As young professionals continue to flock to the urban core, affordable housing options and space for development are at a premium. Heijmans, a development and building company based in The Netherlands, is looking to fill that void with its new modular home, the Heijmans ONE.
Heijmans ONE Stats
Idea & Realization: Heijmans NV
Architect: Tim van der Grinten, Moodbuilders Architecture
Floor space: 45 square meters (approximately 485 square
feet)
Location: Zeeburgereiland, IJdijk, Amsterdam,
The Netherlands
Designed as a flexible living space and targeted especially at young singles, the movable home provides quality, affordable rental housing. The pre-fabricated home is well-suited for urban infill and neighborhood revitalization, as the compact homes can fit on tight lots and can be placed in one day.
“As a designer, I believe prefabricated architecture can beautifully balance quality, experience and economic feasibility,” says the project’s architect Tim van der Grinten, of Moodbuilders Architecture. “The architecture of this compact house is characterized by natural materials, space, openness and identity. It is a clearly recognizable property that you can make your own.”
The home uses natural, sustainable materials for a high-end feel and a minimal footprint. The skeleton is made of solid FSC wood, which carries into the home’s interior, and solar panels are integrated into the roof.
The lower level, which opens onto a private terrace for outdoor living space, contains a bathroom, galley-style kitchen, and an open living area; the loft-style second level contains the bedroom space, complete with built-in closets. Large windows let in ample natural light, and a high, sloped ceiling also provides a sense of volume.
Heijmans
An artist rendering of a community of ONE homes in Amsterdam.
Currently, Hiejmans has two prototypes of the home in Amsterdam: a ‘test’ resident selected from over 200 applicants is living in one for several months to provide feedback that will help optimize the product. The other is a model home, where interested parties can go on tours and spend the night. Heijmans plans to launch the first 30 ONEs in The Netherlands this summer.
