Netherlands: Volkstuintje







An interesting part of the Dutch landscape that instantly caught my eye was the Volkstuintje. These gardening areas, which are very common to see from the trains, seemed to initially reflect some of the smaller, more chaotic shanties that develop in other parts of the world, as people search for a small space to build a small structure. The notion is similar from a formal view, but in reality fundamentally different. Since most traditional housing had been pretty dense in the cities without much individual space, these spaces allowed people to get away without really getting away. It is an extension of the home, but not physically connected. But, these spaces are highly controlled and regulated, and they cannot be built beyond a certain size, and it is prohibited to spend the night there. I found them fascinating, beautiful, and refreshing….When it comes to the built environment, the Dutch don’t play around. Most of them have sinks, wood stoves, and lounge furniture. Talk about garden sheds….

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Shipping Containers: Cool, but Unaffordable

Image
https://www.archdaily.com/772414/ga-designs-radical-shipping-container-skyscraper-for-mumbai-slum I have been approached multiple times this year by people who think shipping containers are the best solution to reducing costs in housing. I hate to bust their bubble, but plainly put, they are not a good solution.  Recently, I came across an excellent critique of this phenomenom by Architect Mark Hogan.   In his piece titled "What's Wrong with Shipping Container Housing?  Everything." he highlights why shipping containers are not a solution for mass housing: Housing is usually not a technology problem. All parts of the world have vernacular housing, and it usually works quite well for the local climate. There are certainly places with material shortages, or situations where factory built housing might be appropriate - especially when an area is recovering from a disaster. In this case prefab buildings would make sense- but doing them in containers does not. I...
Read more

Quinta Monroy: A Victim of its Own Success?

Image
My visit to Quinta Monroy in 2008 convinced me that incremental housing was a viable approach to helping solve the problems of housing affordability, quality and availability in many parts of the world.  This project, designed by ELEMENTAL, reminded me that sometimes the best architecture is less architecture.  The beauty of this project is that it is designed to change over time, and it is doing just that.  And maybe even a little too much. One of the community leaders of the Quinta Monroy project (which I highlighted in 2008) put me in touch with the Brazilian photographer Fernando Bellia, who was putting together images of the project for an exhibit.  We were able to share some images and he provided me with some updated photographs from 2013.  I was able to place them next to images I had taken in 2008 to show how the project has continued to evolve incrementally.  Image Credit: Luke W. Perry & Fernando Bellia Image Credit: Luke W. Per...
Read more

Bern: Weberhaus (Bauart Architekten)

Image
A prefabricated modular house option. This was a quick introduction into the extraordinary standards or craft and excellence within the Swiss built environment. This particular unit had three modules. The spaces were really nice, large windows (very common) and variation within each module. It was cheap and had to be erected quickly (within 6 months). The owner complained that it was cheap (built by the Germans) and only really made to last 20-30 years, like most of the houses in the US …..overall nice project, but very difficult to do much with it in the future. It is a mobile and versatile project until it is actually built, then it is finished… More Info: Bauart Architecten or Weberhaus
Read more