4 minute read
A follow-up article from Simone Tax
Next Article
COLLECTIVE HOUSING COMMUNITY
Waste. A biproduct and downfall of the linear economy. A model that is embedded throughout the western world; A terrible consequence of a system that evolved into being and was never designed. Nature does not produce waste. We must learn from it and flip the established cultural norms around waste- from an unsightly topic to an untapped resource. This alternative idea is known as the circular economy and the Netherlands are among the leaders in its implementation. Located in Smeetsland, Rotterdam, the hub of the circular movement, this project strives to integrate circular principles throughout its design. Starting with recycled design: steel structure, glass facades, plastic window frames, timber interior lining, concrete flooring, carpet, and insulation from suppliers around the Netherlands. The design recognises the importance of elevating the circulatory system beyond the material level to a day to day experiential one. Therefore, the collective housing community hosts facilities such as repair workshops, producer labs and markets , where upcycled objects can be repaired, crafted, bought, and sold within the local and wider community. In addition to this, art and exhibition space will provide a platform to start conversations around waste in a positive light. These deeper levels of engagement with the circular economy will allow the project to move beyond the superficial, material influence on the users, toward a cultural shift.
The second major theme of the collective housing community is to counteract the growing loneliness epidemic with collective living. Loneliness is now considered more harmful than obesity or smoking. Despite, or perhaps because of the digital connectedness of this technological age, social isolation is rising at alarming rates (prior to COVID 19). With 61% of adults and 73% of young workers feeling sometimes or always lonely, action needs to be taken to counteract this trend. Much of the world is currently living through the intense mental and physical consequences of social isolation due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Increasing the need to find innovative solutions to enhancing connection in an increasingly physically disconnected world. This housing development is centred around the idea of collective living which creates a community around shared spaces, items, facilities, and company.
On a macro-level this design has integrated a public park, a shared housing complex and a large permaculture garden into the site. The public park, wrapping around the site perimeter, creates a central green, gathering space within the local suburb. The 550 dwellings in the shared housing complex are designed to minimize private space by providing better equipped shared spaces than private residences would usually have access to. Some of these shared facilities include: kitchens, dining areas, social spaces, and study/work areas. The permaculture gardens make up the interior space of the circular complex design. Including greenhouses (blue roofs) for annual food production, orchards, flower fields, permaculture outdoor gardens and cultural hubs (pink roofs). These cultural hubs aim to foster community throughout the complex. Acting as opportunities for intergenerational socializing, with programs such as eateries, childcare, games rooms, active spaces, movie rooms, bars, the maker labs and repair workshops. A weekly market, in the circular outdoor events space to the South, will provide a place to interact through the sale of local products and produce. Finally, the social interactivity of play is implemented through children’s playgrounds and sports courts to the South.
The four typological floor plans exemplify the main design concept - minimizing private space and maximizing shared spaces. The open-plan design allows natural light from both ends to penetrate throughout the apartment. The apartments in the flexi-plan floor layout (top) are able to be adjusted in multiple ways due to the structure being constrained to each end of the apartments. De-constructible partition-walls will allow every new resident to ‘design’ their own apartment. The grated floors along the edges of the circulation, allow complete flexibility of front door placement and light penetration from the glass roof. The shared living and dining spaces are still situated throughout this floor segment. Providing the private – public dynamic that is central in this concept. The mixed typology floor layout (bottom) combines the single, elderly, and couple typologies into one repeatable segment. This enhances the sense of community between generations, strengthened by the three shared living spaces (for socializing or quite reading) and the one shared dining space.
In conclusion, this project primarily explored the boundaries of public and private space on several scales. The smaller private apartments are supplemented by a great variety of shared spaces and facilities to promote day-to-day social life and thereby enhance mental and physical wellbeing. This experimental housing project is situated in the centre of the Netherlands and integrates the country’s circular vision through its avant-garde material design and carefully designed program and spaces. Through these two driving concepts, this experimental housing project has aimed to set a new precedent, not only in the suburb of Smeetsland but in the city of Rotterdam as a whole. While this design is speculative and will require refinement, it places these emerging ideas at the forefront. In hope of initiating conversations and new radical ways of thinking to begin to restructure the current broken yet ingrained linear systems and culture.
