BetterTogether: A Co-Living Architecture Vision Rooted in Community

Honorable Mention — Nano Nest 2020

Project by Kiara Helk

In the heart of Rotterdam, where the city pulses with diversity and urban energy, "BetterTogether" reimagines domestic life through co-living architecture. This compact housing concept redefines the house not merely as a shelter, but as a living organism of community, flexibility, and shared purpose. Designed by Kiara Helk, this project earned an Honorable Mention in the Nano Nest 2020 competition for its innovative approach to solving space constraints through collaborative design.

Architecture as a Community Enabler

At its core, BetterTogether envisions the house as a place of community-centered architecture, where private retreats are harmonized with shared spaces. The program is intentionally open, with modular and multifunctional spaces that blur the lines between individual and communal living. It invites neighbors and residents to interact organically, promoting intergenerational bonding and support.

The layout allows for a range of user profiles—up to two seniors, two parents, two children, and two guests. These varied users live together as a chosen family, sharing time, space, and responsibilities. The flexibility of the interior design enables seamless adaptation as the family structure evolves.

Shared Space as Spatial Strategy

With urban areas facing increasing space crunch, co-living becomes not just a trend but a necessity. This project challenges the notion of rigid domestic zoning by introducing shared, transformable spaces. The ground floor kitchen, for example, opens to the street and can extend into the public realm during summer. The furniture is modular, lightweight, and mobile, fostering activities like cooking, learning, socializing, or relaxing.

Each floor balances private nooks with social zones. Seniors enjoy quiet areas, while children engage in communal play. A central courtyard vertically connects the house, acting as the project’s spatial and emotional core. Natural light filters through internal voids, creating visual continuity and an airy atmosphere throughout.

Sustainable Urban Living

Rooted in the values of sustainability and cost-efficiency, BetterTogether relies on a straightforward cubic structure. It uses regional wood, lime plaster, and standardized glass elements to keep the design durable and budget-friendly. Privacy is maintained using translucent rice paper curtains, which allow light and air to pass freely without compromising comfort.

Its siting in Rotterdam is no coincidence. The Dutch culture values openness, shared festivals, and vibrant sidewalk life—a social fabric that aligns with the ethos of this co-living model. BetterTogether integrates this spirit into its very design, inviting citizens to gather, eat, and connect beyond the boundaries of the house.

A Model for Intergenerational Coexistence

This house celebrates the idea of the "family of choice." Seniors who may have grown distant from traditional family units can live joyfully with others who value connection and community. Children benefit from the wisdom of elders, while parents receive support in child-rearing. It’s a system of mutual care, enabled by smart architectural planning.

The project also acknowledges privacy as a critical component. While the spaces are communal, each resident has their own flexible retreat, complete with transformable furniture that converts between bed, desk, and closet. These intimate zones support solitude and self-care within a larger collective framework.

Light, Air, and Livability

Light and ventilation are not afterthoughts but design drivers. The house opens up at its center, building an internal courtyard that ensures every room breathes. Large glass facades and open floor plans maximize sunlight penetration even in dense urban settings. This passive design strategy reduces energy usage while enhancing emotional well-being.

A polyester fabric membrane on the facade offers both privacy and light permeability, promoting a natural rhythm of life. The curtain-based divisions allow light and air to flow through rooms, avoiding the claustrophobia of over-partitioned spaces.

BetterTogether proposes a new paradigm in co-living architecture where adaptability, affordability, and togetherness form the backbone of urban residential design. In an era where isolation is growing and space is shrinking, this project demonstrates how architecture can facilitate community, care, and coexistence. It is not only a housing solution but a social catalyst—an urban village wrapped into a vertical home.