search
×
menu
login
donate
House of Plenty
Nijmegen, Netherlands
follow
share on:mail linkcopy link to clipboardShare via LinkedInShare via TwitterShare via FacebookShare via Facebook
Eco-friendly structure built entirely of reclaimed materials.

image: Ralf van Tongeren | © all rights reserved
i
Category:
housing
Phase:
demolished
Design:
Ralf van Tongeren & Waarmakerij
Updated:
24 July 2021
introduction

The House of Plenty (in Dutch, Huis van overvloed) is a meeting and a co-working place constructed by a team of volunteers, professionals and entrepreneurs and built entirely out of reclaimed materials. Sourced from the street, or donated by individuals or corporations, these are materials normally considered as waste and destined to landfill.

The house is located in Nijmegen, near the river Waal. The local city council has leased the land free of charge for three years, and afterwards is planning to use the house to accommodate foreign guests.

The project aspired to reuse the abundant materials around us and to engage volunteers to share immaterial resources such as the time, experience and network. The result is more than just a building, but also shared knowledge, network and new social value for those who participated.

cultural and social context

Collaboration has played an important role in the realization of the house:
Without any former building experience, the initiators managed to realize the building by collaborating with architect, constructors and builders who are part of the volunteers team of 170 people. Some donated materials; some offered their expertise; some offered workforce. Thanks to one of the neighbors who came with an excavator, the excavation of the foundation was done in 2 hours. The city council of Nijmegen has leased the land for free for 3 years and donated 8.000 pieces of pavement, which were leftover materials for a car park.

Now the house offers 32 working places free of charge. "The house is built by a group of people who shared their resources without expecting anything back. And we'd like to offer this place for free, only for those who would like to contribute, for example, by giving a lamp or by doing the dishes, and together we'll make this place prettier," said the initiators, "and it will be a place to grow social value; the place where social and sustainable ideas take place. This will facilitate a social network that share its time, energy, experience and expertise".

The house couldn't be realized without the volunteers of nearly 170 people.

image: House of Plenty | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
materials and building techniques

The house is constructed of 600 oak pallets, donated by a German factory in Emmerik. Pallets are commonly reused in the Netherlands, but these pallets, originally from America, have been laying unused for 5 years due to their incompatible format. The director of the factory even came to bring these pallets.

The exterior wall has two layers of pallets, in between the isolation layer is composed of film and recycled texitile; the film is donated by a local building warehouse who wanted to get rid of its stock to make space for new collection.

For all the other materials needed, a wish list was posed on the blog. In this way, people could easily spread the word and thus materials were gradually collected during the building process. Besides donating materials and workforce, money was also donated who "has nothing to donate, besides money". This cash donation went directly to purchase the flooring.

By using passive energy technology, the structure will be self-sufficient. Solar panels and mirrors to bounce back extra light are all part of this hands-on and collaborative building experiment.

The exterior wall has two layers of pallets, in between the isolation layer is composed of film and recycles texitile.

image: House of Plenty | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
The film is donated by a local building warehouse (who wanted to get rid of its stock to make space for new collection).

image: House of Plenty | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
image gallery
The city council of Nijmegen has leased the land for free for 3 years and donated 8.000 pieces of pavement, which were leftover materials for a car park.

image: House of Plenty | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
The house is constructed of 600 oak pallets, donated by a German factory in Emmerik. Pallets are commonly reused in the Netherlands, but these pallets, originally from America, have been laying unused for 5 years due to their incompatible format. The dire

image: House of Plenty | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
House of Plenty

image: House of Plenty | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
House of Plenty

image: House of Plenty | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
House of Plenty

image: House of Plenty | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
House of Plenty

image: House of Plenty | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
House of Plenty

image: House of Plenty | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
House of Plenty

image: House of Plenty | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
House of Plenty

image: House of Plenty | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
House of Plenty

image: House of Plenty | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
House of Plenty

image: House of Plenty | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
House of Plenty

image: House of Plenty | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
House of Plenty

image: House of Plenty | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
technical drawings
north facade

image: Ralf van Tongeren | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
east facade

image: Ralf van Tongeren | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
south facade

image: Ralf van Tongeren | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
west facade

image: Ralf van Tongeren | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
foundation

image: Ralf van Tongeren | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
ground floor

image: Ralf van Tongeren | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
roof

image: Ralf van Tongeren | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
roof construction

image: Ralf van Tongeren | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
electricity, sewage and installations

image: Ralf van Tongeren | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
section A-A

image: Ralf van Tongeren | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
section B-B

image: Ralf van Tongeren | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
detail 2V

image: Ralf van Tongeren | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
detail 4V

image: Ralf van Tongeren | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
detail 5V

image: Ralf van Tongeren | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
detail 6V

image: Ralf van Tongeren | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
detail 7V

image: Ralf van Tongeren | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
detail 1H

