The premise from the book:

"As said before this project is not a typical research. Although many sources are used, no data is collected and no hypotheses are proven. It is an active research, an artistic research one
might say, which is ongoing and really never finished.
Instead of proving arguments it is more about the practice of doing. While it starts out more analytical, which can be seen in the following pages. At a certain point the project turned more intuitive. There was a realisation that this approach would gain me more, just as the potential reader.
That is why the project is structured around three made films. All three completely different in subject, media and technology. But together in the end they might complement eachother
and reveal a greater value.
The order is one: “Terrain vague”, the film for P1, almost like a stop-motion. This mainly focuses on the Friche, and is a kind of site analysis. Two, :”Walk like me”. A camera verité style street documentary. With a combination of fiction and reality giving a glimpse of (Brussels) urban life. And lastly a film where all media are techniques are blend, and hopefully, everything from the year comes together, in one final film presenting the design of the storyhouse “A window to the world.”

Mismatched architecture is defined as architecture whose current situations don’t match their original settings during transformation. This mismatch manifests itself as a mismatch in form, function, and context, among others. Mismatched architecture is a self-adapting process of architecture and society, it gives us an insight into the collective memories of the neighborhood.

Architecture and landscape in the urban environment are often the results of a mixture of economic, political, and social demands, and they sometimes grow into mismatched architecture when the demands gradually change over time. Sometimes mismatched architecture brings chaos and confusion, but “…in exchange, it contains a quality of freedom for production” (Kaijima, Kuroda, Tsukamoto, 2006). They are mismatched but fit.

For architectural designs, the question is, how to use the mismatched characteristics to create productive spaces?

'The Scarred City', the theme of the Urban Architecture graduation studio in 2022/2023. This location-based studio started with Droixhe/Bressoux, a troublesome and difficult area in Liège (Belgium), as the overarching project site. Starting with fieldwork and participatory research into the hidden social structures of Bressoux and Droixhe and resulting in the importance and absence of nature in the area and its relevance, this thesis grew into a project aiming to contribute to childhood development in Bressoux and Droixhe by strengthening nature connectivity. Drawing workshops on the theme: 'what is nature?' with primary schools in Rotterdam, in comparable demographic neighbourhoods, where key to understanding children's perception of nature and observing their nature connectivity and inspired and aided in the design of a children’s community/leisure centre in Park de l’Oasis. A building which functions as the anchor between child and nature and where the design and its current natural environment go hand in hand to achieve the project’s aim.

This thesis delves into the intricate urban landscape of Liège, Belgium, notably focusing on the fragmented neighborhood of Bressoux. The narrative evolves from the city's physical and social scars to the exploration of its diverse communities, hidden beneath the veneer of cultural diversity. Integrating insights from Italo Calvino's Invisible Cities, the study addresses the complexities of social integration and the dynamics of the multicultural demographic in Bressoux. It investigates how architecture can serve as a conduit to bridge the gap between different social groups and foster a sense of community.

The initial research phase involves extensive community engagement and documentation, revealing the isolated and divided nature of Bressoux, primarily due to the lack of public spaces and underlying socio-cultural differences. The researcher's focus shifts to comprehending the sociological impact of urban segregation, using literature references and comprehensive studies on the appropriation of space at various scales. Through photography and object analysis, the study identifies the diverse cultural markers and daily routines that contribute to the formation of social identities within the neighborhood.

Drawing inspiration from contemporary architectural principles, the research emphasizes the significance of participatory design in fostering community engagement and ownership. Analysis of case studies such as Cedric Price's Fun Palace and Lina Bo Bardi's SESC Factory underlines the pivotal role of user involvement in creating dynamic, adaptable, and inclusive public spaces. The study ultimately proposes a design strategy that encourages dialogue, participation, and the integration of diverse cultural heritages, envisioning a reimagined urban fabric that prioritizes social cohesion and mutual understanding.

As Liège grapples with the challenges of an evolving cultural landscape, the thesis project suggests a comprehensive approach to transform the urban environment of Bressoux. By leveraging the transformative power of architecture, the study seeks to facilitate a sense of belonging and interconnectedness, redefining the scars of the city into bridges that unite its diverse inhabitants.

Both urban voids and Bressoux are facing the same issue - exist in the city but do not belong to it. The voids are the by-product of urban planning, and the relationship between positive space (massing buildings) and negative spaces (voids) is barely included in design consideration. Generally, these spaces are perceived as a phenomenon of emptiness, neither productive in the urban fabric nor possessing a recognizable role in the neighborhood. Therefore, they never truly integrate into the neighborhood and indeed exist as urban segregation.

However, the nature of emptiness is also regarded as a kind of spatial quality and possesses a certain degree of potential. The project aimed to reposition the role of voids by seeing them as volume and a new interior to the neighborhood. By exploring the movement between interior and exterior, inverting the solid void, it is aimed to transform voids as a mending tool to reconnect the dispersed neighborhood as well as create an alternative public space that truly belongs to the locals.

