From Streets to Spaces
Designing sustainable mobility to improve liveability and accessibility in post-war neighbourhoods
B.S. van der Meer (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
R.J. Dijkstra – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
M.J. van Dorst – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
Maiara Biscaro Uliana – Mentor (TNO)
More Info
expand_more
Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.
Abstract
This graduation project investigates how spatial design for sustainable mobility can enhance liveability and accessibility in post-war neighbourhoods, using Hoge Vucht in Breda as a case study. In the context of climate change, urban densification, and the transition towards more sustainable cities, mobility plays a key role in shaping liveable neighbourhoods. Post-war areas in particular are dominated by car-oriented structures, reflecting the era in which they were built. This car-dependency creates a vicious cycle, causing air pollution, is not human-centred and takes up a lot of the land use in the city.
Two frameworks were developed to assess liveability, consisting of safety, spatial quality, health, community and accessibility, and a separate framework that zooms in further on accessibility, consisting of proximity, mobility, time and inclusiveness. These frameworks provide a structured lens to evaluate the spatial impact of design interventions.
A research-by-design approach was used with the case study area Hoge Vucht. Four scenarios are maximised, each emphasising one mobility type and one value of liveability or accessibility. These scenarios are assessed using the frameworks and combined into a single final design.
Key findings indicate that sustainable mobility and liveability reinforce one another: reduced car dominance creates space for play, social interaction, and nature. Reducing private car use does not automatically improve accessibility, but carefully designed sustainable mobility options help maintain and even enhance it. Improved proximity and high-quality walking and cycling paths ensure accessibility within the neighbourhood, while a well-connected cycling network, frequent and fast public transport, and a wide range of shared mobility ensure accessibility for longer distances. This transition requires time to change both public spaces and people’s travel behaviour. Starting with small-scale implementations and followed by larger infrastructure changes, a transition can be made from functional, car-dominant streets to valuable public spaces.