Madrid is losing its cultural identity in the historical centre. Two neighbourhoods, in particular, are under significant pressure; La Latina and Lavapies. The city is at risk of losing the rich culture these neighbourhoods contribute, while problems such as gentrification, globalisation and global heating threaten them.
This research aims to prevent the cultural identities from disappearing from the centre through architectural interventions. Using the research-by-design method, various architectural
interventions are considered and tested for their physical and psychological qualities. The findings will lead to suggestive solutions that can be applied by architects during the design process.

This research aims to uncover the hidden/overlooked potential of high streets, which will contribute to enhancing their quality and highlighting the significant role these streets play in the formation and creation of community spaces in the city. The design aims to use the opportunities of different spots along the shopping streets that are important places for communities as a catalyst for change in the streets themselves. By identifying and connecting "hot spots," where a prominent presence of people is observed, and introducing new places, an interconnected system is formed, strengthening the overall fabric of the high street. Furthermore, through the strategic placement of a diverse range of functions within the existing building of the former shopping center and a newly designed structure, the project seeks to attract various actors and activate the new hot spots inside out. This research and design endeavor strives to unlock the latent potential of high streets, fostering vibrant and inclusive community spaces that promote engagement, interaction, and a sense of belonging.

How can the integral and multifunctional use of public space, subsurface, and buildings—within a densified urban environment—create space and value that contribute to an attractive and future-proof living environment? International interdisciplinary students from Delft University of Technology have outlined various design solutions by tackling this question. Manifest in all cases are the spatial bottlenecks on the level of public space. The hybridization of the urban and architectural program requires a cross-section thinking. The six real-life cases the students studied on are the result of a Flemish-Dutch collaboration of the project Stad × Ruimte: Leuven, Amsterdam, Oostende, Maastricht, Mechelen en Rotterdam.@en