The 'Fluid space' project has demonstrated that the study of Finding Forms and the abandonment of assigned functions for buildings has led to a refinement of architectural design specific to the site. At the same time, the project raises questions about contemporary problems in architecture, such as sustainability and the dominant practice of function-based construction.
The results of Finding Forms experiments - influence, grid and scale studies - resulted mainly in testing intuitions, which were then translated into design aftejavascript:void(0);r a reflection. Material and technical requirements influenced intuitive forms at a later stage. This posed the project’s greatest challenge: maintaining sight of the experiments despite the guidelines of material and technical requirements and keeping choices constantly reflecting with intuition.

This year's urban architecture graduation studio proposes a site specific approach within the district of Bressoux, on the fringe of the city of Liège. Seeking for opportunities in the working class district, after the industry has left the stage, a courtyard on a corner is found. Behind the perimeter wall, basic necessities for those in need are taken care of. A food bank, a restaurant, a social desk, a shower. The project proposes to rethink the collection of functions by adapting the existing masonry structures through carving & grafting. Opening and adding, allowing for new ways of occupation. And then to add something new to the table. Opening the gate for 24h and introducing a shelter and transit home, offering a bed during the night. Scenographic models and drawings are used to design and represent the spaces of the courtyard, as well as the objects & life within them. 

The project is situated in the neighbourhood of Bressoux in the post-industrial city Liege in Belgium. Bressoux felt at first as a deserted place. It gave the impression that only people live here because of financial necessity. The people with better jobs move away, the ones left behind seem forgotten and neglected. “The winner takes it all!” is the attitude of our economy (Brugmans, 2016, p.6). What is left for the ‘others’? Are they the ones hidden behind the facades of Bressoux? What will their future perspective be?
In order to explore the lives of the people in multicultural neighbourhoods like Bressoux, a common ground had to be found. I believe it is food. And to be more specific: bread. Bread is used in almost every cuisine of every culture. Therefore the research follows the journey of bread trough time, space and the everyday life: Daily bread. The historical and social-cultural research of the production and consumption of bread, also led to an extended research on milling and (communal) wood-fire ovens. The research gave awareness of the importance of how we deal with our primary needs of food, warmth and community. They should be more visible and more directly involved in our daily lives.
The conclusion of the research is translated into the design. The design contains a communal oven within a living room for the neighbourhood, connected with a mill factory using the traditional stone-milling. This is situated in an existing building and surrounded by seven new-built apartment blocks. The apartment blocks consists of three or five apartments, all connected with the chimney of a tile-stove which provides most of the warmth and is located on the ground floor in a shared space.
The mill gives the neighbourhood the opportunity to buy local produces and healthy flour and the communal wood-fire oven a place to make their own bread or other food and share it with their neighbours in a warm space. The housing is based on the principle of sharing the responsibility of their warmth, which creates communities within the building block. So this project tries to give people an alternative future perspective in the winner-takes it all society by reconsidering the way we handle our primary needs. In order to hopefully improve the lives of ‘those others’, simply by giving back the control of their food, warmth and community.

"Interwoven: Rethinking Work-Live Relations in a Post-Industrial Neighborhood" is a graduation project focused on the neighbourhood Bressoux in Liege, Belgium. This project aims to address the socio-economic challenges of a post-industrial city by reimagining the relationship between work and living spaces. By repurposing existing industrial structures within the neighbourhood and integrating new buildings, the project creates a vibrant and interconnected community. It provides opportunities for local craftsmen, entrepreneurs, and residents to work, collaborate, and engage in shared activities. Through thoughtful design, the project seeks to revitalise the neighbourhood, foster social cohesion, and empower the financial and social position of the city.

This project was concerned with the design of a homeless shelter in the neighbourhood of Bressoux, Liège. Positions of three architects regarding the attitude of Weiterbauen are explored and expressed through an essay, ultimately shaping a personal architectural position towards the social and architectural embedding of a homeless shelter in the neighbourhood.

The urban tissue of Bressoux, characterized by scars from its architectural and cultural history, presents a unique challenge in terms of revitalization and community integration. This research aims to explore the potential of adaptive strategies and cooperative living as catalysts for mending the urban tissue of Bressoux. The research question guiding this study is: How can adaptive strategies and cooperative living contribute to mending the urban tissue of Bressoux?

To address this question, a comprehensive literature review was conducted, focusing on urban regeneration, adaptive strategies, and cooperative living models. The study incorporates a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative analysis of case studies and interviews with key stakeholders, along with quantitative data analysis to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current state of the urban tissue in Bressoux and the potential for adaptive strategies and cooperative living to contribute to its revitalization.

The analysis of case studies from various urban contexts demonstrated the effectiveness of adaptive strategies in addressing urban scars and creating vibrant and sustainable communities. These strategies encompassed a range of interventions, such as adaptive reuse of existing structures, flexible floor plans, and design approaches that prioritize community engagement and participation.

Furthermore, the examination of cooperative living models showcased their potential to foster community cohesion and social interaction. The integration of cooperative housing within the urban fabric of Bressoux can provide opportunities for shared facilities, collaborative decision-making, and mutual support among residents. This model promotes a sense of belonging and ownership among community members, which contributes to the mending of the urban tissue and the revitalization of Bressoux.

