An Examination of Global Best Practice
Dr Richard Barkham and Dr Claudia Murray
SUSTAINABLE SOCIAL HOUSING:
3
SUSTAINABLE SOCIAL HOUSING:
An Examination of Global Best Practice
Report by Dr Richard Barkham*
and Dr Claudia Murray**
* Dr Richard Barkham is Grosvenor Group Research Director. He is
also a Non-Executive Director of Grosvenor Fund Management.
Richard has a PhD in Economics and is the author of a highly
cited book on regional economic development and several well
known articles on real estate economics. His next book, entitled
‘Real Estate and Globalisation’ will be published in April 2012 by
Wiley-Blackwell. http://www.grosvenor.com/Research/Team/
Richard+Barkham.htm
** Dr Claudia Murray, is a Research Fellow at the School of Real Estate
and Planning, Henley Business School, University of Reading.
Claudia is an architect and has a PhD in Geography, and an MA
in Cultural Studies and an MSc in Real Estate Appraisal. She is
interested in the socio economic factors that in! uence urban
design. http://www.henley.reading.ac.uk/REP/Aboutus/Sta" /
c-b-murray.aspx.
Contact details
Richard Barkham
Direct Line +44 (0)20 7312 6388
Email [email protected]
4
Global Urban ExpansionIn 2011 the world’s population passed 7 billion and it is still
growing by 1.2% per annum.1 Although this growth rate is
decreasing, the global urban population has surpassed the
global rural population with over 50% of people now living
in cities. The spread of real time world statistical indicators,
points to rising global awareness of the urban population and
its ecological impact on the earth. Cities occupy 2% of the
earth surface, generate 75% of CO2 emissions and consume
between 60 and 80% of global energy (Burdett and Rode,
2011). They also produce 80% of global economic output and
so urbanization brings with it the bene! ts of higher levels of
GDP. There is a need to ! nd a path for urban development that
will both support economic growth but is also sustainable in
the long term.
During the period in which the UK rose to become a mature
industrial power, London grew from 1 million to become the
! rst megacity of 10 million. It took London 100 years to reach
this mark, including a signi! cant period of growth during the
1950s (Ackroyd, 2001). Today Tokyo, Mexico City and Mumbai
have around 30 million inhabitants with some cities in India
growing at a rate of 300,000 a year. The key di" erence between
the industrialisation of Europe and emerging markets today
is the much faster pace of urban growth. This is re# ected both
in the concentration of people living in mega-cities and the
increasing number of medium-sized cities of up to 3 million.2
In the period to 2030, almost all of the word’s total population
increase will take place in urban areas, with rural areas being
static.3 Moreover the number of slum dwellers will increase
from 32% of the world’s total urban population in 2001 to
41% in 2030. Finding housing solutions for this expansion of
cities is essential to avoid the problems that some countries,
though not China, currently face with ramshackle and poor
quality housing development. These ! gures also indicate the
magnitude of the problem that humanity will face by 2030:
at least 3 billion people or 40% of the world’s population will
need to be housed. Furthermore, the development of this
accommodation requires the mass construction of urban
infrastructure and other services. If at the moment cities
generate 72% of CO2 emissions, it is evident that any new
development must be executed in a sustainable manner to
avoid any further damage to the environment.
The situation of China in the world scenarioA rapid increase in economic output is generally accompanied
by an increase in urbanisation and the world’s most populous
country is a clear re# ection of this. In the last two decades,
China has witnessed annual economic growth rates of more
than 9% on average. At the same time, the country has
developed four of the 30 largest urban agglomerations in
the world: Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin and Shenzhen. China’s
current pro-urbanisation policies are giving rise to more mega
cities in the centre and western parts of the country such
as Chengdu and Chongqing. The growth of these areas is
accompanied by the development of transport, road networks
and infrastructure which attracts foreign investment and is to
the great bene! t of the Chinese people.
In addition to opening up to foreign investment China has
partially relaxed its urban residency permits and it is expected
that the system will be completely abandoned in due course
(Chang and Zhang, 1999). Access to the housing market for
low-income families has been addressed by the use of equity
grants. Under this scheme, land remains the property of the
state while leases are auctioned to developers to supply
housing on a home ownership basis. Low-income families
requiring improved housing are thus provided with once-in-
a-lifetime equity grants based on the market value of their
existing housing, which enables them to access mortgage
instruments. Developers, on the other hand, are provided with
incentives in the form of tax reductions or exemptions.4
In recent years the scheme has provided more than 20 million
housing units for low income families. In addition, there
are also large housing estate developments, many of which
attract foreign direct investment. Within these housing estates,
SUSTAINABLE SOCIAL HOUSING:
An Examination of Global Best Practice
5
somewhat following the trend of western countries, a new
level of self-governance is emerging. Residents are electing
committees to oversee and manage urban safety and security,
environmental conservation and the needs of the youth and
the elderly. In the Asian context, these relatively informal
control measures have worked better in improving the living
conditions in China, compared for example to India.6 Although
these are important social achievements, the country’s
economic growth is coupled with increased pollution.
According to the World Bank, China is home to 16 of the 20
most polluted cities on the planet. Car ownership in Beijing has
increased by 140% since 1997. The country’s manufacturing-
based economy has made it one of the world’s largest
consumers of raw material and the second largest producer of
greenhouse gases, after the United States. Potentially, at least,
environmental degradation costs the nation up to 12% of its
GDP. If China is to sustain its remarkable economic growth, it
must also ensure that its cities become more sustainable.7
Development of social housing: a brief review of the main academic discussionMost studies analyse social housing from a very speci! c
perspective: social, environmental or economic. An important
concern of sociological studies of housing development is
social mix. Does a broad social mix, either economic or ethnic,
actually bring about reduced urban poverty or increased
communitarian behaviour (Kleinhans, 2004; Berube, 2006;
Galster, 2007; Lyndal, 2011)? The argument is linked to
issues of social exclusion at city level, relating state housing
developments to the entrenchment of low incomes and
economic inactivity (Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 19958;
Lee and Murie, 1997 and Power, 1994). Social exclusion is a
particular concern in Europe (Kärick, 2006), although the global
nature of the problem is also recognised (Evans, 1998). Social
housing has also been analysed in terms of access to transport
and jobs (Power, 1994; McGregor et al, 1995; Garshick Kleit,
2001) with a recent focus also on access to health (Dunn, 2001).
All of this sociological body of research points to the fact that
for many people, social housing accommodation is a symbol
of failure, an image that is only reinforced by outsiders and the
media (Taylor, 1998).
The design and energy e# ciency aspects of social housing
have also seen considerable recent research, mainly in the
form of case studies that focus on the energy consumption.
A recent example, (Bahaj and James, 2007), presents the results
of a long term study of nine low-energy social housing units
equipped with photo-voltaic systems in the South of England.
This paper is important because it shows that the initial
reduction in energy consumption was subsequently reversed
as household behaviour went back to ‘normal’. The paper
makes a strong conclusion about the importance of education
and the continuous re-enforcement of the ‘low energy
message’, and challenges the assumption that simply ! tting
housing units with energy saving equipment is guaranteed to
succeed. This key paper moves the current debate about the
energy rating of buildings into a useful consideration of the
behavioural aspects of occupation and energy use (Williams
and Dair, 2010).
In the area of form and design, architects and designers seem
to agree in what not to do. This position is usually exempli! ed
by the critics of the post WWII Modernist design system,
currently represented by the ‘New Urbanism’ adherents, of
bland, 20-storey tower blocks surrounded by pavement and
car parking areas. In fact, the Modernist schemes were a well
intended attempt to solve housing shortages of the time,
but it is true that they have left behind a landscape of easily
identi! able urban areas which are di# cult to let, isolated
from employment and the target of a stream of unsuccessful
regeneration projects (Taylor, 1998). This type of mass
urbanism has been heavily criticised and recently connected
to the cause and spread of the London Riots of 2011 (Space
Syntax, 2011). Some have argued that the true paradigm of
Modernist planning and architecture was never allowed to fully
develop, and that there are certain ideas worth rescuing.
Source: UN-Habitat Global
Urban Observatory 20055
6
The main architects in this ‘school’ are Peter Eisenman, from
the US, and Rem Koolhaas, from Europe (Nesbitt, 1995). So,
the single large block continues to be used as a model for
social housing with interesting solutions to add identity and
individuality to each unit starting to emerge.
The issue of individuality has also been studied by non-
architects. Social scientists are currently addressing questions
of density, crowding, personal space and identity (Roberts,
2007 and Arthurson, 2010). Other recent research has
identi! ed the bene! ts of involving the community not only in
the design of schemes but also in the management of places
(Cole and Smith, 1996; Taylor, 1998, Carter and Fortune, 2002).
In terms of connectivity and the location of developments,
studies show that services should always be locally delivered
(Power and Tunstall, 1995). Moreover, local services should be
viewed as an asset to create jobs in the community and a point
of information for training and advice; a role that has been
increasingly taken by some housing associations at least in
the UK (Davis and Bacon, 1996; Kemp and Fordham, 1997; Mc
Arthur, 1995).
In regard to ! nancing, the provision of social housing very
much depends on speci! c national policies and agendas and
this can vary signi! cantly. In a large economic area such as the
EU, even with shared agreements and values in terms of social
policies, the di" erences in approach are striking (Gibb, 2002).
The problems of managing and ! nancing social housing and
the shortcomings in achieving the sustainable goals set by
designers and developers at the outset, have been highlighted
in a recent interview survey of housing associations in the UK
(Carter and Fortune, 2002).
Notwithstanding the quantum of research most studies are
limited to the analysis of a particular aspect of social housing
in one of the areas of economic, social or environmental
sustainability. Practice is necessarily holistic. Often, policy
makers ! nd it di# cult to put together all the parts of the
puzzle to create a whole body of theoretical evidence to
support practice. The issue has been worsened by the
current problem of ! nding a suitable de! nition of the word
sustainability that can applied to housing developments and
which encompasses social, environmental and economic
aspects (Carter and Fortune, 2002).
MAD Architects, China, and their controversial
scheme known as Fake Hills, a housing project
for the coastal city of Beihai, China.
7
A Framework to Identify Best Practice in Sustainable Social HousingGiven the problems highlighted above, an important part
of this study is to ! nd an appropriate holistic framework to
identify best practice in sustainable social housing. A major
literature review was undertaken by the National Institute for
Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands (RIVM)
(review and results published in van Kamp et al 2003). In
the UK, a revision of 675 tools applicable to the assessment
of sustainable urban development was carried out by
the Metrics, Models and Toolkits for Whole Life Sustainable
Urban Development a consortium of the Engineering and
Physical Sciences Research Council’s Sustainable Environment
Programme (Sue-MoT) (Walton S.J. et al 2005). There are also
comparative studies that carried out a review of sustainability
measurements at building level in North America, Europe and
Asia (Bunz, Hense and Tiller, 2006).
The importance of ! nding a holistic approach is indicated
by the resources that countries and regions have devoted to
! nding a suitable framework to measure urban sustainability.
The Bequest toolkit, for example, is a pan European initiative
involving more than 100 academics and experts that aims
to provide comprehensive advice on how to make urban
development projects more sustainable and how to assess
their sustainability. We note though, that other academics
disagree with the idea that such an all-encompassing
tool can ever be developed (Deaking, 2002; Frame and
Cavanagh, 2008). In the UK for example, the Sustainable Urban
Environments Programme is an EPSRC funded portfolio of
research looking at ways of improving sustainability in the
urban environment. This programme has funded 18 consortia
located in 30 di" erent UK Universities to examine areas
including waste and water management, transport planning
and strategy, spatial planning, regeneration and stakeholder
engagement. The researchers found that no single tool can
successfully address the three dimensions of sustainability
simultaneously.
Nevertheless, the concern of the present research is much
smaller: one type of building, residential; and within this, only
social housing. To help, there are many indicators that have
been developed by international organisations such as the
United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development
(UNCSD), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) and the European Union (EU). Some
of these systems need to be re! ned to include more social
factors (Winston and Pareja Eastaway, 2008). In the ! eld of
social housing, Pediaditi et al. (2005) have addressed this
problem, but only during the procedural stages from planning
to construction. Kogelheide (2004), as part of the RESCU
network, 2006, has designed a sustainability assessment
tool, but this is largely a methodology for scoring projects for
funding purposes and does not address completed schemes.
A recent paper that revises current shortcomings in de! ning a
sustainable approach for developments is by Williams and Dair
(2007). After long process of academic debate and peer review,
these authors have ! nalised a framework that covers the three
areas identi! ed in our literature review of social, environmental
and economic sustainability:
Environmental Sustainability Objectives: To minimise the use of resources;•
To minimise pollution;•
To Protect Biodiversity.•
Social Sustainability Objectives: To adhere to ethical standards during the •
development process;
To provide adequate social services and facilities;•
To provide housing to meet needs (mix of tenure, •
# exibility, security);
To integrate the development within the locality;•
To provide high quality, liveable developments.•
Economic Sustainability Objectives: To enable business to be e$ cient and competitive;•
To support local economic diversity;•
To provide employment opportunities.•
Given that this framework has been the subject of extensive
academic debate, it constitutes a sound basis for the analysis
of social housing case studies (Williams and Dairs, in press).
