WoZoHo
On top of an existing office building WHIM proposes to add apartments for starters. The design improves the social structure of the neighbourhood and re-
The office building is located at the city centre of Rotterdam. With all the qualities of urban life within walking distance. After the owner of the building moved to an other location, the office was empty for years. Nowadays its successfully used by several small creative companies that enjoy the facilities and its location. The use of the location is important for the liveliness and social control of the area.
Within the street there are more similar office buildings, most of them are empty. Housing is lacking in the area, which makes the area abandoned and less attractive at night. Criminality has increased as a result. Because of the economic crisis there are no large investments planned for the next ten years.
Adding new apartments on the roof of the existing office building will upgrade the area. The area will have a 24 hour use and will become more lively and attractive at day and night.
Starters on the housing market currently have difficulty in finding a suitable house with matching financing. By designing the roof apartments specifically for this target group we expect a big demand. The apartments can be manufactured is series keeping the costs low. By placing the apartments on an existing roof there are no land costs.
The location at the city centre matches the target group that enjoys an urban lifestyle.
The existing rooftop is large enough to create a minimum of 37 apartments together with a large communal garden. Since there are no substantial plans for this area in the next ten years, this period is the minimum for the houses to be on this location. Because there are many similar locations within Rotterdam and abroad, it will be easy to find a new rooftop location if this one will lose its availability. Logically the apartments are designed to fit different roof landscapes and easy to transport from a factory to this rooftop or any other.
The housing will be a valuable addition to the offices in creating an attractive urban mixed used environment.
The concept for WoZoHo is developed by WHIM architecture in collaboration with Femke van der Stoep and Bina Bouwadvies.
Design: Studio DAT and WHIM architecture
Location: Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Program: Urban apartments
M2: 80m2 for each apartment
Period: 2012