Residence Jan van Eyck Academie
How can a housing complex foster a sense of belonging when a dweller is not a permanent resident of the given neighbourhood? Together with Jan van Eyck Academie, Wonen Limburg, and Wyckerveste Developer, Studio Stad is investigating how to combine artist habits, student needs, and expat living patterns with our existential need to ‘root’ thus further catalyzing integration within new environments.

Annually, the Jan van Eyck Academie, post-academic institute in Maastricht (NL), hosts a group of some 45 artists, designers, architects, curators, and writers for an 11-month residency programme. The participants-in-residence are often assisted in finding accommodation for the duration of their working period at the academy. However, often calling for renovation, the provided accommodation hardly provides the academy with a future-proof solution for housing their participants.
Catering to the needs of a wide range of artistic practices and flexible, often unpredictable life-work routines, different age groups, and cultural backgrounds, Studio Stad is working on a new housing development for artist and student dwellers in Maastricht. A recent survey Studio Stad carried out with some 70 Jan van Eyck participants and alumni informs that 85% of respondents consider light, 83% consider size, and 81% ¬– location as the most important building blocks of a comfortable dwelling environment. Following these guidelines and in response to social development, spatial design, and emotional wellbeing, we are honoured to take part in fostering and further nourishing a feel for home-away-from-home.
On 2 March 2023, Studio Stad met with Jan van Eyck Academie, Wonen Limburg, and Wyckerveste Developer in a creative session. Taking into consideration preliminary artist, student, community, and other concerns, we are glad to inform that the first blueprints of the Woonstroom project are sprouting in spring 2023.