The case studies included in this report have been identi! ed,
ranked and analysed according to this framework. In brief, the
methodology we adopt is below.
Methodology1 Pre-selection Process:
A selection of possible case studies was identi! ed by an
exhaustive examination of award winning schemes. A full
list of the projects considered and the awards they have
received is in Appendix 1. These are found in Europe, North
America, South America and Asia Paci! c. The best social
8
housing projects are selected from international organisations
like UN-Habitat, which emphasises the bene! ts to the local
community amongst other green objectives (World Habitat
Awards). Outstanding environmental schemes are selected
from those that have been awarded an energy certi! cate
by a suitable agency either at international or country level.
Suitable agency here means a recognised standard for the
country, a comprehensive list can be found in Bunz, Henze and
Tiller (2008). In terms of design the selection includes those
cases that have been deemed exceptional by architectural
associations at international, regional or country level. In
sum all the pre-selected schemes are recipients of an award
and recognised either for their social, environmental or
architectural success.
2 Ranking Process:
The pre-selected social housing schemes were then scored and
ranked according to the social housing sustainable framework
identi! ed by Williams and Dairs (2007). Full details of the
scoring system is in Appendix 2.
3 Case Study Analysis:
The eight schemes with the highest score provide the case
studies in this document and are described in depth based on
academic and non academic literature, reports from housing
associations, award issuing organisations and the media.
Detailed analysis of the plans and architectural drawings are
also part of the study in order to compare schemes with
other well known housing typologies that have developed
through history.
4 Conclusions:
In order to ! nd the ideal type of for social housing that covers
most sustainable objectives, the best aspects from
all eight case studies are discussed and summarised in
the conclusion.
The framework identi! ed in our literature review will be used
to score best practice as it is the closest available framework
suitable for social housing developments. Brown! eld
developments are considered a particularly sustainable
solution for compact cities, although this is not usually an
option for most emerging markets were cities have already
high density developments and are sometimes forced
to expand. Our pre-selection process therefore includes
both green! eld and brown! eld schemes. Furthermore, the
examples identi! ed here will bring best practice in terms of
social, environmental, economic and architectural dimensions
from di" erent parts of the world. These countries have
very di" erent standards and di" erent concerns in terms of
sustainability. In looking for best practice we are aware of the
fact that China must take into account its unique conditions
in terms of its population and energy resources (Zhu and Lin,
2004) and adopt sustainable practices that are meaningful to
its context.
List of Case StudiesTable 1 Case studies included in the report.
Table 1: Highest Rating Projects
# PROJECT NAME COUNTRY SCORING
1 BedZED UK 48
2 BIG (Bjarke Ingles Group) Denmark 48
3 Cantinho de Ceu Brazil 48
4 Via Gallarate Italy 45
5 Qinta Monroy Chile 45
6 Housing for the ! shermen of Tyre
Lebanon
Lebanon 45
7 Treelodge@ punggol Singapore 44
8 Ironhorse House Central Station US 43
All of the schemes we describe have a particular strength:
some have received awards for their contribution towards
reducing the carbon footprint of housing estates; some for
their social improvement and helping to build or strengthen
community’s relations and ties; some for their architectural
innovation in terms of design or construction methods.
In the current context of social housing around the world,
there are no schemes that have been awarded a prize for all
sustainability aspects (environmental, economic and social)
as well as having been recognised for their architectural
innovation and quality of the urban landscape. Collectively, all
of the selected schemes contain important lessons for an ideal
social housing type. By combining these lessons from these
eight selected schemes, alongside its own best practice, China
can be at the forefront of international social housing setting
global standards to be held as exemplary by other nations.
9
Endnotes1 United Nations percentage for 2010-2015 with constant fertility scenario. http://
data.un.org/Data.aspx?q=world+population+&d=PopDiv&f=variableID%3a47%3
bcrID%3a900. UN website accessed 13 January 2012. 2 UN-Habitat “Meeting the Urban Challenges” UN-Habitat Donors Meeting, Seville,
2008. Available at http://www.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/5883_42389_
Meeting%20the%20Urban%20Challenges.pdf3 World Urban Forum 5 “The Right to the City. Bridging the Urban Divide” Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, 22-26 March 2010. Report available at http://www.unhabitat.
org/pmss/listItemDetails.aspx?publicationID=3026. For facts and ! gures and
sustainable growth see also World Urban Forum 3 “An International UN-Habitat
Event on Urban Sustainability” available at http://www.unhabitat.org/cdrom/
docs/WUF1.pdf.
4 Asia Paci! c Ministerial Conference on Housing and Human Settlements
“Slum Trends in Asia” New Delhi, India, 13-16 December 2006 available at
http://www.unhabitat.org/documents/media_centre/APMC/Slum%20trends%20
in%20Asia.pdf5 Published in Ibid. “Slum Trends in Asia.”6 Ibid. Slum Trends in Asia7 UN-Habitat Asia Paci! c Ministerial Conference on Housing and Human
Settlements “China’s Rising Cities” available at http://www.unhabitat.org/
documents/media_centre/APMC/China%20Rising%20Cities.pdf. 8 The research programme supported by the JRF covered 33 research studies over
100 estates in the UK and its ! ndings were summarised in a report (Taylor, 2005).
11
LOCATION: London Borough of Sutton, United Kingdom.
YEAR BUILT: planning approved 1999, construction 2000 and completed
and occupied in 2002
ARCHITECTS: Bill Dunster & Partners (now ZED Factory)
DEVELOPERS: Peabody Trust (Client Co-Developer)/BioRegional
Development Group (Co-Developer, Sustainability solutions)
MANAGEMENT: Peabody Trust
BUDGET: undisclosed
AREA: 16,544 sq m
DENSITY: 60 dwellings per hectare
CONSTRUCTION: Ove Arup & Partners (Building physics, energy, water,
ventilation, services); Ellis and Moore (Structural and Civil Engineers);
Gardiner & Theobald (Quantity Surveyors, Project Managers & Main
Contractor); BP Solar (Photovoltaic installation)
PROJECT DETAILS
UN-HABITAT AWARDS
Finalist 2002
SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS
winner of RIBA 2001 for
Sustainability
ARCHITECTURAL AWARDS
Stirling Prize, shortlisted
AWARDS
Environmental Sustainability Objectives
Social Sustainability Objectives Economic Sustainability Objectives
minimise
use of
resources
minimise
pollution
protect
biodiversity
ethical
standards
adequate
facilities
housing
needs met
interaction
with locality
quality of
architecture
competitive
businesses
economic
diversity
employment
4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 4 4 4
48 / 55SCORINGBEDZED At a glance
The Beddington Zero (fossil) Energy Development (BedZED)
was the largest and ! rst eco-community in the UK. Today it
is regarded as a " agship example for many environmental
organisations across the world.
BedZED was built on a brown ! eld site and comprises 99
mixed tenure homes of 1, 2, 3 & 4 bed houses and " ats. The mix
includes social, key worker1, and for sale homes (50 per cent
housing for sale, 25 per cent key worker shared ownership, and
25 per cent social housing for rent). In terms of functions, the
scheme also adds 3,000 sq m of live/work spaces and some
retail. Other on-site facilities include a medical centre, nursery,
café/bar, sports pitch with clubhouse and village green. The
community is home to approximately 220 residents and 100
o$ ce workers.
Bill Dunster founded Zedfactory in 1999 after working
for 14 years in other practices specialising in sustainable
developments. He is the co-author of The ZEDbook: Solutions
for a Shrinking World and regularly delivers speeches on
sustainable housing in universities and other institutions
around the world.
Brief Description
Bill Dunster, Architects
12
PROJECT ANALYSISBedZED has been selected as a case study because of its
innovative approach to reducing carbon emissions at the
start of the project (development and construction); during
the life of the project (resident’s behaviour) and even
considering a sustainable reuse of the materials in case
of demolition in the future. Other issues addressed were
transport and connectivity, water usage, waste disposal and
food supply. Some of these propositions were successful
and some were not. But is the holistic approach to creating a
sustainable community that makes BedZED one of the most
important case studies in our sample.
Environmental sustainabilityArup is a renowned international ! rm of designers and
specialists who have helped to raise standards of sustainability
o" ce environments all over the world. For BedZED, Arup
developed a technique to evaluate and match renewable
energies to energy demands called ‘energy grading’ (Twinn,
2003). What the research team discovered was that there was
a disconnection between the available energy resources of
a particular area and energy needs of future users. This was
causing many sustainable projects to become unpro! table,
as both energy and capital costs were higher than traditional
methods and, even worse, the needs of the energy demand
were not matched. The concept behind Arup’s thinking is
more widely known at a larger scale in the so called smart
cities technologies (Tratz-Ryan, Velosa, Jacobs, 2011).
The energy grading system consists of searching for the
options for potential sources of renewable energies,
estimating the end-use energy needs and matching the two
in a ranking system. The aim is to build a list of sustainable
design priorities for the building.
The novel discovery of this method is that energy sources are
not just those which are naturally occurring. For example, in
terms of heating other sources can be used, such as occupants
(our bodies emit approximately 100W of heat), appliances,
cooking, washing or solar heat through glass panes and
materials. All of this heat is highly variable both in timing and
quantity, which is the reason why it is usually disregarded.
Another factor in its dismissal is that internal heat is mostly seen
as a damaging component during the summer months, despite
the fact that the opposite e# ect will have bene! ts in winter. In
addition, each home at BedZED has a hot water cylinder that is
stored in a cupboard which is also used as a source of heat. A
low energy fan was engineered to blow this warm air out of the
cupboard and into the house (see Twinn, 2003 for a full report
on Dunster-Arup’s development of the system)
Mechanical and electrical systems (source Arup)
A Bio-fulled combine heat and power (CHP) was also added to the systems of
BedZED. It converts dried wood chips into wood gas which fuels the system
sending hot water and heat to the units. This was a good idea in principle, but
apparently the system still needs perfecting and the community also ran into
di" culties as the source of local woodchip came to an end (Chance, 2009).
13
To retain all this heat, the design teams used 300 millimetres
of rockwool as insulation while dense concrete blocks provide
the thermal mass to keep the homes consistently warm in the
winter and cool in the summer (Chance, 2009). Each dwelling
therefore operates solely on the ambient energy harvested
indoors.
To complete the system, photo-voltaic (PV) cells were
installed. The same system is used to power electric zero
carbon emissions urban-use cars.
Social SustainabilityCommunal spaces around BedZED include: the pedestrianized
“living streets”; a small village square popular with young
children; a sports pitch; allotments (for growing food); and a
community centre called the Pavilion. This centre provides
changing rooms with showers, toilets, basic catering facilities
and two large spaces that are commonly used for exercise
and dance classes, conferences, parties, residents’ meetings
and other social events which are all managed by a group of
residents. A recent survey showed that the community centre
is used by 66 per cent of households (Chance, 2009).
Community interaction is prompted not only through the use
of shared facilities but also the layout of the site that gives
every unit an outside space. Most ground ! oor units have
raised front gardens which encourage sitting out. Roof gardens
are accessible via bridges over streets. This unusual layout
prompts more informal opportunities to meet neighbours. The
scheme gives all residents their 300 mm of topsoil, allowing the
option of raised beds, coupled with allotments in the proposed
eco-park. This communal activity is a simple, practical but
e" ective way of increasing interaction by sharing experiences
of home-grown food
Economic SustainabilityThe scheme was originally designed to have work/living
spaces as well as private residences. Access to Broadband
was important to complement the working objectives. The
information and communications technology (ICT) cable
routes are intended to be fully rewireable so they can respond
to future changing requirements. However, some work spaces
were not occupied and have now been converted into homes
(Chance, 2009). This, of course, poses questions about the
heating system that was originally adopted and was based on
functional usage (see previous section). If these units have now
changed function, do they generate less heat and therefore
need an energy top-up?
An important factor that is usually overlooked in residential
developments is the availability of facilities on site. BedZED has
communal facilities but its environmental impact could have
been reduced further with greater access to food shops.
Source: ZED Factory
14
Design and ConstructionIn the UK the Commission of Architecture and the Built
Environment (CABE) has praised BedZED for its sustainable
features such as pedestrian priority streets, balconies and
gardens for every home. These features, CABE claims, bring
the concept of the garden city to the 21st century (CABE, Case
Studies. Archived content 2011).
Site PlanThe buildings are organised in rows, following the UK
traditional layout of terraced houses. Using a familiar typology
helps to integrate the project to the area and enhances the
feeling of familiarity for residents of a new development.
