Urban planners and decision-makers face several challenges in keeping cities liveable. Getting a well-working urban freight system is one of these underexposed challenges, where there is still a lack of knowledge and awareness among them. Current freight policies are insufficient to tackle the increasing negative externalities due to lack of knowledge and awareness on urban freight and measures. The problem of increasing urban freight activities in cities can be considered as a generic problem, however, it will need different solutions, dependent on the characteristics of each urban area. With the Rotterdam-The Hague Metropolitan Area (MRDH) as a case study, the project aims to develop a strategic framework for local authorities to accommodate the increasing logistic demand of retailers while reducing negative transport externalities. The research has proposed a two folded solution for the spatial organisation of urban freight: urban consolidation (bundling flows of freight) and urban multimodality (using multiple modes). Based on the strategic framework and design proposals, it can be concluded that changing the spatial organisation of urban freight could potentially reduce the number of freight kilometres in the MRDH and thus negative externalities. There is a huge potential for urban multimodality (especially on the water) when integrated into urban freight strategies. A well-considered allocation of urban consolidation centres and other proposed nodes can create several synergies and strengthen this potential. Proposed interventions contribute to the liveability of the city by reducing the number of trucks in ‘vulnerable’ urban areas. Ultimately, the strategic framework gives new perspectives of urban freight to local authorities and can be environmental, social en economical beneficial and improve liveability.

The coastline of South Florida has undergone a drastic change in the last century and this has had a major impact on flood safety and natural resources of its inhabitants. Natural coastlines supporting mangrove and wetland have been transformed into seawalls with buildings. It is estimated that in the last 100 years, 40 percent of the mangrove coast and significant parts of wetland, pine forest and sea grass have disappeared. (“Florida’s Mangroves | Florida Department of Environmental Protection”, 2019). Mangrove forests stand out to be a future- oriented way of natural coastal defense for South Florida. Although they mainly appear in calm tropical waters, they can withstand and recover from tropical storms. Their unique growth habit with a characteristic root system and branching forms a robust forest, that functions as a natural coastal defense. Also, marine life is dependent on the nursery grounds provided by the root system of the trees and maintaining a healthy fish stock (Sheppard, 2018). We can learn from the past that this forest provides the land with a natural levee and protect against flooding. Also, this natural system has potential to adapt to the consequences of climate change that highly urbanized areas like Miami are already facing and which will increase rapidly in the future. This research identifies and explores design strategies and principles for the mangrove landscape of Biscayne Bay in order to reduce the flood risk of Miami Metropolitan Area, as well as provides aesthetic, ecological and functional qualities that contributes to the identity and resilience of this coastal region. This is done through design-related-research, that divides this research in two domains. Design research, which consist of a system analysis and examination of best practices and research by design, which involves design experiments. The result is a layered landscape strategy that contributes to the harmony of the natural coastal landscape of Biscayne Bay and thereby restores its functions. The systematic strategy is converted into a spatial design, applying principles gathered from best practices. This landscape architectural design adds an extra dimension to the mangrove landscape that will invite the residents of the Miami Metropolitan Area to experience through exposure to changes and value its aesthetic and ecological qualities and protective functions.

The graduation project is about finding a way to make legibility applicable in urban design. Information on legibility is converted into (applicable) practical bits of information: patterns. The applicability of the patterns are tested with a design in a context.

Structuralism represents an architecture that can interact, grow and adapt. The buildings can be recognised by their vivid open structures, composition of small units, and a spatial organisation like a city. As a reaction to CIAM functionalism, the avant-garde members of Team 10 proposed inclusive and social space and a more human form of urbanism and architecture. Starting in 1959, Dutch Structuralism became a very influential movement in the development of architecture in The Netherlands. Now the Structuralist legacy has become heritage. Once the agent of a new era, the pioneering nature of this architecture seems to have faded and it is this building stock that is now in need of renewal. Although some of the Structuralist buildings have become icons, their existence is at stake. Many buildings are facing transformation or demolition, because they do not meet contemporary demands. Despite the design of open structures, being flexible for the future by extrapolation of the structure or adaptation within the building, many of the Structuralist buildings show shortcomings in for example; indoor climate, aesthetic appearance and programmatic possibilities. Recently, the renovation of Aldo van Eyck’s orphanage in Amsterdam has been completed, which once was the inspirational example for many of his contemporaries. Other icons of Structuralism still await a new future, like the Centraal Beheer office in Apeldoorn and the Ministry of Social Affairs in The Hague designed by Herman Hertzberger. Although several buildings have been renovated, there are no standard solutions. We believe that profound knowledge about both the original Structuralist buildings and the argumentation for redesign can help to prepare intervention strategies for upcoming projects. What building characteristics prove to be successful? Are these specific for one building, the oeuvre of one architect or widespread among this generation of buildings? Do renovation concepts reuse or contradict initial design themes? How can necessary renovations do justice to the cultural and architectural values of these icons? Do the icons prove what is promised? Or do we need alternative strategies? This exhibition ‘The Future of Structuralism’ shows our search for what Structuralism is and our assessment of some of its opportunities and shortcomings. But most importantly, it focusses on potential strategies for reuse. The structure of the exhibition is thematic. By focusing on several themes that were important in Structuralism, we aim to link ideology, current examples from practice of transformed Structuralist buildings and design strategies. Through the exhibition and a debate at the opening event, we hope to bring the work from within the chair to a wider audience and add new perspectives to the debate on the movement and its future values. @en