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On Feb 15 – May 19, Mecanoo and Hans van der Heijden are featured at the Center for Architecture
From February 15th until May 19th, Mecanoo and Hans van der Heijden are featured in the exhibition “Social Housing” at the Center for Architecture. The exhibition explores the best new affordable housing from across Europe. Entrance is free.
Originally debuted at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London and based on a 2017 publication of the same name, Social Housing captures some of the best and most innovative examples of public and not-for-profit housing from eight European countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the UK. The exhibition examines a range of building and dwelling typologies, emerging design approaches, and refurbishment strategies. Common to them all is the idea that there are alternatives to purely market-oriented housing provision.
Across Europe, a new generation of architecture practices is transforming affordable housing. Responding to increasing demand, changing clients, and new funding methods, architects are addressing how homes can be delivered affordably while achieving high standards of design. The projects on view in Social Housing invite housing professionals and citizens in the US to rethink how and what they design and build.
“Osdorp Mixed Use Centre & Housing” by Mecanoo is on display in the Social Housing exhibition. Mecanoo architects, officially founded in Delft in 1984, is made up of a highly multidisciplinary staff of creative professionals from 25 countries. The team includes architects, engineers, interior designers, urban planners, landscape architects and architectural technicians.
The company is led by creative director/founding partner, Francine Houben, design and research director/partner Dick van Gameren, technical director Friso van der Steen, and financial director Peter Haasbroek.
The extensive collective experience, gained over three decades, results in designs that are realised with technical expertise and great attention to detail. Mecanoo’s projects range from single houses to complete neighbourhoods and skyscrapers, cities and polders, schools, theatres and libraries, hotels, museums, and even a chapel.
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“Knikflats” by Hans van der Heijden is also on display in the Social Housing exhibition. Hans van der Heijden works within the tradition of architecture. He designs solid buildings which are adaptable, are self-evidently present in the city and which can be occupied by their inhabitants. The design is a negotiation. The sustainable urban design has to be imaginable and pragmatic. Hans van der Heijden is an architect who designs, writes and teaches. The pleasure of building is paramount.
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On February 17th, Hans van der Heijden will be speaking at the exhibition symposium “Transforming Social Housing – Stories from Europe” at the Center for Architecture.
Across Europe living habits and architectural traditions differ from country to country, but uniting the continent is a renewed focus on embracing new methods and innovative refurbishment strategies to achieve new standards of exemplary social housing design. This half-day explores shifting national attitudes, housing traditions, recent experiences and pan-European challenges.
For tickets, click here.
The Center for Architecture is a leading cultural venue for architecture and the built environment in New York City, informed by the complexity of the City’s urban fabric and in dialogue with the global community.
The Center for Architecture shares a home with the AIA New York Chapter and has the unique advantage of drawing upon the ideas and experiences of practicing architects to produce thought-provoking exhibitions, informative public programs, and quality design education experiences for K-12 students. It also leads New York City’s annual month-long architecture and design festival, Archtober.