The mix of workspaces and residential units ensures round
the clock usage of outside spaces, enhancing the vitality and
sense of security of the place. This is even more evident at
night with the use of subtle illumination that aims to minimise
extremes of light or dark areas and creat a safe e! ect, free
of extreme shadows.
The rows of terraced houses are arranged on a grid layout.
Streets give priority to pedestrians creating a relaxed, village
atmosphere. Connectivity with local transport network was
an integral part of the design process to ful" l sustainability
objectives. There is a bus stop just outside the development
and the London Road leads further south and within easy
walking distance to Hackbridge railway station. Minimal car
usage is encouraged by ample provision for cyclists with secure
parking and storage space inside the homes. Schemes such
as the car club make it easier for people to get rid of their own
car and share one of three maintained by a company. Drivers
pay per mile, so incentivizing further reductions in mileage
(Chance, 2009).
The large area of the development has been broken into
smaller parts by a grid layout of pedestrian streets. Two main
roads (New Road and Orchard Avenue) continue into the site
providing strong anchorage for the development and the
surrounding context.
The orientation of the two main functions -work and living-
were considered according to their degree of usage. The
work spaces have a high occupancy level during day time,
with usage of o# ce equipment constantly generating heat.
They were therefore oriented north. Homes with less usage
during the day and less internal heat gain were oriented south.
Workspaces were thus shaded by living spaces, reducing solar
gain and minimising cooling in summer. The thermal inertia
coupled with cool night ventilation also keeps summer room
temperatures low enough (Twinn, 2003).
The south side of the buildings are fronted with ground-to-
ceiling conservatories that act as green houses, capturing
warmth from the surrounding air and the sun. In the summer,
the windows can be opened so that the conservatories are
e! ectively external spaces, which remain cool to prevent
overheating. In high density developments such as this one,
calculating the right height and orientation of buildings is
crucial to guarantee access of sunlight to all rooms.
As units in BedZED use their own internal sources of heat
(human bodies, electrical equipments, as explained). A crucial
part of the design process for BedZED was to estimate future
residents’ movements and levels of activities. Computer
simulation programmes are available to do this, and can o! er a
range of di! erent scenarios. For example, what would happen
if residents travel and leave the unit empty for long periods of
time? How much top-up heating does a new-born child need
to be warm and comfortable? Assessing worst case indoor and
outdoor drops in temperature, and long periods of overcast
sky was important for making the correct decisions about
materials and insulation of units.
Source: Bioregional
Aerial View of Site
Source: GoogleEarth
15
In addition, the objectives of achieving sustainability during
construction are very challenging. BedZED sourced most of the
material within a 55 miles radius, minimising transportation.
But it has been pointed out that this sometimes con� icted with
other sustainability objectives. For example, the team made
a compromise by using imported high quality, double- and
triple-glazed timber-framed windows from Denmark that
reduce heat loss, rather than purchasing lower quality windows
in the UK. As an important member of the development team
explains, there was a constant need to weigh the bene� ts and
losses and in this case “the di� erence in embodied energy
and lifecycle performance outweighed the transport impact
signi� cantly” (Chance, 2009).
The scheme is the � rst to achieve a considerable set of
sustainable aims including long term ones. The units are
designed to last for 120 years –this is more than double current
lifespan of new homes in the UK- and can be dismantled easily
so materials can be re-used.
Notwithstanding the sophistication of the technologies, recent
surveys show that an important factor in reducing carbon
emissions is still the occupier. As Chance explains, much more
could have been achieved if residents of BedZED had been told
how to use the systems at the time when they � rst moved in.
BedZED Key Sustainable Features:Green roof areas: help increase the site’s ecological value •
and its carbon absorbing ability, as well as giving the
occupants private gardens.
EU ‘A’ rated domestic appliances, low-energy compact •
� uorescent luminaries, and meters visible to the consumers:
aims to encourage energy waste reduction.
107kWp of PV su! cient for 40 electric cars with free •
charging points.
Wind cowls as part of a passive ventilation system that can •
be easily regulated by occupants.
A gasi� er system that converts woodchip into a wood-gas •
suitable for fuelling the CHP’s spark ignition engine.
Reduction of water demand by preventing excess � ows, •
restricting mains pressure showers to avoid power-showers,
meters visible to consumers, EU ‘A’ grade water-consuming
appliances, and very low/dual � ush toilets.
Collection and storage of rainwater for irrigation and toilet •
� ushing. An ecological on-site foul water treatment system
was added to the development.
Domestic waste: a segregation strategy was agreed with the •
local authority, with segregation bins provided in all kitchens
and around the site for local authority collection. There is on-
site processing of green waste.
Construction materials locally sourced within a 55 miles •
radius to minimise transport. Recycled materials (steel and
wood) were also used.
Materials with a recognized environmental standard, like •
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certi� ed wood, were
used extensively.
Building waste was segregated on site and sent for recycling. •
Reduction of car usage by good connection to transport, •
ample provision for cyclist and car club schemes.
The south side of the buildings are fronted with ground-to-
ceiling conservatories that act as green houses, capturing
warmth from the surrounding air and the sun. In the summer,
the windows can be opened so that the conservatories are
e� ectively external spaces, which remain cool to prevent
overheating. In high density developments such as this one,
calculating the right height and orientation of buildings is
crucial to guarantee access of sunlight to all rooms.
Endnotes:1 Key worker housing is provided to those in professions that are considered vital
for the community but their salaries are not su! cient for them to a� ord a house.
Professions considered key workers are teaching, policing, or nursing.
Source: Arup
17
LOCATION: Ørestad Copenhagen, Denmark
YEAR BUILT: Completed 2010
ARCHITECTS: BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group
DEVELOPERS: Friederikslund Holding
MANAGEMENT: Friederikslund Holding
BUDGET: €92,000,000
AREA: 61,000 sq m
DENSITY: 78 dwellings per hectare
CONSTRUCTION:
Contractor: Hopfner Partners Civil Engineer: Moe & Brødsgaard Roo! ng
Contractor: Uldum Tag ApS Roof Decks: Skandek Tagelementfabrik A/S
Pre-vegetated Mat Greenroof System: Veg Tech A/S
PROJECT DETAILS
SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS
2011, Best Green Roof in
Scandinavia, Scandinavia Green
Roof Association.
ARCHITECTURAL AWARDS
2010 European Prize for
Architecture (The European Centre
for Architecture Art Design and
Urban Studies); 2012 AIA Institute
Honour Award for Architecture;
World Best Residential Building
at 2011 World Architecture Festival
in Barcelona, and the 2011
Utzon Prize for its innovative
use of concrete.
AWARDS
Environmental Sustainability Objectives
Social Sustainability Objectives Economic Sustainability Objectives
minimise
use of
resources
minimise
pollution
protect
biodiversity
ethical
standards
adequate
facilities
housing
needs met
interaction
with locality
quality of
architecture
competitive
businesses
economic
diversity
employment
3 4 4 3 5 4 5 5 5 5 5
48 / 55SCORING8 HOUSE (TALLET) At a glance
8 House (8 Tallet in Danish) is situated on the outer edge of the
city, the southernmost outpost in the maturing neighborhood
of Orestad in Copenhagen. 8 House was intended to be the
! rst in a collection of buildings to push development into this
outskirt neighborhood of wide open ! elds and pastureland.
8 House accommodates a variety of activities with 475
residential units; 10,000 sq m of businesses, and community
facilities. The scheme locates businesses at street level
alongside the surrounding main streets, and at the Northern
courtyard that houses an o" ce building. 8 House is partly
social housing for rent and partly privately owned. The units
vary from from 65 to 144 sq m and are home to a truly varied
spectrum of society, from di# erent backgrounds and di# erent
age groups.
The architectural practice, BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)
describes itself as architects, designers, and thinkers operating
within the ! elds of architecture, urbanism, research, and
development. Against the general belief that sustainability
involves reducing society’s activities that are harmful to the
environment, Bjarke Ingels, the ! rms’ founder, supports and
promotes the idea that a sustainable future does not need to
involve a stoic sacri! ce for the planet, something that he terms
Brief Description
Image: Jens Lindhe,
Source BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group
18
PROJECT ANALYSISThis project’s best attribute is its mix of activities and people
which turns it into a mini-city. In addition, the innovative
design creates an inspiring atmosphere for its residents. As
a consequence, 8 House has managed to achieve a level of
vibrancy that is usually related to long periods of time and
layers of history. The apartments come in a range of sizes,
tenure and prices aimed at accommodating a large cross
section of the society. O! ce and retail spaces are equally
varied, from service " rms to trade. Compared to other selected
case studies in this report, it is undeniable that this scheme’s
strongest characteristic is its economic sustainability and
innovative design.
Environmental sustainabilityLocated within the Kalvebod Fælled’s protected open spaces,
the main concern for the design of the scheme was to keep the
surrounding natural environment as undisturbed as possible.
The concept of a complete green roof was the main idea to
help such a large development blend with the original
natural site and set it o# against the re$ ecting water of the
Copenhagen Canal.
Two sloping green roofs with an area of 18,300 sq ft help
to reduce the urban heat island e# ect. They also provide a
strong visual identity to the project, linking it to the adjacent
farmlands towards the south. They also help to maintain
biodiversity by connecting it to its pre-construction site on the
adjoining " elds. Originally, the design called for the entire roof
area to be green, but the $ at roof areas were cut due to the
recession which occurred in 2008.
8 House’s environmental sustainability helps biodiversity and
reduces the urban heat island e# ect not only with its green roof,
but also with its cool courtyards, planted trees at entrances and
container plantings on the balconies.
In such a high density scheme guaranteeing sunlight and fresh
air to all spaces is challenging. The scheme is literally ‘hoisted
up’ in the North East corner and ‘squeezed down’ at the South
West corner, allowing light and air to enter the court yard in
the middle.
Model image showing the twisting eight
shape that maximises sunlight for units
and communal open spaces. To the left
of the picture is the o! ce tower.
Source BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group
Images: Ty Stange,
Source BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group
19
Social SustainabilityA continuous public path stretches from street level to the
penthouses and allows people to walk, run, or indeed cycle all
the way from the ground ! oor up to the top. The path moves
alongside apartments and townhouses with gardens, winding
through as if it was an urban perimeter block.
The di" erent housing typologies are united by the exterior
dimensions which provide inspiration for adventerous
communities. As Bjarke Ingels explains “8 House is a three-
dimensional neighbourhood rather than an architectural
object. An alley of 150 row houses stretches through the entire
block and twists all the way from street level to the top and
down again. Where social life, the spontaneous encounter and
neighbour interaction, is traditionally restricted to the ground
level, the 8 House allows it to expand all the way to the top.” 1
Economic SustainabilityThis is where the tranquillity of suburban life goes hand
in hand with the energy of a big city, where business and
housing co-exist. The idea of localising services for residents
is something that most residential developments either
take for granted or overlook, with dramatic environmental
consequences as residents are pushed to look for services and
food elsewhere, often travelling by car.
Addressing this challenge from the start is what places this
project as the highest level of economic success within our
entire sample of selected case studies. 8 House is a newly built
development, in what was an empty # eld which comes with
shopping areas, restaurants, an art gallery, o$ ces, childcare
and educational facilities. To achieve economic diversity
through mix, the scheme stacks all of its basic ingredients
(residential, o$ ce and retail) into layers, creating and instant
lively urban neighborhood. All layers are connected by a
continuous promenade and cycling path up to the 10th ! oor,
creating a communal area where suburban life merges with
the energy of a big city, where business and housing co-
exist. The complexity of the project has elevated the concept
of high density housing to a new level, and has in our view
inaugurated a new typology for architects and designers.
Under-path at the crossing of the
two blocks connecting visually the
green countryside and the blue
of the channel waters
Image: Jens Lindhe,
Source BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group
20
Design and ConstructionFor the design of the scheme, BIG has been partly inspired by
classic townhouses. Some types used for the reconstruction
of Berlin (IBA, Berlin 1987), in particular the large perimeter
block, is perhaps the closest precedent to House 8. But BIG
has modi! ed the type by strangling the perimeter block at the
centre and creating two distinct internal spaces. At the crossing
of the two blocks the architects placed 500 sq m of communal
space. To allow permeability and to connect the park area to
the west and the channel to the east, this same crossing opens
into a generous and wide passage (9 meters wide).
Instead of dividing the di" erent functions of the building - for
both habitation and trades - into separate blocks, the various
functions have been spread out horizontally. The apartments
are placed at the top while the commercial programme unfolds
at the base of the building. This way, the residents get the best
views and enjoy the sunlight, while o# ces and retail, which are
usually generators of heat due to computer equipment and
human tra# c, enjoy the cool of the shade. The architects have
designed a large, coherent scheme with immense di" erences
in height, which allows views towards the Copenhagen Canal
and Kalvebod Fælled’s protected open spaces.
8 House Key Sustainable Features18,300 sq ft of Green roof and other forms of planting that •
reducing urban heat island e" ect.
10,000 sq m of businesses and community facilities to start •
local economy and promote socialisation.
