Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, TU Delft

#Heatstress and #airpollution ravages cities more and more. In a new #HorizonEurope project, researchers will develop a digital twin that supports decision makers to design resilient urban areas that can cope with the changing climate. The #digitaltwin can become a powerful tool for municipalities and #urbanplanners to design districts that are safe, pleasant and healthy for residents. By simulating different scenarios, the digital twin will provide insight into, for instance, the wind that blows past a high apartment building, or how much heat stress will occur in determined city locations. “Sometimes slightly different building layouts, vegetation designs and tailored material decisions can make a significant difference for the city inhabitants comfort”, says Clara García-Sánchez, assistant professor Architecture and Built Environment. Researchers from TU Delft and 18 other partners receive the Horizon Europe grant for their project called #UrbanAIR. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ex97SDXF

“There are many advantages to #VerticalFarms: constant high yields, short transport chains, and low requirement of surface area, nutrients, pesticides, water and CO2 supply. But they use a massive amount of #electricity for lighting and air-conditioning, which creates a lot of #residualheat.” Tess Blom didn't think she would ever do a PhD, but when the SkyHigh project came along she found herself 'enrolled almost by accident'. She explored whether we can make VFs more viable by finding uses for their residual heat and by capitalising on temporary surpluses of (#renewable) electricity. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e5VHb6q8

Grants for evaluation of City climate action plans and for research on developing safe extraterrestrial settlements Deepti Adlakha received a personal #NWO Open Science - XS award to evaluate the scope of #climateaction plans and their contributions to climate #mitigation and #adaptation efforts in #cities globally. Cities are formulating climate action plans with pledges to reduce #carbonemissions. Such plans could deliver significant benefits, however, there is currently no reliable method to check how good they are. Henriette Bier received a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Staff Exchange 2023 grant #MSCA for developing #ArchiSpace, a research project implemented together with MSc students and PhD candidates aiming to develop reliable and safe extraterrestrial settlements that adequately protect astronauts from the hostile environment of Moon or Mars. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eyqscKTR

Constructing a local #heatnetwork is not always popular with residents. But what if we approach such a project from a different angle? MSc student Thomas Misset reached out to #Moerwijk residents and organisations. His thesis is an inclusive plan for an above-ground heat network for the neighbourhood, which, in addition to sustainable energy, also provides colour and social cohesion. In his design, brightly coloured pipes wind through green corridors. They end at five 'social hotspots', which are renovated according to #circular principles. See one hotspot in detail, and read about Thomas' design process and decisions: https://lnkd.in/eCG-Mmjm Mandy Koenraads

#DreamTeam 'Space Oasis Delft' has just revealed their design for a lunar village. The dwellings have elements of biomimicry, contain a self-sustaining biosphere and simulate a day-night cycle as well as seasons. Smart design choices safeguard not only the occupants' safety but also their mental well-being. #Space Oasis Delft has called itself “the only Dream Team where students of Architecture and the Built Environment can apply their full professional knowledge.” About half of its current members study at BK, with the others hailing from AE, ID, CEG, ME, or beyond the #TUDelft. https://lnkd.in/eFKJ-SnC

In the 1950s and 1960s, the construction of giant #concrete shells was a feat of cutting-edge engineering. Such #structures could span dozens of metres and be mere centimetres thick! But the technique has fallen out of use, and as a result the required mathematics is mostly forgotten. And that is a shame, according to Andrew Borgart. "Giant shells are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also resource-efficient and therefore better for the environment!" He spent the past 15 years balancing his two passions: teaching classes at our faculty while reconstructing this lost skill... mostly using pens and paper. READ MORE: https://lnkd.in/gJe9SZSd

What is the role of the Eurodelta in transitioning to a circular society? On 9 July, the fifth debate in the 'Making the Circular Built Environment a Reality' series explores the transformative potential of transitioning to a circular society within the Eurodelta region. Institutes, organisations and individuals are invited to engage with experts and stakeholders from the Eurodelta. Invited guests: Paul Gerretsen (Vereniging Deltametropool), Nurhan Abujidi (Zuyd University of Applied Sciences), Peter Pol (City of Den Haag; METREX), Dagmar Keim City of Amsterdam), Dr. Simon Jenniches (KREFELD BUSINESS). 9 July, 19:00 – 21:30 Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, TU Delft Register now to join this debate: edu.nl/64497 #CircularBuiltEnvironment #circularsociety #collaboration METREX - The Network of European Metropolitan Regions and Areas | SURE Eurodelta

Congratulations to Lea Hartmeyer, one of the four winners of the National #Archiprix 2024 and to Julia Ravensbergen and Jakub Biernacki who both received honourable mentions! On Sunday, 16 June, an independent jury announced the winners of the National Archiprix 2024. The Archiprix selects from the best #graduation projects of Dutch master's programs with majors in #architecture, #urbanlanning, #landscapearchitecture and the master's programs in interior architecture. Alumna Lea Hartmeyer of the master track Landscape Architecture is one of the four winners with her graduation project ‘The Forest Formerly Known as… Parkstad’. Julia Ravensbergen (Building Technology) with her project 'Bloemkoolwijken: The New Vernacular?' and Jakub Biernacki (Architecture) with the project 'Retreat the Line: Empowering Play as Another Way of Making' received honourable mentions. Read more about the winning projects: https://lnkd.in/e3fzhqfb

The temporary #transformation of vacant buildings into housing can provide relief for 'urgent seekers', such as people with residence permits, students, and first-time buyers. However, it also presents the challenge of making these houses feel like #homes. During her doctoral research, Marjolein Overtoom discovered six possible meanings that residents attach, to various degrees, to their home. She also found three types of activities which develop those meanings. Which ones do you recognise? https://lnkd.in/eSUA83Gj

This year, the TU Delft Spring Symposium 2024 was organised by the TU Delft AI Initiative. The topic was #AI in #education, with experts on everything from physics to law discussing how AI could be a game changer for their field. Georg Vrachliotis and Kees Kaan from our faculty held keynotes on the intersection of architecture and AI. How does AI aid knowledge discovery? And what are its practical implications for professionals? You can read a retrospective of the entire event and see the pictures on https://lnkd.in/gSzDNtXq