The Bolwoningen are a 1970 experimental housing design by Dutch artist Dries Kreijkamp. They were constructed in 1984. The insentive was to explore low-cost housing alternatives. This government-funded project originally rooted in 1968. The construction of a single unit at the time was 92.000 Gulden (44.829 USD).

They get their name from their identifyable round shape. Bol can be translated as bulb or ball and woningen as houses or residences in the Dutch language. Colloquioally they’re also referred to as the ‘Bossche Bollen’, which is the name of pastry originating from the same city. Though they bear no resemblence, the name still describes both accurately.

There are a total of 50 individual units. They are made out of fiberglass and cement. The bulbs have a diameter of 5.5 meters (18 feet) and the cylinder upon which it rests has a width of 3 meters (10 feet).

There are still people living inside the Bolwoningen to this day.

  • A Friendly StrangerOPMEnglish
    2•1 year ago

    [Images are all of the aforementioned Bolwoningen. They are white bulbs with round windows and grey cylindrical bases. The thumbnail image is a close-up of an open round window, with two cats looking outside, there is a tree branch artistically in frame. First picture is taken from the street, it has Bolwoningen on both sides, the street curves like a worm and has lots of greenery. There is a cat as well. Second image is a plan of the unit. Third image is a bird’s eye view, many units are in shot and juxtaposed with the regular houses in the background.]