Hous-ing

The project addressed the challenge of perceiving housing not as a disposable product, but as an ever-adapting organism. It aimed to find a sustainable alternative to demolition by strengthening the social fabric and preserving existing dwellings through user-informed transformation.

In the initial phase, I focused on developing a strategic framework for sustainable renovation. This involved thorough research and analysis of the existing housing conditions and community dynamics. I identified the need to preserve the structural integrity of the buildings while enhancing their functionality and aesthetic appeal. My goal was to create a plan that would extend the lifespan of the dwellings and improve the quality of life for the residents.

The next phase involved engaging the residents through co-design workshops. These workshops were crucial for understanding the living experiences and needs of the community members. I facilitated sessions where residents could voice their concerns, share their ideas, and collaboratively explore potential design solutions. This participatory approach not only empowered the residents but also fostered a sense of ownership and belonging.

After gathering extensive input from the co-design workshops, I synthesized the insights into a user-informed design brief. This brief outlined the key requirements and aspirations of the residents, focusing on aspects such as space flexibility, light optimization, and sustainable living practices. The synthesized insights served as the foundation for the subsequent design proposal.

With a clear, user-informed design brief in hand, I developed a renovation proposal for the low-rise building. The design focused on creating flexible spaces that could adapt to changing needs over time. I optimized natural light usage to enhance living conditions and incorporated sustainable materials and practices. The proposal aimed to demonstrate how people-centered design can contribute to both community building and environmental sustainability.

The participatory design workshops empowered residents, fostering a sense of ownership and belonging. The user-informed design brief and subsequent proposal demonstrated the value of integrating resident insights into the design process. Ultimately, this project showcased how people-centered architecture can strengthen social fabric, preserve existing dwellings, and promote sustainability.

This strategic framework pointed out the potential to be further developed into a novel participatory consultancy service, for architects to co-create alongside residents, municipalities and housing associations in a pre-design phase.

This proposal sheds light into a new perspective on how people-centered architecture can empower residents to have a bigger say in how they organize and use their homes. Simple questions as “What are your small pleasures of life?” led residents to explore the values and challenges they face in terms of comfort, needs, and their personal relationship to how they inhabit space.