‘Living with Character’ is part of the multidisciplinary project marking the end of the Bachelor of Architecture, Urbanism and Building Technology at the University of Technology Eindhoven. Multidisciplinary meaning that all the different aspects of the built environment such as urbanism, construction, building physics, real estate and architecture were included in the design. Students from each of these five separate segments of architecture worked together in a design team to find a solution to a complex and integral design brief.

The assignment was to design an urban plan in which new buildings needed to work together with an existing structure protected by the monument-preservation act. The new designs included a hotel and a multi-generation home, whereas the existing building was redesigned to a multi-functional complex containing a restaurant and workspace for starting entrepreneurs. After the urban plan was designed and the basic volumes of the buildings were set, every student had to work individually on one of the buildings. The design shown in this chapter is the result of this particular individual project. 

The ground floor of the design has a public character, containing several ateliers available for artists to use as a workshop and to simultaneously display their work. These ateliers can only be accessed from inside of the building, therefore placing the public route within the design itself. This public route is situated between the ateliers and the courtyard, which can also be used to display larger art-pieces. Through two large doors on the south side of the building, the restaurant of the adjacent building can be reached, thus making the courtyard the center of the design. 

This particular plan also shows two semi-private entrances on the north side, allowing the inhabitants of the apartments of the floors above to enter the building. These one-bedroom apartments show several variations, accommodating either a balcony or a loggia. These variations create a playful character in the facade, showing different depths and materials. The facade of the walkway orientated towards the courtyard shows a similar frivolity, created by the same principles and design rules.