Evolving Urban Housing
A prefabricated system for urban mix-used housing which could adapt over time
W. Huang (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
A. Snijders – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
P.M.M. Stoutjesdijk – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
More Info
expand_more
Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.
Abstract
This research develops a prefabricated housing system that can respond to labor shortages in construction, fast-changing urban living demands, and the increasing need for adaptable rental housing in Eindhoven. Through an analysis of existing prefabricated systems and open building strategies, the project identifies the lack of short-term adaptability during the use phase as a key limitation. The proposed system combines a demountable timber support structure with manually assembled 3D-printed earth-based infill and modifiable facade, enabling reconfiguration with minimal intervention. This infill system is not only flexible and sustainable, but it also provides unusual spatial experience with curved design. The design is applied to a mixed-use site in Eindhoven’s station district, where changing household compositions and co-housing scenarios can be tested through adjustable boundaries between private and shared spaces, and interior and exterior. By positioning the building as an evolving platform rather than a fixed product, the project outlines a strategic framework for balancing permanence and changeability, and provides a basis for future research on adaptable and open housing systems.