Tiny Penthouses: adaptive Architecture by Hedwig Heinsman
Tiny Penthouses is an ongoing art and architecture project by Hedwig Heinsman that investigates how recycled materials and additive manufacturing can generate adaptable forms of housing. Presented at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, curated by Carlo Ratti, the project remains on view until November 23rd, 2025.
Developed as a prototype for compact, 3D printed rooftop homes, Tiny Penthouses proposes a model for urban densification through reuse and circularity. Each unit is fabricated from recycled materials, including sawdust and consumer plastics, which can be shredded and reprinted into new configurations. This process enables buildings to evolve over time in response to changing social and spatial needs, positioning architecture as a renewable and regenerative practice. The exhibition includes scale models, facade sections, and full-size mock-ups that demonstrate the spatial and material logic of the design. The pieces operate as both architectural research and sculptural installation, emphasizing light, texture, and structural geometry. The project frames architecture as a temporal medium, something that can adapt, transform, and return to material origin without loss of value.
all images courtesy of Hedwig Heinsman unless stated otherwise
3D printed rooftop homes that ‘reincarnate’ into new designs
Tiny Penthouses also examines underused urban sites as potential host locations for new housing typologies. One proposal envisions student residences installed within the truck lift of Amsterdam’s Stedelijk Museum, testing how overlooked spaces can accommodate small-scale, flexible living environments.
The project builds on architect Hedwig Heinsman’s broader exploration of circular construction. As co-founder of Aectual, a platform specializing in large-scale 3D printed architecture made from recyclable materials, and former co-founder of DUS Architects, she has developed multiple structures designed for disassembly and reprinting. These precedents inform Tiny Penthouses as a continuation of material research and sustainable design methodology. Following its presentation in Venice, Tiny Penthouses is set to tour cultural institutions and European cities through 2026, contributing to the ongoing discourse on adaptable architecture and circular urban growth.
Tiny Penthouses by Hedwig Heinsman explores adaptability through recycled materials and 3D printing
Tiny Penthouse visualization reimagines Stedelijk Amsterdam Museum’s entrance
the project is presented at the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale, curated by Carlo Ratti
3D printed forms can be shredded and reprinted into new configurations
architecture envisioned as an evolving, circular system
scale models demonstrate spatial logic and material precision | image by © Francesco-Russo
full-size mock-ups showcase light, texture, and geometry
material reuse becomes both a design strategy and research method | image by © Francesco-Russo
each unit is fabricated from sawdust and recycled consumer plastics
underused urban sites are reimagined as potential housing locations
small-scale dwellings test flexibility within dense urban contexts
3D print in process
recycled materials can be printed, shredded, and reprinted in an ongoing circular process
project info:
name: Tiny Penthouses – Reincarnating Architecture
architect: Hedwig Heinsman | @hedwigheinsman
proposal location: Amsterdam, Stedelijk
exhibition: 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale Di Venezia | @labiennale
curator: CRA–Carlo Ratti Associati | @crassociati
photographer: Hedwig Heinsman, Francesco-Russo | @francescorussophoto
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
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