Team

dr. Frank Suurenbroek

dr. Frank Suurenbroek

Professor of Spatial Urban Transformation

Frank Suurenbroek is Professor of Spatial Urban Transformation at the the Faculty of Technology at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS). Frank is both Board Member of the Interdisciplinary Research Program Urban Technology and the Program Urban Governance & Social Innovation. His Chair conducts multiple Applied Research Projects on urban redesign and planning of existing neighborhoods, with a focus on the application of new technologies to design livable and resilient neighborhoods, streetscapes and public places. He co-organizes the Media Architecture Biennale in Amsterdam in 2020 (www.mab20.org), which is related to his Responsive Public Spaces Project (www.responsiveurbanspaces.amsterdam) and Sensing Streetscapes Project.
dr. Gideon Spanjar

dr. Gideon Spanjar

Senior Project leader - Researcher

Gideon Spanjar, is the project leader and senior researcher of Building for Well-being and Nature Inclusive Area Development at the Centre of Expertise Urban Technology at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS). He is a member of the chair Spatial Transformation at AUAS. Gideon is also professor of Innovation & Urban Green Space at Aeres University of Applied Sciences in Almere where he conducts research in Biodiverse Cities (EU-funded), Nature Inclusive Area Development, Green-Blue Cities and Excellent Green Environments. His research focuses on the redesign of the built environment using neuro-architecture principles, ecosystemic thinking, and biometric technology to get a better understanding of how we can improve human health and well-being in a changing climate. Gideon is co-author of the recently published books Neuroarchitecture & Urban Heat Atlas.

dr. Nanda Piersma

dr. Nanda Piersma

Professor Urban Analytics

Nanda Piersma is professor of Urban Analytics, affiliated with the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and the National Research Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science (CWI). Her professorship investigates how parties in the city can gain better insights into their data through data analysis, algorithms and business analytics. Nanda obtained her PhD in Econometrics from the University of Amsterdam in 1993, after which she joined Erasmus University’s Econometrics Institute as Assistant Professor. She has been professor of Urban Analytics of AUAS since September 2017. Since January 2020 Nanda is the science director of the AUAS Expertise Centre Applied Artificial Intelligence.
Lyske Gais de Bildt, MDes

Lyske Gais de Bildt, MDes

Researcher & Spatial Graphic Designer

Lyske graduated from the Gerrit Rietveld Academy Amsterdam in 2008 in art and architecture. After this, she graduated cum laude with a master’s degree in Applied Art at the Sandberg Institute. In Sensing Streetscapes, Lyske is responsible for the eyetracking technology and tests, plus the data visualization thereof. Lyske is also the contact for our students at the minor Data Science. In addition to her work for AUAS, Lyske works as a freelance designer and artist.

ir. Hugo Beschoor Plug, MSc

ir. Hugo Beschoor Plug, MSc

Researcher

Hugo Beschoor Plug was trained as an architect at the Technical University Delft and in the office of Ben van Berkel. He has been teaching architecture and urbanism at the Technical University Berlin and the Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weissensee. He worked for the Rijksgebouwendienst in Den Haag and Hootsmans architectuurbureau in Amsterdam while teaching at several institutions in the Netherlands. Hugo currently teaches at the University of Siegen and conducts research for the Amsterdam University of Applies Sciences on the new urban wave of hybrid building blocks with micro-apartments: Living the Micro-life. He works and lives in Frankfurt.

ir. Federica Cefis Colombo, MArch, MSc, MA

ir. Federica Cefis Colombo, MArch, MSc, MA

Researcher

Federica is an architect, urban planner, and artist who researches urban innovations from a socio-technical perspective. Exploring the values of the relationship between human and technology. With a background in architecture (La Sapienza University of Rome) and contemporary art (Leiden University), she joined the MSc MADE master program (joint degree WUR, TUD) at AMS Institute to explore the values of the relationship between human and technology in the city. Focusing on urban mobility, she analyses technological artefacts such as autonomous vehicles from an actor-network perspective. Mapping the human and nonhuman actors, she reveals opportunities to address ethical issues related to the development of CAVs in the urban context.

ir. Sába Schramkó, MSc

ir. Sába Schramkó, MSc

Junior Researcher

Sába graduated cum laude from TU Delft as an architect and urban planner and gained experience working in Paris and Rotterdam on heritage transformation, cultural development, and spatial development frameworks for mobility hubs, residential areas, university and business campuses. She is enthusiastic about bridging research and practice and finding synergies between the social, spatial and climatic challenges cities are facing.

Maarten Groen, MSc

Maarten Groen, MSc

Senior Researcher Data Analytics

Maarten Groen works as a teacher and senior researcher at the Amsterdam University of Applied Science. His research focuses on the collection and analysis of data from urban environments from various perspectives. Maarten is working on data analysis projects in which large amounts of data collected in cities is analyzed using machine learning. He also has experience in the development of citizen empowerment tools and methods which are used to collect and analyze data together with citizens.

