Drowning Cities

As part of a team you will focus on water-related problems caused by climate change in residential areas.

Architecture & Design, Civil Engineering and Spatial & Area (re)development

This international exchange programme is interesting for students of Architecture and Construction Engineering, Civil Engineering or Spatial Development eager to develop their design talent. You will work as a team (Architect, Civil engineer and Spatial designer) on a design for an urban area in ho Chi Minh City

By assuming the role of architect, civil engineer, water manager or spatial developer, you will gain the necessary skills to find design solutions for problems in the built environment. You will also gain insight into your field of expertise, while your work will be integrated into a broader context. You will work with lecturers and students in the field of architecture, urbanism, spatial development and civil engineering.

A challenging context

The urgent need to re-think, re-imagine and re-design cities by a worldwide network of architects and other players in the field, is the result of the threat being posed by rising sea and water levels.

The strategy of fighting water is increasingly being replaced by the willingness to embrace it. Architectural, civil and spatial or area designers therefore need to be inventive under such conditions: exploring the problem, for example, can lead to the opening up of a playground and even an unexplored toolbox, e.g. new materials, constructions, spaces, forms or ways of living. Designing for resilience requires living with water and a willingness to see a threat as an opportunity.

Room for the river

The Dutch approach to solving water issues in urban residential and river areas has gained international attention. “Room for the river”, building with nature and the consensus economy are at the heart of this approach.

In this programme, you will experience for yourself what this Dutch approach actually implies for your expertise. Furthermore, you will learn if or how it can be applied to projects abroad, while taking cultural differences and socio-economic issues into account.

Multidisciplinary team

As a student, you will choose a specific role, e.g. designer, administrator, manager or user. This role will determine your approach to the project you will be working on. You will form a multidisciplinary team with Architecture and Construction Engineering, Civil Engineering and Spatial Development students.

Related bachelor's degree programmes

This programme is part of the following bachelor’s degree programmes of the School of the Sustainable Built Environment:

  • Bachelor of Architecture and Construction Engineering
  • Bachelor of Civil Engineering
  • Bachelor of Spatial Development.