image: Ralf van Tongeren | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
detail 2H

image: Ralf van Tongeren | CC-BY-NC_black.png some rights reserved
i
Location
show earth plate boundarieshide earth plate boundaries
Explore more inspirations
Keyword:
community practice (113)
participation (113)
hands-on (43)
recycled recources (48)
local resources (101)
prev
  •  health & sanitation
    COMMUNITY COOKER
    Nairobi, Kenya
  •  housing
    Colón 36
    Castuera, Spain
  •  education
    Kusikuna Eco-Active School
    Apote - Tiquipaya, Bolivia
  •  education
    MOVING school 002
    Mae Ramat, Thailand
  •  housing
    E.V.A. Self build eco-village
    Pescomaggiore, Italy
  •  meeting place
    Esperanza
    El Cabuyal, Ecuador
  •  meeting place
    Women's center
    Rufisque, Senegal
  •  education
    Bridge school
    Xiashi Village, China
  •  meeting place
    Socio-Cultural Center
    Bobodioulasso , Burkina Faso
  •  meeting place
    Chiwiñas Shadows
    El Alto, Bolivia
  •  meeting place
    R-Urban
    Colombes, France
  •  health & sanitation
    BioCenter
    Kibera, Kenya
  •  education
    Silindokulhe Community Hall
    Port Elizabeth, South Africa
  •  urban planning
    Grameen Bank Housing Project
    Dhaka, Bangladesh
  •  education
    Upgrading of Nile River School
    South of Giza governorate, Egypt
  •  religion & memorial
    BAMBOO CHURCH
    yogyakarta, Indonesia
  •  housing
    vrijburcht
    Amsterdam, IJburg, Netherlands
  •  meeting place
    Palomino, Building a Society.
    Palomino, Colombia
  •  housing
    New Gourna Village
    Luxor, Egypt
  •  housing
    Preparing for Xincun Residential Update
    KunMing, China
  •  housing
    Casalata
    Mindelo, Cape Verde
  •  education
    Temporary Classrooms for Migrant Schools
    Mae Sot, Thailand
  •  housing
    Itakura Core House
    Momonoura, Japan
  •  infrastructure
    living root bridge
    Mawlynnong, India
  •  meeting place
    Project Row Houses
    Houston, U.S.A.
  •  education
    METI school
    Rudrapur, Bangladesh
  •  education
    Kutamba AIDS Orphans School
    Bikongozo, Uganda
  •  housing
    A Casa de Abuela Cuentacuentos
    Escobilla, Mexico
  •  housing
    Pamoja Shell of Steel Housing
    Nairobi, Kenya
  •  meeting place
    Le 56 / Eco-interstice
    Paris, France
  •  education
    Qinmo Village Project
    Huaiji, Guangdong Province, China
  •  recreation & sport
    Vertical Gymnasium
    Caracas, Venezuela
  •  education
    Canteiro Móvel | Mobile Hands-on
    Botucatu, Brazil
  •  meeting place
    LOCAL COMUNITARIO A.F. 10 DE JULIO
    LIMA, Peru
  •  health & sanitation
    Green (Rose) Toilet in Mukuru Slums, Nairobi
    Nairobi, Kenya
  •  urban planning
    Santo Community Development Plan
    Leogane, Haiti
  •  recreation & sport
    Million Donkey Hotel
    Prata Sannita, Italy
  •  health & sanitation
    Roche health center
    Roche, Tanzania
  •  meeting place
    Forgotten Spaces; from Rust to Revival !
    Cairo, Egypt
  •  housing
    Casa Chuy
    Leon, Mexico
  •  urban planning
    Kambimoto housing
    Nairobi, Kenya
  •  education
    Thon Mun Community Centre
    Takeo, Cambodia
  •  education
    Makoko Floating School
    Lagos, Nigeria
  •  infrastructure
    Taxi Rank
    Magagula Heights, Katlehong, South Africa
  •  housing
    MUKWANO HOME
    Rakai, Uganda
  •  housing
    Ciudadelas de Paz - Building for Peace
    Manaure, Cesar, Colombia
  •  meeting place
    (CON)VIVENCIAS
    Lima, Peru
  •  health & sanitation
    Shanmen Public Bathhouse
    Tianshui Gansu, China
  •  infrastructure
    The Informal-formal Bridge
    San Martín de los Andes, Neuquén, Argentina
  •  meeting place
    Community House & Conservation Garden - RED Dream project
    Ta Phin - Sapa, Vietnam
  •  education
    Play-doh : Early years education in rural India
    Bhiwandi, India
  •  education
    Kwel Ka Baung school- phase II
    Mae Sot, Thailand
  •  education
    College Mixte Le Bon Berger
    Montruis, Haiti
  •  education
    Kargyak Learning Center
    Kargayak, India
  •  housing
    Nqibikan Village Reconstruction
    Yogyakarta, Indonesia
  •  infrastructure
