Living together in Gouda

1828 is new standard for starter homes

Finding affordable housing is a challenge for many young people. Loneliness is also growing. In Gouda, an innovative solution to this is coming soon: 1828 Gouda. This unique community-living concept offers not only affordable housing, but also a new way of living together. "Sharing is the new having," said architect Joeri van Ommeren of Van Ommeren Associates.

Amsterdam-based architecture firm Van Ommeren Associates (VOA) specializes in complex inner-city projects, creating places with a meaningful connection to their surroundings. "Our strength lies in puzzling: uniting the social, spatial and urban planning into a coherent whole," Van Ommeren explains. 

The 1828 Gouda project is a culmination of the development of the railroad zone, which has been under construction for decades. It consists of a number of towers with a total of 247 homes. Special is the community-living concept in which starters have their own studio, but also benefit from more than 700 m² of collective facilities. These include a communal living room, a courtyard garden, quiet areas, a co-working space and even a shared laundry room. 

Sharing more, having less 

"This innovative form of living better matches what this generation wants. Having less, sharing more. The homes are compact, but feel anything but small. What makes this form of living so special is that the collective spaces add value. From a large kitchen to a herb garden, connections are created here that go beyond the front door," says Van Ommeren. With 85% of the homes in the social rental sector, the project offers affordability without sacrificing quality. "It thus provides a full-fledged springboard for young people into their further housing careers. The project goes beyond providing a roof over one's head: it strengthens social cohesion and provides an answer to loneliness."

A building that seeks connection 

The architecture of 1828 Gouda is designed to maximize interaction with its surroundings. The building blends in with the green surroundings of the Spoorzone and invites encounters. "The double ground level ensures that parking for bikes and cars is neatly concealed, while the first floor is bustling with life," Van Ommeren says. Here there is a plinth with the collective living room and shared business spaces, where residents and visitors meet. The sustainable building contains nesting opportunities for birds and insects, and there is much attention paid to energy efficiency. In addition, the design was shaped in part by input from a residential panel composed of young people from the target population. "We design from 'app to city.' For example, residents can use their phones to see if a common room is available or if it is busy at the laundry bar," Van Ommeren explains. 

Future-oriented and social 

1828 Gouda is a solution to pressing social issues. The project shows that housing can be affordable, social and future-oriented. And this is only the beginning: Van Ommeren Architects is also working on similar projects in other cities. With completion scheduled for 2026, 1828 Gouda sets a new standard in starter homes. "We have created a place where young people not only have a roof over their heads, but also find a community," says Van Ommeren.