BETA office for architecture and the city
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
BETA was founded in 2015 in Amsterdam by partners Evert Klinkenberg and Auguste van Oppen. Before establishing their practice, they gained extensive professional experience both locally and internationally. The office has received awards including Europan, the Gulden Feniks, and most recently the Amsterdam Architecture Prize. The studio focuses on architecture and research related to the contemporary city, adopting an investigative approach that prioritizes people. Many of their projects are preceded by thorough research, as with Draaier op Oostenburg, a project centred on social interaction and active design. 3 Generation House is a modest intergenerational prototype that led BETA to publish a book on intergenerational living, which has in turn inspired new architectural projects addressing this theme.
In addition to housing, BETA works on public buildings and urban design throughout the Netherlands and Europe. The practice is committed to developing an architectural language that responds to societal challenges such as integrated living, community participation, and resource efficiency.
2025 Biennial Project
Project Overview
3 Generation House
3 Generation House revisits a domestic model once common in the Netherlands, where several generations lived under one roof. Designed for two households, the building brings extended family into close proximity without sacrificing privacy. The two apartments are stacked on top of one another and connected only by a shared entrance. While the lower apartment—for the younger generation—includes an office and opens directly onto the garden, the upper apartment—for the grandparents—is designed with no steps, wide doorways, and an elevator.
Venue
View moreChicago Cultural Center
Address
78 E. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602
Neighborhood
The Loop
Description
Completed in 1897 as Chicago’s first central library, the building was established as the Chicago Cultural Center, the nation’s first and most comprehensive free municipal cultural venue, in 1991. One of the most visited attractions in Chicago, the stunning landmark building is home to two magnificent stained-glass domes, as well as free art exhibitions, performances, tours, lectures, family activities, music, and more – presented by the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and many others.