    Infrastructure to support the indigenous community
    Santo Angelo, Brazil
  •  education
    P.S. 216 Edible Schoolyard
    New York , U.S.A.
  •  meeting place
    laTren - elNodo Participatory Cultural Center
    Saltillo, Mexico
  •  meeting place
    Slovo Hall.
    Johannesburg, South Africa
  •  education
    Habitat initiative cabo delgado
    Cabo Delgado, Mozambique
  •  urban planning
    Reclaiming Community Commons through DIT Toolkit
    Chennai, India
  • play
     meeting place
    Casa Comunal de la Isla de Portete / Ecuador.
    Portete, Ecuador
  •  housing
    Masoro Village Project
    Masoro, Rwanda
  •  education
    A Kindergarten in Ropi
    Ropi, Ethiopia
  •  education
    Fuji Kindergarten
    Tachikawa, Japan
  •  meeting place
    LA CUADRA: Social Production of (In)formal Parks
    Cuenca, Ecuador
  •  education
    MOVING school 003
    Mae Sot, Thailand
  •  housing
    Rehabilitation for a resettlement area in SocTrang
    Soc Trang, Vietnam
  •  housing
    BAMBÚ SOCIAL
    El Rama, Nicaragua
  •  housing
    Sankofa House
    Abetenim, Ghana
  •  religion & memorial
    Pilgrim Route
    Jalisco, Mexico
  •  meeting place
    TibA'uwe
    Bom Jardim, Brazil
  •  meeting place
    CASA ENSAMBLE CHACARÁ
    Pereira, Colombia
  •  housing
    Incremental collective housing
    Neak Loeang, Cambodia
  •  meeting place
    Jabu Centre
    Siteki, Swaziland
  •  education
    Library of Muyinga
    Muyinga, Burundi
  •  education
    Incubadora Social ITESM-Bancomer
    Leon, Mexico
  •  education
    Gando Primary School
    Gando, Burkina Faso
  •  education
    MOVING school 001
    Mae Sot, Thailand
  •  education
    Silindokuhle Preschool
    Port Elizabeth, South Africa
  •  meeting place
    Making Space in Dalston
    London, United Kingdom
  •  meeting place
    Sidi Amor’s eco-village for arts and crafts
    Ariana, Tunisia
  •  housing
    Arquitectura en Altura
    El Alto, Bolivia
  •  health & sanitation
    Warka Village Cameroon
    Cameroon
  •  housing
    Granby Four Streets
    Liverpool, United Kingdom
  •  education
    Sra Pou Vocational School
    Sra Pou, Cambodia
  •  meeting place
    El Faro de Mapasingue
    Guayaquil , Ecuador
  •  meeting place
    Multipurpose Room COVEMV
    Morelia, Mexico
  •  education
    Plug+Play School
    Izmir + Torbali, Turkey
  •  education
    Tikau Village House
    Odisha, India
  •  education
    The Yangri Hope Project
    Yangri Village, Nepal
  •  education
    Senior Citizen’s Library
    Bhatpore Village Surat, India
  •  education
    Pani community centre
    Rajarhat, Bangladesh
  •  housing
    Rehabilitation of Thao
    Sun-moon lake, Taiwan
  • play
    GC2022 finalist
     agriculture & fisheries
    La Villa Pesquera del Crash Boat
    Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
  •  meeting place
    El Tr3bol de Ciudad de Cali
    Bogotá, Colombia
  •  education
    Luzira School
    Kampala, Uganda
  •  housing
    Post-typhoon reconstruction
    Hsinchu, Taiwan
  •  education
    School by the Lagoon
    Maligakadu, Sri Lanka
  •  meeting place
    Tulou renovation
    Longyan City, Fujian, China
  •  emergency shelter
    Soe Ker Tie House
    Ban Tha Song Yang, Thailand
  •  meeting place
    Custody House Of Memory
    Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia
  •  education
    EDAYA indigenous crafts and design school
    Baguio, Philippines
  •  education
    Hostels for girls, Iringa region, Tanzania
    Iringa region, Tanzania
  •  meeting place
    Favela open library/ School of Favela Architecture
    Maceio, Brazil
  •  meeting place
    House of Dreams
    Zhoushan village, China
  •  housing
    Rural Bayview Village
    Bayview, U.S.A.
  •  emergency shelter
    Living Tebogo
    Johannesburg, South Africa
  •  health & sanitation
    Safe Haven Bathhouse
    Ban Tha Song Yang, Thailand
  •  urban planning
    Parque El Óvalo - Pamplona Alta (Lima, Perú)
    Lima, Peru
  •  education
    SAL Exhibition Pavilion/Learning by Making
    Ahmedabad, India
  •  education
    Majuli School / GENERATING RESILIENCE
    majuli, India
  •  education
    Maosi primary school
    Maosi, China
next