Focus on: Space-S social housing project in the Netherlands

Every week, the CoHabitat Network introduces you to a collaborative housing project documented on the cohabitat.io database.

A social housing estate in Eindhoven in the Netherlands, whose residents - including people with disabilities and those living with autism - have been an integral part in its initial design, development and management, has been named an award in the European Collaborative Housing Awards 2019 , organised by CoHabitat Network.

Space-S, a collaborative project designed and developed by Eindhoven architects’ firm, Inbo; housing association Woonbedrijf; and the residents themselves, offers high-quality affordable housing in an inclusive community, on the former industrial base of electronics giant Philips. It is a hugely successful example of a project that has taken the principles of community-led housing and applied them to a housing association development.

More than 1,000 prospective tenants responded to an initial open call to participate in the design of the space, through inclusive and accessible workshops. Around 600 residents continue to manage many aspects of the estate and to initiate new ideas for its development, creating a continued sense of resident empowerment and community cohesion.

The development provides high-quality accommodation for around half the price of a similar apartment in the city centre and encourages people of all age ranges to live side-by-side. It includes homes for young people with learning difficulties, for people with autism and accessible to people using wheelchairs.

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