This thesis investigates the effect of Vondelpark's urban architecture on women's perceptions of safety at night. While green areas have been shown to improve people's lives in a variety of ways,...Show moreThis thesis investigates the effect of Vondelpark's urban architecture on women's perceptions of safety at night. While green areas have been shown to improve people's lives in a variety of ways, women use them less due to feelings of unsafety. By examining visibility, maintenance, cleanliness, external protection, other park users, and mobility facilities, this study attempts to identify the most critical elements contributing to this increased sense of unsafety. Using primary and secondary literature, a theoretical framework was developed that looks further into perceived safety and the park components that impact it. Also, through semi-structured interviews, where women were questioned about the relevance of these elements, utilizing voluntary response sampling (N=5), more in-depth accounts about women's subjective safety emerged. After examining many methodologies, this thesis concludes that visibility, external protection, and other park users are the most important elements impacting women's experienced safety at night at Vondelpark.Show less
This thesis investigates the fundamental right of children to play in urban environments, focusing on the interactions between children's playful practices and the decisions of urban planners and...Show moreThis thesis investigates the fundamental right of children to play in urban environments, focusing on the interactions between children's playful practices and the decisions of urban planners and policy makers, using the city of The Hague as a case study. Central to the research is the question: How does the provision for and management of play spaces in The Hague reflect and impact children's claims to public space through playful activities? Taking a qualitative approach and supported by a theoretical framework centred around the concepts of ‘right to the city’, ‘informal play', and ‘prefigurative politics’, the study evaluates The Hague's approach to children's play. Findings reveal that the municipality understands what constitutes a play-friendly city, but its consideration of informal play opportunities still lags behind that of designated play environments. Efforts to incorporate children's perspectives are evident, yet mainly come in the form of formal participatory methods and lack direct engagement with children's play practices. The thesis argues that this current approach undermines the agency of children and favours an approach to play that is more considerate of children's prefigurative activities. Additionally, the effects of the Omgevingswet (Environment and Planning Act) on the Dutch debate on children's play are examined. While the introduction of the act holds potential for positive change, it also presents challenges, such as ensuring that children's voices are heard, and their rights are protected. The research underscores the importance of ongoing efforts to guarantee the alignment of urban planning with children's needs and preferences for play.Show less
This thesis explores the role of young Estonians in shaping the future of Linnahall, an abandoned building in Tallinn, within a post-Soviet context. The main research focuses on how the...Show moreThis thesis explores the role of young Estonians in shaping the future of Linnahall, an abandoned building in Tallinn, within a post-Soviet context. The main research focuses on how the perspectives of Estonian youth on national identity, historical memory, and urban heritage influence the potential redevelopment of Linnahall, given that this generation never lived during the post-Soviet occupation. The findings are drawn upon systematic research of related academic literature. Then, through critical discourse analysis of Estonian local media sources and semi-structured interviews with Tallinn youth, the study investigates generational shifts in perception towards post-Soviet abandoned architecture in Estonia, using Linnahall as a case study. The study aims to understand how memories, nostalgia, and national identity of young Estonians can impact the future of decaying Linnahall and which discourses influence their opinions and views on post-socialist abandoned architecture. The paper discovered that young Estonians appropriated Linnahall’s rooftop as a public space for hangouts to escape the rules and restrictions of other urban areas in the city. They did not have any intergenerational or nostalgic memories connected to the building or the Soviet times when it was built but rather valued Linnahall as a cultural building. Personal connection and reappropriation of the building, lack of emotional connection to Soviet occupation, and forming national identity were highlighted as the main influences in views on Linnahall’s future.Show less
This thesis explores how the dystopian movie The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023), a prequel to The Hunger Games movie series, influences the cultures and thus the characters’ cultural...Show moreThis thesis explores how the dystopian movie The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023), a prequel to The Hunger Games movie series, influences the cultures and thus the characters’ cultural identities in the city of the Capitol and the districts. Starting with reviewing the relevant literature on the four original movies and additional literature to use as a framework for the movie analysis, this research aims to fill the gap in existing scholarship by analysing the prequel within the context of cultural representation and urban dystopia. The narrative in the films unfolds in the country of Panem, a future version of the United States of America, where the government in the Capitol exerts oppressive control over twelve districts through the annual Hunger Games. By employing a narrative approach and close reading of key scenes, this paper first places the prequel in a wider context of dystopian fiction and explores the urban dystopia in the Capitol and districts. Second, concepts like Appalachian culture, food, power, and gender are explored considering the prequel. Lastly, the two themes of dystopia and culture are connected in the last chapter. Comparing and contrasting the prequel to the original movies and the contemporary USA through the literature, the dystopian quality of the movie is connected to the cityscapes and governing system, which successively influences the cultures and cultural identities of the characters.Show less
