Stories Residential Building / Olaf Gipser Architects

In 2021, Olaf Gipser Architects, in collaboration with Self-build Cooperative BSH20A, contractor Heutink Groep, and Smartland landscape architecture, completed Stories in Amsterdam - a pioneering collective self-build project. Built largely from early adopted cross-laminated timber (CLT) and PEFC certified wood, with a negative carbon balance and using 'Open Building' principles to assure longevity, the 45-meter-high green tower addresses the challenge of communal, high-density, sustainable, and healthy urban living.

The Blondie Space project is a 70 sq. m apartment in Minsk for busy clients who need a minimalist, airy pied-à-terre. The core concept was to overcome the spatial limitations of a standard new-build apartment—with its low ceilings and compact footprint—and create a profound sense of spaciousness, light, and tranquility. The inspiration drew from a strict minimalist ethos, focusing on a muted material palette, custom-designed asymmetric furniture, and bold art objects to add character without visual clutter.

When we secured the contract for the renovation and revitalization of the Lingzhi Station Ventilation Pavilion on Shenzhen Metro Line 12 for the Shenzhen Joy City project, we began to contemplate more deeply about this infrastructure that had faced "repeated delays" throughout its protracted construction phase. Shenzhen Joy City is situated in the old Bao'an District, Zone 25, a place rich with the memories of the area's long-time residents. We often observe that human memory can be unreliable. It is only through the interaction of an individual with the tangible systems of their environment that the emotions, experiences, and sensations that arise become anchored in the fabric of daily life. Urban renewal, at its heart, is about weaving a collective everyday existence.

On a steep, compact site in inner-city Brisbane, Tighty Whitey House redefines what's possible within a small urban footprint. Designed by Maytree Studios, the project challenges conventional ideas about scale, privacy, and density—proving that clever design and restraint can create generosity in the most modest conditions.