase in socialistic revolutionary ideas and a nationalistic awakening that would slowly find itself in the urban fabric of Riga. ... Read more

Chinese urban village has attracted much discussion as an urban phenomenon by sociologists and architects. It was transformed from a traditional village gathered by clans with blood ties to an urban enclave focusing on a land-profit economy. At the same time, with the migration of locals and outsiders, the collective memory has changed from a mono-cultural memory to a multicultural memory. And problems such as poor infrastructure, unspoken rules of space usage and social segregation in the urban village have become increasingly severe during urbanization. However, there is not enough research on the urban village to explore the causes of such social conflicts based on the spatial conflicts.

This article focuses on the Shipai village in Guangzhou and examed Lefebvre's theory of spatial production to explore the relationships between the changes in collective memory and spatial conflicts in Shipaii village. Based on the perspective of urban ethnography, the repurposing of heritage, such as the transformation of ancestral halls and streets, will be used as spatial outcomes to observe how people fix into the urbanization through morphological dynamics and the impact of collective memory on this transformation.

The critical questions are: What is the conflict in SV? What is the relationship between collective memory and spatial contradictions in Shipai Village? What are the processes and outcomes of spatial contradictions? I argued that the contradiction in SV is a group clash, where cultural diversity has resulted in an unshared collective memory. ... Read more