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| Source: http://www.mvrdv.nl/ |
Like they say, architectural design evolves better when built around constraints. The WoZoCo Housing Estate in Amsterdam, Netherlands by MVRDV is an awesome example of innovation driven by constraints. The project was commissioned to create 100 housing units for elderly people (over 55 years of age).
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| WoZoCo Housing Estate for the elderly in Amsterdam, Source: http://www.mvrdv.nl/ |
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| Source: http://www.mvrdv.nl/ |
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The cantilevered projections in the Northern Facade and staggered windows and balconies
give the otherwise simple housing block its unique character |
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| Its hard to believe that complete housing units lie within the projecting blocks! |
The Challenge
Rapid development in the area since the 1950's has increasingly put the green cover in the region under pressure. Also, Urban development planning regulations in Amsterdam restricts the maximum number of units in a block to 87. Hence to address building height regulations and norms without compromising on the green cover around the block and at the same time, to provide the number of units required by the client, 13 housing units were cantilevered from the North facade.
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| An inside view of the projected units, Source: http://www.mvrdv.nl/ |
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| The cantilevered housing units, Source: http://www.sukiscoop.com/ |
Meeting the challenge of providing all 100 houses would have inevitably taken the budget beyond initial estimates. But amazingly, built between between 1994 and 1997, construction cost for this project was among the lowest in the housing segment at the time. To stay within budget, the plans and materials used were kept simple. Using a collage of simple elements like colored glass, doors and windows, the building has been transformed into a landmark project.
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| The balconies highlighted by colored glass, Source: http://curious-places.blogspot.in/ |
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| A View of the Southern Facade, Image Credit: Dirk Verwoerd |
The southern facade looks like a wooden sheathed dresser with staggered open colored glass drawers.
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| The staggered colored balconies, Image Credit: Helioscribe at Flickr |
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| Source: http://www.corbisimages.com/ |
The structural support for the cantilevered portions is carefully concealed within the timber cladding and main body of the housing block
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| Source: © Samuel Ludwig www.samueltludwig.com |
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| Source: © Samuel Ludwig www.samueltludwig.com |
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