This research paper will analyze the connection between La-Di-Da, a biodegradable housing initiative and their potential uses of green branding to communicate their sustainable practices. Green...Show moreThis research paper will analyze the connection between La-Di-Da, a biodegradable housing initiative and their potential uses of green branding to communicate their sustainable practices. Green branding refers to the incorporation of sustainable values and practices within marketing efforts. To complete this research, a discourse analysis of La-Di-Da’s media presence will be conducted to examine their use of media as a platform for green branding. Their use of media platforms include, digital media, social media and print media. Interviews were also conducted with one of the project developers, as well as with two students of the Royal Academy of Art (KABK), who are students of La-Di-Da’s project developer and have participated in various events hosted by La-Di-Da. These findings will provide a comprehensive understanding of La-Di-Da’s commitment to sustainability as well as to green branding. The analysis of the media shows various uses of green branding characteristics with minimal reliance on promotional advertisement as a method of green branding. The interview demonstrated sustainable practices, eliminating any potential factors of greenwashing, thereby effectively enabling green branding. Interviews with the students highlighted external perspectives of La-Di-Da’s green branding characteristics and promotions. The study concludes that La-Di-Da employs diverse aspects of green branding characteristics, focusing more on educational and informative communication rather than promotional commercials. This is important to research as it delves into understanding how green branding is incorporated within sustainable housing initiatives.Show less
A healthy soil life often forms the foundations for a healthy environment. In addition to this, it provides many ecosystem services such as heat reduction and flood protection. These benefits soil...Show moreA healthy soil life often forms the foundations for a healthy environment. In addition to this, it provides many ecosystem services such as heat reduction and flood protection. These benefits soil biodiversity provides remain relatively unknown, especially concerning urban areas. To further the knowledge of urban soil biodiversity, this research will focus on the earthworm (Lumbricina) population present within tree pits, which in this research refers to a tree pit with a bit of exposed soil within the urban environment. While surrounded by human infrastructure on all four sides, by either asphalt or tiles. The earthworm has been selected as it is an important species in the soil and their presence often can function as an indicator for the health of the soil biodiversity in that area. The sampling of earthworms (Lumbricina) will use the mustard extraction method. This allows for a comparison of abundances of earthworms in different locations, such as the size of the tree pit and vegetation coverage of the tree pit. For this 15 trees were sampled daily, and each tree has been sampled 3 times. They are totalling in a database containing 45 samples. This study has found strong evidence in favour of a correlation between earthworm abundance compared to distance from a larger green area. In addition to that it found a weak relationship between an increased earthworm abundance as the size of the tree pit increases. These results line up with the island theory. The only other aspect this study found evidence for was concerning tree species present in the tree pit influencing the earthworm abundance at that tree pit. Other factors did not find any evidence to show that it might influence earthworm abundance.Show less
Forty-five years into the 20th century, the United States had witnessed countless interconnected events, which moulded its attitude towards urban planning. The country initially experienced a...Show moreForty-five years into the 20th century, the United States had witnessed countless interconnected events, which moulded its attitude towards urban planning. The country initially experienced a growing housing shortage which was becoming increasingly visible with every passing decade (Fogelson 2013). Between 1949 and 1960, as chairman of Committee on Slum Clearance of New York City, Robert Moses, led thirty-five separate urban renewal projects with a federal funding of $65.8 million ($842 million today) to “cure” the endemic housing crisis (Chronopoulos 2014, 207; Ballon 2007, 94-95). In 1959, Robert Moses proposed a slum clearance plan which targeted the Cooper Square neighbourhood of Manhattan. During the same year, the residents of the target neighbourhood joined together to form the Cooper Square Committee to fight the municipality of New York with an “Alternate Plan”, created under a participatory banner. This investigation provides an overview of urban planning within the mid-20th century to rationalise the use of both top down and bottom-up planning techniques in urban regeneration project in Manhattan. With the use of archived plans, interviews and audio recordings, this thesis will primarily examine the “Basic Philosophy” of the Cooper Square Committee as presented in the “Alternate Plan” in conjunction to Robert Moses’ philosophy which is pieced together with various interviews, audio recordings, and past projects (Cooper Square Community Development Committee and Businessmen’s Association 1961, 3). In doing so, this research aims to contribute to current literature by further examining the influence of both parties in question within the life cycle of participatory planning in the 1950s-1960s.Show less
