ED/IT

The Challenges

Student team VIRTU/e from Eindhoven University of Technology aims to tackle the challenges of the housing crisis and the negative environmental impact of buildings. We envision a healthily densified future for Eindhoven that welcomes people of all generations, using a zero-impact approach to construction. The team's strategy is based on the terraced house typology, a prominent feature of Dutch architecture and urban planning. By extending existing terraced houses, we believe cities can be densified in an innovative way.

Our Plans

We plan to start with a pilot project in Eindhoven where we will upgrade an existing terraced house and create several new dwellings by redistributing the renovated space. These new dwellings will be designed to meet the diverse generational needs of the community, emphasizing green neighbourhoods that encourage outdoor activity and intergenerational connections. The goal is to make the building energy- and material-neutral by using passive building principles and our zero-impact tool to ensure responsible material selection aligned with available bio- and production capacities. VIRTU/e's proposal is not only a local intervention; it’s a strategy that can expand to support the transition to sustainable cities worldwide, starting in Eindhoven with the potential to grow globally.

The Exhibition

During the exhibition, we will show our strategy using visual representations of the building and urban design. We present these using an eye-catching display cabinet that represents the buildings section, posters, digital models, physical models, and our zero-impact tool. Furthermore, by facilitating discussion around the proposal, we intend to gather unique insights from those who have lived in similar neighbourhoods, which can further develop the user integration of the project.