Tuinhuizen

: een zelfbouwstrategie voor Oud-Strijp

Abstract

This project focuses on the old village structures in Eindhoven. A majority of the plots in these former villages are privately owned. Separate owners have their own idea about how, when and why they want to build. This has a slowing effect on the development of the structure as a whole. Plot sizes hardly change and big developments can't get a foothold in these densely parceled out neighborhoods. On the contrary, the development on the plots themselves is quick. Big hidden back gardens provide the opportunity for owners to develop informal structures. This results in an urban fabric full of small sheds containing a large variety of different functions, from living to business and pleasure. This design aims to provide a strategy that makes use of this diversity in ownership and plot sizes. It provides people who live in the villages with an idea of how private investments can benefit the entire urban fabric. Hereby it builds on the idea of 'the civic economy'. This theory centralizes personal involvement in the social and spatial structures of the environment. These small personal involvements can make a big difference in the way neighborhoods work and look. They provide an alternative to big top down developments. In the uncertain economic times where many big investments have come to a hold this 'civic economy' can provide new opportunities for 'informal' bottom up development. Thus putting initiative and responsibility to the users. They are to be given the freedom to develop their own environment.In this process the designer can function as the initiator and connector by showing how small and simple developments can add to the quality of the neighborhood. For this project two designs are made both showing a simple way to develop houses in a privately owned back garden. By describing the design process the designs can be used as examples for new ways of using the space in this garden. The designs give an idea about the possibilities for the development on two types of plots. These plot types both are common in the former village Strijp, a former village used as a case study in this project. Furthermore the new building types are applicable throughout the village structures in the city of Eindhoven.The first type is designed for a plot that is accessible from two sides. This building forms a new face towards the backside of the plot. It gives a new face to the already existing backstreets transforming them into new living and working environments resembling the famous London Mews. In these Mews old stable building over time have been transformed into popular living areas. The design example shows a way to develop a function in combination with a garage without hindering the owners of neighboring plots.The second development shows the design possibilities for a hidden house in the back garden. The design sets out to develop a second layer inside the existing building block. New connections can be made to the heart of the urban building blocks connecting spaces that were hidden in the interior.Both designs provide new solutions to the parking problem. They do this by incorporating spaces for parking in the building design. Besides providing a pragmatic solution for this problem the designs show opportunities for residents to add new spatial qualities to their neighborhood by creating extra open space. Hereby the focus is on the development of new housing for this is the most challenging while condensing the urban structure. Questions about privacy, ownership and nuisance play a big role in positioning the new houses. Also economic and environmental difficulties ask for a new way of housing design. Smaller houses with a better quality can provide possibilities to reduce building cost as well as the heating and electricity bills.By providing ideas for small development participation in the project it becomes accessible for the owners of the plots. The designs form a starting point from where the urban structure can be developed. The buildings are a welcome addition to the neighborhood on their own but when more people join in new opportunities in the urban fabric present themselves. By using the designs as examples instead of making a 'toolbox' for development the strategy provides the freedom to use specific characteristics of the different plots whilst on the same time giving new ideas about what can be done.

Date of Award	30 Nov 2012
Original language	Dutch
Supervisor	Pieter J.V. van Wesemael (Supervisor 1), H.H. Yegenoglu (Supervisor 2) & F. Suurenbroek (Supervisor 2)