An Ecology of Relations

Master Thesis (2026)
Author(s)

Q. Chen (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)

Contributor(s)

D.J. Rosbottom – Mentor (TU Delft - Situated Architecture)

K.B. Mulder – Mentor (TU Delft - Building Design & Technology)

Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment
More Info
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Publication Year
2026
Language
English
Graduation Date
21-01-2026
Awarding Institution
Delft University of Technology
Programme
['Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Interiors Buildings Cities']
Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment
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Abstract

The transformation of rural land into urban landscapes not only alters ownership and economic structures but also fundamentally reshapes public space. For Longshui, the relocation apartments lack the communal spaces that once facilitated social interaction among villagers, leading to the dissolution of long-standing social networks. Additionally, the new urban fabric often prioritizes commercial and infrastructural development over preserving local identity and community needs. As a result, the collective memory embedded in rural public spaces is eroded, giving way to anonymous urban environments that fail to accommodate the social dynamics of the displaced communities.

The spontaneous repurpose of land by residents on the construction site, which situates within my site of interest, revives the country life and peasantry identity by reactivating agrarian practice. This complicates the urban context and forms a conflict between urban and rural lifestyles, top-down planning and bottom-up resistance. The site is on its becoming towards a negotiated ecology of complex relations.

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