Functional mix of residential, retail and o# ce activities that •
enhance and support economic diversity.
Residential mix from all levels and age groups of society, •
o" ering inspiring communal spaces for informal gathering
and casual encounters.
Endnotes1 Bjarke Ingels’ videos and commentaries are available at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In9tU2VLbLI
Image: Ty Stange,
Source BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group
21
LOCATION: Cantinho do Céu, São Paulo, Brazil
YEAR BUILT: Commencement June 2008, Completion April 2012
ARCHITECTS: Boldarini Arquitetura e Urbanismo – Marcos Boldarini,
Melissa Matsunaga
DEVELOPERS: Secretaria Municipal de Habitação - Sehab (São Paulo
Municipality) and Caixa Econômica Federal
BUDGET: R$ 150,768,166.43
AREA: 1,543,761 sq m.
DENSITY: n/a
DESIGN TEAM: Cristiana Salomão, Josiane Viana, Juliana Junko, Larissa
Reolon dos Santos, Lucas Nobre, Melina Giannoni, Renato Bom& m, Ricardo
Falcoski, Sergio Faraulo, Simone Ikeda, (Arquitetos), Suzel Maciel (landscape
architecture) e Wagner Garcia (structural consultant)
PROJECT DETAILS
SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS
Social Housing and Development
winner 2010, Lund University Prize.
ARCHITECTURAL AWARDS
Instituto Arquitetos do Brazil,
Best Project in São Paulo, 2010;
XII Bienal Panamericana de Quito,
Third Prize, 2010.
AWARDS
Environmental Sustainability Objectives
Social Sustainability Objectives Economic Sustainability Objectives
minimise
use of
resources
minimise
pollution
protect
biodiversity
ethical
standards
adequate
facilities
housing
needs met
interaction
with locality
quality of
architecture
competitive
businesses
economic
diversity
employment
5 5 5 5 4 4 5 3 4 4 4
48 / 55SCORINGCANTINHO DO CÉU At a glance
The project is not a new development per se, rather it is the
regularization of an existing informal development that has
been gradually populated since the 1980’s. It was only in this
century when the Municipality of São Paulo, along with the
Caixa Econômica Federal (one of the country’s largest & nancial
organisations), decided to take action and place funds towards
redeveloping one of the most deprived areas in the city, with
an estimated population of 43,556 inhabitants.
Cantinho do Céu sits on the left bank of the Billings dam,
which is vital for the city of São Paulo, providing 1/3 of its total
water consumption. Concerns over contamination due to
waste disposal in the dam was another strong reason for the
goverment to take action. Any attempts to move the residents
-who had strong ties in the area- were met with protest.
The challenge for the architects was then to provide a decent
built environment for the families already established, while
protecting and preserving and important reservoir and
its wildlife.
Boldarini Arquitetura is a young & rm based in São Paulo and
led by Marcos Boldarini and Melissa Matsunaga.
Brief Description
Image: Daniel Ducci
22
PROJECT ANALYSISDeveloping in a natural reserve protected by the Brazilian
government was a challenge, even more so because the
area has su! ered severe " ooding in recent years. When
this happens, contaminated waters over" ow towards the
reservoir. To add to the environmental catastrophe, many
inhabitants lose their possessions and sometimes their
lives. Most of the building works executed in Cantinho do
Céu aimed at recovering and protecting the wildlife and
the built environment so both man and nature could again
share the area in harmony. These works included sanitation,
" ood barriers and road paving. The project can be better
summarised by numbers: the total area paved exceeds
60,000 sq. m.; drainage works were over 7,000 m. The sewage
system now collects 47 million litres per week. Flood barriers
amounted to nearly 200 sq m. and community areas total 1,500
sq m. It is estimated that so far the total number of families
bene$ ting from the scheme stands at around 11,000 while the
aboriginal wildlife is once more thriving.1 From our selection of
case studies, this project stands out for its success in protecting
biodiversity while keeping high ethical and social standards.
Environmental sustainabilityThe design team acknowledged the importance of recovering
the edges of the reservoir to act as green transitional areas
between man and wildlife. They also understood the need
to free some space inside the densely populated village and
provide sunlight and air to as many dwellings as possible.
According to government records, over 1,500 trees were
planted. Native plant species that were considered lost were
brought back from other areas and planted along the edge of
the water.
Drainage and sewage works reverse completely the condition
of the dam which is already showing lower levels of pollution.
The improvements in the landscaping of the edges of the
reservoir meant that the area can now be used in a responsible
and sustainable way, without any further damage to the
environment.
The improvement and expansion of the existing road network
eases accessibility for public transport and reduces pollution
as people are less likely to use cars and motorbikes to move in
and out of the area.
Cantinho de Céu and the reservoir.
Image: Fabio Knoll. Source Boldarini
Arquitetura e Urbanismo
An open air cinema was an initiative partly designed in
consultation with the community. It was executed with very
little resource and a good deal of imagination.
Image: Daniel Ducci. Source Boldarini Arquitetura e Urbanismo
23
Social SustainabilityThe designers Marcos Boldarini and Melissa Matsunaga,
when interviewed for this report, stated that what they have
achieved in terms of social sustainability went far beyond
the environmental goals set by the government. Community
spaces include a 7km-long park area with facilities aimed at all
age groups and all moods: from playgrounds to professional
football, from skateboarding to chess. There are also three
di! erent decks to enjoy the water and to be used as places for
informal gathering or group exercising; all facilities total an
area of 1,500 sq m. of community space.
The government has reported already that the sense of pride
in the community has been enhanced.2 People are using the
open spaces and getting to know each other more. This is
having an e! ect on security as the community is more visible.
They can be seen walking about doing their daily chores,
gathering, stopping and chatting or wandering on a leisurely
stroll. Enacting what Jane Jacobs once termed the “ballet of
the side walk” (Jacobs, 2003), which she considered vital for
keeping communities safe.
Economic SustainabilityThe developed site had an additional drawback. There was a
high-voltage line running along the border that connected
the site with the rest of the city. In addition, the few roads
that were available were unpaved, so the inhabitants were
e! ectively cut o! from São Paulo. They were therefore unable
to enjoy the economic bene# ts that so many migrants are
# nding in moving closer to big urbanisations (Glazer, 2011).
One of the main tasks was therefore the integration of
Cantinho de Céu with São Paulo. This had an important impact
in terms of economy as inhabitants can now move in and out
of the area more easily, easing the commute to the city centre.
But the designers managed to create the unexpected. Now
visitors from São Paulo come to the park and enjoy the
reservoir as a means of escaping city life. In a recent interview,
a surprised neighbour explains that it is not them trying to get
into São Paulo, it is São Paulo coming to them. Perhaps it will
not take long for businesses to start moving in to cater for this
unexpected micro tourism.
Images: Daniel Ducci.
Source Boldarini Arquitetura e Urbanismo
State of roads before paving works started in 2008
Image: Fabio Knoll. Source Boldarini Arquitetura e Urbanismo
State of roads after paving
Image: Boldarini Arquitetura e Urbanismo
24
The area now has three main access points (black arrows).
The existing road network (black) has been expanded
(red) to create a perimeter road that twists and turns
along the coast.
All three access points now have a direct route to reach
the park at the edge of the reservoir.
There are also three strategically placed decks that allow
people to move via boat.
Site Plan (not to scale).
Source: Boldarini Arquitetura e Urbanismo
Source: Boldarini Arquitetura e Urbanismo
25
Design and ConstructionAs the area is in danger of ! ooding and residents were building
dwellings close to the water, areas of risk had to be identi" ed
in order to remove and relocate families. A similar measure was
taken for houses built too close to the high voltage line. Other
buildings that were considered too precarious because of low
durability materials or poor construction were also demolished
and families relocated.
The space adjacent to the reservoir was then freed. A
considerable part was left as protected areas with no
intervention, while other areas were landscaped as public
parks. The design team highlighted " ve points of visual
importance. All that was left for them to do was to enhance
these focal areas as observation points by adding comfortable
furniture for people to sit and gather.
To prevent ! ooding, eleven points were identi" ed and
improved as natural over! ows for rainwater. Due to the
permeable soil found in the area, paving for paths and roads
was carefully selected according to the type of tra# c.
Cantinho do Céu Key Sustainable FeaturesProtecting and preventing further environmental damage to •
the wildlife around the reservoir.
Reversing the pollution course of development that the area •
was already embarking on.
Enhancing the economic prospects of the inhabitants by •
providing a clear network of roads, thus improving transport
and connectivity to and from the development.
Identifying the natural beauty of the area and turning it into •
an asset by means of landscape architecture.
Improving social conditions in a very deprived area and •
managing to ignite the sense of pride of the inhabitants
by means of good design, a lot of ingenuity and very
little resources.
Endnotes1 Data courtesy of Boldarini Arquitetura and the Pre" tura di Sao Paulo. Available
at http://www.saopaulocalling.org/data/original/sao-paulo/cantinho-do-ceu/
index/cantinho-do-ceu-en.pdf.2 Exhibition São Paulo Calling. Organised by Arq. Stefano Boeri e Elisabete França.
Film Cantinho do Céu (2011) Prefeitura de São Paulo, Habitação. Available at
http://www.saopaulocalling.org/.
Site Plan: (not to scale) In black construction
at risk category which were later demolished.
Source: Boldarini Arquitetura e Urbanismo
Site Plan: (not to scale) In dark green preservation
areas, light green landscaped park with vantage
viewing points.
27
LOCATION: Via Gallaratese, Milan, Italy
YEAR BUILT: Completed 2009
ARCHITECTS: MAB arquitectura-Massimo Basile, Floriana Marotta
DEVELOPERS: Comune di Milano
MANAGMENT: Comune di Milano
BUDGET: €24,500,000
AREA: 33,860 sq m
DENSITY: 54 units per hectare
CONSTRUCTION: BMS Progetti (Engineering), Gabriele Salvatoni
(Structural engineering), BETA Progetti (Civil, soil and survey), Roberto
Uslenghi (Security)
PROJECT DETAILS
SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS
Kilm House B, Italy
ARCHITECTURAL AWARDS
IN-ARCH-ANCE Best Social Housing
in Italy, 2011
AWARDS
Environmental Sustainability Objectives
Social Sustainability Objectives Economic Sustainability Objectives
minimise
use of
resources
minimise
pollution
protect
biodiversity
ethical
standards
adequate
facilities
housing
needs met
interaction
with locality
quality of
architecture
competitive
businesses
economic
diversity
employment
3 4 3 3 5 5 5 5 4 5 3
45 / 55SCORINGVIA GALLARATE At a glance
The project is the result of the winning proposal of the 2005
competition “Living in Milan-New Urban Spaces for Public
Housing Development” a competition that the architects
understood to be an opportunity to re-think community
activities in social housing projects.
The scheme sits on a plot of 36,000 sq. m., and contains 184
apartments, parking, public space and facilities including a
community space, a kindergarten and a day centre for the
elderly.
MAB Arquitectura was founded in 2004 by Massimo
Basile and Floriana Marotta. The practice prides itself on
its interdisciplinary approach which it puts to use in the
development of public spaces. The group has participated in
several social housing competitions in Spain and Italy. Most
of their projects present an interest and concern in regard to
the standard of living and the design of public areas for the
communities. Via Gallarate stands as the culmination of the
practice’s e! ort in this topic.
Brief Description
Illustration: Paolo Riolzi, MAB Arquitectura
28
PROJECT ANALYSISThe scheme is located to the north-west of Milan, on the
outskirts of the city. This is a deprived area with a landscape
of industrial buildings, suburban empty land and social
housing blocks. Via Gallarate itself is a busy road populated
by lorries, containers and other industrial tra! c. The plot that
the Comune di Milano set aside for the development was an
additional challenge: a long and narrow strip bordering this
busy road. This project succeeds in bringing a sustainable
option and innovative design with attention to detail to an
area that most cities would regard as lost.
Environmental sustainabilityOne of the priorities for the design was achieving KlimaHaus
B standard. To achieve this in Italy, a building’s energy
consumption for heating must be less than 50 kilowatt-hours
per square meter per annum. This is also known as the " ve-litre
category, given that one of its requirements is that it consumes
no more than " ve litres of heating oil or 5 cubic metres of gas
per square metre in a year.
To withstand the thermal di# erences of very hot summers and
harsh winters, MAB architecture concentrated on insulating
the blocks. The external walls are made of a single layer wall of
aerated concrete blocks with a total width of 36 cm. The facade
is " nished with a rendering of silicate mortar which allows the
internal camera to breathe and exude any excessive moisture.
Materials were locally sourced in order to minimise
transportation and reduce environmental pollution during
construction. The in" ll land of the park itself mainly came
from the areas nearby. For the public promenade, stabilised
earth was used throughout. This ancient technique was
re-discovered in the 1960’s and permits the maximisation of
local resources. It consists of the mixing of road-base earth
with cement and a waterproo" ng component. The mix is then
compacted to give a natural and strong earth " nish.
