Creating Vibrancy and Community in Student Housing around THUAS

The area around The Hague University houses many students, but it doesn’t really feel “lived in”. I’ve heard from people living there that the neighbourhood feels unsafe and unpleasant around their own house, and this is also visible just walking around. Students treat it as “just a space to pass through”, not a home to stay. I’m bringing residents together through research, co-creation workshops, and design to reimagine what this could be.

Starting with the Red Cross building at Leeghwaterplein, which currently lacks inviting communal spaces or ways for residents to connect. There I’m currently working with students to find out what would actually make them feel at home and excited about their neighbourhood. I'm leveraging my experience in user research and my passion for architecture to conduct interviews and collaborative workshops where we’ll create ideas together. From there I’ll make visual designs that show what’s possible: more vibrant communal spaces, better ways to connect with neighbours, working towards a neighbourhood that feels like a real campus community.