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Modular construction is the backbone of MOOS’s Dutch housing solution.
In Maasland, a small village near Rotterdam, Netherlands, the MOOS Euterpe housing project is underway. This initiative, a collaboration between MOOS and the architectural firm Concrete, aims to provide high-quality modular homes for all. (Pics: Moos by Concrete)
MOOS, which stands for “In the Middle Of Our Street,” seeks to create a community where residents feel at home. They’re looking to address the Dutch housing crisis by offering sustainable and modular prefabricated homes that can be fully demountable and reusable if needed. Since its inception in 2020, MOOS has been working with Concrete to develop the concept, architecture, and branding of this modular housing solution.
The modular homes were designed to not only be modular but also fully demountable and reusable if necessary. This approach aligns with MOOS’s ambitions for a greener future, whether catering to families, couples, or individuals. Since its inception in 2020, MOOS, in partnership with Concrete, has been developing the concept, architecture, and branding of this modular housing solution.
MOOS Euterpe, the first completed project, is a social housing development comprising 30 units of varying sizes, designed to accommodate both small and large families. The architecture, crafted by Concrete, aims to “instill pride in residents and foster community connections”. Each home consists of two modules: a “basic” module for essential functions like sleeping, cooking, and washing, and a “personal” module, a customisable space tailored to individual needs.
The modular construction method used by MOOS allows for rapid and cost-efficient building, maintaining high-quality standards while reducing waste and facilitating recycling. The homes are constructed in a factory setting and then assembled onsite, where they are linked and stacked using a plug-and-play principle. The thought process behind this is to create diverse neighbourhoods quickly, catering to a range of housing needs.
One of the key social benefits of MOOS’s development is the emphasis on community. Communal areas like Moos Plein, a welcoming space at the entrance, and green spaces are designed to encourage interaction and engagement among residents. Part of their objective is to make social housing truly social by creating a sense of belonging and providing a solid foundation for personal growth and well-being.
According to company sources, MOOS is also committed to circularity and modularity with their use of sustainable, recycled, and upcycled materials. Traditional building materials are replaced with bio-based alternatives wherever possible, contributing to the environmental sustainability of the projects. Furthermore, MOOS homes are designed to be permanent yet fully demountable, making them suitable for temporary housing projects without compromising quality.
Early contractor involvement (ECI) was also a key element in the development which allows different companies to contribute their expertise from an early stage, sharing collective responsibility for the project’s full lifecycle.
