Famke de Beek

The Langhuis in Zwolle has a long history of sheltering and caring for vulnerable women. In 1638, Anna van Haerst purchased the townhouses on Praubstraat together with the Langhuis located behind them. After losing both her husband and son to the plague, she established a charitable institution for poor Roman Catholic widows. The building provided these women with shelter, protection, and a sense of community. To this day, many historic elements remain intact, including the timber structure, fireplaces, and masonry, preserving the building’s legacy of care and collective living.

This historical significance forms the starting point for a contemporary reinterpretation of the Langhuis. Today, a different vulnerable group is growing: young women experiencing hidden homelessness. These are women without a stable home who temporarily stay with friends, family members, partners, or in anti-squat housing, constantly moving from place to place. Their situation is often caused by leaving youth care, unsafe home environments, relationship breakdowns, or mental health issues. In addition, many lack both a reliable support network and financial stability. 

Conversations with public health professionals, support workers, and people with lived experience revealed that traditional homeless shelters are often perceived as unsafe, institutional, and lacking privacy. At the same time, social connection plays an important role in reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation.

This project therefore explores how the Langhuis can once again become a place of refuge. The design is based on a co-living concept in which residents have their own private room while sharing communal living spaces. Through the use of soft materials, natural daylight, transitional spaces, and opportunities for personalisation, the design creates a domestic environment that supports safety, comfort, ownership, and social connection.