Country estates landscapes still a prominent feature in Dutch green structure

The impact of regional design on spatial planning

What influence does spatial design have on spatial planning at a regional scale level and on decision-making at all scale levels? Based on practical case studies from the Netherlands, PhD researcher Verena Balz explored the two-way traffic between regional design and the development of spatial policy.

Modern trombe wall saves loads of energy

A trombe wall with phase-changing materials can ensure a much lower energy consumption of buildings. That becomes evident in the DoubleFace 2.0 research project. State-of-the-art technologies breathe new life into this age-old heat control method.

Money is not all that counts in sustainability

Dutch housing associations are very keen on sustainability, but when it comes down to it, costs are the decisive factor. This is the conclusion of Sandra Hoomans in her PhD research. “Strategic considerations on making housing stock more sustainable should also be based on ecological values.”

Patterns & variations

Designing a building or structure is like orchestrating a piece of music: all the components must be in balance in order to achieve perfection. In his thesis, PhD student Jack Breen explains this concept of layering in more detail and unravels its complexity by using a system he developed himself.

Blended modifiers reduce salt damage in lime mortars

Lime-bound mortars are vulnarable to damage caused by salt crystallisation, but this can be remedied. PhD researcher Sanne Granneman discovered crystallisation modifiers mixed in with the mortar can prevent them from breaking down.