Some self-provided housing projects in the Netherlands

Abstract

Housing development projects can range from typical market provided, almost speculative projects done by for-profit developers, to projects that are individually self-built, one-of a kind. The Netherlands is no exception, more so, since the 90ties national housing policies aim to increase the amount of self-provided housing. The pathways to these projects, the backgrounds, and the characteristics can be very different. As a result, the conception of what a self-provided housing project is and what a DIY-housing project based on sweat equity is diffuse. The same is true for the division between individual and collective projects: where does one stop or start to call a project collaborative? Using a sample of projects from the Netherlands, the project characteristics are used to illustrate differences and similarities. Characteristics like who initiates the project, how are the finances arranged, selection criteria, what are the design results, and others, paint a picture of many possibilities and a broad genetic diversity. Thus being well suited to adaptation, but difficult to identify.