Prix de Rome

incentive award

Studio PROTOTYPE took on the challenge of transforming Overtoomse Veld in Amsterdam Nieuw West into a modern, multifunctional urban space. The project was grounded in an analysis of the historic functional city and its contemporary challenges — from fragmented public spaces to the lack of clear connections between community groups.

The new functional cities were originally designed to improve living conditions for all residents, yet the original homogeneous structure has now been replaced by a multifaceted community. The absence of clear boundaries in public green spaces and the erosion of original sightlines fragmented the public realm. Studio PROTOTYPE saw an opportunity to restore clarity and create spaces that respond to the needs of a diverse contemporary population.

The studio adopted a strategy focused on creating connections and places, where movement and presence coexist harmoniously. Historical sightlines were restored and complemented with new ones, while the circulation network was expanded with safe and comfortable pedestrian and cycling routes, separated from car traffic in the CIAM tradition. Courtyards were highlighted and functionally integrated into the new urban layout, giving them the character of private gardens along public routes.

The project creates a narrative route through the new district, connecting old and new parts of the city and linking Rembrandtpark to Sloterplas. Contrasts between open and enclosed spaces generate a compelling spatial dynamic, while renovated building plinths integrate seamlessly with the surroundings, restoring the continuity of public space. Altogether, the plan establishes a foundation for a new, multifaceted community.

Short Stay City

Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties

In a world where the boundaries between living, working, and traveling are constantly shifting, architecture must adapt to the changing rhythm of contemporary life. Studio PROTOTYPE designs spaces that embrace flexibility, functionality, and transformation. Our work goes beyond buildings – it’s about creating environments that respond to the real needs of people who live, work, and move through a dynamic, globalized landscape.

As mobility becomes a defining element of modern existence, the notion of “home” is no longer tied to permanence. People move across borders, professions, and life phases with increasing ease, seeking places that can adapt to their evolving needs. Architecture, therefore, must respond not only to form and function but also to the fluidity of contemporary life — shaping spaces that accommodate both stability and change.

Short Stay City explores how temporary living can be redefined as a vital and lasting part of the urban environment. Developed by Studio PROTOTYPE in collaboration with ZUS, the research examines the social and spatial dynamics of short-term housing in the Netherlands — from labor migration and student accommodation to professional mobility. The project addresses the growing urgency of flexible housing, identifying opportunities where design, policy, and community can intersect. Through field studies, data analysis, and test cases, Short Stay City reveals how architecture can support new forms of living that respond to a constantly shifting society.

The research envisions a city that evolves with its inhabitants — a living system that balances density, adaptability, and human experience. It proposes new models of urban living that move beyond static housing typologies, emphasizing transformation and reuse as essential qualities of modern architecture. In this framework, temporary becomes an integral part of permanence: a catalyst for inclusivity, innovation, and sustainability. Short Stay City ultimately reimagines the city as a flexible habitat — one that breathes, transforms, and grows alongside the people who call it home, however briefly.