Internally, all units are designed on a “cross ventilation”
concept. This reduces the need for arti" cial cooling systems
and provides better comfort in the climate of Milan. In
addition, all the apartments are " tted with special glass that
reduces heat loss as well as noise. Avoiding noise pollution
from the nearby Via Gallarate, with its heavy industrial tra! c
played an important part of the design.
Source MAB Arquitectura
29
Social SustainabilityThe proposal focuses on some of the most relevant issues
regarding the city: social living, public dimension and
community neighbourhood. The main aim was to establish
places of new “urbanity” in marginal areas of the city, working
on the relationship between private and public space. The
practice focused on designing a place where the tenants
could live in a pedestrian environment supported by a strong
infrastructure of commerce and public services. They also
aimed to open the site to the community of the existing
neighbourhood, working as social connectors between new
and old communities.
Economic SustainabilityThe project was designed to house retail facilities for the
community. Some of them have been let since 2009 but due to
the recession most of them are still vacant.
Stabilised earth perimeter wall and
at the background Via Gallarate
Illustration: Paolo Riolzi, MAB
Arquitectura
Illustration: Paolo Riolzi, MAB Arquitectura
30
Design and ConstructionThe design of the scheme is rooted in the local history of
the Gallaratese development. This vast project dates back to
the late 1940’s when, following WWII and subsequent house
shortage, the government made the decision to expand
the city to the north-west, and locate a series of satellite
communities. The aim was to house nearly 200,000 residents
from a deprived sector of the community (Piano Regolatore
Generale, Milan, 1956). One of these large communities was
to be located in Gallaratese. Two renowned architects (Carlo
Aymonino and Aldo Rossi) were commissioned to develop
social housing schemes for the site. Their works are considered
today a breakthrough in the typology of multifamily housing
and are held as masterpieces among the architectural
community.
The plan for Gallaratese favoured concepts of Modernist
planning based on a landscape of green parks and stand alone
building blocks. The layout of MAB architecture respects this
tradition and inserts the scheme in a seamless manner.
But their design presents a new relation between inside and
outside, creating transitional spaces that are welcoming. The
semi-enclosure and the microclimate they create bring a sense
of safety and homeliness in relation to the blocks that the
surrounding more strictly Modernist examples have.
Aerial view of Gallaratese district
showing the schemes of A-MAB
Arquitectura and B- Carlo Aymonino
and Aldo Rossi.
Source: Google Earth.
Illustration: Paolo Riolzi, MAB Arquitectura
31
The public space is the structural ground of the design.
The linear pedestrian park protects the houses with its
slopes from the highly congested Via Gallarate, and opens
with playgrounds and community services towards the
neighbouring communities on the South.
There are four types of units with a varied number of rooms to
accommodate small and large families. The living rooms are
always facing west, the bedrooms east. They all have a balcony,
giving each resident the option of a small private outside
space.
Project Key Sustainable Features:Use of cleverly designed landscaping to reduce noise •
pollution from a nearby busy road.
Sourcing materials locally to reduce transport, cutting costs •
and environmental damage.
Use of stabilised earth, an ancient method of construction •
with an innovative approach that has a considerable
reduction in construction materials.
High insulation of walls and windows to avoid heat loss •
during winter
Cross-ventilation system e! ectively controls the high •
temperatures in summer without the use of costly energy
equipment.
Contextualisation of the scheme by using a traditional •
typology in the Gallaratese district, bringing familiarity
and enhancing the adaptation of new residents to the
development.
Individual Units and Site Plan.
Source MAB Arquitectura
33
LOCATION: Iquique, Chile
YEAR BUILT: 2003-2005
ARCHITECTS: Elemental
DEVELOPERS: Gobierno Regional de Tarapacá
MANAGEMENT: Gobierno Regional de Tarapacá
BUDGET: US$1,125,000 (estimated)
AREA: 5,000 sq m
DENSITY: 200 dwellings per hectare
CONSTRUCTION: Engineers: Alejandro Ampuero, Mario Alvarez, Juan
Carlos de la Llera, Tomás Fischer, José Gajardo, Carl Lüders, Construction:
Loga S.A.
PROJECT DETAILS
SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS
Holcim Awards, Example of
Sustainable Development, 2007
ARCHITECTURAL AWARDS
MOMA Exhibition 2010; Venice
Biennale Architecture, 2010
AWARDS
Environmental Sustainability Objectives
Social Sustainability Objectives Economic Sustainability Objectives
minimise
use of
resources
minimise
pollution
protect
biodiversity
ethical
standards
adequate
facilities
housing
needs met
interaction
with locality
quality of
architecture
competitive
businesses
economic
diversity
employment
4 4 3 5 4 5 5 4 3 4 4
45 / 55SCORINGQUINTA MONROY At a glance
Iquique is a large commercial port situated in the northern
region of Chile. At the very heart of the city, an informal
development began in the 1960’s. By the turn of the century
the settlers had expanded to an area of approximately 5,000 sq
m., comprising over 100 families living in precarious conditions.
The strategic location of the place in the city centre was
re% ected in the high value of the land. After several attempts
to move the families to the periphery, the & nal decision was to
help the community legalise the settlement and strengthen
their roots in the area. In this context, the Chilean Government
commissioned Elemental to provide the community with a
new housing development and solve problems of sanitation,
overcrowding and safety.
Elemental is an interdisciplinary group of architects, engineers,
social workers, and contractors. It was founded in 2001 by lead
architect Alejandro Aravena and engineer Andrés Lacobelli.
The practice is supported by a prominent Chilean oil company
and an academic institution. Aravena is also Principal of
Alejandro Aravena Architects, founded in 1994. He was Visiting
Professor at Harvard Graduate School of Design from 2000 to
2005, and has been a member of the Pritzker Prize Jury since
2009. He is also an International Fellow of the Royal Institute of
British Architects since 2010.
Brief Description
Source: Elemental Arquitectura
34
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONIn 2003 the budget that Chile’s housing policies stipulated for
social housing was US$7,500 per dwelling.1 This was supposed
to cover land acquisition, infrastructure and construction of
each house. Needless is to say, this was a very low budget
for the Chilean housing market. At the time land alone in the
periphery of Iquique was around US$20 per sq m.2
The ! nancial challenge that was presented to Elemental was
overcome by developing a " exible typology of social housing.
Among our selected case studies this project stands out for the
maximisation of resources and its community engagement. It
shows that good design does not need to come at a high price.
Environmental sustainabilityBy maximising density and avoiding the relocation of 100
families to the periphery, Quinta Monroy has made an
invaluable contribution to the quality of the city air. Pollution
is a problem in many Chilean cities as all winds that come
from the Paci! c end in the Andes. Lacking air currents means
that urban pollution stays hovering over the city. Increasing
density, maximising the use of public transport and reducing
individual car journeys (some of the pillars of the compact
city) is therefore the most sustainable solution for this
geographical location. Quinta Monroy achieves high density
without compromising the individual dwellings’ need for
sunlight and air.
Social SustainabilityThis project’s social involvement began at the drawing table.
Elemental decided to work with the relevant families to get
their views on their basic house needs. The design team
presented the ! nancial di# culties to the families and asked
them to participate and express their views and preferences
for their future homes. This is an unprecedented approach to
social housing where families are usually given little choice
but to accept and be grateful for what they are given. In a
recent documentary, some bene! ciaries remembered their
astonishment at the start of the project: “Where –asked one-
do you get a government that asks ‘us’ how ‘we’ want our
houses? Who we want for neighbours? Where?”3
The layout of the scheme provides open public piazzas. These
spaces were left for the community to customise, for each
family to freely contribute to the character of the open space
by the ornament they chose for their own façades. It was
an incentive for community activities. Just as all the families
participated in the design of the scheme, these piazzas were
left as blank canvases for them to continue the exercise and
express their creativity and identities.
View of the centre of Iquique.
Highlighted is the area
of development.
Image: Cristobal Palma.
Source: Elemental
35
Economic SustainabilityElemental states that Quinta Monroy is based on “sweat
equity.” The principle, as they explained, is very simple. The
housing unit is provided by the government as a re-enforced
concrete shell (walls, ! oors, roof and staircase). It comes with
all plumbing but minimal " ttings. The families then begin
customising their units as soon as they move in, adding
appliances and furniture at their own expense.
The system is questionable, as it relies on the families to " nd
the means to " nish their houses. Still, this is rooted in Latin
America’s housing developing method since the time of the
colonies, when new settlers were given a plot of land by the
Spanish Crown and were then left to build their own houses
(Murray, 2008). One of the directors of the social housing
services in Chile, recently stated that the government used to
give families just the keys to the new homes and leave them
to their own devices. Now she states, they follow each case
through to make sure families settle comfortably and that
all extensions are done appropriately and are structurally
sound.4 This gives the inhabitants an opportunity to develop
construction skills applicable in the job market.
From colonial times to now, much informal development in
Latin America follows this pattern of self build. Elemental’s
thinking behind this was to tap into the skills of the
community, provide them with a solid structure, and leave
them to add value to their homes in time. Five years after
they were given their new homes, some families have
improved and extended the units from the original 36 sq m
to 70. The system follows some of Hernando de Soto’s theories
for solving poverty by means of acquisition of property as
debt equity (de Soto, 2001). However his thesis has been
highly debated and refuted, with case studies in emerging
markets, where de Soto’s argument was mainly founded (see
for example Gilbert, 2002). Unfortunately there is no current
research that looks at the consequences that this approach is
having on the inhabitants of Quinta Monroy.
Arguments aside, the area has improved economically. The
intrinsic layout of the streets before the scheme had great
impact on security. Before the regularisation of the streets,
policing was almost impossible. With the new layout, the area
is safer and more businesses are emerging. Iquique is gradually
revitalising its economic vibrancy right at its very centre.
Image: Cristobal Palma.
Source Elemental Children’s dream
scheme drawings. Source: Elemental
Interior of house unit as " nished by Elemental.
Glass windows are provided, doors are a simple plywood plank
with locks. Wooden panels can be removed for house extension.
Source: Elemental
36
Design and ConstructionElemental’s strongest achievement is the creation of a ! exible
social housing type based around a row of townhouses. The
team rejected the block type as this is highly restrictive to
change and inhibits spatial growth. Instead they proposed a
row of three-! oor units, with space at the side that can be used
to build and extension.
These units come in two sizes: the single and the duplex.
The " rst has a minimum area of 36 sq m and can be extended
to 70 sq m. The duplex has 25 sq m initially and can be
expanded to 72 sq m.
The bare units can be assembled rapidly: it took only nine
months to complete 93 houses. Being in Chile, the houses are
stabilized for seismic durability. The units can be inhabited
immediately, adding space as the family extends. Again this
is the way individual houses were developed in Latin America
during the colonies, starting with one room and adding cells as
the family extended. Inhabitants thus organically growing with
the space they occupied. The type was widely used across the
colonies and saw several come-backs, particularly during the
great post war European migration to many destinations in the
Americas. But if the type was usually one ! oor built in a long
and narrow plot, Quinta Monroy has shortened the plot and
grown in height. With this simple solution Elemental has taken
a local typology and adapted it to current density needs, taking
the type into the 21st century.
This scheme, along with others in our selection of case studies,
shows how important it is for any geographical region to
" nd the typology most culturally suited to the location and
build on it. With Quinta Monroy as its starting point in Latin
America, Elemental has since erected well over one thousand
expandable units in Chile, Brazil and Mexico. It is the ! exibility
and adaptability of the typology which seems to be proving
popular with the bene" ciaries. It is also an ingenious solution
to avoid relocating families from expensive areas of the city
by reducing building costs and allocating the extra money
towards the land.
Quinta Monroy Key Sustainable FeaturesAn innovative approach to social housing design that •
actively involves the " nal user.
Developing and implementing participatory design tools •
with a community that had no, or very little, knowledge of
architectural drawings.
Provision of communal piazzas as white urban canvas for the •
community to express its identity with gradual addition of
colour, texture and styles to the units’ façades.
A method of learning or improving construction skills that •
can be later applied in the job market.
A ! exible typology that can be extended as the family grows •
and presents an excellent solution for building in expensive
areas; achieving at large scale of the city, a true urban mix
which reduces social tension.
Plans, sections and elevations of units.
Source Elemental S.A.
37
Endnotes:1 All data from Elemental can be found at http://www.elementalchile.cl/viviendas/
quinta-monroy/quinta-monroy/2 http://www.reporteinmobiliario.com/nuke/index.php3 The video was part of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA, NY) exhibition
Small Scale Big Change. New Architectures of Social Engagements (2010)
and is available at http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2010/
smallscalebigchange/projects/quinta_monroy_housing
Author’s translation from Spanish, stressed in quote as expressed in original.4 http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2010/smallscalebigchange/
projects/quinta_monroy_housing
View of the townhouses as ! nished and
below after customisation by inhabitants.
Source: Elemental S.A.
39
LOCATION: Tyre, Lebanon
YEAR BUILT: 1998-2008
ARCHITECTS: Hashim Sarkis Studios
DEVELOPERS: Al Baqaa Housing Cooperative and the Association for the
Development of Rural Areas in Southern Lebanon, Yousif Khalil, Director
BUDGET: US$1.8 million
AREA: 8,400 sq m
DENSITY: 95 dwellings per hectare
CONSTRUCTION: Structural engineering: Mohamed Chahine and Mounir
Mabsout ; project management: Mohamed Chahine; electro mechanical
engineers: AURORA; contractor: EBCO-BITAR
PROJECT DETAILS
ARCHITECTURAL AWARDS:
2008 Boston Society of Architects
Design Award; MOMA Exhibition
2010; Architectural Record Awards,
Finalist For Housing Project.
AWARDS
Environmental Sustainability Objectives
Social Sustainability Objectives Economic Sustainability Objectives
minimise
use of
resources
minimise
pollution
protect
biodiversity
ethical
standards
adequate
facilities
housing
needs met
interaction
with locality
quality of
architecture
competitive
businesses
economic
diversity
employment
4 4 3 5 5 5 5 5 3 3 3
44 / 55SCORING
HOUSES FOR THE FISHERMEN
OF TYRE At a glance
Tyre is Lebanon’s most important city port in the southern
part of the country. An ancient urban centre -dating back to
the time of the Phoenicians-, Tyre has been in the UNESCO
World Heritage List since 1984. This designation has
considerably restricted the development opportunities in the
area, particularly along the coast, where most of the town’s
! shermen live. The impossibility of expanding has meant
that many live in unsanitary and overcrowded conditions. In
addition, to the urban restrictions, there are serious problems
of over! shing on the coast. The locals have reported a
continuous drop in catch which has brought acute ! nancial
di" culties to those living o# this trade. 1
The Al Baqaa Housing Cooperative was an initiative started by
the ! shermen, who with the support of the Association for the
Development of Rural Areas in Southern Lebanon (an NGO)
and donations from other institutions, managed to shape a
proposal that was going to change the quality of their lives.
Hashim Sarkis studios is a US-Lebanon based architectural
! rm. The founder, Hashim Sarkis, is also actively involved in
academia, currently teaching at the Harvard Graduate School
of Design. He is the author of several architectural books and
lectures extensively around the world.
Brief Description
Aerial view. Source Hashim Sarkis Studios
45 / 55SCORING
40
PROJECT ANALYSISThe site donated to the Cooperative is located to the north-
east of the city centre in the neighbourhood of Abbasiyeh.
The area is not only in the periphery, but away from the sea,
currently bordering agricultural land. In addition, Abbasiyeh
has been the target of some chaotic speculative development
in recent years, leaving behind a landscape of peppered
constructions. A new masterplan has been implemented to
regularise the area and strengthen its connectivity to the
city centre. Most of the land has been subdivided and is now
ready for development. Until this happens, the house of the
! shermen will be partially isolated from the city and the sea.
Among our selection of case studies, this project illustrates
how good design can achieve a successful relocation of
families in an extremely challenging location. Despite the
adverse geographical conditions, the scheme succeeds in
ensuring connectivity and providing a sense of place and
urbanity at the very fringes of the city.
Environmental sustainabilityAt the heart of the House for the Fishermen of Tyre lies the
main courtyard. It is divided into two parts: a paved area
and a planted area. The two sections create a di" erence in
temperature (the paved one tends to be hotter than the
planted one). This di" erence in temperature encourages air
movement, particularly during Lebanon’s hot summer days. By
this simple method the design uses natural cross-ventilation
to bring fresh air into the courtyard and all the individual units
that open on to it.
The common areas have been planted with a variety of trees
that help to bring the temperature down. They also link
the scheme with the surrounding agricultural landscape.
Trees planted are mainly olives, poplars, palms, oranges and
grapevines. In addition to the vegetation of the common areas,
each main # oor unit has a small garden that can be used for
planting. The roof can also be used for planting and has several
purposely built containers.
Location of the scheme.
Source Google Earth
41
There was no need to apply any car restriction method as car
ownership is very low in the community. But transport to the
sea was crucial therefore a common van was organized to and
from the port.
Social SustainabilityThe project is the result of ten years of collaboration
between the cooperative and the designers. In keeping
with the traditional lifestyle of the ! shermen, the scheme
had to balance private and public space. There are plenty of
opportunities for small gatherings in between building blocks,
while the big open courtyard o" ers a large area for the children
to run and cycle. A further step towards privacy is o" ered in
the individual units’ balconies. A community auditorium is in
the pipeline for later development as the Cooperative gathers
more funding.
The Al Baqaa Cooperative is already a very tight group which
has shown initiative and determination by using critical mass
to solve its housing problem. The connection to the sea and
their working lifestyle already provides them with a similar
attitude to life and their environment. Unlike other schemes
in our selection of case studies, the group does not need
alternative ways to help them to form a cohesive community:
they already are one. What the ! shermen and their families
needed from the design was a space that could help them
balance the communal activities that they share, with some
privacy for themselves and their families. As the design team
explains, the challenge was to fuse architecture, landscape
design, and urban planning, with a collaborative approach
to design. This was done by listening and respecting the
speci! c social and cultural conditions of the community. The
result is a scheme that manages to bring a more balanced life
between community and private activities in contrast to the
overcrowding conditions that these families had the past.
Ground # oor plan of the scheme
showing landscaping of common
areas and di" erent treatment of the
courtyard.
Source: Hashim Sarkis Studios
42
Economic SustainabilityOpening up the economic opportunities that the community
had was not a strong objective of the project. However, and
although it is early days, the scheme shows ! exibility and
potential to strengthen the micro economy around Abbasiyeh.
Like many social housing projects studied in this report, there
was a need to provide the " shermen’s families with retail units
that could eventually bring to the area some essentials in
terms of food and groceries. The complex has four retail units,
one of them already functioning as an outdoor co# ee place. It
is expected that in time, these small outlets will attract more
business to the area.
Design and ConstructionAs do other social housing schemes that are located in
semi-built up areas (for example Ironhorse house) the
project presents a strong border to the surrounding context.
This design decision has many e# ects. One is that it sets
a precedent for the area, in the sense that it begins to
reconstruct the urban block which the chaotic layout of
Abbasiyeh needs so much. Second it acts as a fortress wall
to isolate the private courtyard. And thirdly by strategically
opening up this strong edge to the network of streets, it
provides a road hierarchy and organisational frame for the
surrounding streets.
The street penetrates the scheme and spirals round inside it,
providing a strong grounding for the project. Connections
with other streets are provided by breaking the strong wall of
this fortress-like construction. The continuity and discontinuity
of the building block brings rhythm and mass diversity in the
urban landscape.
Views from the courtyard and the privacy of residential balcony.
Source: Hashim Sarkis Studios
43
The project consists of 80 two-bedroom units. Each has about
86 sq m of interior space and about half the area in private
outdoor open space. All living ! oors have cross views and cross
ventilation and are extended to the outside by private outdoor
spaces (gardens and porches for the lower units and balconies
and roof decks for the upper units).
Diagram showing the breaking of
the building mass and the di" erent
type of units inside each part.
Source: Hashim Sarkis Studios
Diagrams of evolution of site development in the context of the new master
plan. The # rst diagram shows the area of open # elds and the last the location of
the scheme and the # nal subdivision of parcels and road network.
Source: Hashim Sarkis Studios.
44
View from the outside: rhythm is given
by breaking the building mass and the
introduction of colour. In such large
blocks, colour also helps to increase
legibility, particularly for visitors, who
might ! nd it di" cult to ! nd their way
in such a large complex.
Source: Hashim Sarkis Studios
Endnotes:1 Over! shing along the coast occurs not only because of the poor equipment of
the ! shermen, but also due to ongoing con# icts with Israel that prevents them
from deep-sea ! shing. A full environmental assessment of the impact of recent
wars in Lebanon was executed by the United Nations Development Program
in 2007. The report found that marine ! shery was directly a$ ected during ports
bombardment also causing oil contamination. The full document is available at
http://www.undp.org.lb/events/docs/DraftReport.pdf
Project House Key Sustainable FeaturesClever use and enhancement of cross-air ventilation that •
avoids the need for other cooling systems in a very hot
climate.
Use of trees and other vegetation to reduce concrete heat.•
Use of critical mass to solve the housing problem of a •
particular group within the society of Tyre.
Understanding of the social and cultural needs of the group.•
Provision of communal transport to and from the place of •
work that alleviates the already hard economic situation of
the ! shermen.
Use of the building complex to create a diverse urban space •
in a semi-built peripheral area.
Use of colour to increase legibility particularly for the young •
and those not familiar with the place.
45
LOCATION: Punggol New Town, Singapore
YEAR BUILT: 2007-2010
ARCHITECTS: Surbana Corporation Pte. Ltd
DEVELOPERS: Housing Development Board
MANAGEMENT: Housing Development Board
BUDGET: US$119.70 million
AREA: 39,516 sq m
DENSITY: 180 dwellings per hectare
CONSTRUCTION: Kay Lim Construction & Trading Pte Ltd
PROJECT DETAILS
UN-HABITAT AWARDS:
SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS
Public Housing Green Mark
Platinum Award, Green Good
Design Award 2010 and the Futurarc
Green Leadership award 2011.
Green Mark Platinum, BCA Building
and Construction Award 2007
AWARDS
Environmental Sustainability Objectives
Social Sustainability Objectives Economic Sustainability Objectives
minimise
use of
resources
minimise
pollution
protect
biodiversity
ethical
standards
adequate
facilities
housing
needs met
interaction
with locality
quality of
architecture
competitive
businesses
economic
diversity
employment
5 5 5 4 5 4 4 3 3 3 3
44 / 55SCORING
TREELODGE@PUNGGOL
At a glance
This high density, high rise scheme consists of seven 16-storey
blocks that provide a total of 712 units. There are 98 units of
3-room ! ats, 600 units of 4-room ! ats and 14 units of 5-rooms.
When the development of the new town is completed,
Treelodge will be located a few minutes away from the centre
and transport links.
Surbana is a large interdisciplinary " rm of architects,
urban designers and engineers. For the past six years it
has consistently been at the top ten architectural " rms in
Singapore. Internationally, the " rm is present in16 cities across
Asia and the Middle East. They have a wide range of projects
which not only include architecture and urban planning but
also infrastructure, project management and construction.
Brief Description
Source: Housing Development Board
46
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONThe scheme sits at the edges of Punggol New Town, an eco-city
that the Housing Development Board (HDB) of Singapore is
developing in what used to be a rural area to the north-west of
Punggol. The challenge for this project is that the area has not
been developed yet. There are some other residential blocks
but retail facilities are not in place. The scheme therefore shows
the di! culties of creating a community at the edge of urban
settlements. It also shows how sustainable aims can be used to
build community ties.
Environmental sustainabilityThe residential development incorporates a range of green
technologies and innovations for e" ective energy, water and
waste management. These include north-south orientation of
the buildings to minimizing heat gain. There is also a solar PV
system on the roof and the energy generated by it can meet
about 40 percent of the requirements of the entire complex,
such as powering lights along the corridors and common
areas. Rainwater is harvested for watering landscaped areas
and cleaning the shared spaces.
Each unit is # tted with an integrated basin/cistern pedestal
system that allows for water to be recycled. Water used
for washing hands can be channelled into the cistern for
subsequent $ ushing. Partition walls are also built to reduce
noise pollution by means of a new concrete block system that,
although not good for bearing weight, has had good results in
noise control due to porosity. Cross-ventilation is maximised
inside units as blocks face the prevailing winds.
Plants have been extensively used throughout the complex to
reduce urban heat island e" ect. There are di" erent kinds of the
climber varieties along the columns of the residential blocks,
and other plants at the roof decks.
Punggol New Town with
Treelodge at the north edge.
Source: Google Earth
47
Social SustainabilityAs a consequence of the lack of facilities in the area, the HDB
has to use a lot of creativity and e! ort in trying to bring this
large community together. Although it is early to judge, as
the scheme only opened at the end of 2011, some of their
initiatives are worth mentioning here.
The HDB runs frequent workshops and guided tours around
the complex. Their aim is to demonstrate to future residents
how to be part of an eco-development. The HDB has been
running these workshops since 2007 and now that the project
is completed, they are also using it as a showcase project
for other developments. They also run frequent activities to
welcome new residents and to keep strengthening the ties
with the old ones.
HDB also produces colourful brochures and newsletters to
keep residents informed of work developments in the area,
not missing the opportunity to report all the awards that the
project has received, in an attempt to build sense of pride.
With such a highly dense project, the HDB also runs small
groups with speci" c interests. Only three months after the
opening, Treelodge already has a gardening and a chorus
group. Residents also signed an eco-lifestyle pledge which
includes twelve di! erent points, each with an allocated team
leader who supervises and gives regular updates on his
particular area.
