The Eilandenbuurt Post-war flats designed by J.H.Van den Broek are unique in its street form and is and early experiment for Dutch modernism dwellings. Yet today it suffers from low occupancy. In this project I finds the solution through three actions: vary, adapt, engage to change the heritage from repetitive functional dwellings into variant apartment typologies and common area within the building.

1. Publish 16,04,2014
P5 Presentation Slides
Contact:
Chi Yi LIAO
c.liao.kw@gmail.com
Student No. 4249143
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Architecture and Built Environment (Bouwkunde)
The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage.
Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Chi Yi LIAO
Studio: Transforming Housing Heritage,
Track: Heritage & Architecture (RMIT)
Tutor:
Ir. Lidwine Spoormans
Nicholas Clarke Pr. Arch.
External Examiner: Rein Have

2. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Publish 16,04,2015
P5 Slides
The Lasting Notion of Street

3. H.P. Berlage
“street as public domain”
Influencer of Witteveen.
Key architects in Dutch Modernism.
Van den Broek & Bakma
Urban Ideology Architectural Ideology
Influencers and Designers
W.G. Witteveen
Head of Rotterdam city planning
1924-1945
City planner of Eilandenbuurt.
Architect of Eilandenbuurt
housing projects 1939-1941.
Institutionized post-war re-
construction and housing
in Rotterdam
J.H. Van den Broek
The planner The architect
The Lasting Notion of Street : Variate, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi

4. Berlage’s visualization of
plan for Amsterdam Zuid
Witteveen’s revised plan for
Rotterdam Zuid 1926
Concept of Eilandenbuurt
minimal housing 1938-40
Plan of Tarwewijk (part of Eilanden
-buur project 1940)
Urban Ideology Architectural IdeologyThe Plan The Architecture
Influencers and Designers
The Lasting Notion of Street : Variate, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi

5. Block Stripe
Influencers and Designers
W.G. Witteveen
Head of Rotterdam city planning
1924-1945
City planner of Eilandenbuurt.
Architect of Eilandenbuurt
housing projects 1939-1941.
Institutionalized post-war re-
construction and housing
in Rotterdam
J.H. Van den Broek
The planner The architect
The Lasting Notion of Street : Variate, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi

6. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Compositional Approach Planning

7. Block Stripe
Influencers and Designers
W.G. Witteveen
Head of Rotterdam city planning
1924-1945
City planner of Eilandenbuurt.
Architect of Eilandenbuurt
housing projects 1939-1941.
Institutionalized post-war re-
construction and housing
in Rotterdam
J.H. Van den Broek
The planner The architect
The Lasting Notion of Street : Variate, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi

8. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Source:
Standardize, Institutionalize

9. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Wall Structural difference
S
Partition wall as shear wall
Primary structrual walls, except the front and back
facades, are all east-west oriented. the partition wall
may also help to stablize the shear force from
north-to-south direction. The partition wall increases
in Algemeen Belang II.
Longer span
The load bearing walls continue vertically through the
whole hight of the building and the thickness of the
walls decending from 33, 22 to 18 cm to reduce the
load. The partition/shear walls are also brick work yet
they are sit on the concrete floor and are not continue
between floors.
Algemeen Belang I Algemeen Belang II
Load-bearing wall
Th = 22 cm brick
Th = 18 cm brick at 2nd floor
Change of thickness
Reinforce
22 cm brick
Reinforce work as buttress
33*33 cm brick
(special) Partition wall
Th = 11 cm brick
Partition wall
Th = 11 cm brick
Reversible floor plan

10. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Mirroring Plan
M In response to the orientation of street and the
sun, Van den Broek use two different strategies in
Algemeen Belang I and II. Both way the overall
structure is intact and only few components are
adjusted.
Living rooms are preferred to be placed in west,
but the orientation of doors will be reverse for the
house in opposite side of the street.
Balconies doesn’t have a preferable side but for
the street level units it is better to be at the garden
side.
Van den broek tried different approach in two
projects. The 1938 Algemeen Belang he tried
more then three types, including one that the
orientation of the whole plan is mirrored
between 1st and second level.
In 1940 Algemeen Belang II the load bearing
structure is fixed and the whole portiek and
balconies are mirrored, narrowed down to two
types.
Partition wall, align or not
P
In the first project one of the types the relation
between balcony and kitchen is fixed, so the partition
wall can not be aligned vertically. Partition wall
between kitchen and living room are not load bearing.
The technical difficulty is higher and it is not continued
in the second project
Fixed structure and mirrored layout
F
The relationship between balcony and
kitchen are not fixed. The orientation of
portiek staircase become the moving parts
in response to the side of street. In these
solution the two types share the same
load bearing wall structure.
This part of wall is evident on the
facade as yellowish stucco is applied.
Experiment 1938 - 1941

11. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Street-House-Garden
sectionstreet-level plan
Source: author

12. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi

13. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi

14. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi

15. Berlage’s visualization of
plan for Amsterdam Zuid
Witteveen’s revised plan for
Rotterdam Zuid 1926
Concept of Eilandenbuurt
minimal housing 1938-40
Plan of Tarwewijk (part of Eilanden
-buur project 1940)
Urban Ideology Architectural IdeologyThe Plan The Architecture
Influencers and Designers
The Lasting Notion of Street : Variate, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi

17. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Publish 16,04,2015
P5 Slides
Vary, Adapt, Engage

18. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi

19. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi

20. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
1. Lack of Variety.Vary
common
house
The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Traffic2. Low occupation rate
3. Lack in sense of a neighbourhood

21. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Loop of problem
Source:
No investment
on major upgrade Lower market price
&
higher moving rate
Attract starters
&
low-income
buyer
Poor condition
not adaptable
to new needs
private-owned collective housing in Eilandenbuurt
Problem Loop

22. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Design Goal: 3 actions
1. Vary
Can the block target not only the starters, but also singles and larger families?
2. Adapt
Can the occupation rate remain high during the building’s lifespan, by changing the proportion
of small and large typologies?
3. Engage
Can we increase the individual residents’ sense of belonging to a community in the apartment?

23. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi

24. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Publish 16,04,2015
P5 Slides
Vary

25. Vary
common
house
The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi

26. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
+ =

27. Housing Typologies & Users
The Lasting Notion of Street : Variate, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Studio Single Starter Minimal Stantard
M
€ €
€=
= €
€=
= €
€=
=€
€=
=
€

28. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-YiLiao, Chi-Yi
2
1
3
2
1939 vs. Stage1

29. Type: Studio
The Lasting Notion of Street : Variate, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
x6x3 x3
student/bachelor
studio
privat shower & toilet
studio
shared shower & toiletM
€ €
€=
=
corporation
rental

30. Type: Single Apartment
The Lasting Notion of Street : Variate, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
1 bedroom
single/couple
€
€=
=
corporation buy-
back.
x3

31. x6
Type: Starter Apartment
The Lasting Notion of Street : Variate, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
1.5 bedrooms
starter family
empty nesters
€
€=
=

32. x5
Type: Minimal Apartment
The Lasting Notion of Street : Variate, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
nuclear family
2 bedrooms,
full dining & living room
€
€=
=

33. x1
Type: Standard Apartment
The Lasting Notion of Street : Variate, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
3 or more bedrooms
level 1
level 2
larger family
€
private owned

34. Liao, Chi-Yi
Bathroom Module
Electricity
Heating
Water
Grey water
Waste water

35. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Publish 16,04,2015
P5 Slides
Adapt

36. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
1939 Stage 1 Stage 2
total 21 households total 13 households
+ =
+ =
total 18 households
Stage 1 to Stage 2
1939 Vary Adapt

37. Ground Floor
Basement level
€
€=
=€
€=
= €
€=
=

38. Housing Typologies & Users
The Lasting Notion of Street : Variate, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Studio Single Starter Minimal Stantard
M
€ €
€=
= €
€=
= €
€=
=€
€=
=
€

39. Housing Typologies & Users
The Lasting Notion of Street : Variate, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Studio Single Starter Minimal Stantard
M
€ €
€=
= €
€=
= €
€=
=€
€=
=
€

40. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Typologies in Proportion
1939 Vary Adapt
total 21 households total 13 households
+ =
total 18 households
Studio
Single
Starter
Minimal
Standard
Studio
Single
Starter
Minimal
Standard

41. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Publish 16,04,2015
P5 Slides
Engage

42. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi

43. Casual Meet-up
The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi

44. Traffic
The Lasting Notion of Street : Variate, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi

45. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Open Corner
Elevator
Entrepreneur officePatio
Opened FloorMeet-up Places

46. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Yyy
Se
1/
RoofDeck
1stFloorPlan
1/40
B’B
A’AA

47. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Section BB’
The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage
Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Section bb’
1/40
Section aa’
1/40
1st Floor Plan
1/40

48. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Section AA’
Section aa’
1/40
1st Floor Plan
1/40
Roof Plan
1/40
B’

49. Roof Deck
House Floor & Wall
Patio
Sustainability
House Floor & Wall
Patio
Basement Floor & Wall
Detail 1/20

50. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Roof Plan
1/40
B’
A’ A’A
Roof

51. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Roof
Roof Deck
1st Floor Pla
1/40

52. Old / New
The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi

53. Memory / History
The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi

54. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Wood stripe
Terrazzo & stoneFraming the portiek
Yellow Brick
Original interior plaster/wall paper
Materialization
Facade
1/100
B’

55. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Facade

56. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Back Facade
cade - Garden Level
Back Fac
Back Fac

57. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Back Facade Basement
cade - Basement
cade - Garden Level

58. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Section “Portiek”

59. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
New Entrance

60. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Spatial Sequance
3
46
9
10
78
Entrance Hall & Mailbox
Street Level
“portiek” toward Office & Corridor
Ground Floor
Kids Room & Passage to Gardens
Ground Floor

61. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Spatial Sequance
Start-up Office
Basement
1 2
3
Portiek, Office & Laundry Room
Basement
Entrance Hall & Mailbox
Street Level

62. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Spatial Sequance
6Type Standard Apartment
Ground Floor to 1st Floor
“portiek” toward Office & Corridor
Ground Floor
1st Floor “Portiek” & Patio

63. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Spatial Sequance
7
910
8Elevator Hall1st Floor “Portiek” & Patio
“Portiek” toward Patios

64. The Lasting Notion of Street : Vary, Adapt, Engage. Transforming Eilandenbuurt Apartments
Liao, Chi-Yi
Spatial Sequance: Patio Common Floor Space Sequance
910 “Portiek” toward Patios2nd Floor Patios