This research provides valuable insights into the potential of adaptive strategies and cooperative living as means to mend the urban tissue of Bressoux. The findings underscore the importance of context-specific interventions that take into account the unique history, culture, and social dynamics of Bressoux. By embracing adaptive strategies and promoting cooperative living, Bressoux can embark on a transformative journey towards a revitalized urban fabric that fosters community cohesion, sustainability, and a high quality of life for its residents.

In light of the current discussion in architecture regarding healthcare, we often disregard the qualities of “old-fashioned” healthcare buildings.
In the neighbourhood of Droixhe, Liege, this is no different. The site used to be inhabited by a thriving healthcare residence named ‘Les Murlais’, however, its thoughtless demolition erased not just the physical entity but also a caring architectural gesture that once shaped lives. The scar is still visible as the concrete pit was all that remained.
‘Une Centre de Vitalité’ is a design proposal seeking to redeem the qualities of ‘Les Murlais’ by addressing and implementing patient-based design with an ecological approach regarding the concrete pit as a layer of the site which should be respected. The design provides flexible spaces for the currently neglected healthcare practices of the neighbourhood and in addition spaces for physical activities and sports. A healthcare building in a residential area should not be a fenced-off place for illness but a place to regain strength and come together. The design proposes a nature-inclusive building with attention to biobased materials and forward-striving climate concepts.

Reinterpreting the Elephant is about the reinterpretation of abandoned industrial buildings in the city of Liège. Through proposing a craft school in Bressoux, a neighbourhood of Liège, the project tries to reclaim craft in the city and give the city a new chance. By reusing an existing abandoned industrial building and reinterpreting the features of these 'elephants' the new building is shaped.

Viaduct 53 is a club that combines unique experiences and business accommodations for its local and international members and guests.
Nightlife always played an economic and cultural factor in both regional and social growth. From Speakeasies to the iconic Studio 54 and the contemporary night scene, peculiar places have served as unique spectacles that embraced the desire for inclusivity, self-expression, and social standing. In 2040 pervasive sedentary and digitalized lifestyles inflate the fragmentation of reality through images, Viaduct 53 satisfies that image obsession and the thrill of escapism to a converted reality.
The club is located in Zurich’s industrial district in one of the most visited shopping streets of the city, developed in 2004. Taking advantage of the area’s characteristics and being certified by Fashion House with the Growing the Scene certification the club is designed for the spectator to explore it from the entrance to each room of the premises. Under the arches, the club stands hidden by a hill of greeneries. Once inside, through the food vendor at the tip of the shopping street, the ambient of the spaces, the arches, and the various levels cause a feeling of detachment from daily life leaving the spectator free to fulfill all his desires.

Through a deep understanding of the social-historical and architectural background of the site, this thesis presents a project proposal for the neighbourhood of Droixhe in Liege, Belgium with the purpose of structuring the multiple layers of complexity the area has. The project focuses on the urban plan of the neighborhood and how through architecture one building can attempt to solve the multiple contrasting characters of the public spaces around it based on the life the space is meant to house.

Maastricht has a long history as an industrial city and used to be well-known for its ceramics, rubber and paper industries. Due to the decline in industrial production, workspaces and industrious activities are leaving the city and are becoming increasingly secluded from the public sphere. With the Studio theme being gleaning, the project is looking to find value in the existing while giving it a new meaning through interventions and adaptions. It therefore aims to introduce workspaces into the urban fabric of Maastricht and make them meaningful for the urban environment on the site of a former paper mill. Through the lens of philosophical anthropology, these workspaces become essential spaces in the city, facilitating a plurality of activities, allowing encounters and exchange and enriching the urban experience.

Urban Paraphrasis imagines urban transformation through the potential of localized material re-use and the capacities of citizen empowerment in the context of Maastricht’s Sphinxkwartier. The project presents an alternative civic center that is built with reclaimed materials from an abandoned clay factory, engages a local community of squatters, and is built among a former factory site with vacant industrial structures and the remains of a bridge.

The project Open House, ‘gleans’ a derelict and underutilised part of the riverfront in Maastricht and gives it over to the everyday people of the city in the form of a public building - an Arts Centre for Maastricht. The ambition for the project is to create an architecture that will mesh seamlessly with the public realm, breaking down the conventional barriers between public and private.

Typically, the establishment of artists studios in existing building stock is the initial trigger of the process of gentrification, but this project tries to resist this cycle of gentrification by giving artists a permanent place to reside in the city, specifically designed for their needs. The idea is to connect artists with the public, forming a mutually beneficial relationship.

The aim is to create a porous building that activates the outdoor public spaces surrounding it and feels open and accessible to all, hence the name Open House – by definition, a “place or situation in which all visitors are welcome”.

This design agenda is a response to contemporary issues of spatial inequity, privatisation of space, and commodification of space, which were uncovered through continued research into the themes of Spatial Justice, Gentrification and Authenticity.