Master Thesis — ontwerpen aan de 20e-eeuwse stad

Thesis Description:
This master thesis is a comprehensive exploration of the 20th-century city, structured as a three-part research endeavour combining collective analysis and individual design investigation. Developed in collaboration with five fellow students, it emphasizes both theoretical depth and practical application in urban design. The work investigates the social, spatial, and historical dynamics of cities shaped by rapid industrialization, functional zoning, and mobility infrastructures, with Genk serving as a central context and its mining neighbourhood Zwartberg functioning as an experimental zone for design exploration.

Thesis Structure and Approach:
The thesis unfolds in three interconnected parts. The first part, Ontwerpen aan de 20e-eeuwse stad (Designing the 20th-Century City), is a collective study analysing the emergence, evolution, and challenges of urban expansions throughout the 20th century. By examining European contexts—including Antwerp, Leuven, and Lisbon—we studied how industrialization, migration, and urban planning strategies shaped the spatial organization and social fabric of these cities. This research combined literature review, historical cartography, and extensive fieldwork (“neighbourhood safaris”), enabling each team member to document lived experiences and spatial patterns.

A central methodological tool was Christopher Alexander’s A Pattern Language. His method proposes that built environments can be understood and designed through “patterns” that link human behaviour, social interaction, and spatial form. By observing, cataloging, and synthesizing such configurations in 20th-century cities, we developed a set of patterns specific to post-industrial urban environments. These patterns serve as flexible guidelines, supporting context-sensitive interventions while capturing the complexity of fragmented neighbourhoods, mobility barriers, and opportunities for inclusive urban development.

The second part of the thesis, Klavertje Genk voor een duurzaam transport (Klavertje Genk for Sustainable Transport), applies these patterns collectively as a masterplan. It addresses strategic urban interventions, including reorganizing mobility networks, activating residual spaces, and integrating productive landscapes. This part can be consulted as a project in this portfolio, demonstrating the translation of analytical insights into large-scale urban design.

The third part, Van Mijn naar Markt: een ontwerpend onderzoek naar een inclusieve revitalisatie van Zwartberg (From Mine to Market: A Design Research on Inclusive Revitalization in Zwartberg), represents my individual component of the thesis. Building on the collective insights and established pattern language, this design research explores concrete strategies for socially and spatially inclusive revitalization. It focuses on transforming underused plots, residual strips, and areas freed by reduced car traffic into vibrant, communal spaces that encourage everyday encounters and local production. This individual project is also included in the portfolio.

Research Approach and Contribution:
The thesis follows a layered methodology from broad-scale analysis to site-specific observation. By combining literature studies, case analyses, and fieldwork, it establishes a coherent framework for understanding 20th-century urban dynamics. Patterns derived from both theoretical sources and empirical observation form the backbone of the design strategy, enabling interventions at multiple scales—from city-wide transport networks to neighborhood-level public spaces.

By combining collective and individual perspectives, the thesis shows how a pattern-based methodology can guide inclusive and context-sensitive urban design. It emphasizes adaptability, social cohesion, and the responsible transformation of residual urban spaces within post-industrial cities.