The (Dis)Advantages of the Dutch Alcove House
H.J. van der Meer (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
M.M. Teunissen – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / A)
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Abstract
The housing shortage in the Netherlands has been increasing over the years. Around 1900, when the Netherlands had similar housing problems, the cheap and easy construction method of the ‘alkoofwoningen’ were the solution. This critical analysis will describe the (dis)advantages of the alcove and alkoofwoningen in 1850-1980 by the means of historic research and a literature review. The biggest conclusion include that in the nineteenth century the working class lived in poor living conditions and the alcoves were seen as dark and stuffy closets that caused negative effects on people health, mostly caused by bad ventilation and presence of pests. However, the air in cities was not very clean so by opening windows only dust came in and the material of beds was often perishable. Maybe the alkoofwoning with its bad reputation did not receive a fair judgement. With current trends of city-residents wanting to live in smaller houses and the housing shortage the alkoofwoning can be used as an inspiration for future dwelling floor plans.