Location
The Hague
Awards
1st Price ‘Le Sauvage soigné’ – a high-class nomadic living
Completion
1989
NOMADIC EXISTENCE WITH STYLE / LIVING AT A HIGH LEVEL
With the development of technology and the evolution of society, the demand for housing is changing. In the inaugural edition of the largest housing design competition for young architects, Europan I, held in nine EU countries, a design vision was sought on the impact of changing lifestyles of contemporary Europeans on housing. Winning this competition marks the beginning of TANGRAM.
BETWEEN SUITCASE AND HOME Mobility is inherently linked to today’s and the future’s society. A portion of modern individuals no longer commit to a fixed residence but moves from one place to another for short or medium terms. This brings forth a unique housing demand. Amidst amenities, spacious enough for luxurious stays, possibly equipped with various communal facilities such as fitness centers, saunas, and collective work and meeting spaces.
Hotels are inadequate for medium-term stays – too impersonal and confined. But then what is suitable? Simply put, there is a lack of offerings for this target demographic. By questioning the most fundamental qualities of housing, it becomes possible to generate new concepts. The designed building typology, with the motto ‘Le sauvage soigné,’ or ‘nomadic living at a high level,’ provides high-quality living units for any duration, from short to medium term. The concept of ‘transformose,’ illustrated by a building at Ammunitiehaven in The Hague, signifies a transformation from traditional living forms to a mobile variant. The foundation is a stacked building structure without specific functions, a ‘residential infrastructure.’ Here, the urban nomad connects their mobile unit, equipped with essential elements such as a kitchen, bathroom, and storage space, to make the space their own. This unit serves as a midpoint between a suitcase and a home: the mobile individual brings along what can be moved to fixed, high-quality structures in stacked form in prime locations in various cities. Just enough to feel at home… in a different place each time.
