Due to carbon emissions and increased global temperatures, the need for carbon neutral materials is rising. As of 2024, the use of timber is growing rapidly. Still, timber is not the preferred material in the construction sector. As modern architecture is getting more complex geometries, 'fluid' construction materials like steel and concrete dominate the building sites. As timber has a straight geometry, making curved and complex shapes is not desirable. However, timber is a porous and hygroscopic material, it can absorb water from its surroundings and become more flexible. This characteristic has been utilized for over many centuries. By processing glulam or lvl beams or columns with steam or adhesives and clamps, curved structural elements can be manufactured. However, these bending methods are energy- and work-intensive and result in products which are not sustainable in terms of re-usability, recyclebility, etc. Furthermore, curved structural elements can be more efficient in terms of load distribution and material usage than the rectangular and straight counterpart. This thesis aims to research and develop complex structural curved floor elements produced with passive self-shaping.
After an initial bi-layer self-shaping test, multiple different typologies were designed, tested and compared with a conventional capped ceiling. Interconnections, treatment processes, assembly orders and timber species were investigated. For an efficient capped ceiling floor element, the curvature height to width ratio should be between 1/8 and 1/12. The elements designed and tested with both a water and a moisture treatment showed a maximum ratio of 1/45 or 26.8% of the 1/12 ratio. Meaning that it is possible to manufacture and produce a complex self-shaping floor element. There is much potential for the structural floor elements to reach the 1/12 ratio, however this could not be achieved during this research thesis.

The project explores ways to enhance sustainable building practices by addressing the impact of material availability on the construction industry. Instead of assuming materials are infinitely available, this study examines the implications of treating them as finite resources. Timber was chosen due to the complexities in reusing it and the lack of established workflows for its reuse.

A thorough literature review identified key aspects for developing effective timber reuse practices. Based on this, workflows were created to translate critical research aspects—such as structure, grading, matching, and product—into practical applications. These workflows aim to assist carpenters and wood structural designers in creating structural elements, especially interlocking solid timber joists. These joists are designed for easy assembly and improved structural performance of wooden beams without complex techniques.

The workflows were rigorously investigated and refined for feasibility. Experiments assessed material behavior, focusing on topological potential, challenges, and limitations. This research aims to develop robust workflows that support sustainable timber reuse in construction.

The paper establishes the need for a parametric design tool in contemporary tall timber construction, combining literature studies, expert interviews, and case study analyses. Findings reveal seven key challenges, including economic feasibility and fire safety, and explore techniques from recent tall timber developments. The conclusion highlights the potential of tall timber in reducing carbon footprint, balancing costs and sustainability, and introduces a parametric design tool serving as a decision-support system for architects, promoting the transition to timber as the main construction material in high-rise structures.

This research addresses the pressing need for adaptable architecture in rapidly urbanizing societies, focusing on the transformation of underutilized urban industrial buildings into adaptable student housing. Recognizing the challenges of modern urbanization, such as increasing single-person households and the resultant demand for individualized dwellings, the study explores adaptive reuse as a sustainable solution. It emphasizes preserving the historical and cultural significance of existing structures while infusing them with new life to meet contemporary and future demands. The methodological approach integrates a thorough literature review on adaptability in architecture, and timber construction, translating constraints into mathematical parameters suitable for informing a parametric model. The study concludes by establishing a comprehensive framework for designers using adaptable architecture principles and timber construction constraints to inform the development of a parametric model. It involves a strategic assessment of design possibilities within these constraints, aiming to balance aesthetic innovation with practical limitations

The life span of buildings is currently largely determined by economic motives. This often results in a large number of vacant buildings, or unsubstantiated demolition. Since the building industry has the most significant consumption of natural resources compared to other industries worldwide, it is important that the ecological motive gets prioritized more. A strategy to minimize the use of new materials and prevent demolition is to adapt existing buildings to new functional requirements. Current existing buildings are most often not built with the intention to be adapted in the future, making adaptation activities not feasible. Structures that are intented for future adaptation, are mostly focused on complete deconstruction, while most functional changes only require small adaptations. The aim of this research is to develop a framework for the design of adaptable load-bearing structures, focused on adapting individual building components to extend the functional life span of a building. Since there is a level of uncertainty related to the future life span of a building, a scenario based design method is used to formulate different design scenarios to which an adaptable structure should comply. The framework consists of five design domains: material, structural layout, kit-of-parts, building layers and construction process. These domains are explored parallelly on the aspect of adaptation and are evaluated using circular design qualities. The design proposal addresses a structural principle that consists of a primary and secondary connection, in which the secondary connection is used during an adaptation process. The adaptable structural system performs better on the circular design qualities when compared to existing circular systems, mainly on the independency and compatibility. However, the adaptability performance of a building is not solely reliant on the load-bearing structure. This principle only works when the other building layers are also designed with adaptability in mind. This research contributes to the building industry research field by providing a well-rounded overview of factors where adaptability could be implemented into the design process and rethinking the approach to handling the life span of a building.

