Description
Designing is imagining the future. In a time of climate change and multiple transitions, a ‘designerly’ attitude is needed more than ever. Understanding past practices, institutional frameworks and socio-cultural conditions is the basis for new interventions. In this minor, students link research and design from multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural perspectives with a focus on the future of the port city of Rotterdam. Students will develop skills to identify and address the challenges that port city territories are facing now and in the future.
For whom?
This minor is open for all BSC students with interest in port cities and in research and design in a social, historical and cultural context. More specifically, students who want to learn to work independently, study texts, analyze maps and sketch new ideas for the city of the future.
For non-design students, this means an introduction into the way designers think and act and an understanding of the relationship between designing and their own professional way of thinking. For design students this means that they will be able to improve their skills in the design process, especially in a socio-cultural context.
Maximum number participants: 40
Type of minor: Non-selection minor
What will you learn
In this minor you will work on design and research studies and learn how to:
Study (analyze and reflect upon) the historical, social and cultural context in port-city territories in relation to the present and the future;
Experiment (sketch, explore and test) with possible alternative future ideas,
Take position as designer with regard to the future of port cities
Elaborate the theme in a design at different scale levels, such as public space, street furniture and/or an urban vision.
Course overview
The minor consists of two courses (15 ECTS in the first quarter and 15 ECTS in the second quarter), each with lectures, workshops and supervision in the design studio .
While working on the topic throughout the entire week, you will receive supervision twice a week in the studio environment. The studio education is the core of the education: it is intended to guide the development of the design and research studies and to provide opportunities for discussion with fellow students. The lectures and workshops provide information and skills, which will be used in the design and research studies.
Location: Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment in Delft.
Participating institutions
Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, TU Delft
Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication, (Department of History)
Register for this minor
For registration, please visit minors.tudelft.nl
Students can register from 19 May 2026 (13:00 o'clock) up to and including 30 June 2026 (23:59 o'clock).
More information
Check out the promotional video of the minor (Re)Imagining Port Cities: Understanding Space, Society and Culture!
For more information about the minor (Re)Imagining Port Cities: Understanding Space, Society and Culture, please check the minor website of the TU Delft.
You can also read more about the minor (Re)Imagining Port Cities: Understanding Space, Society and Culture in this article.