The challenge for the city of the future is to make efficient use of the space available in it. For my final year project I have chosen to build up the central courtyards of the perimeter blocks in the old centre of Roermond. These are in fact left-over spaces and as such are largely neglected. In my scheme they are to house functions that the old town itself is unable to tolerate. By stitching together these inner spaces, new blocks ensue with a new exterior and an old interior. In the spatial masterplan, two towns - the historical centre of Roermond and the implant - are made to mesh together. The latter acts as a pacemaker: at chosen places it will breathe new life into the existing fabric, constructing secret routes, meeting places, moments of repose and all manner of facilities. The implant is capable of embracing use forms that are too robust for the old centre. Accordingly the two textures are no longer capable of functioning separately. Just this collaboration guarantees the emergence of a single city, one made for the future.

The existing gateways and alleys and the occasional new subway ensure that the town's historical aspect is not compromised.

The typology of the new-build derives from that of the old centre. Three aspects have been worked out in detail: the above-shop and urban-plinth dwellings, the mixed-use centre and the 'front-back' house type with its division into fore and rear sections.

Place of education: AvB Maastricht
Specialization: architecture
Tutors: Fred Humblé, Niek Bisscheroux, Gerard van Zeyl, Joost Vroege & René Coenengracht