Defensible Spaces, a concept created by Oscar Newman, is defined as the built environment being manipulate by design to create areas that are less vulnerable to crime, providing residents with ways...Show moreDefensible Spaces, a concept created by Oscar Newman, is defined as the built environment being manipulate by design to create areas that are less vulnerable to crime, providing residents with ways to control and defend their space. Three key components that activate defensible space, and thus can be used to analyse the success of a defensible space, include territoriality, natural surveillance, and image/milieu. These spaces can be both public and private (owned), with a trend of privatised-public spaces becoming prominent in Europe. The Netherlands, although implementing defensible spaces into its urban landscape, lacks comprehensive literature analysing how the concept has been used to design various Dutch areas. Using an analysis of primary sources, secondary literature, case studies of Dutch defensible spaces, observations, and maps, a more complete picture of defensible spaces in the country was created. Defensible spaces in the Netherlands could be identified in streets, policies, train stations, housings complexes, and shopping streets. The Beurstaverse, a below-ground shopping street in Rotterdam, was revitalised to incorporate defensible space techniques. The privately owned public space can be identified as a successful defensible space due to its prominent surveillance, territorially due to being below ground, and positive image/milieu, therefore being the primary case study and point of analysis. Defensible spaces in the Netherlands tend to follow common trends, being highly surveilled and encompassing a positive image/milieu, though the Dutch have new ways of increasing territoriality in a space, often neglecting to use physical barriers. Scholars opinions remain positive about implementations, but the privatisation of public spaces is heavily criticised, primarily in the cases of the Beurstraverse and gated communities in the country. Therefore, this thesis analysis defensible spaces in the Netherlands, how successful they are according to Oscar Newmans three key activation components, and how their ownership (public or private) influences the space.Show less
Urban green roofs are recognized for enhancing biodiversity and ecological resilience. This study compares plant diversity across intensive and extensive green roofs in The Hague, Leiden, and...Show moreUrban green roofs are recognized for enhancing biodiversity and ecological resilience. This study compares plant diversity across intensive and extensive green roofs in The Hague, Leiden, and Rotterdam. Extensive green roofs, characterized by microhabitat variability and lighter substrates, showed higher species richness and total abundance, favouring adaptable species like sedums. Intensive green roofs, with deeper substrates, offered greater opportunities for plant diversity and more stable plant communities. The results highlight the importance of microhabitat variability and substrate conditions in shaping plant diversity on green roofs. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies, expanding sample sizes, and exploring microhabitat variations to refine conservation strategies.Show less
The aim of this research is to investigate how health was fostered by urban planners after the Second World War in the cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Firstly, this thesis will discuss the...Show moreThe aim of this research is to investigate how health was fostered by urban planners after the Second World War in the cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Firstly, this thesis will discuss the literature review that tackles urban health, the concept of health in the twentieth century, and postwar urban planning. This will be followed by a framework from secondary literature mentioned in the literature review on urban health and urban planning initiatives that impact health positively. This framework is used to analyse primary sources of postwar urban planning. The results indicated that postwar urban planners developed urban areas mostly to prevent infectious diseases and aimed for the creation of lively neighbourhoods through leisure. However, the spatial environment that was created unintentionally prospered health in different manners through the lens of the current perception of urban health.Show less
This thesis explores some of the narratives, and strands of thinking influencing rural development and revitalization efforts today. Following qualitative interviews with relevant experts and...Show moreThis thesis explores some of the narratives, and strands of thinking influencing rural development and revitalization efforts today. Following qualitative interviews with relevant experts and practitioners from three case studies, five different narratives were uncovered through thematic analysis: Lifestyle Migration, Landscape Restoration, Biocultural Heritage, Rural Equity, and Agricultural Innovation. Each narrative was described in terms of its distinct concerns, knowledge bases, change concepts, and desired outcomes to offer a comparison between their approaches and worldviews. Rather than providing a definitive account of the different strands of thinking in rural development, this investigation offers a detailed account of the perspectives and narratives influencing rural development to help practitioners and policymakers better understand opposing perspectives, ultimately aiding in the process of coalitions and consensus buildingShow less
The aim of this study is to assess whether there is a correlation between water quality and the avifauna in the city of The Hague, as well as determine whether the type of land use near water...Show moreThe aim of this study is to assess whether there is a correlation between water quality and the avifauna in the city of The Hague, as well as determine whether the type of land use near water bodies also have an effect on the water quality. In order to do so, the case study of Ardea cinerea (grey heron) was selected as an indicator species, a bird species that is rapidly adapting to urban environments. The selected metric to inspect water quality of urban blue spaces was pH, as it is a parameter found to be present at the basis of most reactions in aquatic environments, thus making it a rather significant indicator for this purpose. Land use was analysed based on two categories: natural areas, which include urban parks and natural reserves, and urbanised, which mainly include roads and (post)industrial areas. Urban blue spaces in three natural locations (Koekamp, Meijendel, and Henry Dunatpad), and three urban areas (Veenkade/Centrum, Binckhorst, and Leyenburg) were assessed via in situ pH measurements to determine water quality and citizen science methods to assess A. cinerea abundance within 1 km radius of the water bodies. Findings show a moderate correlation between bird abundance and pH levels in favour of the natural areas, and statistical significance of pH as a metric to compare the two types of locations.Show less
