Rigid Freedom
Structures for making
L. Pasman (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
R.S. Guis – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
O. Klijn – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
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Abstract
This graduation project investigates how concrete can function as a future-proof structural framework for adaptable live-work environments. Developed for the transformation of the Spaanse Polder in Rotterdam, the project responds to contemporary challenges of housing shortages, the displacement of productive activities, and the need for more sustainable building strategies.
The proposal introduces an adaptable support-infill framework that combines a durable concrete structure with replaceable timber infill elements. Rather than evaluating sustainability solely through short-term carbon reduction, the project explores how longevity, adaptability, and reuse can contribute to long-term environmental performance. By integrating low-carbon concrete innovations and designing for multiple programmatic lifecycles, the framework is intended to remain relevant and adaptable over a lifespan of up to 200 years.
The building accommodates creative makers through affordable live-work typologies that support both domestic life and small-scale production. At the urban scale, the framework acts as a repeatable strategy that reconnects housing and making, contributing to a productive urban network within the evolving district. Through the integration of social inclusion, adaptability, and architectural quality, the project demonstrates how a permanent structural framework can support changing spatial, social, and economic needs over time.