Metropolis Digital Optimism Talks logo

Join us every second Tuesday of the month for a dose of optimism with thought-provoking guests who are revolutionizing their fields. Innovators will lead virtual workshops for an hour of discovery, inspiration, and community. Led by editor in chief, Avinash Rajagopal, these workshops will be guided by our audience, where questions are not only welcome but encouraged.

Register Now
natural habitat cold spring home exterior

Metropolis Editors, Natural Habitat, sustainability, sustainable architecture

METROPOLIS Introduces Natural Habitat, a Sustainable Homes Video Series

The series debuts with a tour of a tranquil upstate New York retreat designed with Passive House principles.

Read more
image of a multifamily housing block
The prefabricated houses are circular, modular, and fully demountable and reusable.

January 22, 2025

Modular Construction Provides a Solution to the Netherlands’ Housing Crisis

Moos’s building system promotes diverse neighborhoods through efficient, environmentally responsible, and socially inclusive construction.

By: Petra Loho

Photography: STIJN POELSTRA

FOCUSED ON RESHAPING the future of affordable housing, a Dutch start-up is spearheading a modular, circular building system with sustainability at its core. Moos unites experts who share a vision for positive change through forward-thinking design, construction, and development. In collaboration with the multidisciplinary architecture studio Concrete, they’ve introduced a groundbreaking, fully demountable construction model aimed at tackling the housing crisis in the Netherlands.

This crisis has reached a concerning peak, with Deloitte’s Living in Europe: Housing Trends and Prices 2024 report indicating that new-build homes now cost 16 times the average Dutch salary, and the waiting list for social housing can extend to almost 20 years in major cities like Amsterdam.

image of a modular housing unit being transported in a warehouse

These figures highlight the significance of Moos’s debut project, Moos Euterpe, a social housing development near Rotterdam spanning over 21,500 square feet. With 30 housing units of varying sizes, the complex is designed to accommodate both small and large families.Two buildings with twin rows of stacked two-story modules face each other, fostering a community connection centered on a communal garden. The step-back facade transforms galleries into verandas, providing flexible spaces for personal touches like planters or seating. One prefabricated module in each home includes essential functions like sleeping, cooking, and washing, while the second is a flexible space that residents can configure to suit their unique lifestyles. 

interior of a modular housing unit
interior of a modular housing unit
image of a multifamily housing block

“The plot was long and narrow, which made finding the ideal housing layout a challenge. By designing double-sided apartments that open onto an intimate garden through spacious, functional verandas, we created a small community where social interactions happen naturally,” says Iwan Hameleers, Concrete’s project architect. “It was thrilling to see how years of design, engineering, and testing in model homes came to life successfully in this first project of the sustainable, modular Moos housing system.”

The thoughtful design is complemented by Moos’s commitment to sustainability, blending upcycled materials from demolition partners with biobased options. Recycled concrete supplied by Holcim forms the floors, while cross-laminated timber walls provide structural integrity. Wood-framed windows with triple glazing ensure energy efficiency. With approximately 500 additional homes on the way, Moos’s take-back guarantee allows for easy relocation, reinforcing the circular model and minimizing environmental impact. 

Would you like to comment on this article? Send your thoughts to: [email protected]

Latest