Trudo VB-location

Redevelopment of the iconic Philips VB site in Eindhoven

In addition to the repurposing of the building itself, the over 3.5-hectare site - including the VB building's parking lot - is also being given a unique new purpose. Here, housing association Trudo is embarking on a unique and progressive project: the construction of five all-wood residential buildings containing 200 social housing units. Trudo is the housing association that does things a little differently. In search of a unique structure that reflects the site's innovative history, the starting point from the very first sketch was to build the project entirely out of wood. With an emphasis on sustainability, the entire construction - from the load-bearing structures to interior walls, facades and elevator shafts - is being constructed of wood. Together, we aim to set a new standard for social housing in the Netherlands with this project.

Wood as a building material

The choice of wood makes this project unique: never before in the Netherlands has a social housing project on this scale - four to five stories - been constructed entirely of wood. Timber construction requires a specific design approach in which architecture and material selection go hand in hand from the outset. Therefore, the properties of wood were taken into account in this project from the very first design phase. For example, balconies are designed as loggias or as balconies supported by an exoskeleton. A solution that aligns well with the load-bearing capacity of wood and simultaneously provides a nod to the VB building. The detailing is also carefully tailored to the material, ensuring it ages beautifully. The wood is used to its full potential here, enhancing both the aesthetics and sustainability of the design. Wood offers significant sustainability benefits. For example, thanks to timber construction, we can store CO₂ instead of emitting it. This project saves approximately six million kilograms of CO₂, equivalent to the annual CO₂ emissions from the energy consumption of the entire Trudo portfolio (approximately 5,000 homes). This means that Trudo can call itself CO₂ neutral by 2025, thanks to the completion of these wooden homes. Moreover, wooden buildings have a calming atmosphere that has a proven positive impact on the well-being of residents, as projects like Langeveld, Het Dok, and Biosintrum have demonstrated.

Quality of Living and Socializing

The design prioritizes quality of living and socializing. The five wooden buildings are divided into three urban villas and two gallery buildings, with apartments ranging in size from 50 to 85 square meters. To maximize daylight and foster a connection with the surrounding environment, almost all the apartments on the site are multi-sided (through-homes and corner apartments). To ensure residents have space to socialize, the galleries are wide and a spacious entrance has been created. The gallery apartments all have individual balconies, and the urban villas feature spacious indoor balconies with ample privacy.

To promote biodiversity and quality of life, climbing plants will grow from the ground up in various areas of the buildings. The climbing plants will grow up the exoskeleton, so that it becomes an 'eco-skeleton', so to speak. In addition, a large, green garden designed by Buro Lubbers will surround the buildings. This communal outdoor space will also include areas to encourage interaction among residents. Parking regulations have been deliberately lowered through the use of shared mobility, resulting in a nearly car-free site with some street-level parking. Each building also has its own bicycle parking facility to further encourage residents to cycle. The buildings have been deliberately kept low, with only four to five stories, to enhance the historic VB building's strength. Furthermore, extra space has been left between the central buildings, preserving sightlines to the VB building from the neighborhood across the street. 

This progressive project marks a new chapter in sustainable and high-quality social housing in Eindhoven. It demonstrates that high-quality housing for the social sector can go hand in hand with innovation, sustainability, and the creation of an inspiring living environment. This is how timber construction becomes mainstream.