THE URBAN VILLA. From Speculation to Cooperation

The urban villa is a mid-size, multi-family housing type which originated in the 1800s and has since become a staple housing type in many European cities and beyond. Its distinguishing characteristics are its density and speculative nature. The urban villa was born in an attempt to resolve aspirations to suburban living with the pressure of land costs. Despite its somewhat controversial reputation, the urban villa has been a (commercial) success due its indisputable appeal to all kinds of dwellers. The goal of this study is twofold: to revisit the rather elusive history of the urban villa, and to develop this architectural type in opposition to its speculative origins by treating it as the most appropriate form for affordable, public and cooperative housing.

The book, published to coincide with the eponymous exhibition at the Flanders Architecture Institute (4 October 2024 – 9 February 2025) is organised into two parts. The first part revisits the history of the urban villa through 42 case studies that trace its origins in antiquity as a suburban villa to its modern implementation as a distinct speculative multi-family type. The second part showcases a series of projects which address the urban villa as a form of affordable housing and as a type that can be used for the densification of Antwerp.