Rachel Reynolds, MSc

Rachel Reynolds, MSc

Junior Researcher

Rachel is a research psychologist with a background in cognition, wellbeing, and biometrics. She is working on integrating biometric data to better understand how urban design factors affect us both physiologically and psychologically. In the Building for Wellbeing project, various biosensors will be used to collect biometric data, including eye-tracking, heart rate, and physiological arousal (GSR).

Regien Stolp, MSc

Regien Stolp, MSc

Junior Researcher

Regien has a research background in the fields of social psychiatry and urban health (MSc Maastricht University) and environmental psychology, urbanism and health (MSc University of Groningen). She is currently conducting research on the impact of high-density streetscapes on affective experiences, behaviours and wellbeing. By applying biometric technology, survey research and interviews, she explores the restorative potential of design principles on wellbeing and how these in turn prevent or mitigate adverse health effects. Her multidisciplinary background allows her to make connections between the fields of public health, architecture and urban planning to help unravel the effects of urban densification on mental health.

Sam Vink

Sam Vink

Research Assistant

Sam is one of our Built Environment students at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS). In the course of his study, he specialized in Architecture. Sam helps us to make data more accessible to a broader audience. For instance, he develops visuals such as heat maps and drawings derived from eye-tracking data and our spatial analysis of high-density locations.

Chair of Spatial Urban Transformation

The Chair of Spatial Urban Transformation conducts applied-research on the spatial transformation of the city – and the application, exploration and implementation of (technical) innovations. Our action research is always embedded in practice. For example, we work with: The Municipality of Amsterdam, Housing Corporations, Chief Technology Officer, Smart City Amsterdam, Director of Housing Amsterdam, many spatial design firms, multiple interaction design firms and Area Developers. And with 7 European Partners in European projects etc. The Chair is embedded in two research programs: Urban Technology (engineering, data analytics, logistics, circular economy, climate proof city, energy & clean mobility) and Urban Governance & Social Innovation (Engineering, Economics and Social Sciences).

Other projects of the Chair of Spatial Urban Transformation

 Responsive Urban Spaces

Responsive Urban Spaces

Responsive public spaces use interactive technologies to adapt to users and situations. This enhances the quality of the space as a public realm. However, the application of responsive technologies in spatial design is still to be explored. What exactly are the options for incorporating responsive technologies in spatial designs to improve the quality of public spaces? The book Responsive Public Spaces explores and disentangles this new assignment for designers, and presents inspiring examples. A consortium of spatial designers, interaction designers and local stakeholders, headed by the Chair of Spatial Urban Transformation of Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, carried out a two-year practice-based study of responsive public spaces. This book draws on those insights to provide a practical approach and a roadmap for the new design process for responsive public spaces. The study results are of significance for various professional fields. The book is intended for clients and stakeholders involved in planning and design of public spaces, spatial designers, interaction designers and students. DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE COPY AT www.responsiveurbanspaces.amsterdam https://responsiveurbanspaces.amsterdam/en/
Media Architecture Biennale 2020

Media Architecture Biennale 2020

The Media Architecture Biennale is a series of international events for designers, artists, researchers and policy makers exploring urban interaction design and the role of media in urban spaces: from urban screens and interactive installations in public space, to smart cities & citizens applications and the theme of playful cities. Previous editions were organized in Vienna (2010), Aarhus (2012, 2014), Sydney (2016) and Beijing (2018). The Media Architecture Biennale 2020 will take place in Amsterdam and Utrecht. However, considering the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the MAB20 has been postponed to a date tbc in May/June 2021. The coming months, leading up to the next MAB, various smaller meet-ups and events will be organized discussing media architecture in all its facets. Subscribe to our newsletter on www.mab20.org for updates on events. https://mab20.mediaarchitecture.org

Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

Sensing Streetscapes is a project of the Chair of Spatial Urban Transformation at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. Our university of applied sciences consists of seven faculties . We have circa 45,450 students and offer 92 Bachelor’s, Master’s and Associate degree programmes. At the AUAS, our research always addresses a real-life problem from the professional field, conducted in close collaboration with both academics and professionals. Applied research is a crucial component of the many educational programmes we offer. Students work alongside professors in labs and at centres of applied research. AUAS focuses on six priority areas for research: Amsterdam creative industries, entrepreneurship, urban education, urban management, urban technology and urban vitality.

Contact us

Amsterdam University of Applied Science

Faculty of Technology
Research programme Urban Technology

dr. Frank Suurenbroek, Professor of Spatial Urban Transformation

Address

Visiting address:

Weesperzijde 190, Amsterdam

Please send your mail to:

PO Box 1209, 1000 BE  Amsterdam

The Netherlands