Urban Family Living’ is a residential neighbourhood for families in one of the big cities in the Netherlands. It is the result of our research into housing for families with a penchant for the big city. There is an increasing need for stacked, non-terrestrial housing, especially for families. Because not all families want a garden and private parking. Families with teenage children in particular are looking for the dynamics of the large cities. Close to everything that the city has to offer: schools, playgrounds, restaurants, culture, festivals and your network.
‘Urban Family Living’ is a stacked residential hood with a strong collective character. The pleasant excess of circulation areas invites to meet each other. No anonymous galleries. But wide, double-height indoor corridors that function as ‘neighbourhood streets’, where children can play safely. That’s where you meet your neighbours and you share a piece of freshly baked apple pie, made from your own fruit. Cause all family apartments have a large terrace garden with its own fruit tree.
The spacious central staircase forms the heart of ‘Urban Family Living’. It connects the higher ‘neighbourhood streets’ with the lively plinth. Wide stairs invite to active use and this gives the lift a subordinate position. The plinth provides collective spaces and is an important meeting place for all residents. Children can playfully develop their talent, creativity, identity and independence. In this way ‘Urban Family Living’ contributes to a ‘healthy urbanisation’.