Once, the Haydarpasa Railyard in Istanbul was a key link for railway traffic between Europe and Asia and a gate to the Turkish hinterland and Middle East. After the opening of the Bosphorus-crossing Marmaray Tunnel, it has lost its function and became abandoned.

Taking into account the various historical layers as well as the place of the site in the public memory, the design project proposes transforming the site into a park. This park is defined by the loop, a walkway on the path of a former sidetrack that defines the perimeter of the park and connects its different zones.

Along the loop, several interventions related to the different historical layers of the site and the inherent nostalgia are introduced. One of them is the ensemble of a panorama on top of an old turning disc as well as an existing ruinous locomotive shed, together forming a catalyst of nostalgia at the entrance of the new park. Now, after the train-traveling has stopped, this new Eastern gate to the park enables travels in time.

Integrating shipyards with the surrounding context and unveiling the strong relation between this historic industry and Istanbul. As mentioned in the problematization section, the industry shapes leftover spaces which are not currently used. The project will aim to utilize these spaces in the shipyards by creating a series of interventions without interfering with the industry’s processes while trying to invite people outside of this context. The result will be a number of different structures, varying in uses and functions, referred to as magnets. The organization of the structures and their program will be carefully structured. Each point will have a carefully selected purpose, acting both as an individual mechanism but also as an integral part of the holistic experience of the route that is created from linking all the different points. The route will transition from land to water to carefully frame and portray all the different perspectives the shipyard can be viewed from.

The purpose of those structures is going to address the technical aspect of the yards (architecture as a machine) where the ships become a source of materials that can be treated with different strategies to result to a variety of potential outcomes. Repurposing part of them while hosting new program or even fully disassembling them to create a material library for the construction of the new built fabric. The project will act as a demonstration of the endless possibilities of reusing and recycling parts and materials from retired ships.

The programmatic use of the interventions will aim to frame the shipyard, so that the visitor can understand the complex operations of the industry. Multiple viewing points are integrated to allow this to happen but also resting areas and temporary housing accommodations allow the visitor to slowly approach the complex spatial conditions that are present on site.
1. Reception and Changing rooms
2. Temporary Houses
3. Resting Space / Cafe
4. Observatory

Filtering and differentiation at borders shape the composition and multiplicity of living labor, as well as the formation of often exploitative labor regimes. The relation between migration and the garments and textile Industry in the area of Istanbul, the center of textile and garments production and simultaneously a destination and hub for migration is exemplary of this condition. Transnational economic, labor and migration policies are reflected in the spatial manifestation of the textile and garments sector in the area of Istanbul. This leads to a heterogeneity of practices in the organization of the production system with main suppliers, subcontractors, retailers, home based worker’s networks and logistics, creating dense industry clusters extending deep into residential areas converting them into assembly lines, turning neighborhoods into machines. While technology is advancing rapidly labor conditions have remained problematic and outdated production models account for overproduction and waste.
Architecture can address these socio political and economic issues and these in turn shape architecture therefore it is worth it to make an experiment and let the systems networks and methods of garment production contaminate architecture: How is architecture transformed by using and reshuffling networks and production processes of the garment industry? What does a hybridization of these production processes and systems uncover about them? Which parameters can be manipulated for architecture to act as an agent in improving labor conditions and production processes?
This context sets the frame for discussing issues such as transitions in labor and production models, genericness, mass customization, flexibility, high-tech versus low-tech sparking a debate on how we fabricate architecture.

Today, the building construction sector in the European Union consumes 40% of primary materials, and the same percentage of primary energy, making it an exhaustive industry responsible for resource depletion. At the same time the Netherlands is in need of more affordable housing. Drastic change is needed to produce the necessary housing in a way that is consistent with planetary limits. Timber as a renewable construction material could be a solution. However, careful consideration of the entire timber system is needed in order to make building with timber not just another way to exploit natural resources. This graduation project proposes a possible solution by building social housing with locally sourced timber in the Netherlands.

This thesis ‘Growing Social Housing’ is part of a joint graduation project with Yael van Mengden (Msc Landscape Architecture). This interdisciplinary project proposes a new system from dynamic production forestry to social housing in the Netherlands.

