Dynamics in the Late-Modern House

Housing from the late 20th century is on the verge of entering the heritage domain. However, its architecture, which aimed for adaptation and appropriation, along with its everyday active use, challenges traditional heritage assessment approaches. How can we evaluate the significance of these Late-Modern housing projects as recent heritage while simultaneously appreciating them as lived-in architecture? In a combined research and educational project, we have examined two case studies of Late-Modern housing: the Diagoonwoningen, designed by Herman Hertzberger and the Koepeltjesbuurt, designed by Benno Stegeman. Built in the 1970s as suburban housing, both are now designated as municipal monuments. Our research methods included collecting archival materials, conducting house visits, and participatory research through a digital tool. All information was synthesised using a narrative drawing method, merging physical attributes of architecture with intangible attributes of use, social interaction, and daily life patterns. Results show that in the Diagoonwoningen, designed as a ‘blank canvas’ to accommodate residents’ appropriation, the physical alterations to the architecture are limited. Residents highly value Hertzberger's design and tend to adapt their dwelling practices accordingly. In the housing of Koepeltjesbuurt, where Stegeman designed a wide variety of types and irregular forms to allow for individual expression and appropriation, numerous additions, interior plan changes, and technical adaptations were made to accommodate each household's unique needs. This research indicates that dwelling practices are dynamic in both cases but vary due to their position between heritage and everyday architecture. In the Diagoonwoningen, where the monumental status is more apparent, the intended dynamic ultimately became static, whereas Koepeltjesbuurt continues to adapt actively to current needs. The narrative drawings capture this by presenting different time cycles: Diagoonwoningen integrates the cumulative residential legacy of past generations who inhabited the house, while the Koepeltjesbuurt house reflects the contemporary 24-hour dynamics of a single family.