This paper examines the lived experiences of the sense of belonging of Dutch students with a migration background at Leiden University, next to the effects this perceived sense of belonging has on...Show moreThis paper examines the lived experiences of the sense of belonging of Dutch students with a migration background at Leiden University, next to the effects this perceived sense of belonging has on their well-being. Currently, the high immigration in the recent century has resulted in a significant part of the Dutch population having a migration background. In addition, this significant group has shown a trend in application to universities. This trend is met with numerous peculiarities, showing additional economic and social obstacles these students go through during their university time, influencing their sense of belonging. Where the sense of belonging has shown to greatly influence well-being and college success rates. By using a hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative research design, focused on lived experiences using interviews, next to thorough revision of Leiden University policy, this study gives insight into the perception of a sense of belonging in Dutch students, next to showcasing the positive effects this has on the subjects. Through showing the potential positive effects on a sense of belonging, this study stresses the importance of active institutional policy in addressing marginalized groups. This finding is particularly evident in the case of adequate mentoring, offering guidance for students with a migration background has been found to improve their senses of belonging. Where the effects of this better sense of belonging have shown to improve students’ motivation, grades, and overall college success.Show less
This research investigates the impact of Leiden University College on students their social community and connections within The Hague and the Anna van Buerenplein campus. The Leiden University...Show moreThis research investigates the impact of Leiden University College on students their social community and connections within The Hague and the Anna van Buerenplein campus. The Leiden University College is a university located in The Hague within the Anna van Buerenplein campus. The campus holds the obligatory housing studios for the first and second years, classroom and workgroup spaces for the students their academics, and other amenities, forming an enclosed community within the building. By using floor plans, results of a survey regarding the Leiden University community, and mental mapping of The Hague, this research reveals how the community of the Anna van Buerenplein campus is internalized by both the system of the University and the students, and how various results indicate a longing for more connections outside of the campus community. This paper revisits the importance of placemaking and developing a sense of space within on-campus student housing, positively affecting the students their wellbeing and satisfaction.Show less
Since 2005, despite restricting immigration policies, the Netherlands has had a persistent growth of migrants with a Russian background and of Russian-speaking migrants from other countries; more...Show moreSince 2005, despite restricting immigration policies, the Netherlands has had a persistent growth of migrants with a Russian background and of Russian-speaking migrants from other countries; more than half of these immigrants are women. This thesis gains an insight into how the urban environment in Dutch cities contributes to the sense of belonging of Russian-speaking first-generation migrant women and to the (potential) conflict among them and with the host society. Overall, Dutch cities allow these women to establish a meaningful connection with Dutch culture and history. Urban space, its history and aesthetics provide a framework to connect women’s personal narratives to a broader cultural and historical context. This, in turn, shapes local urban identity, which facilitates the immigrants’ sense of belonging and, consequently, the integration process. Additionally, the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has heightened the awareness towards Russian-speaking women’s identities and the Russian language’s increased presence in Dutch cities, which in turn has influenced tensions and the possibility of conflicts at the local level and primarily in urban spaces.Show less
Since 2005, despite restricting immigration policies, the Netherlands has had a persistent growth of migrants with a Russian background and of Russian-speaking migrants from other countries; more...Show moreSince 2005, despite restricting immigration policies, the Netherlands has had a persistent growth of migrants with a Russian background and of Russian-speaking migrants from other countries; more than half of these immigrants are women. This thesis gains an insight into how the urban environment in Dutch cities contributes to the sense of belonging of Russian-speaking first-generation migrant women and to the (potential) conflict among them and with the host society. Overall, Dutch cities allow these women to establish a meaningful connection with Dutch culture and history. Urban space, its history and aesthetics provide a framework to connect women’s personal narratives to a broader cultural and historical context. This, in turn, shapes local urban identity, which facilitates the immigrants’ sense of belonging and, consequently, the integration process. Additionally, the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has heightened the awareness towards Russian-speaking women’s identities and the Russian language’s increased presence in Dutch cities, which in turn has influenced tensions and the possibility of conflicts at the local level and primarily in urban spaces.Show less
