We are excited to share the latest publications from the TU Delft Wood Studio 2025–2026, celebrating a year of research, experimentation, and design centred on timber rooftop extensions as a strategy for urban densification.
The new edition of TUD_Timber for Urban Density presents 15 graduation projects that explore how existing cities can grow through lightweight timber construction. Rather than expanding outwards, the projects investigate the potential of optopping by adding new homes above existing buildings to address the housing shortage while making better use of the existing urban fabric. Timber’s lightweight nature, prefabrication potential, and lower environmental impact make it an ideal material for this approach, allowing cities to densify with minimal disruption while extending the life of existing structures.
The projects were led by the Alex de Rijke and Gilbert Koskamp, and by the mentor and specialists team comprised of Pierre Jennen, Loes Thijssen, Max Salzberger, Stijn Brancart, Giorgio Pagella, Jack O’Hagan, Florian Eckardt, Rik Rozendaal and Gert-Jan Rozemeijer.
PROJECTS
- 1. SKYWALKER – Spinoza Hof [Lucas Rikveld]
- 2. THE SCHOOL OFF BEN INGWERSEN – Doctor Jan van Breemenstraat [Kevin Oei]
- 3. THE COMMON AND THE IRREGULAR – Bloemenstraat [Beer Van Den Broek]
- 4. THE HUB – Hoogte Kadijk [Camiel Seignette]
- 5. THE HEAVY AND THE LIGHT THE STRONG AND THE DELICATE – Marnixstraat 466 [Alex Van Der Sluis]
- 6. REVIVING COURTYARD – Voormalige Stadstimmertuin [Roelof Kooistra]
- 7. BIOCITY CORE – Kalverstraat 239 [Yaron Mor]
- 8. BOSBOUW – Marnixstraat 248 [Stijn Kuijsters]
- 9. OP EN TOP WONEN – Piet Mondriaanstraat [Sharice Van Der Schaaf]
- 10. THE LIGHTWEIGHT REVOLUTION – Kalverstraat 212 [Nathan Smithers]
- 11. THE THIRD LAYER – Kadijksplein [Bart Hooijer]
- 12. ARCADE PARK – Muiderpoort earea [Juul Schuurman]
- 13. DESIGNING WITH RECLAIMING TIMBER – Wittenburgerkade [Anne Smeenk]
- 14. TRANSFORMING INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE INTO A HUMAN-CENTERED ENVIROMENT THROUGH TIMBER EXTENSION – Hoogte kadijk 400 [Sanne Van Maarseveen]
- 15. THE POPLAR REVOLUTION – Matrozenhof [Rien Vloeberghs]
- 16. URBAN RETREAT – Dam Square [Grytsje Rozema]
- 17. URBAN GROVE – Jacob Bontiusplaats 9 [Sejena Sithamparanathan]
- 18. RE:FRAME – Mr. Visserplein [Clara Soltesz]
- 19. TIMBER TOPPING UP AS A FRAMEWORK FOR COLLECTIVE MAKING AND URBAN RESILIENCE – Leewenwerf 28 [Guilherme Carneiro Pedote]z
- 20. TIME IS A TREE LOCATION – Nieuwe houttuinen [Alara Aykanat]
- 21. TIMBER KNOWLEDGE PLATFORM – Lijnbaansgracht 161-165 [Jennifer Stutzenberger]
Throughout the studio, students combined urban analysis with material experimentation, developing proposals that considered not only architecture, but also circularity, adaptability, and long-term sustainability. Through case studies, full-scale timber joint prototypes, and detailed design investigations, the studio explored timber as more than a construction material, positioning it as a driver for rethinking how cities can evolve.
Alongside the graduation publication, this year’s Wood Studio has also contributed to the release of the second edition of Analyze a Timber Building. Building on the first volume, the new edition expands the collection with 19 contemporary timber case studies, continuing to grow a shared library of precedents for students, researchers, and designers. Together, the two editions form an evolving educational resource that documents innovative timber architecture across different scales, structural systems, and construction approaches.
Together, these publications reflect the Wood Studio’s commitment to advancing timber architecture through research, experimentation, and design, while contributing to the ongoing conversation on circular construction, urban densification, and the future of timber in our cities.