Space Encounters Office for Architecture

This collective housing block (CPO De Hoofden) was designed as a collaboration between Space Encounters, Architecten Cie, Thijs Asselbergs, Marc Koehler and seventy future inhabitants. This block has been a pioneering housing development in the former Houthavens harbour docks in Amsterdam West and consists of a customisable co-living model based on a modular building system. It offers its residents the freedom to design their homes from scratch, incorporate hybrid functions and co-create shared spaces to build a co-living community.

The climate neutral 10.000m² housing project provides inhabitants with a freedom unprecedented in residential development: an unfinished five meter high wind and waterproof concrete shell, in which occupants can realise their dreams in a truly sovereign manner. The shell has been designed as minimal and timeless architecture that can stand on itself, but can also be combined with unknown future neighbouring buildings. The sober but thoughtfully detailed facades of concrete, steel and glass are modular and demountable and with its large window openings lets the interior bathe in daylight.