Venligbolig Plus Frederiksberg

GOAL no. 4, 11, 12

Venligbolig Plus is a new housing form and concept where students and refugees share a small, affordable housing unit. The concept is designed to promote friendship, education and integration.

Increasing demand for housing in urban areas is driving up housing costs. This makes it a challenge to build good, affordable housing for low-income groups. Moreover, socioeconomic forces are leading to the gentrification and segregation of neighbourhoods, which in turn exacerbates social inequality.

Venligbolig Plus – which roughly translates to Friendly Housing Plus – is a new micro housing type designed to accommodate safe and affordable housing for low-income groups. In 2019, 78 students and refugees moved into the development which consists of 41 units built as three four-storey cubes.

Each of the 41 flats with a gross space of 50 m2 is occupied by two residents. While each person has their own room they share the kitchen, toilet, bathroom and balcony. An important aspect of the project is the so-called buddy scheme in which the students assist the refugees in their daily life. The private areas are small and optimized with elevated beds and integrated cabinet solutions to provide more room for communal areas that can facilitate social interaction and community-building.

The cost of the housing units is kept down by using prefabricated module systems with load-bearing wooden structures. The modules form a sustainable building system that reduces construction time and material waste.

The project is based on the notion that the successful integration of refugees relies on physical and social integration into the community.

Project details

Where: Roskildevej 54B, 2000 Frederiksberg

Opening year: 2019

Client: Municipality of Frederiksberg, FFB/KAB

Architects and advisors: ONV Architects, We Do Democracy, VEGA Landskab (landscape), Øllgaard Rådgivende Ingeniører (engineer), Holte Projekt (today: Kuben Management), BM Bygge Industri