Ventilation guidelines for the fight against the coronavirus

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What is the coolest tree?

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Sneak peek BK Bouwkunde

Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment

Paving the way for a new generation of intelligent façades

Although a façade can be understood as the skin of a building, contrary to the biological role model, today’s façade systems do not react as holistic organisms to external stimuli. In his PhD research, Jens Böke establishes a conceptual framework for so-called cyber-physical façades, paving the way for a new generation of intelligent façades: ThinkingSkins.

New cities must be designed for growth

Africa has many brand-new cities that appear on the landscape out of nowhere. Their rigid urban design makes them unsuitable to meet the challenges of the future, notes PhD student Rachel Keeton. She has developed design principles for sustainable, adaptive 'New Towns'.

Change is no longer an enemy in the heritage sector

Redevelopment of industrial heritage has turned in a few decades from a rarity to a common phenomenon with countless applications. Reusing heritage is acceptable, says PhD candidate Dora Chatzi Rodopoulou, but it must be done in a controlled manner.

Privatisation makes Israeli settlement architecture even more boring

Israeli settlements are not only internationally controversial, they are also extremely boring in terms of architecture and urbanism. Far-reaching privatisation and neoliberal politics are partly responsible, says Gabriel Schwake. No wonder people live in soulless block boxes elsewhere as well.

China needs more direction in large-scale urban regeneration

The large-scale urban renewal that China has been undergoing in recent decades is accompanied by the wholesale demolition of old buildings. According to PhD researcher Taozhi Zhuang, this is not always necessary. It is high time for clearer guidelines and a more efficient decision-making process.

Research stories