Blueprint for September
Affordable housing quality across the globe
By Jessica Hoefer
3 min read
The challenge of providing sufficient affordable housing is not unique to the United States as governments around the world struggle to produce both quantity and quality of housing.
Affordable housing quality across the globe is benefiting from some refreshing new approaches to design and construction. These innovative trends include creating open and adaptable spaces, the use of modular and prefabricated construction and developing projects that are more responsive to residents and the surrounding environment. What these approaches all have in common is their goal of minimizing construction costs while simultaneously addressing residents’ needs.
In Hangzhou, China, Dongziguan Village was designed as a new cluster form of affordable housing specifically built for collective living for relocalized farmers. The Iceberg in Aarhus, Denmark is aimed at integrating a diverse social profile into the neighborhood in a socially sustainable way by renovating its old, out-of-use container terminal. Project Housing No. 8 in Apan, Mexico is a prototype construction that utilizes a system based on adobe-block manufacturing that can withstand the area’s climate conditions. And in Nijmegen, Netherlands, Tower Hatert is an example of thoughtfully designed social housing, which is made of FSC-certified wood and aluminum panels.
These are a few projects worldwide that saw a problem, affected change and the resulting projects are a showcase of the future of affordable housing. They are redefining how affordable housing responds to its users and environment.
Here in the U.S., the challenges facing the construction and design of affordable housing run the gamut; financing, development expertise, site selection, weather, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages and high-interest rates, to name a few.
So, how do we circumvent the challenges and continue to get quality projects to pencil?
The Builders’ Perspective reveals a few key strategies, developed by general contractors, to help push projects over the finish line in a timely manner without sacrificing overall housing quality. And in Modular Affordable Housing Projects, project managers, investors and consultants of modular projects share their tips on pulling together financing, building stronger partner teams and selecting sites.
Breaking Ground discusses an exciting new modular initiative that Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc. imported from Europe to save a struggling public housing project.
And in the ongoing effort to promote time and cost efficiency, New Building Technologies and Housing Solutions looks at the latest innovative approaches to construction. From robotics to artificial intelligence to 3D printing, technology is continuing to advance the construction side of the business.
But, when it comes to construction and design, what are the accessibility rules? Legally Speaking covers the main legal obligations for accessible design and construction. Also pointing out how important it is for developers and investors to ensure that their architects, engineers and builders follow all applicable accessible guidelines for all housing and associated non-dwelling spaces.
Affordable housing is not simply limited to providing units. It’s about taking humanistic and holistic approaches when selecting the materials used, as well as the location and purpose of each project. It’s encouraging to see that construction and design teams here and around the world are thinking about more than the mere provision of affordable housing while attempting to meet the needs of the residents and the environment.
Regards,
Jessica Hoefer
Editor-in-Chief
