Smart renovation of existing buildings can create additional affordable living spaces without extra land use. This is evident from the 90 submissions to the national design competition “Utilize the Surplus Space!”. The winning project KNEL shows how two apartments can be added to a modest corner house.
The Province of South Holland was one of the parties that made the design competition possible. Jury member and deputy Anne Koning: “The existing housing stock has hidden potential for additional homes. With the necessary creativity and goodwill, this potential has become visible. We now see solutions that can be implemented.”
Family Home Expanded with Two Apartments
The winning project KNEL by Tim Nahuijsen adds two apartments to a modest family home. The homeowners are building the apartments for two children who want to leave the parental home but find it difficult to find housing. The project is a solution for an individual family and a scalable alternative for existing corner houses.
Janneke Revenboer received second prize as the designer of the Happy End concept. She designed stackable prefab units that can be placed against a blind wall on the end side of a gallery flat. The stackable units are quick to install and make use of the elevators and facilities of the existing flat.
Doubling Terraced Houses
The Woonverdubbelaar by Stijn van Poppel won third prize. This involves tackling and splitting a row of houses, with the new homes offered to starters who take on light care tasks for seniors in the other homes.
The jury included deputy Anne Koning and Chief Government Architect Francesco Veenstra. The prizes were awarded at the national Housing Fair WOCODA.