06 Oct 2025
 Lectures Permalink

Join the Crown Lecture (Kroonlezing2025) on November 3

2025-10-06

On November 3, during the Dutch Climate Week (Klimaatweek), residents, scientists, artists, policymakers, and entrepreneurs will gather at Theater de Veste for an evening dedicated to the power of healthy, shady trees in shaping a resilient Delft.

The Crown Lecture (Kroonlezing2025) will be delivered by Prof. Dr. Ir. Anne Loes Nillesen, who will explore how we can give trees the space they deserve in a climate-proof city, and what it takes from all of us to keep Delft cool and healthy for the future. The lecture will be followed by an interactive program featuring artists and experts sharing their creative perspectives. Among the contributors are City Architect Tako Postma, Green Expert Joost Van der Werf, and comedian Pieter Jouke, each highlighting this important topic in their own way.

🌱 In addition, the event supports the donation of 1,000 trees to Delft, helping to create shade, clean air, and a healthier city for everyone.

🎟️ Tickets and more information can be found here:
https://lnkd.in/eDxhQj8k

27 Sep 2025
 Project news Permalink

Ontwerp-Nota Ruimte

2025-09-27

De ministerraad heeft ingestemd met de Ontwerp-Nota Ruimte, die vooruitkijkt naar het Nederland van overmorgen. We zijn trots op onze bijdrage aan de totstandkoming van het document en de vele kaarten die er in zijn opgenomen.

Het was ons een bijzonder genoegen om deze complexe uitdaging gezamenlijk met onze vrienden van PosadMaxwan, Generation.Energy, BRIGHT Cooperative, Felixx Landscape Architects & Planners en FABRICations. aan te gaan. In samenwerking met het Ministerie van Volkshuisvesting en Ruimtelijke Ordening hebben wij diverse paden verkend, uitgewerkt en vormgegeven, met als doel een toekomstbestendig perspectief voor ons land te ontwikkelen.

We delen de nota en lichten later onderdelen van onze bijdrage toe – stay tuned!

04 Sep 2025
 Lectures Permalink

International Conference “HOT – Healing Our Towns”

2025-09-04

On September 8th, Anne Loes Nillesen speaks at the International Conference “HOT – Healing Our Towns”, the Summer School organized by Politecnico di Milano – DAStU.

She will be presenting on climate adaptation strategies, sharing examples that highlight the importance of including heat and water as a design criteria in urban strategies, public spaces, and nature-based solutions. She will illustrate how adaptation strategies can help cities adapt to future climate conditions.

The program brings together leading scholars and practitioners to discuss how design, planning, and innovation can contribute to more resilient and climate-adaptive cities.

📅 September 8th, 2025 | 9:30 – 18:15
📍 Politecnico di Milano, Building 16B (access from Via E. Bonardi, room 16B.0.1)

More information about the event: https://lnkd.in/euwYXYR4

Università degli Studi di Parma CMCC Foundation – Centro Euro Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici NMBU – Norwegian University of Life Sciences Delft University of Technology Climateflux GmbH RWTH Aachen University Comune di Reggio Emilia LAND

04 Sep 2025
 Office updates Permalink

Defacto on the move!

2025-09-04

Last week we enjoyed an inspiring office trip to Woudrichem!

We set off by boat from Willemsplein and passed some remarkable Dutch landmarks along the way, such as the Kinderdijk. Even though late-summer rain greeted us on arrival, discovering the rich history of Woudrichem was fascinating!

We wrapped up the day back in Rotterdam with a cozy dinner together, a perfect ending to a day full of stories, laughs, and team spirit!

#officetrip #fun #woudrichem #urbanism #colleagues #dutchlandscape

17 Jul 2025
 Project news Permalink

Climate-adaptive Utrecht

2025-07-17

Where will we live tomorrow? And how do we build smarter, greener, and future-proof?

Together with Utrecht Water Partners, we created the Suitability Map Guideline, a tool to help planners and municipalities assess where and how to build climate-resilient homes and businesses. Through 4 case studies, we discovered that no location meets the national climate-adaptive standard without extra measures. Early, area-specific action is key. This project shows how we can design smarter, with water and soil as guiding principles. Check out the full project via the link

15 Jul 2025
 Office updates Permalink

Katendrecht met studenten van de Universiteit van Tampere

2025-07-15

Onlangs hebben wij een groep enthousiaste studenten van de Tampere University uit Finland een rondleiding gegeven in de Rotterdamse wijk Katendrecht. In 2024 heeft Defacto in opdracht van de gemeente Rotterdam een klimaatadaptatie studie uitgevoerd voor deze wijk. Door de bijzondere buitendijkse ligging, het havenkarakter en de grote nieuwbouwambities van de wijk spelen hier meerdere vraagstukken op het gebied van overstromingsrisico’s en hittebestendigheid. Wij hebben de studenten inzicht gegeven in het onderzoek en onze ideeën toegelicht waarmee de oude en nieuwe bebouwing van Katendrecht klimaatadaptief gemaakt kan worden.

Je kunt het project hier bekijken: https://www.defactourbanism.com/portfolio-item/climate-strategy-katendrecht-2050/

Gemeente Rotterdam Tampere University

Katendrecht Klimaatadaptatie KlimaatbestendigeStad Toekomstbouwers LerenInDeStad Wateroverlast Hittestress

 

03 Jul 2025
 Publications Permalink

Excited to share that the new book De Fijne Stad is out!

2025-07-03

A beautiful collection of insights by various experts and professionals on what makes a city truly livable. Anne Loes Nillesen contributed the chapter titled “De Klimaatbestendige Stad” (The Climate-Proof City), where she explores how we can design urban environments that are resilient in the face of climate change. Huge thanks to Vincent Luyendijk for bringing all these voices together.

Also great to see that De Fijne Stad is the book of the month at Boekhandel Donner. If you would like to have detailed look and purchase the book, you can follow this link!

DeFijneStad ClimateResilience UrbanDesign BookLaunch Donner CityPlanning LivableCities

01 Jul 2025
 Media attention Permalink

Concrete Jungle – NOS

2025-07-01

If you live in the city, you will suffer more from the heat. In cities, the perceived temperature can be 10 degrees higher than outside the city. The Rotterdam district of Katendrecht is one such place where it gets hot. Anne Loes Nillesen, together with NOS, takes us to a small journey in the Katendrecht district, and explains the importance of including heat as a design criteria in urban strategies, public spaces and buildings to reduce the urban heat island effect. You can watch the clip here.

Furthermore, Katendrecht will continue its transformation from a port and industrial zone into a residential and urban living space. Thus a ‘Resilience strategy’ is needed to adapt these developments to future climate conditions. In one of our recent studies, Climate Strategy Katendrecht, we tackled this challenge and identified hotspots for heat stress, and developed a toolbox that takes into consideration of the living environment, inclusiveness, spatial quality and ecology.

23 Jun 2025
 Exhibitions Permalink

Open Office Day 2025

2025-06-23

On Saturday, we had the pleasure of welcoming many visitors to our office for OpenOfficeDay2025, part of Rotterdam Architecture Month.

It was a great opportunity to connect with many curious and enthusiastic visitors, share insights, and exchange ideas. Our mini-exhibition, showcasing some of our most significant recent projects, both in the Netherlands and internationally, sparked interesting conversations around the role of research-by-design in shaping the built environment.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and contributed to the amazing atmosphere. We are already looking forward to next year!

OpenOfficeDay2025 RotterdamArchitectureMonth ArchitectureNetwork DesignCommunity StudioVisit

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