It is certain that cities must prepare for densification in the coming years due to urban population growth. High-rise buildings as urban housing have long been seen as a solution to address housing shortages. This typology efficiently utilizes limited space, allowing a relatively large number of urban residents to settle in the urban area. Now, the urban built environment is reaching the point where social and societal problems are also experienced in this typology. Residents of high-rise buildings struggle with feelings of loneliness and are unable to anchor themselves in the urban community. It seems that our urban designs have led to increased anonymity and a loss of social contact in high-rise living. The lack of social engagement within a community or social isolation has adverse effects on mental health, resulting in dissatisfaction, stress, and poor public health. Ultimately, this societal problem will also influence the urban developments negatively. As a result, the characteristic structure of high-rise buildings must be studied and reconsidered for the sake of the mental health of the urban population. The built environment must come up with solutions to encourage social interactions through design interventions in high-rise buildings and focussing more on public interior spaces.

Hembrug was back in the days responsible for the production and storage of weapons and ammunition for the Dutch army. The location has been chosen very carefully by the Stelling of Amsterdam and nowadays it is located between the two big growing cities Amsterdam and Zaandam. Because of is secrecy and abandoned, Hembrug can been seen as a new city! Through the time you can recognize different time layers of typologies on the terrain and it is now time to design the fifth generation of architecture on Hembrug. This will start with given the existing buildings new life with a function and to open up the buildings for public. Plofbos is one of the nine ensembles on Hembrug and is located in the middle heart of the terrain. The southern part is part of the production-zone, well the northern part of Plofbos belongs to the forest-zone. With his greenery environment and small scale buildings, Plofbos will be a new neighborhood of Hembrug with generation housing, and some supporting functions as well. A primary school and a community center are the design proposals for the fifth generation and will be characterized by new wooden entrances and their functions. The values of the typologies are different from each other; the Boerderijen have detailed monumental facades, well the shell roofs are formed by the spirit of place inside. This was also the design approach for the projects.