architectural studio GG-loop proposes the ‘mitosis’ collective housing complex in amsterdam, the netherlands, designed to highlight the importance of biophilic architecture as an answer to the current environmental crisis. the project generates a series of living clusters, wrapped in a parametric timber louvered facade, aiming to provide a healthy, sustainable community, that encourages a more profound, personal connection with nature. 

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view from a hanging pedestrian path
all images courtesy of GG-loop with hexa pixel

 

 

‘we aim to generate a healthy, emotional, and productive habitat for rest, work, and living at 360° with nature’ GG-loop shares. ‘mitosis’ adopts principles of biophilic design to articulate the relationships between nature, human biology, and the built environment. exposed to green shared areas, tiny forests, and gardens that cascade up and down the entire building, dwellers can benefit from their close connection with nature. both physical and mental well-being are fostered through careful material choices, flexible layouts, organic interiors, and large outdoor spaces.

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view from the pedestrian area 

 

 

the structure generates urban dwelling units, using prefabricated timber and bio-based modules that are cost-efficient and flexible in construction. by consciously choosing materials that capture carbon and using resources more efficiently, the GG-loop team has presented a net-positive built environment that produces more energy than it consumes.

 

 

 

 

the project integrates plant and animal life throughout the buildings, allowing dwellers to coexist harmoniously with the biodiversity of local flora and fauna. designed to evolve along with its natural surroundings, ‘mitosis’ encourages occupants to reconnect with nature on a more intimate level. ‘we are part of nature in a deep and fundamental way, but in our modern lives we’ve lost that connection’ the studio shares. 

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view of one of the louvered blocks 

 

 

the distinct rhomboid shape of the individual modules is integral to the functionality of ‘mitosis’. the units are stacked to create large areas for shared outdoor living. vertical connections are placed externally to connect the living clusters with the terraces, creating a continuous ribbon of outdoor ‘cloister-like’ spaces, fostering a sense of openness, belonging, protection, and privacy for the residents. the construction is organic and flexible, providing large areas of vertical farming, greenhouses, wildlife corridors, etc. by incorporating natural elements and providing available renewable resources in shared facilities, the environment encourages residents to engage in pro-environmental practices and share their expectations of sustainability. 

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drone view 

 

 

the volumes and internal layouts derive from the calculation and simulation of parameters related to specific conditions of the site: solar radiation, wind impact, privacy, population density, common spaces index, and vertical connections. adopting a parametric design, ‘mitosis’ explores how buildings can grow, evolve, heal and self-sustain, similar to human bodies, to create structures capable of regeneration, resilience, and self-sufficiency.

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overview

 

 

due to its flexible, grid formation, mitosis is able to host a variety of typologies that are customizable to the resident’s needs. it is applicable to diverse urban scales, ranging from off-grid single-family detached houses to high-density mixed-use urban clusters that incorporate public functions such as education, leisure, wellness, and retail. mitosis generates experiential spaces that respect both the environment and its direct inhabitants, reconnecting both in a balanced ecosystem. 

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view from a shared terrace 

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apartment 5-45 from the terrace 

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open space of apartment 5-45

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kitchen-dining of apartment 5-45 

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kitchen-dining of duplex 16-27 

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open space of duplex 16-27 

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kitchen-dining of duplex 16-27 

 

 

project info:

 

name: mitosis – biophilic regenerative ecosystem
architecture office: GG-loop
design team: gianmarco daniele, chelsea fu, giacomo garziano

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom