René Char's aphorism 'They installed us heirs without a will' as a cause for reflection locates the inability of the man of the 21st century to perceive what the past of the place has left behind. In general, it demonstrates the failure of our instant culture to understand the meaning of urban heritage and the dismissal of a consciousness of the past. This consciousness and its identification within the space of ruins is a prevalent theme in architecture ever since renaissance, and today it’s becoming even more pressing especially in the light of cultural provision along the New Silk Road. In the case of Istanbul, and more specifically the port of Haydarpaşa, this space is under scrutiny since the system of values that governs it is shifting drastically. Among ancient ruins and neglected industrial heritage, the city fluctuates through a process of change, in a constant state of in-between, struggling to tolerate the unresolved borders of different social, cultural, and historical layers, all of which are interwoven within the same urban narrative. How can we use architecture as a medium to bridge the gaps between the different layers of cultural and historical importance that contrast and intersect within the urban fabric? How to enable a ruin space pivotal to Istanbul’s modern and ancient history in order to become part of the landscape of a new coastal development that has been closed off to the city for decades? The design proposal aims to the prospective revisiting of the ruin space as a field of interpretation, revision and reconstruction that is reflective instead of restorative towards the potential future. It suggests a place existing so above as below the current site that reflects the contradictory forces of its very creation, the underground archeology of antiquity and the overground industrial heritage. The design phase includes the activation of the programmatic potentials informed by the intermediate (in-between) spaces identified within the site and reflects the meeting of different eras that happens on the ground level, the ‘in between’ space of the investigation.

The inhabitants of Assos live by ruins of temples, theatre and civic buildings inherent a humanistic value that transcends to present day. This is the hidden reality of many more cities on the Anatolian coast. This thesis proposes a system for
the revival of this unique type of ruin-city. The objective is to restore the organism of the city as a whole for its inhabitants and visitors. This is achieved by proposing a landscape intervention of a circular path reconnecting the inhabited village with the civic monuments to be restored. Along the path sites for new public buildings are proposed, laying the foundation for the expansion and rebirth of the city.

The research conducted at the beginning of the graduation year revolved around the indeterminate forces that shape the built environment, resulting in the formation of many ‘ephemeral’ cities along the new silk road. As such, the main outcomes from the research stage resided in the definition of the leftover spaces of intensive industrial exploitation: ‘dead’ landscapes are understood as the results – and eventual symptoms – of indeterminacy surrounding both the natural state of the site under study (an open-air coal mine), coupled with intensive anthropogenic exploitation of its resources. These dead landscapes dictate the conceptual approach adopted to deal with the territory both as a constructed industrial whole, in addition to many fragmented instances of indeterminacy.

The proposed graduation project takes inspiration from the Borders & Territories conceptual, practical, and theoretical frameworks as a base for research and design. The studio topic “Transient Liquidities along the New Silk Road” is heavily¬¬ in line with the proposed graduation topic, as it investigates conditions of formation of postindustrial landscapes in Turkey, a result of varying demands and rich natural resources along the new silk road. Turkey is then at the forefront of rapid transformations, made possible by its complex infrastructural landscape and abundance of natural resources.

Exploration on the peri-urban transition zone between Trieste and its hinterland Karst through housing, recreation and transportation infrastructure. The design proposal consists of system of small interventions that take into account the land management problems of the peri-urban hills.

Bangkok is located on the low-lying deltaic soil near the mouth of Chao
Phraya River. Like many coastal and delta cities, it has faced many floods
and environmental challenges due to human’s extensive alteration of the
landscape and consumption of natural resources. With climate change,
these cities are threatened by more destructive climate catastrophes which
can cause even more tremendous economic loss and deteriorated livelihood.

This graduation project “Amphibious Bangkok” aims to tackle these issues
by exploring the application of a resilient landscape framework to increase
landscape capacity in coping with current flood problems and future climate
uncertainties. The study draws on the historical human-water symbiotic
relationship to create the new landscape design and planning proposals.
These plans will integrate the top-down and bottom-up approaches and
provide the multi-scale amphibious landscape networks as the basis for
more sustainable urbanisation.
Landscape Resilience is employed as the theoretical framework. It consists
of two research and design approaches. The Landscape-based Regional
Design approach, which guides the overall project’s research and design
process (Nijhuis, 2022), and the Safe-to-fail Adaptive Design and Planning
approach (Ahern, 2011), which proposes five strategies to increase urban
resilience capacity. 
The project establishes an adapted Resilient Landscape Design Frameworkfor more water-resilient Bangkok. The key components of the framework
are 1) the design tasks to improve functions of the water systems, 2) the
core water-resilient design principles obtained and adjusted from precedent
case studies and indigenous water practices, 3) the landscape layers
contributing to the tasks, 4) the multi-scalar approach (Regional, District,
and Neighbourhood scales for analysis and design) and 5) strategic phasing.
The framework leads to the design exploration and spatial expression of
the landscape design approach on the strategic sites as a part of the larger
water management scheme. the cyclical research-design iteration allows
knowledge production through design explorations, which can serve as an
example of more water-resilient urbanisation. Ultimately, the framework can
serve as a guideline to understand delta cities in other geographical and
climate contexts.

The estuarine river landscape between Shenzhen and Hong Kong is a typical case where the landscape lost its value and characteristics due to the border policy. The two megacities Shenzhen (a city in mainland China) and Hong Kong (a special administrative region), are located in the southeast of the Pearl River Delta, one of the world's largest and rapidly developing delta regions.

The Shenzhen River in the middle of the two cities has been a border river since 1898. Coupled with the green buffer zone on the HK side that was once a restricted border area, the bay, the estuary, the river, and the land together form a uniquely polarized landscape, with urbanization and nature across the river. Whether to protect the natural environment or develop the land; and whether to preserve the ecological value or restore the aquaculture productivity become urgent arguments regarding future development in this border area.

This thesis aims to explore the development of a resilient landscape corridor across the Shen-Kong border to achieve the co-development of the environment and society. Viewing the landscape as a multifunctional and operative field with its own spatial, ecological and socio-cultural qualities (Nijhuis & Jauslin, 2015) can be a way to respond to the aforementioned phenomenon.

The thesis focuses on applying the theory of landscape infrastructure as a method in research and design to generate a resilient landscape framework that is considered armature for urban and rural development to facilitate interactions between natural and human systems (Nijhuis & Jauslin, 2015), projecting natural processes and performing multiple functions. Moreover, a methodology for designing towards a landscape framework is given in this thesis. Examples are provided to show the application of landscape infrastructure services and the assessment.

Secondary post-industrial cities in China are facing two problems. In order to promote the sustainable transformation of cities, the Chinese central government promoted “new industrialization” in 2002. This concept aims to eliminate heavy industry enterprises to create a better urban environment. Due to the imbalance in the industrial structure and loss of talent and labor, these resource-based industrial cities are facing the dilemma of industrial upgrading. On the other hand, as regional cooperation is considered extremely important in the new stage of industrialization, the central government started to promote “urban agglomeration” as a key approach to such cooperation. However, due to the complex administrative system and the unequal competition between the central and other cities, the secondary cities cannot really benefit from regionalization and are gradually spatially marginalized. The two problems form a vicious circle, hindering the sustainable upgrade of these secondary resource-based industrial cities. This project aims to study how to use spatial planning and strategic interventions to help secondary (post-) resource-based industrial cities seek better sustainability and development. To achieve this, Handan, a secondary city with a nearly 10 million population surrounded by four mega-regions, is selected as the research object. This city suffers from the development limitation of “in-between megaregions” and the threat of hindrance of heavy industrial enterprises. Except for the disadvantages, it is a city with a long history and splendid culture which could provide great potential to develop into a new type innovative metropolis.

At the TU Delft, 9% of the students officially have an impairment, however, estimates go up to 30% (Centrum Hoger Onderwijs Informatie, 2019). The TU Delft is building new spaces to accommodate its students but seems to do so for the median student. Little research has been conducted into the environmental needs of students in higher education with a neurological impairment which is why this thesis aims to answer the question: “In what way can the needs and wishes of neurodiverse students be combined with the needs and wishes of neurotypical students to create an inclusive study facility for the TU Delft?”. Six students, both neurotypical and neurodiverse, were interviewed online in a semi-structured interview. From this, it became clear that the neurodiverse students have more needs than the neurotypical students but it should be possible to combine most needs and wishes in the same building.