In terms of communal facilities, the scheme o! ers a jogging
path for residents, with exercise stations for the elderly and a
children’s playground made from recycled materials.
Economic SustainabilityThe economic approach of Treelodge is questionable. Apart
from the walking tours and parties o! ered by the HDB,
there are no other amenities in the area. Furthermore, the
fundamental issue of food sourcing has not been addressed.
The scheme sits in a neighbourhood whose main function
seems to be residential. It lacks the diversity that retail and
o# ces can o! er.
Residents are already feeling this shortage of facilities and
services. In a recent newsletter, one resident lamented the
lack of amenities, pinning hopes on the fact that one outlet
has " nally opened nearby.1 In addition, public transport is yet
to be completed. And despite the HDB intentions to build
a pedestrian friendly network of streets, those surrounding
Treelodge are very uninviting (one opens up to abandoned
" elds while other to a motorway). Without much alternative,
residents will have to rely on their cars more until the
infrastructure is in place.
Extract from HDB’s website
publicising events
48
Design and ConstructionIn terms of design the scheme can be related to the ideals of the
Modernist Movement which developed during the ! rst decades
of the past century. In 1922 Le Corbusier presented a scheme
for A Contemporary City of Three Million Inhabitants, which was
later published in his book The City of To-morrow and its Planning
(1929). In the scheme Le Corbusier introduced his now famous
cruciform skyscrapers, placed on a grid of blocks.
The theoretical and functional issues that Modernism presents,
were expressed during the ! rst urban design conference held
at Harvard in 1956; and they’re still the subject of much debate
among academics and practitioners (for a recent review see
Krieger and Saunders, 2009 and Murray, 2012). Debates aside,
the fact remains that Modernist planning is the preferred
approach for emerging markets with large populations. India
and Brazil can be mentioned here with precedents like the new
cities of Chandigarh (Le Corbusier, 1951) and Brasilia (Lucio
Costa, 1957), both held as good examples of urban design in
their countries.
As with many of the case studies featured in this report, the
layouts and designs of the schemes can be traced back to the
historical type to which they belong. But as we have shown,
most of them have taken the design into the 21st century
by adapting the typology to modern living. Treelodge has
added new technology and succeeded in making the high
rise environmentally sustainable. It remains to be seen if
it can be equally successful in social and economic terms.
But architecturally, the building type has not changed and
therefore leaves many of those design questions posed in
1956, unanswered.
Eco lifestyle pledge by
Treelodge@Punggol’s residents
Aerial view of the seven freestanding
towers that form Treelodge
Source: Google Earth
49
Project Key Sustainable FeaturesDesign of the residential units to maximise daylight •
and provide e! ective cross-ventilation, thus reducing
energy usage.
Extensive planting provided to help reduce heat gain.•
Residential units are installed with water-e" cient # ttings, •
such as the dual $ ushing cum integrated basin-toilet
pedestal system.
Rainwater is harvested at the rooftop of each residential •
block to help reduce the usage of potable water at
common areas.
Solar panels are provided on the rooftop to harvest solar •
energy, and motion sensors are provided at strategic
locations to help reduce energy consumption from the Grid.
Recycling is encouraged via the convenient provision of •
a centralised refuse chute, for recyclable waste, at every
residential block. Recycling bins are also provided along
common areas.
Constant support from the management company to help •
residents understand the systems and the responsibility of
an eco-lifestyle.
Le Corbusier, Plan Voisin
(1929) based on principles of
A Contemporary City of Three
Million Inhabitants.
Right: View of Treelodge.
Source: Housing Development Board
Endnotes1 House Development Board, Corporate Newsletter April 2010: “Go Green, Go,
Punggol” Punggold is Shapping up to be the First Green Town of the 21st
Century” Available at http://heartland.hdb.gov.sg/resources/hwsep09.pdf
51
LOCATION: Oakland, California
YEAR BUILT: Completed 2009
ARCHITECTS: David Baker + Partners
DEVELOPERS: BUILD
MANAGEMENT: Bridge Housing Corporation
BUDGET: US$41.4 million
AREA: 6.313 sq m
DENSITY: 157 dwellings per hectare
CONSTRUCTION:
General Contractor (J.H. Fitzmaurice, Inc) Landscape Construction
Contractor (Shooter & Butts, Inc) Structural Engineer (Murphy Burr Curry)
Electrical Engineer (FW Associates) Mechanical/Plumbing Engineer
(SJ Engineers) Solar Contractor (Sun Light & Power)
PROJECT DETAILS
SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS
Multifamily Executive 2010:
Project of the Year; Built it Green:
GreenPoint Rated; Builder of the
Year 2010.
ARCHITECTURAL AWARDS
San Francisco Business Times:
Real Estate Deals of the Year: Best
A! ordable Residential/East Bay.
AWARDS
Environmental Sustainability Objectives
Social Sustainability Objectives Economic Sustainability Objectives
minimise
use of
resources
minimise
pollution
protect
biodiversity
ethical
standards
adequate
facilities
housing
needs met
interaction
with locality
quality of
architecture
competitive
businesses
economic
diversity
employment
4 5 3 4 5 4 4 5 3 3 3
43 / 55SCORINGIRONHORSE HOUSE At a glance
Ironhorse is part of a new 29-acre master planned community
built by several developers on abandoned former industrial
land. The Central Station area takes its name from an historic
Southern Paci" c railroad station that has been derelict since
the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake (Burt, 2005). When fully
completed, Central Station will include more than 1,500
homes, shops, recreational areas and the restoration of the
old station.
The developer BUILD (a partner of Bridge Housing
Corporation), has a reputation for creating high-quality
a! ordable homes that act as catalyst for strengthening
neighbourhoods. With over 13,000 homes built, this developer
is a leading player in California’s property market.
The practice David Baker + Partners strives to bring elements
of sustainability to the community through their designs and
building projects. Many of the " rm’s architects and designers
are LEED certi" ed, and members of their sta! frequently take
advantage of continuing-education opportunities regarding
green building and innovation.
Brief Description
Ironhorse House, view of inner courtyard
Image: David Baker + Partners
52
PROJECT ANALYSISThe four-story Ironhorse building forms part of Central Station.
Apart from residences, the complete master plan will also
include new retail space and envisages the restoration of
Oakland’s historic Street Station. Protecting the environment
around the nearby San Francisco Bay and its natural wildlife is
crucial for this project.
Environmental sustainabilityGreen features include a large solar electric system, solar
hot water panels, and vegetated swales that naturally ! lter
rainwater towards main drains.
Ironhorse’s two green roofs have a total surface area of
1,387 sq ft and cover the community room and the leasing
o" ce. These roofs have many bene! ts. They help keep the
building and surrounding area cooler, reducing the need
for air conditioning. They provide good sound insulation
and may last longer than conventional roofs. They also help
biodiversity as they provide wildlife habitat, which if planted
with native plants minimises the disturbance caused by man-
made constructions. The roofs were planted with a mix of four
sedums1 (good for their robustness and low maintenance). The
green roofs are also used to capture some of the rainfall that
falls on the site, ! ltering out pollutants before water runs into
the drains and local waterways.
The roof is used to its maximum capacity as it also supports
a large solar electric system as well as solar hot water panels.
The 130-kilowatt photovoltaic system produces more than
225,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. This meets up to
90 percent of the electricity used by the building’s common
spaces. The solar hot water panels provide about 60 percent of
the heat for the residents’ domestic hot water.
Rainwater running o# of buildings, landscapes and streets can
pick up contaminants such as pesticides and road oil and carry
them into storm drains. This polluted water can eventually
be damaging, as in times of $ oods it can end up in natural
waterways with great ecological damage. This is particularly
acute in areas near water such as San Francisco Bay. Bioswales2
Central Station development
in the San Francisco Bay.
Image: Steve Prohel,
Source David Baker + Partners
Image: Ironhorse House under construction
Image: Steve Prohel, Source David Baker + Partners
53
are usually ideal for ! ltering slit and other pollutants o" rain
water, and can be easily incorporated to the landscape of the
development. They usually consist of open channels ! lled with
compost and plants that act as ! lters.
Although Ironhorse house takes up most of the parcel with its
footprint, the landscape design team was able to create long,
narrow bioswales on two sides of the property. The bioswales
are lined with plants that are # ood resistant, such as
Cape rush (Chondropetalum tectorum) and Berkeley sedge
(Carex tumulicola).
Social SustainabilityThe focal point of Ironhorse’s landscape is a large outdoor
courtyard built over a parking structure and ringed by
apartments.
Communal spaces are provided in the courtyard to encourage
plenty of social interaction. These include a play area, places
for sitting and socializing, and a community room that spills
out onto a circular patio area. Two small lawns enhance
the recreational function of the courtyard and are sized to
minimize water use.
Communal activities around edible gardens also encourage
socialisation. Areas with raised beds have been pre-planted
with cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauli# ower and artichokes to
inspire residents to grow their own vegetables.
Economic SustainabilityIronhorse house relies on the economic success of the entire
Central Station scheme, an area that was known for its
high level of criminality and illegal waste disposal. But with
the gradual population of the units, the area is recovering
the vitality that it once had. Residents are establishing
Neighbourhood Watch groups and the reduction in crime
rates is encouraging retailers to establish business in the area
(Burt, 2009). Still there are not enough facilities, and residents
sometimes su" er the lack of groceries and other amenities
Design and ConstructionThis four-story “green” building curves around a podium-level
courtyard built above a ground level car park. The central
courtyard has a freestanding community pavilion. The layout
consolidates the urban block, giving a continuous street front
which lines up with surrounding blocks. To the centre, the
scheme opens up its core, presenting a calming, safe inner
space which contrasts with the busy streets and anticipates
the tranquillity of the home.
East and west sides take on di" erent aspects to answer diverse
surrounding conditions: new townhouses on one end and a
highway on the other.
An important issue in California is the heat and high daytime
temperatures. The design of the scheme is such that at least
30% of the site includes some form of sustainable cooling
strategies such as street pavement planting, shade trees and
covered parking.
During construction of the bioswales, existing contaminated
soil was removed and replaced with “a special soil mix that
allows water to # ow through at a certain rate and be cleaned
(StopWaste.org, 2010). As Ironhorse house is built on a
brown! eld site and demolition was required, the developer
ensure that over 90% of demolition and indeed construction
debris was diverted to land! ll use. When permitted, the
concrete used was made with up to 22% of recycled # y ash.
Roof View of the 153 KW Solar PV.
Source: David Baker + Partners
At least 85 percent of the rainwater that falls on the roofs and courtyard is
directed to these shallow open channels, to be ! ltered by the soil before
# owing to storm drains. This simple but ingenious solution prevents
damage to waters of the nearby San Francisco Bay.
Source David Baker + Partners
54
Ironhorse House Key Sustainable Features: Solar hot water panels provide about 60% of heat for •
domestic hot water and an additional system 130 kw
photovoltaic panels meets 80% to 90% of electricity demand
in common areas
To restrict water waste, low-! ow " xtures were installed •
in kitchens and bathrooms, particularly for showerheads
–preventing power showers- and high e# ciency dual-! ush
toilets.
In terms of energy reduction, Energy* rated appliances were •
used in all units and common areas.
Heating is provided by e# cient condensing boilers and •
premium e# ciency pumps that push water to a system of
skirting-board radiators.
Air conditioning systems in common areas uses non-HCFC •
refrigerant (R-410A). There is no provision of air conditioning
inside individual units.
General waste is processed in individual units which are •
" tted with a built-in recycling centre.
children playing in the courtyard.
Colourful landscape helps to create
legibility particularly for the very young.
Image Brian Rose.
Source David Baker + Partners
The landscape design team carried the theme of an edible garden into
other areas of the landscape, with fruit trees at street level and in the
courtyard. One of BRIDGE Housing’s service partners provides nutrition
education for the residents and helping residents to make the link
between community gardens and good health.
Graphic and Image: David Baker + Partners
55
Sustainable ! ttings and ! nishes were also considered such •
as Low-VOC interior paints and green construction adhesives
were used. Cupboard shells are medium density ! berboard
made with formaldehyde free adhesives. Carpets are green
certi! ed for low emissions.
Outdoor social gathering places, including central courtyard •
and community garden.
Eco-friendly landscaping practices to protect the nearby •
San Francisco Bay. The management of common areas
is provided by a landscape company that specialises
in sustainable techniques, labour is provided by the
community. There is a computer in the lobby showing
real-time solar electricity generation that also provides
information about the neighbourhood and the property’s
green features.
Good access to public transport. Ample provision for cyclists, •
with an internal network path and storage. Reduced parking
capacity (1.1 spaces per unit) to encourage alternative
modes of transportation
Designed for safety: main entrances are prominent and •
visible from street; exterior concrete walls have gra" ti-
resistant paint.
