Why Can’t We Live Together: Traditional Dutch bedstee, Reimagined as a Contemporary Solution to Housing Crisis | Architecture Thesis on Urban Housing

Site Context

The project is located in Dover’s Wellington Dock, an ideal location that offers the contextual and spatial advantages required for a project of this scope. The site is well suited to support the variety of uses incorporated into the design, as it provides easy access to public transport, recreational amenities, and essential services due to its close proximity to Dover’s central amenities.

The vast area of Wellington Dock offers enough room for a major architectural project, facilitating the integration of varied functions, from ground floor commercial spaces, such as restaurants, boat garages, parking lots, and offices, to residential apartments with creative bedstee spaces. The 5,000-square-meter site allows for high ceilings and spacious outdoor amenities, including garden areas and a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), enhancing the building’s connection to the waterfront and promoting an active community.

With Dover’s historic and coastal character as its backdrop, the project makes use of the dock’s serene atmosphere as well as the town’s lively energy. The location not only helps the project operate efficiently, but it also creates a unique living environment by merging the tranquility of waterfront views with the dynamism of urban life.

Design Process

The Bedstee architecture project was designed with an emphasis on fostering a warm, communal atmosphere by incorporating high ceilings that maximize openness and natural light. Central to the design are bedstees—custom alcove beds inspired by traditional Dutch styles—which are treated as independent “objects” rather than static fixtures, merging practicality with artistic expression. Thoughtfully arranged within the vertical space, each bedstee maintains a distinct character while contributing to a harmonious overall design. This layout strikes a balance between privacy and social interaction, creating a shared environment that also respects individual retreats.

Final Outcome

The final outcome of the Bedstee architecture project is a lively, multi-functional apartment building featuring diverse bedstee designs across its residential floors. These bedstees, integrated as distinct architectural elements, create a playful balance between semi-public and private spaces. This design fosters a sense of community by encouraging resident interaction while preserving opportunities for personal retreat, blending shared living with intimate, individualized experiences.

The building’s design combines functionality and community focus. The ground floor hosts car parking, restaurants, boat garages, and offices, creating a vibrant, self-sufficient hub. Above, residential apartments showcase varied bedstee designs that celebrate individuality while maintaining a unified aesthetic. This mixed-use approach strengthens the building’s relationship with the waterfront and urban surroundings, transforming it into a dynamic ecosystem that blends work, leisure, and social interaction, embodying modern communal living.

Each bedstee unit functions as a compact micro-apartment, designed to maximize space efficiency and privacy while encouraging community through shared spaces and visual connections. The double-height ceilings introduce vertical integration, enhancing the flow of light and creating an open atmosphere. Strategically placed common areas act as social hubs, fostering interaction and building a sense of belonging among residents.

Bedstee Design 1: The bedstee features a modern two-story design that combines elegance and functionality. It features a tiled black-and-white bathroom with hidden technical features, a compact wooden staircase leading to an upper-level sleeping area with built-in closets, sliding doors for privacy, and a glass cutout for natural light. The design is both space-efficient and minimalist, offering a contemporary, functional solution for compact living.

Bedstee Design 2: The ground floor includes a black-and-white tiled bathroom and an open kitchen adorned with acrylic tiles, offering a functional cooking space. Wooden stairs lead to a first-floor sleeping alcove with built-in closets and thin wooden sliding doors, adding warmth and versatility. Large windows above the stairs connect the interior to the outdoors, enhancing openness. Space efficiency is further achieved with bookshelves integrated beneath the stairs.

Bedstee Design 3: The two-story modern bedstee design offers a functional and aesthetic solution for shared living. The ground floor includes a black-and-white tiled bathroom and an open kitchen for two. Wooden stairs lead to upper sleeping alcoves, each with built-in storage and divided by a wooden wall for privacy. Sliding wooden doors provide warmth and flexibility, while large glass windows above the stairs connect occupants to the outdoors. Additional storage beneath the stairs maximizes space, making this design a thoughtful and efficient shared living arrangement.

Bedstee Design 4: The bedstee design provides an inclusive solution for individuals with limited mobility, enabling independent living. It includes a wheelchair-accessible bathroom with a bath, toilet, and sink. The raised sleeping alcove ensures easy access, with ample space for wheelchair navigation. Thin wooden sliding doors add privacy and warmth, while essential furniture like closets and tables are arranged around the bedstee to maximize functionality and accessibility.

The building’s design seamlessly integrates with nature, featuring access to an outdoor garden and a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA). These spaces extend the indoor environment, combining recreation, relaxation, and greenery to enhance well-being. High ceilings and large windows strengthen the visual connection between indoors and outdoors, creating a harmonious balance between vibrant communal areas and tranquil private spaces. The Bedstee project thus transcends traditional housing, delivering an enriching experience of spatial harmony and collective living.

Conclusion: The project reimagines the traditional Dutch bedstee to address the modern housing crisis. Its modular design creates a harmonious blend of private and communal spaces, promoting social interaction and individual privacy. This innovative approach challenges conventional housing models and encourages a reconsideration of collective living spaces for the future.

[This Academic Project has been published with text and images submitted by the student]