The phenomena of climate change interacts with the complexity of urban system, which reflect sptially on the process of urbanization. One of the effects of climate change is an increased flooding hazards, and when floods occur this has a severe impact on human lives and comes with vast economic losses. The city of The Hague aims to achieve the goal of becoming a resilient city in 2050. However, the city is under the threat of extreme precipitation and the challenge of urbanization, which affect the liveability in the city. As an important component of achieving resilience, rainproof adaptation can be transformed as an opportunity. By taking the complexity of the social and enviromental vulnerabilities into the consideration, the project discusses the possibility of linking the water management process with the public space design to develop a conversation of the techinical, spatial and social process. The focus of the graduation project is how precipitation flood management can collaborate with public space design to become an opportunity for achieving urban resilience. Taking the case of The Hague, the Netherlands, the project proposes a re-defination of urban development process through public space design with techinical water management approach.

Climate is changing. Weather conditions are becoming more extreme; we are expecting fiercer storm surges, more intense seasonal precipitation patterns and, in some calculations, up to three meters relative sea level rise.
Especially the south coast of the North Sea will be affected the most. Particularly in the Netherlands, the coastal topography is shallow and densely populated.

Rotterdam is one of the lowest urban areas along the south coast and it is here where changes will be most apparent. The city is built in a natural river delta, which has been altered extensively in the last millennia to facilitate a desirable and safe living environment for its inhabitants, initiating in the 14th century by damming the river Rotte. From then on, the settlement around the lock mechanism has evolved into one of the biggest urban areas in the Netherlands. It is here, where floods would cause economic loss through property damage and therefore social disruption to the population.

My aim was to investigate into the most vulnerable residential districts of the city: Noordereiland, the sole urban river island of Rotterdam, proved itself as the first neighbourhood to flood in a case of high water levels. Not protected by dikes and lying the lowest above current mean water level, it presents itself as the most urgent district to investigate, seeing it as an ideal urban test laboratory to asses solutions to flooding in an urban environment.

Firstly, limiting myself to the extents of the urban block, my project aim was to develop a systematic of how to convert the morphology of it under the extreme scenario of flooding. The system is composed of repetitive added portal structures, which span over the existing buildings. These build the framework for a new vertical circulation system, originating in corner gaps of the blocks. The circulatory system is built up by arcades on the inside and outside facades of the block, affixed to the sides of the portals. The new system converts the individual access routes of the units into a collective one for the whole block. Furthermore, extending over the whole island, these arcades, connecting the individual blocks by bridges, provide a new three-dimensional route across the whole district, providing it with an alternative plane to the flooded ground floor. Additionally, the portal structure provides a new foundation for added structures on top of the existing buildings, which compensate for the lost ground floor level.

The project is experimenting in how the urban block could re-structure its morphology to cope with flooding. The purpose of the added structure is not to act as an autonomous piece of architecture, superimposed onto the existing fabric. However, as a supporting system to aid the morphological conversion of the block, and in turn, the whole island.

The graduation project starts from the attention and research to the dynamic water level change in coastal area in North Sea, and by analysising the potential flooding risks, climate-sensitive mudflat, and the relationship between regional ecosystem and local people, the observation to changing coastal landscape are emphasised, to rethink how to reuse the leftover human space to reflect the changing ecological environment, emphasing people's bioregionalism awareness. By Redefining the meanings of the fortification heritage, the meanings of the Grain tower, defencing not only the national territory but defence for the territory defined by the whole nature; not only record the history, but measure the changing nature through time. Key words: Soft edge between sea and land , fortificaton heritage architecture, tidal mudflat, changing horizon, bioregionalism, changing ecological environment

We now live in a time when it is now quicker, easier and more efficient to speak to one another, yet it doesn’t always reflect on the fruitfulness in decision making and outcome of a conversation. Face to face conversation is one of the most effective means to converse and the North Sea is a space which needs to be part of the conversation. The research report found that North Sea is a one of the most dense urban seascapes in the world, with each nation taking a piece of the sea for the benefit of themselves rather than seeking to explore the notion of the North Sea as a common. One space; stronger, more resilient and profitable for those interacting with it, whether you are a fisherman or an energy company.

