Environmental friendly living

Abstract

Starters are facing an almost impossible task to find a dwelling on a housing market where there is scarcity. At the same time a changing climate and other environmental issues demand a different way of building, that differs from the traditional building methods and uses materials that have a positive impact to these environmental issues. A design for a large housing complex in the transformed harbour area in the Merwe-Vierhavens in Rotterdam contributes to a solution to both of these issues at hand. The building contains a variety of compact dwellings that is suited for starters. This variation in dwelling types, however, makes the dwellings appropriate for many other types of residents. Because of this the building can evolve over time, according to changing societal conditions and demands on the market. The project is for a large part constructed out of renewable materials and demountable. A large green garden in the heart of the building serves as collective space. Moreover it acts as the key aspect in how the building deals with the aspect of water. Rainwater is not only collected in the garden and used in the building, it is also applied as a design element and with this adds to the quality of the garden and the awareness of residents concerning climate conditions. Altogether this design offers a (socially) sustainable living environment for starters and other residents on a vivid urban location.