Student housing 01, a photo from Utrecht, South

Photographer's Note

In the University neighbourhood De Uithof in Utrecht there have been some drastic changes the past few years, architecture is one of them.

Amongst new, bigger, better and more unique schoolbuildings and a library, they started to create students housing in this area as well - just like a HUGE campus. These 'houses' were I believe the first ones in this area and are made out of sea containers put together in a colourful bunch. Every container is 1 room with a small kitchen, bed/living and shower/toilet - but it's something!
After these containers (you may find likewise solutions to the housing-problem in Dutch student cities Delft and Amsterdam as well), they started to build real buildings that fit the area better, so now the area is starting to look like a great big architectural battle with unique buildings all over.

This view I just like because of th many colours and the busy, cosy atmosphere.

Edit: in this workshop you can see these 'houses' from the side - obviously it looks more like a local Lego-ghetto... :)

Sekhmet73, hgupta, startacked has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Sekhmet73 (4189) 2007-03-30 4:09

Oh my God! It seems to be living into Lego constructions!!

jeroen69 (87) 2007-03-30 4:19

Yeah, 39 students have a room ..

hgupta (1323) 2007-03-30 4:26

Very useful information and great picture. I wouldnt have made any sense out of this picture without reading the info. The picture is great, but after erading aboiut it....wow....its awsome....im adding it to my favourites.

Hemant

vedra (0) 2007-03-30 5:08

Hi Lieke,
Interesting structure. It looks like a Lego house. Due to the lighting conditions it doesn't look so colourful, but I believe it has that potential if the sunlight comes from different direction.
Vedrana

markoci (3933) 2007-03-30 5:29

a nice repetitive... i'd try to bring some more graphism into it though... by a closer crop and different angle... tried a ws...

[workshop] [compare]

chrislo (4099) 2007-03-30 16:06

Amazing architecture, indeed. It looks as if all these conainers were laying on a railway van. Anyway, it seems Dutch people like cubic houses as you can see some of them in Rotterdam. Strange and original, but clever idea.

batalay (41261) 2007-05-06 16:18

Hello Lieke,

Being an academic (a university professor) most of my adult life I can see the many positive and negative aspects of prefabricated rooms for students. In this simple but elegant composition you've summed up both the redeeming and the not-so-redeeming. There is the aspect of "sardine-can" existence, but it does provide more security (in Virginia just three weeks ago there was the unspeakable tragedy of over-accessibility, and lack of security).

Regarding you commented about the detail of the "Ex Nihilo," my photograph from the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, when the producers of the 1997 film, "Devil's Advocate," used Frederick Hart's sculptural creation withou his permission, he sued them. A devoutly religious man, he found it to be tasteless and sacreligious. I knew "Rick" Hart, and although I have no religious persuasion, I agreed with him. You can see the full sculpture by clicking on Portal II. Starting as a simple stone cutter, he displayed his extraordinary talent in his thirtees.

Warm regards, and good luck with your university studies.

Bulent

Moyano (163) 2007-05-18 9:06

Hoi Lieke,

Wat een constructie!! Dat hebben we in België niet! :) (ben Belgische maar woon momenteel in Polen). Heel origineel, net een pak opeengestapelde boxen...heel kleurrijk. Interessante architectuur!

Groetjes,

Natalia