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October 23, 2019
Raising the design bar
I’ve always assumed that every architect, at some point in their professional life has been inspired by design. If true, then why is so much of our built environment so poorly designed? In particular, why does so much of our social housing look like the responsible architect just couldn’t care less? Good to see then, that UK’s Best Building of the Year award went to some social housing in Norwich. That said, the Norwich development isn’t a patch on these examples from around the world. Goes to show that high quality, even inspiring design, is possible.
Thirty of the world’s most impressive social housing projects
As populations grow and cities become more crowded than ever, public housing has become an increasingly important issue for governments around the world. However, social housing is no longer limited to characterless blocks of concrete. These days, the aim is often to provide low-cost housing to individuals and families who need it – while still affording them the dignity of well-designed and distinctive homes.
These modern public housing projects frequently incorporate eco-conscious designs and elements, as efficient energy usage tends to be a priority. Here we look at 30 of the world’s social housing developments that break the mold, undoing negative stereotypes and serving as remarkable works of architecture in their own right.