Young graduates are facing housing difficulties in the Chinese metropolis. The Chinese government published new policies to encourage regeneration of the land stock resources as affordable rental housing targeting young people. This study aims to explore how urban regeneration can benefit young graduates’ livability. Specifically, it investigates the possibility to regenerate urban villages as affordable rental housing provisions. In this context, affordable rental housing tackles spatial inequities and should be located in opportunity-rich areas.
To test the assumption that urban villages can be regenerated as affordable rental housing, spatial analysis on multiple scales was conducted and four well-located urban villages were chosen as cases to study. The villages were evaluated based on the indicators from young graduates’ demand analysis, and different governance models were analyzed to explore the possibilities for regeneration. The results shows that the conflict between the private interest in densification and public interest in open space is the main challenge for regeneration, and not only the spatial intervention but also the operation mechanism need to be proposed.
These results suggest that encouraging spontaneous regeneration by combining top-down and bottom-up strategies may be an approach for future regeneration as well as a chance to legalize the informal village settlement. This requires not only the efforts of the village collective but also the support and active participation of the public sector. By improving the public space network and doing some experiments on strategic projects, the regeneration strategy can be tested and applied to other well-located urban villages in Shenzhen, providing more affordable housing options for young graduates.

This project addresses the many inhuman-scale superblocks that have resulted from the rapid urbanization of China over the past decades. These superblocks suffer from problems such as poor accessibility and a monotonous urban landscape. This project begins with a review of the development of superblocks in the West and in China, where superblocks have inherited the ancient Chinese urban paradigm while also being influenced by modernist urban planning. At the same time, China's land finance policy has created a reliance on superblocks as an urban development model for both government and developers. The need for urban regeneration and urban densification is both a challenge and an opportunity for the transformation of superblocks. Using Shenzhen as an example, two superblocks are selected for analysis and design based on the extent of the need for urban regeneration. By analyzing the network and functional distribution of these two superblocks, the problems of superblocks can be attributed to the abuse of closed neighborhoods and the mismatch between networks and activities. In addition, the current urban regeneration model in Shenzhen does not effectively improve the problems of superblocks. Thus, the project proposes that the regeneration units of superblocks should be integrated at the district scale and the degree of integration of the superblock network should be improved. At the same time, existing closed settlements should be replaced by more open block types to produce smaller blocks and more frequent streets and to match the functions corresponding to the road hierarchy. In addition, supporting block management policies need to be developed. Ultimately these strategies will be shown as an urban design scheme that will enable the transformation of superblocks to more livable blocks.

Amsterdam is a city known for its vibrancy, tolerance and diversity. In the last few decades, the city has grown immensely and is expected to continue to grow in the coming years. Therefore, it looks across the IJ-river to redevelop its northern city part. The former harbour, industry and labour-class neighbourhoods need revitalisation after years of neglect. However, current development is predominantly focused on the waterfront and does little to integrate the low-density areas beyond. After years of neglect and isolation, the existing population fear the new developments that attract people with different lifestyles to Amsterdam-Noord. As the pressure to urbanise Amsterdam-Noord increases, it is required to consider how it can be adapted to manage the densification and urbanisation. The gap between new and old (development and people) is striking and needs to be bridged. This thesis explores how by increasing urban vitality, this gap can be bridged.
Urban vitality can be experienced in the public realm. It is precisely there where people can meet and mingle. Urban vitality is a quality of cities that stimulates liveliness and liveability. It requires diversity, concentration of people and accessible and inclusive public life and functions. How to achieve urban vitality is researched in literature and by using reference cases. This is then translated into a system of patterns, and these are applied at two strategic locations on 3 sites.
The three design explorations have different approaches for increasing urban vitality. Beemsterstraat I strives to fit in the existing urban fabric and activate the nodes to stimulate urban life. Beemsterstraat II uses additions to make a residential neighbourhood more active. Finally, the kampferfoelieweg is more drastic as it incorporates many new buildings to patch up and define left-over space and forms a dynamic link between many neighbourhoods. Although these three approaches vary on the implementation, the intention is similar: to provide meeting places and link communities through public life and awareness of others at strategic locations in a regional network. Operating stakeholder relations, continuous adaptation and maintenance of the built environment, engaging and empowering the local community is crucial to preserve urban vitality.

With the explosive growing population in Chengdu, the demand for urban drinking water is increasing, and the application of water conservation regulations is becoming more and more stringent. However, with the delineation of water source protection zones, villages and small counties in the upper reaches of Chengdu have been affected a lot.
The upstream of Chengdu, which is part of the Dujiangyan irrigation area, is the typical western Sichuan style village with its vernacular wisdom of living with water. But now they are expected to leave and move into a collective community with fixed reimbursement due to the water source protection policy. Local small industries and livestock raising are no longer allowed, and agricultural production is also restricted due to the risk of water pollution. A similar development limitation has a great impact on small counties as well. Besides the economic loss, the authentic lifestyle that carries water culture has also suffered the loss. Metropolis gains priority on water and the indigenous people are sacrificed. And this water injustice issue is even exacerbated when the new modernized neighborhood came since the informal development is intolerant by the government.
Therefore, this research will explain the conceptualization of water justice and the key elements in this specific local urbanization context. Through the analysis of the impact by water extraction infrastructure, the tangible water value, the virtual value of water, and the cultural preservation, measuring the expulsion of this water project and the livelihood of the locals. Then clarifying the multiple-layer influence of the water conservation interventions in this irrigation area and emphasizing the importance of water justice especially for the indigenous people with the social survey, literature review, and comparison of other villages. And scenario testing of different possible new development in the perspective of different priorities to find a balanced solution for both sides.
This research is aiming to engage flexible water conservation policies with the methods of tax reimbursement and local empowerment, explore a win-win way of both the water use cities and water source districts. And for this specific case, find out a sustainable development way with a comprehensive consideration for vulnerable groups which allows them to keep their positive way of living while doing the water conservancy.