To The Next level
Redefining the Common between the Horizontal and Vertical realm
F.B. Kaaij (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
F. Rizzetto – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
E.W.T.M. Heurkens – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
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Abstract
Combining insights from urban design theory and political philosophy, this research aims to bridge the gap between public and private spaces in cities. While existing approaches to urban design have successfully enhanced social cohesion at the street level, they fail to address the potential of spaces within and on top of buildings.
This thesis proposes a cross-disciplinary framework for embedding semi-public functions in and around high-rise developments, functions that invite social interaction, inclusivity, and civic presence in the vertical dimension of the city. By integrating perspectives from Urban Management, Urban Planning, and Urban Design, the research addresses both conceptual and operational barriers that inhibit the vertical expansion of public life.
Achieving this ambition requires a shift in how ownership, access, and publicness are understood, alongside practical tools to navigate legal complexities and spatial hierarchies. Through spatial design strategies and organisational models, the research demonstrates how elevated spaces can become legible, accessible, and socially meaningful extensions of the urban commons.