Solids: de klant betaalt én bepaaltImagine: you get the key to an open space with a safe central connection to gas, water and electricity in a beautiful and sustainable building. And you can totally decide how you want your lay out to be and how you want to live and/or work there. All users in the building have the same freedom. A dream? No, actually! Building society Stadgenoot did it with Solids in Amsterdam. Solids are rentable units in a building shell without a development plan. The corporation built a complete core with a shell (the base building) and then invited people to sign up for part of the fit-out. A fit-out that each tenant realized all by himself. The result: a strong position for the users and a wonderful creative mix of housing, business and leisure under one roof.

The customer does not get to decide at the moment

It should always be like that. That you, as the customer, determine what you get for your money. In many other markets it is always like this, but not yet in the building market. Here the customer settles for what architects, consultants and contractors ultimately deliver. And it doesn’t make much difference whether you rent or buy, whether it is a home or business, whether you are an investor or user.

Working towards a strong position for the user

That has to change, also says the House of Commons. The House commissioned the Directorate General for Housing & Construction to present proposals that strengthen the position of users in buildings. Since November 2011 I talk about these problems and opportunities with several government officials, as chairman of the Briqs Foundation and until recently as boardmember of the SlimBouwen Foundation. A visit to Solids on October 1, 2013 by the civil servants once more gave much food for thought and discussion. Our conversation continues, for example about the following subjects:

1. The Building code

Current legislation restricts changes and developments. Looking at Solids, the discussion is about questions like to what extent the Building code should determine what a house looks like on the inside? Safety first, of course. And in sustainability we can achieve a lot by separating the base building from the fit-out. Why should doors always have to be 2.3 meters high in my home? Or should each corridor be accessible to a wheelchair in my home? But the same code says nothing about making the kitchen or the bathroom wheelchair proof. If you can easily adjust and adapt the fit-out and it is the responsibility of the resident, we arrive at a lot more sensible social, business and personal expenses.

2. Apartment owners are yet powerless

The discussion about the position of users in making buildings sustainable, has yet another sore point. That’s the frustrating position of owners of an apartment who own but have no control. Control of a large portion of the apartment building rests with the homeowners association. That is why implementing sustainability in apartment buildings doesn’t stand a chance right now due to conflicting interests and personal circumstances.

3. European and Dutch legislation interfere with each other

Who wants to have a house built, is mangled between the essential differences in the Dutch and European legislation. That too, is a guarantee for trouble. More on that issue you can read on this blog.

 

Take the next step and share your experiences

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Join the conversation

Do you know how to build that new way and what you need? What benefits for use do you see, which one is the most important? Share it in the comments below.

To your health and wellbeing,

Remko Zuidema