The architecture intervention has led to the notion of a space to gather those interacting in it, to put their nation status aside for the benefit of the North Sea. This space becomes a state of exception, where jurisdiction and sovereignty of one state no longer applies. The site is on Dogger Bank, a former land bridge it becomes a poetic reference to a past time when the United Kingdom was connected to the continental Europe. It is also one the shallowest points of the North Sea, making it physically possible to construct an island.

The design will seek for all nations to contribute to the island, building an aspect of the architecture, to create an emotional connection, so the space feel like theirs. The architecture is designed to be prefabricated and shipped across the North Sea, the island cannot follow typical building methods. The building construction is also dependant on the weather therefore the time to build the island can not follow a traditional schedule.

As a typology the building is a Parliament, but it is more than this. A hybrid building, it goes beyond the traditional parliament set up we know today. It seeks to look at conversation spaces; informal/formal as the main role to get attendees together and discuss matters on the North Sea. Every attendee would have to travel to the island and may find themselves delayed in leaving due to weather conditions. The attendees truly find themselves understanding the environment they are discussing and start to truly respect the environment they are discussing.

The design will question the idea of performance as part of the decision making process. Parliaments today can be very theatrical (United Kingdom). The stage in this concept is very import in the design, it questions its position, is it the main assembly room floor , the informal conversation spaces or is it the North Sea? A part of the performance is the audience, the design questions if it is those attending the parliament or is it audience those beyond, and everyone interacting in the space?

Finally, I ask those reading the book to ultimately question where you position yourself when making a decision, are you an ego (authoritarian, dualistic, self-destructive, imbalanced, power-seeking or eco (democratic, sustainable, balance, interdependent). And what would you do if you attended the parliament?

The oil industry might be the most obvious system causing the North Sea to be a disputed territory in recent times. One of the main participants in this dispute is Norway: a country extremely wealthy, thanks to oil revenue. In oil’s supply chain, the Mongstad refinery plays a crucial role. Situated in a fjord in western Norway, it’s conveniently located in close proximity of both the North Sea and Norway’s urbanized regions. Reclaimed marshlands have served as Mongstads foundations, from where it directly and indirectly leaves its polluting traces. During its relative short lifespan so far, heavy impact on land and water have been caused. Even though the oil industry is of major importance for the wellbeing of Norway’s inhabitants, they lack in awareness of the processes and consequences involved with this business. Mongstad clearly represents this situation: in geographical sense bordered by either mountains and the sea, on top of this the territory is completely fenced off. Compared to other oil refineries worldwide, Mongstad is an interesting case. While having a capacity of 12 million tonnes of crude oil per year, groundbreaking research is conveyed on-site. In Technology Centre Mongstad and its adjacent test facilities, CO2 is being captured from flue gasses, and prepared for storage elsewhere. Mongstads functional future is extremely uncertain. The oil industry has to change, and Mongstad’s aim of being a ‘sustainable’ pioneer in the field allows for three possible future scenario’s: 1.Business as usual. The refinement and accompanying processes still take place, but as planned, co2 from the refinery will be caught off to be processed elsewhere on the site. 2.Transformation of the refinery. As in the case of Porto Marghera, the refinery will still function as an energy production facility, but in a ‘greener’ way. The current structures will be used, and, if needed, extended. 3.Loss of function, but exploiting potential of the site in geographical and infrastructural sense. The project is adaptable to these scenario’s. It’s an architectural infrastructure, able to grow and shrink according to time, function and place. The infrastructure stretches over a 2 kilometer line, which crosses from mountains to fjord, straight through Mongstad’s borders. While reconnecting nature over exploited land, an axis arises. Heavy labour and core production taking place at one side, while research and room for future development can be found on the other side. This axis is Mongstad’s new spine: opening up the territory, emphasizing on the natural environment, but most of all: supporting a more appropriate productive future. Nine concrete interventions serve as permanent gestures, telling the story of Mongstad through framing, directioning and their highly symbolic appearance.