European social-housing refurbishment is under pressure to deliver deep energy upgrades at speed, while also responding more carefully to the residents who live with the consequences of renovation. Industrialised modular façade systems can accelerate retrofit, improve quality control, and reduce on-site disruption, but they also risk reinforcing standardised solutions.

In many renovation processes, resident values are surfaced through engagement but enter too late to influence module configuration, material expression, façade operability or the way the façade meets the street outside and shapes the dwelling inside This thesis addresses this problem as a value–design translation gap: the missing methodological step between identifying what residents value and integrating those values in architectural and technical façade decisions.

The research develops, applies, and evaluates a Value–Indicator Framework for modular façade renovation in social housing. Through literature review and cross-case analysis of eight European social-housing renovation cases, six recurring resident values are identified: comfort, affordability, fairness, empowerment, sustainability, and identity. These values are translated into architectural design indicators that could guide the modular façade design.

The framework is then operationalised through the Value-Integrated Modular Façade System (VIMFS), a two-layer system in which Layer 1 provides a standardised technical performance baseline, including insulation, airtightness weather protection. Layer 2 the adaptive socio-technical interface, carries the bounded resident-facing variation, through value-affinity clusters and a component catalogue.

The framework is tested through Research by Design on a post-war walk-up apartment block in Rotterdam-West. A four-step configuration logic translates value priorities into four traceable design variants: V01 Control and Comfort, V02 Clear and Affordable Upgrade, V03 Ecological Renewal and V04 Community Threshold. All variants share the same Layer 1 standardised performance layer so that every resident receives the same technical envelope, while differentiation is produced through the component selection of layer 2 via the catalogue. In short, layer 1 secures fairness across all dwellings; layer 2 allows residents to express what matters to them.

The variants are evaluated through seventeen key performance indicators (KPIs) to test whether resident values remain visible, measurable, and differentiated at design stage.
The resulting scores are V01 = 15/17, V02 = 12.5/17, V03 = 16/17 and V04 = 15.5/17.
This thesis shows that modular façade renovation does not have to choose between industrialised standardisation and resident responsiveness. If variation is bounded, documented, and technically coordinated, an equal technical baseline can coexist with value-led differentiation.

The contribution is not a fully engineered façade product or a validated participation process, but traceable design-stage method for translating resident values into modular façade renovation design.
In doing so, the thesis positions the façade as a socio-technical interface between building performance, modular construction logic, and everyday residential life. ... Read more

The Dutch residential building sector must transition toward energy-efficient renovations to address climate change and reduce energy consumption. However, the early design phase, where critical decisions about energy renovation scenarios are made, often presents significant challenges. Project developers face issues such as unclear prioritization of decision criteria and inefficient processes for evaluating and comparing renovation alternatives. These challenges frequently lead to delays and hinder the selection of optimal solutions. This research aims to identify and address the key problems in the decision-making process during the early design phase of residential energy renovations. The central research question is: “How can the decision-making process in the early design phase of energy renovations in residential buildings be improved to enable project developers to make efficient decisions that consider environmental, economic, and social factors?” The study identifies critical bottlenecks in the early design process, such as fragmented criteria selection and the absence of a systematic approach for evaluating renovation scenarios. A structured decision-support framework is proposed, focusing on defining relevant criteria, integrating stakeholder inputs, and ranking alternatives using a balanced and transparent weighting method. The added value of this framework lies in enabling project developers to make quicker, well-informed decisions by simplifying complex processes and clarifying priorities. While a computational tool may be developed as a final product, this research prioritizes understanding and improving the decision-making process itself. Validation through a case study ensures practical applicability and relevance to the challenges faced by project developers. By providing a systematic and innovative approach to decision-making, this study enables faster and more practical decision-making processes. It contributes to the efficient planning and execution of energy renovations in residential buildings, supporting the sector’s transition to sustainability and climate resilience. ... Read more

Climate change is happening, and the consequences of it are becoming increasingly visible. Climate goals have been set in the Paris Agreement to stop climate change. The goal in the Netherlands is to reduce emissions in 2030 by 55% and achieve net zero by 2050.

An essential element in achieving these goals is the energy transition. These goals can only be achieved if everybody contributes to this energy transition This also means that underprivileged neighbourhoods will have to participate.

Several research projects have been performed on governance, but few or none have focused on governance issues concerning energy transition in underprivileged neighbourhoods so far. Therefore, a knowledge gap exists regarding the governance arrangements in the energy transition in underprivileged neighbourhoods.

The exploratory approach was chosen. A case study was performed in the neighbourhood Bospolder-Tussendijken. Data was gathered by performing a desk study and conducting thirteen interviews with directly involved stakeholders and experts. The data gathered have been used to analyse the decision-making process using the IAD framework, the four-layer model, and the energy justice decision-making principles. Furthermore, the seven basic elements of governance arrangements have been addressed.

In the neighbourhood of Bospolder-Tussendijken, the energy transition is focused on the disconnection of natural gas and towards the connection of a district heating grid. On the neighbourhood level, three major players are present, the municipality of Rotterdam, Havensteder and Eneco, who came to an area agreement. This impacted the decision-making since the alternative and the project area were decided. The decision-making between these parties is influenced by the Climate Agreement, subsidies and the collaboration agreement with energy-related stakeholders in the neighbourhood.

However, this did not result in a completely just energy transition. The influence of neighbourhood residents on the decision-making process was negligible, and the information provision towards residents was mainly project-focused. Everyone who lived within the project area could connect to the district heating grid. The coupling between gas and heat prices is troubling, even more because Eneco asks for the maximum tariff the ACM allows. This affects the affordability, especially in this poor neighbourhood. Next to this, the project costs were much higher than expected. District heating can be considered more sustainable than natural gas. Compared with alternative solutions, it does not cover the cooling needs during summer.

To perform a more just energy transition, a governance arrangement is proposed with changes made on the national, municipal, and neighbourhood levels.
The higher levels of government could take more decisive and consistent positions.
On the municipal level, municipalities are advised to revise their transition visions heat.
On the neighbourhood level, residents should be involved by letting them clarify their position. They can get involved by educating about the energy transition. The active citizens should get a seat at the decision-making table.

With this proposed governance arrangement, a more just and efficient energy transition could be performed in underprivileged neighbourhoods. This research provides multiple additions to the current debate about a just energy transition. ... Read more