DIY Klarenstraat: A New Perspective on the Post-War Social Housing Block

Heres an idea for mitigating the global housing crisis: revitalize community housing without demolishing it. The Staalmanplein neighborhood in the Western Garden Cities in Amsterdam is just such a project. Most social housing blocks in this 1950s neighborhood were leveled and replaced by new structures; however, one block was selected for experiment and put up for sale as Do It Yourself apartments. In a relatively short time, the housing block was transformed by a group of 30 buyers committed to a highly varied city program to redesign and rebuild the entire complex. The end result was affordable housing without loss of the look and spirit of an existing neighborhood. Well-illustrated with 140 color and black-andwhite plates, DIY Klarenstraat is a handsome publication documenting this transformation and including contributions from the building and design team participants including financial advisor Sander Gelinck, architect Arjan Gooijer, building consultant Frans van Hulten, art historian Vincent van Rossem, urban real estate developer Maaike Schravesande and independent art and cultural historian Dr. Patricia van Ulzen.
[amz_corss_sell asin="9490322660"]