DESIGN

HOUSE OF ALL
Master Thesis (dual)
Graduation studio ‘The Intermediate and the Porous City’
Scale: Architecture and Urbanism
Location: The Hague, The Netherlands
Eindhoven University of Technology
2022/2023

The project is based on the condition of a new political system combining existing representative democracy with principles of direct democracy, resulting in a democratic model based on participation. It exercises the new spatial expression of the system and its influence on the public domain.The research part of the work is covering the current political structure of the Netherlands, the origins of the city of The Hague, The Binnenhof (its current parliament building) and the functioning of one of its bodies – The House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer).

The design part is divided into two assignments. The first one focuses on the political landscae of The Hague and the second one exercises the new system directly on The Binnenhof building and elaborates the architectural scale.

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THE REINTERPRETATION OF THE FABRIC
Design Project
Scale: Architecture + Urbanism
Location: Palermo, Italy
Eindhoven University of Technology
2018

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PORTA SEGURO - SLEEPING PODS
Competition Entry
@ De Bever Architecten with: Ioana Birgaoanu, Stefania Pojar, Stefan de Bever
Shortlisted
2021

The Porto Seguro sleeping pods in Vale de Moses embody the safe retreat between the lush slopes of the valley, the place of relief from the quotidian. They provide physical and mental comfort to the visitors, by immersing them into the landscape and by nurturing them only through what nature provides. This is achieved by the use and reuse of local materials, sun, wind and rainwater.

There are four main elements that compose each pod, based on the primary components of a primordial hut defined by Gottfried Semper: ‘the hearth, the enclosure, the mound and the roof’. The hearth is reinterpreted as a multi-functional wall which is the engine and the core of the house. Thus, the hearth defines the surrounding inner space, but allows it to remain clear of any clutter. A modular timber frame envelope intimately encloses the space and its panels can be replaced depending on site positioning. A lightweight timber structure surrounds once more the enveloped space, it lifts it from the ground and it rises an overhanging sloped roof above.

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YELLOW POINT
Design Project
Scale: Master Plan + Architecture
Location - School complext in Genk, Belgium
Hasselt University
2018

This project transforms a former school complex in Genk, Belgium into a co-living hub, preserving its architectural and educational heritage. Instead of demolition, the design gives the buildings a new life, opening the previously closed-off square to the public and introducing a lively, shared atmosphere.
Classrooms are repurposed into housing units and workshops, while a rooftop garden offers space for learning and community exchange. A bright yellow pavilion at the heart of the square functions as a café, drawing people in and connecting the site to its surroundings.

The project was developed through individual research, including fieldwork, interviews, and archive studies. The design was refined in two stages and presented publicly in Genk through an exhibition and group presentation.

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THE LOOPED FACTORY
Design project
Scale: Architecture
Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Eindhoven University of Technology
2020

The Looped Factory is a production facility for mycelium—an innovative, natural material that offers a sustainable alternative to many conventional resources. The design was developed through analysis of case studies of existing factories, literature research, and a close study of mycelium’s specific production process. Based on the product’s unique production line, the architecture supports the growth and transformation of this living material.

The factory also rethinks the standard industrial model: instead of remaining closed off, the building’s volumes follow the silent process growth of the product.

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OVER:FLOW
Competition Entry
Scale: Urban intervention
A<24 Architecture Competition
1st Place
with K. Heyman and P. Czerklewicz
2020

OVER:FLOW is a proposed retention solution for the final stage before water disappears from our sight. Mounted to a manhole, the column uses passive, eco-friendly solutions to prevent water from draining into the sewer system, while turning into a green urban sculpture.

The proposed system uses the existing rainwater runoff system for manholes, easily blends into the urban fabric, and measures the problem of both quantity and quality of rainwater with the efficiency of a 30-meter rain garden where there is no room for it.

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HOTEL
Bachelor End Project
Obtained title: Architect/ Engineer (inż. arch.)
Scale: Architecture
Location: Gdańsk, Poland
6th and 7th semester
Gdańsk University of Technology
2019

Hotel Design is a graduation project at Gdańsk University of Technology. The building responds to a narrow, sloped site, shaping its form. It connects nature and people by providing accommodation and meeting spaces for university guests. Positioned at the campus edge, it welcomes visitors as a natural extension of the university. The façade acts as a semi-border between guests and surroundings, with two glass cuts offering views of the nature behind.

The design process took place over two semesters: In the first semester, the work focused on site and program analysis, concept development, and compliance with Polish building law. In the second semester, the project was developed in detail, with architectural details designed for selected areas and preparation of project documentation.

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© Anna Manka 2025