Architect and urban planner Frans van der Werf discloses in this book his own experiences as one of the pioneers of the worldwide Open Building approach. He designed Molenvliet, the first executed housing project that fully exemplifies the Open Building philosophy and methods. He shares his practice over the course of four decades in four Urban Tissue projects and seven Support Structures in the Netherlands and abroad. They still stand today as exemplars of how this approach can produce affordable user-centric environments of high quality that balance the common and the individual spheres of interest present in all housing projects.
This book is organized around the distinction of the three ‘Levels of Intervention’ in the built environment: Urban Tissue, Support and Infill, the fundamental insight introduced by John Habraken in the 1960s. After an extensive introduction, van der Werf goes into the design process of Urban Tissues, illustrated by his realized projects. Then he follows how he designed Supports and answers many questions of low-budget social housing projects, offering each occupant their own unique dwelling layout. Finally, he discusses the opportunities and challenges of the Infill level. He demonstrates open decision-making on the Levels of Support and Urban Tissue by the use of the ‘Pattern Language’ for communication and on the Infill Level for direct consultation with each user.
Frans concludes this book with personal reflections on the use of Open Design in daily practice and adds some additional resources that inspired him. This book is essential reading for students, architects, urbanists, developers and city authorities and also for groups of future inhabitants who want to consider Open Building for a truly sustainable environment.
Table of Contents:
1. Introduction: Distinguishing Levels of Intervention 2. Urban Tissues: the composition of public outdoor spaces 3. Supports: the composition of collective built spaces 4. Infill: the composition of private indoor spaces 5. Reflections
About the Author :
Frans van der Werf (1937) is a Dutch architect and urban designer. He completed his studies at Delft University, the Netherlands, with the awarded project ‘Housing in a Linear City’, anticipating Open Building ideas. He co-designed the New Town of Evry, Paris. He has practiced Open Design in social housing and new city districts, and has designed care centers and a city center, since 1990, in bio-based organic architecture. His recent study includes ‘Transformation of Slums into Low-Rise High-Density Urban Districts’. He assisted N. John Habraken at SAR research and was a board member of SAR, Open Building and VIBA. He has lectured all over the world. (www.vdwerf.nl)
Review :
"Only rarely does an architect explain how they work. Frans van der Werf is an exception. He does so in this book with examples of his practice over several decades, work that shows both the consistency of his approach and its evolution. It’s especially important that this book is being published now because the Open Building approach which underpins his work is finding new adherents while at the same time running into headwinds. A clear exposition of the approach, in straightforward language with helpful drawings and photographs, will be of immense help to a new generation of practitioners and clients interested in a humane, regenerative built environment."
Stephen Kendall, Emeritus Professor of Architecture at Ball State University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
"The book is about a lifelong research of an architect on building better housing for ordinary people. The projects illustrated a beautiful balance of living in communities and individual intervention in the changing environments. It shows how a concept of Open Building developed, enhanced and enriched in design practice in almost half a century. It is both poetic and technical. It is both architectural and touching. I believe the book will be beneficial for young architects and architectural students who are facing a changing urbanism in the 21st century. It is also a reference for developers and housing authorities who are endeavor into a sustainable future of cities in the world."
Beisi Jia, Partner and Director, Baumschlager Eberle Hong Kong Ltd.