Designed for accessibility: all units designed to •
accommodate visitors with physical disabilities and can be
easily altered for residents with special needs.
Endnotes1 Sedum is a large genus of # owering plants in the family Crassulaceae, members
of which are commonly known as stonecrops.2 Bioswales are landscape elements designed to remove silt and pollution from
surface runo$ water. They consist of a swaled drainage course with gently sloped
sides (less than six percent) and ! lled with vegetation, compost and/or riprap.
Car Park at Ground Floor Level Podium Level and Courtyard
All drawings David Baker + Partners
56
CONCLUSION: Comparative Analysis
and Discussion
“No theory can develop without eventually encountering a wall,
and practice is necessary for piercing this wall”
Extract from a conversation between G. Deleuze and M. Foucault.1
The aim of this report is to select a series of case studies from
di! erent geographical areas, score them and then analyse
them according to the sustainability framework identi" ed
in our literature review. In this section we discuss the overall
" ndings and draw together the broad conclusions that, in our
view, make a response from practice to theory. This approach
enables us to point to options for sustainable social housing
schemes in developed and emerging markets. Thus, we move
from theory to practice and practice to theory, aiming to follow
the path of Deleuze and Foucault.
Environmental sustainability:The schemes in our review present a variety of approaches
and methods to reducing the environmental impact of urban
development including carbon emissions. Sophisticated
methods are found in the BedZED, Ironhorse House and
Treelodge@Punggol case studies. However, as been pointed
out by a number of practitioners, the cost of these initiatives
is signi" cant. Our selection of case studies con" rms this
hypothesis (see Appendix 3 for comparative charts of costs
and densities). Only in schemes as dense as Treelodge does
the cost per unit manage to fall to about US$7,000 below the
average of our sample. In fact, even at high densities, it is not
clear that this approach to sustainability is appropriate in every
country. Social housing development should take account of
the locally available workforce, income and educational levels
and materials.
Behavioural issues are also important. BedZED and Ironhorse
House have encountered di# culties in getting new residents
to adopt the lifestyle that is expected of those inhabiting a
low carbon emission scheme. Ironhorse House and Treelodge
have taken a step forward by educating residents, and training
them to use the systems installed. This also carries costs,
and until qualitative research is carried out, all of the energy
saving strategies should be treated as forecasts. More surveys
monitoring residents’ behaviour, accounting for their energy
consumption, travelling patterns, and waste disposal patterns,
are needed. Without this research, all of the new sophisticated
technologies that have been applied, will remain as good
examples without solid proof of e! ectiveness. Following the
path of Deleuze and Foucault, it seems that in this area practice
has pierced the wall, whilst theory is falling behind for lack of
research. All these factors have been identi" ed as the hidden
cost factors in eco-friendly ‘show case’ schemes such as BedZED
(Chance, 2009).
In the meantime, there are less costly systems that can be
put into place, which we believe come with the ingenious
use of well known design techniques. In architecture, these
are usually seen in the vernacular, or what we can call ‘the-
wisdom-of-the-crowds’ approach to sustainability. Two projects
summarise this vernacular approach: Houses for the Fishermen
of Tyre, and Via Gallarate. We combine the best of these two
schemes in 7 key environmental approaches:
Cross-ventilation systems which control the high •
temperatures in summer without the use of costly energy
equipment;
Optimal orientation of buildings in terms of light and •
prevailing winds;
High insulation of walls and windows to avoid heat loss •
during winter;
Trees and other vegetation to reduce the urban heat island •
e! ect;
Cleverly designed landscapes to reduce noise pollution from •
nearby busy roads;
Local materials to reduce transport, cutting costs and •
environmental damage;
Ancient or well known local construction methods with an •
innovative/sustainable approach that reduce construction
materials and training.
The next step towards a more sophisticated approach is
provided by Treelodge and Ironhorse House. These are more
costly as they predominantly focus on the individual units:
Fit units with a built-in recycling centre; •
Use Energy* rated appliances in all units and common areas;•
Use water-e# cient " ttings, such as the dual % ushing cum •
integrated basin-toilet pedestal system;
57
Harvest and recycle rainwater to help reduce the usage of •
potable water at common areas.
In our view, the ! rst set of recommendations, or the ‘wisdom-
of-the-crowd’ approach to eco-social housing, can bring many
bene! ts at very little extra cost. Some of these techniques or
approaches are well known and already practiced by architects
and designers across the globe. The problem is that these very
basic steps sometimes are often compromised in pursuit of
density or maximisation of the pro! tability of the site.
Social sustainability: Social sustainability aims can vary greatly from project to
project but in the long run they are key to success in all of
the areas. Geographically, they can range from building a
new community at the heart of the city (Quinta Monroy),
in a neighbourhood (BedZED), in a peripheral site that is
undergoing redevelopment (Ironhorse House, Cantinho de
Céu), or expansion (Via Gallarate, House for the Fishermen of
Tyre), bordering the countryside (House 8) to the extreme of
creating a new city (Treelodge). In addition to this geographical
range, our case studies also moved from developments
involving tight-knit communities (House for the Fishermen of
Tyre, Quinta Monroy and Cantinho de Céu), to the challenge of
inspiring community feelings among complete strangers that
recently arrived at the site more or less in unison.
In all of these scenarios, we have found four distinctive
approaches to developing social sustainable objectives:
a) communal activities; b) communal space; c) design and
construction participation, and; d) social and functional mix.
The ! rst two approaches should always be related. Ironhorse
house is a good example of a scheme with community space
and activities, with purposely designed gardens maintained
by the community with the support of the housing association
that give families nutrition tips. Treelodge, despite all of its
very good attempts to promote communal activities, does not
have a speci! cally designed space for these. It therefore has
to channel considerable time and resources towards building
community ties.
Quinta Monroy and House for the Fishermen of Tyre show
that involving the community in the design and construction
participation process can lead to success, notwithstanding the
fact that in both cases the community already existed. These
examples both illustrate a very communal and potentially
productive way forward. What would happen, we might ask,
if governments start from the social group and not the social
housing development? Can a virtual community be created
! rst and then integrated in the design and building process
afterwards?
House 8 has proven that social and activity mix is key. In
the urban environment, social groups and activities have a
tendency to cluster. In the current climate of global cities,
clustering is sometimes seen as positive for businesses. In
terms of urban design, a vibrant place has to have the right
level of ‘clustering’ in terms of social background and activities,
to avoid the creation of ghettos.
Economic sustainability: The functional and social mix is also a key factor for achieving
economic sustainability. This is particularly important when
developing in new areas at the periphery of cities where
there are often little or no facilities. On average, in our sample,
there were 250 units per scheme, even assuming only two
people living in each; that is still 500 residents per scheme.
Surprisingly, using a large group of people to ‘kick start’ a new
area in the city is something that some of our case studies
missed. Developing residential only units as in Treelodge is
not advisable. Bringing o# ces, retail and residencies creates
a ‘mini-city’ inside the housing complex and has many
environmental bene! ts as it reduces transport. Furthermore,
we have found that including a good food distribution point
is one of the biggest missed opportunities in many of our
selected schemes.
A great deal can be done with landscape architecture.
Well designed landscapes create places and attract visitors
(Cantinho de Céu). Finding the natural beauty of a place, its
genius loci, can reverse the fate of areas that are usually seen as
peripheral wastelands.
58
In terms of cost, our research shows that delivering a liveable
shell-unit, customised by end users (Quinta Monroy), can
dramatically reduce costs for the government albeit at
some cost to uniformity and maintenance. Comparing the
construction costs per dwelling Quinta Monroy achieved
US$11,250, exactly half of the already inexpensive House for
the Fishermen of Tyre. Not surprisingly many other emerging
market regions are following this approach (Mexico and Brazil
are just two examples, both countries with a great housing
de! cit to solve). Still, the model leaves certain environmental
questions unanswered, but perhaps its combination with our
‘wisdom-of-the-crowd’ approach to sustainable social housing
it can form part of the new paradigm.
In more developed economies, the way forward in terms of
cost reduction seems to be by investing in technology to
generate energy. Large buildings can generate a surplus and
this can be a source of income to put towards recuperating
the initial investment (Chance, 2009). Theoretically, the idea
of turning large urban complexes into energy generators has
been recently formalised in a more encompassing form in
the so called Third Industrial Revolution (Rifkin, 2011). Here
global economic problems are dealt with by means of smart
technology and new sources of energy.
Design and Construction: A comparative analysis of the schemes shows four prevalent
typologies:
The row of houses (BedZED, Quinta Monroy);•
The block (via Gallarate);•
The courtyard (Ironhorse house, House for the ! shermen of •
Tyre, house 8);
The high rise (Treelodge) .•
All of the schemes selected here, with the exception of
Treelodge, have been awarded and recognised by the
architectural community (see Appendix 1). Treelodge has
received awards for sustainability, though the scheme fails
to make any substantial contribution in terms of design.
This is re" ected in the lack of interest that it has attracted in
international architectural circles compared to the rest of our
selected cases. Leaving aesthetic considerations aside, we
believe that all four typologies can be equally successful in
delivering good sustainable outcomes.
We think it is most important to take into consideration the
geographical location, not only in terms of site constraints
but also cultural issues. What the ! nal user is most familiar
with crucially determines the correct usage of the scheme.
Many projects have shown that ! nding a local typology
and bringing it to the 21st century is a recipe for success
(BedZED, via Gallarate, House 8, Quinta Monroy). These types
are deeply rooted in their respective country’s architectural
history. Furthermore, Via Gallarate uses local materials that
labourers are comfortable with. These bring familiarity, a sense
of security, character and identity to the scheme. If these
fundamental ingredients start on the drawing board, then the
task of creating a community is already half completed.
To summarise, our examination of global best practice
indicates that the ideal social housing scheme should at
least comply with our seven key points of environmental
sustainability and o# er the four areas of social sustainability.
Designers should always identify the genius loci of a place and
turn this into an asset. Where possible, schemes should provide
a liveable-shell which is customisable by the users and linked
to a country’s own architectural history and traditional ways of
building, artfully brought into the 21st century.
These are the minimum requirements for an ideal social
scheme. More sophisticated means of developing sustainable
social housing should not be disregarded as utopian. Putting
to rest the apocalyptic views of philosophers like John
Gray, who argue that the mere idea that technology can
save the world is just an illusion, remains a challenge for
practitioners and academics alike, but one that has a material
environmental, social and economic pay-o# .
Endnotes:1 This conversation between philosophers Gilles Deleuze and Michael Foucault
took place in 1970, at a time when the relationship between theory and practice
was very much debated. Full conversation was later published in 1977 by
Donald F Bouchard in Language, Counter Memory, Practice: Selected Essays and
Interviews.
61
PROJECT NAME Environmental Sustainability Objectives
Social Sustainability Objectives
Economic Sustainability Objectives
TOTAL
minimise
use of
resources
minimise
pollution
protect
biodiversity
ethical
standards
adequate
facilities
housing
needs
met
interaction
with locality
quality of
architecture
competitive
businesses
economic
diversity
employment
APPENDIX 2: Scoring and Rating
62
PROJECT NAME Environmental Sustainability Objectives
Social Sustainability Objectives
Economic Sustainability Objectives
TOTAL
minimise
use of
resources
minimise
pollution
protect
biodiversity
ethical
standards
adequate
facilities
housing
needs
met
interaction
with locality
quality of
architecture
competitive
businesses
economic
diversity
employment
63
PROJECT NAME Environmental Sustainability Objectives
Social Sustainability Objectives
Economic Sustainability Objectives
TOTAL
minimise
use of
resources
minimise
pollution
protect
biodiversity
ethical
standards
adequate
facilities
housing
needs
met
interaction
with locality
quality of
architecture
competitive
businesses
economic
diversity
employment
64
APPENDIX 3: Comparative Tables
n/aBrazilCantinho do Ceu
n/aUKBedZED
$418,181.82USIronhorse at Central Station
$255,430.74DenmarkBIG (Bjarke Ingles Group)
$175,601.09ItalyVia Gallarate
$168,117.98SingaporeTreelodge@punggol
$22,500.00LebanonHousing for the Fishermen of Tyre Lebanon
$11,250.00ChileQinta Monroy
COST (p/dwelling)COUNTRYPROJECT NAME
n/aCantinho do Ceu
n/aBedZED
$121,329,600.00BIG (Bjarke Ingles Group)
$119,700,000.00Treelodge@punggol
$41,400,000.00Ironhorse at Central Station
$32,310,600.00Via Gallarate
$1,800,000.00Housing for the Fishermen of Tyre Lebanon
$1,125,000.00Qinta Monroy
TOTAL COST (US$)PROJECT NAME
n/aCantinho do Ceu
54Via Gallarate
60BedZED
78BIG (Bjarke Ingles Group)
95Housing for the Fishermen of Tyre Lebanon
157Ironhorse at Central Station
180Treelodge@punggol
200Qinta Monroy
DENSITY (d/h)PROJECT NAME
65
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