Urban Family Living

neighbourhood for families in cities

‘Urban Family Living’ is a residential neighborhood for families in a large city in the Netherlands. It is the result of our research into housing for families with a preference for the city. There is an increasing need for stacked, non ground-level housing especially for families. Because not all families want a garden and private parking. In particular, families with teenagers that are once again looking for the dynamics of big cities. Near everything the city has to offer: schools, playgrounds, restaurants, culture, festivals and contacts.

‘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’.

Facts

Client

Yisheng Development

Assignment

Research on housing for families in big cities

Area

9,000 sqm

The makers of this project

Adam Visser

Adam Visser

adam@groupa.nl Architect | Partner

Pia Fischer

Pia Fischer

pia@groupa.nl Architect | Projectleader

Hala Abi Saad

Hala Abi Saad

hala@groupa.nl Architect | Urban designer

Gabrielius Varnelis

Gabrielius Varnelis

gabrielius@groupa.nl Architect

Pietro Giromini

Pietro Giromini

pietro@groupa.nl Architect

Xander van Dijk

Xander van Dijk

xander@groupa.nl Architect

Boyuan Shi

Boyuan Shi

boyuan@groupa.nl Architect

Rodrigo Altamirano Fernandéz

Rodrigo Altamirano Fernandéz

rodrigo@groupa.nl Designer