The building industry's unmistakable share in climate change ensured that many policies have been implemented to reduce its impact. However, most policies cover the operational energy and -emissions of buildings, and not their upfront embodied impacts. Fortunately, wood-based building products proved to be viable alternatives to more conventional materials such as concrete and steel since they have been attributed a lower environmental impact. Thus, they are often regarded as sustainable. However, the sustainability of wood is not absolute. The research paper explores just how much more sustainable wood-based structures are compared to their conventional counterparts in terms of their embodied impact. It turns out that a sustainable building starts with compact city design which has a lower energy use per capita. This sustainable urbanism paradigm, in combination with timber building design, yields the lowest environmental impact. Moreover, technical innovation in timber engineering ensured that it is now able to compete with concrete and steel, and the added benefit of timbers versatility vouches for its use. In the research paper, Life-cycle-assessment (LCA) is applied to a built case in Rotterdam which illustrates the environmental benefit of multi-storey timber building structures, even in the most unfavorable scenario for the timber variants. The findings of the research directly inform the architectural design. The design proposes a way forward for the TU Delft amidst many contradictory considerations; How can the TU Delft accommodate the growing student population whilst complying with its sustainability goals? The design focuses on the worst-performing building on campus, building 22. It has been redesigned in accordance with the TU Delft ambitions and facilitates cross-pollination between different faculties. Because if we want to truly tackle our most urgent societal issues, we should bring all ideas together, and have a diverse group of people look at them creatively.

In the urban and coastal region surrounding the Marmara Sea, a detachment between human life and the ocean is emerging that seems primarily caused by the consequences of post-industrial anthropogenic processes. The effects are seen in the form of a mucilage plague in the waters, posing a threat to marine life, and thereby emphasizing the urgent need for intervention. This project, strives to unveil the interplay between the natural dynamics of the Sea of Marmara and our human relationship with this vital, pulsating ecosystem.

At its core, the architectural intervention proposes a symbiotic architecture, positioning itself as a mediator that is bridging the widening gap between humanity and nature: An eco-centric approach that dissolves the conventional demarcation lines between land and water. By showcasing the various activities occurring in our oceans, the project seeks to enhance the visible connection and experience, developing a strengthened collective awareness of the ecological body we are part of. A carefully curated journey through an architectural landscape aims to create a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness and cyclical rhythms inherent to the surrounding landscape. Drawing from the insights of J. Bloomer, who challenges the conventional notion of coastlines as mere edges, the project embraces the concept of interrelational edge zones. Here, the terrain is seen not as a binary transition but as a dynamic and continuous process.

In essence, the project aspires to not only address the immediate ecological concerns surrounding the Marmara Sea but also to spark a shift in our collective consciousness. By connecting architectural innovation with ecological principles, it strives to establish a harmonious co-existence between humans and the natural world, fostering a deep ecological awareness that transcends traditional boundaries.

From a global perspective, the building industry is one of the significant factors of environmental impact on the planet. Related activities in this industry refer to 40% of total carbon emissions; 28% of this value accounts for building operations, while the remaining 12% represents the manufacturing of new construction materials. Studies have revealed that 90% of construction waste comes from demolition (Ahn et al., 2022). Wood as a construction material is an uprising in the building practice due to its carbon storage capabilities and prefabricated possibilities (Gong, 2021). Prefabricated timber constructions can benefit rural Colombia's social reconstruction with the help of digital fabrication technologies. Likewise, this method could bring better performance of materials and its End of Life (EOL) (Ahn et al., 2022). Nevertheless, research has identified wood-to-wood timber connections as a gap in the academia to tackle better design, manufacture, assembly, and deconstruction (DfMA + D) in the field (Mehra et al., 2021). The following study aims to investigate the application of CNC technologies to fabricate novel and affordable wood joinery connection solutions for the construction of rural housing in Colombia. This research emphasizes the cooperation of the wood material to moisture fluctuation, with the aim of introducing a more sustainable and efficient assembly method.

The Binckhorst in The Hague is one of the most promising development areas of The Netherlands. Over the next years, it will continue to develop into a high density mixed-use area. Among the tabula-rasa state of Binckhorst, a Public Building will be placed in the form of a music venue. Between the orthogonal high-rise blocks, a key-project will set the tone for the cultural development in the area.

This development will be defined in a classical sense. Research shows that classical music has seen an uprising with the evolution of the internet and specifically, streaming services (Roberts, 2020) democratizing classical music through mass accessibility and distribution. However, the live classical music scene has always strongly followed formal tradition, aswell as its corresponding buildings. Thus, there is too little attention for the more experimental and modernistic development of classical music architecture. This project aims to focus on manifesting this internet-oriented, more dynamic, and informal side of classical music.

This leads to the main question:
How can dynamic re-iteration of concert hall designs modernise the audience experience of the live contemporary music scene?

This question is answered through a series of research subjects; Object, Movement and Experience. The first architectural subject is researched through morpho-typological analysis of concert hall precedents, based on J.N.L. Durand and Aldo Rossi. Then, the second and third subjects are analysed by looking through the lens of praxeology and phenomenology, using theories of Henri Lefebvre and Merleau-Ponty. The fruits of these analyses result in a toolbox of design elements that will be used for the creation of a building typology that fits this new development in a long-lasting formal culture. The new project is to introduce dynamism, multiplicity and multifunctionality to the historical prototype, to allow for stimulation of the modernistic classical music experience.

