Circular Living Room and Temporary Housing by VLOT architecten: Sustainable, Community-Centered Living in Haarlem

Located in an industrial zone of Haarlem, The Netherlands, Circular Living Room and Temporary Housing by VLOT architecten is a pioneering example of sustainable, high-quality temporary housing. Completed in 2023, this 2,200 m² project provides safe and welcoming homes for approximately 200 Ukrainian refugees, reflecting a forward-thinking approach to social housing, circular architecture, and flexible living solutions.

Transforming Temporary Housing Through Circular Design

The project draws inspiration from VLOT architecten’s research for the Dutch Government Real Estate (Rijksvastgoedbedrijf), published as the Woonkwaliteitsplan FLEXwonen. By translating these insights into practice, the architects created a design that emphasizes sustainability, modularity, and community engagement, setting new standards for temporary housing in urban industrial areas.

Despite its challenging context—surrounded by highways, railways, and large parking lots—the design focuses on creating a welcoming and human-centered environment. At the heart of the development lies a shared courtyard, partially enclosed to provide shelter while maintaining visual and physical connections to the surrounding urban fabric. This central space encourages residents to relax, socialize, and foster a sense of belonging.

Flexible and Sustainable Housing Units

The development consists of 86 temporary homes, mostly 24 m², with a few larger 48 m² units designed for families. The housing blocks are three stories high, featuring a stepped configuration that visually breaks down the building mass while adding architectural interest.

Constructed with lightweight timber framing, the homes require no pile foundation, resting instead on steel beams atop precast concrete slabs. Prefabricated façades were partially completed on-site, ensuring seamless integration of modular units. Fully demountable and reusable, these homes reflect the principles of circular construction, allowing for relocation or reassembly after five years.

Circular Communal Spaces: Building Community Through Design

A standout feature of the project is the circular communal living area, which functions as both a social hub and a flexible indoor-outdoor space. Built using 80% reused materials, the space is situated between the public area and the courtyard, balancing transparency with privacy. During favorable weather, the area opens to extend the courtyard, creating a dynamic communal environment for dining, celebrations, and social interactions.

The interiors were furnished using second-hand items sourced locally, reinforcing the circular ethos while providing a warm and inviting atmosphere. Thoughtful landscaping includes a central swale that doubles as a water management feature during heavy rain and a playful recreational area when dry, further integrating sustainable urban planning strategies.

High-Quality Temporary Housing With Social Impact

Circular Living Room and Temporary Housing exemplifies how temporary accommodations can achieve high standards of comfort, sustainability, and functionality. By focusing on modularity, circular materials, and community-oriented design, VLOT architecten demonstrates that temporary housing solutions need not compromise quality or livability. This project sets a new benchmark for refugee housing, social architecture, and sustainable urban design.

All photographs are works of Anna Odulinska