My graduation project seeks to create a community marketplace and elderly co-housing complex for Houthaven and Spaarndammer neighbourhood in Amsterdam that strengthen their connections with urban greenery and local hinterland.
The design focus on implementing local biodegradable material and resource in architecture and programme.

The housing shortage in the Netherlands and the high contribution of the construction sector towards climate change demands a different approach towards affordable housing. A combination of the concept of a 'housing cooperative' and the implementation of 'low-tech principles' on all scales of the design tries to bring back affordable housing back to the people in a sustainable way, where the pillars 'People', 'Planet' and 'Profit' are in balance. A pure light timber frame system with universal, interchangeable elements forms the basis for standardised housing units. By arranging the units in different ways and by giving the users freedom in infill and finishing, the housing cooperative is able to choose how they want to shape their living environment. Overarching aspects throughout the design are 'simplicity', 'rationality', 'locality' and 'human scale'.

Bridge the gap is a project that shows how with flexibility and energy neutrality existing and upcoming office vacancy can be successfully transformed. This all in cooperation with the Open Building ideology where the current building process is questioned and a spot early-on in the building process is reserved for the residents. With the use of this case study and the help of the created toolbox the whole of the Netherlands can reduce its CO² emissions but also solve a big part of the housing shortage with a place to stay for everyone within society.

The design assignment of the graduation project for public buildings is to design a music marvel in the Binckhorst, a district in The Hague. This task is translated into a building in which music will play a central role. For the design of my music marvel, I have set some ambitions for what a music marvel means to me. Music marvel is a building where visitors can discover music in different ways. It includes two concert halls, a large recording studio and spaces where artists can rehearse or teach. In the design, the concert halls consist of a small one (150 people) to give starting artists a chance to perform. Then there is a large concert hall for more famous artists which, depending on the set-up, can seat 800-1500 people. The large concert hall is a new type of concert hall in which transparency and versatility are the two most important characteristics that distinguish it from the rest of the halls in the Hague and its surroundings. It is a hall that is focused on amplified music but where the performance has no limits due to the hall. The hall is characterised by its supporting structure, which also makes its experience unique.

This makes for a building that brings the various themes in the world of music under one roof. In addition, my design is also a meeting place for people from Brinkhorst and beyond. Not only music lovers, but also non-music fanatics can come here. To strengthen this attraction, a not directly related function to music is integrated into the design, which is skatepark with community house. This is an existing community in the Binckhorst, and the design thus also ties in programmatically with the existing needs of Binckhorst.

While other disciplines take the concept of chance as crucial to understand the world and integrate it into their practice, which took their practice to another level bringing freedom and triggering creativity, architecture is still concerned about solidity, rationality, structure, firmness, and hierarchy. As we develop a better understanding of the indeterminacy of the future, tools and methods have been developed to control it so far. Today computational practices in architecture are being used to control indeterminacy and achieve the optimal instead of embodying it into practice. That results in the mass-production of repetitive and over-determined spaces and programs which limits movement and creativity. In addition to that, most of those spaces will have the same destiny, being replaced with a new one.

The research focuses on an approach for the architect who is confronted with an increasingly indeterminate environment and cityscape with unexpected dynamics. For that, it investigates how architecture can embody processes of indeterminacy and chance by studying its appearance in music, architecture, arts, and philosophy. This creates a foundation but is later expanded and implemented according to the conditions and by making use of the existing qualities of Binkhorst related to the studio theme Music Marvel.

The result of the study is a place that strategically embodies chance/indeterminacy within its operation, a public space that gathers the diverse population of The Hague by generating various events around music and performance.

This is a graduation project within the Public Building studio, where multiplicity and human scale is researched in the typology of a music venue. Hereby the theme of the studio, “Music Marvel - Music & Popular Culture Re-Wired”, is explored and experimented with.

The Binckhorst, in The Hague, is on the brink of change. The formal industrial focused site will change to a residential area. Thus the whole identity of the Binckhorst will change. The future plans of the Binckhorst sketch a rather well thought out plan on how to create as many as possible high-rise buildings with a high FSI (floor space index). But what the plan lacks is the social and cultural development that can be beneficial to the new identity of the area. Therefore bringing back the human touch is of a high importance.

The Spoorboogzone, where the future plans are still undefined, is therefore well suited to balance out this problem by creating the social and cultural catalyst that is needed to create a new common identity for the new neighborhood. While it is very well connected with both main train stations of The Hague as well as the city center, the main challenge is how to connect the existing identity and heritage of the Spoorboogzone, such as the railyard and the Bink36 building with the future planning of the area.