Social Housingarchitecture for shared living and a solution for urban and social development

Abstract

The possibility of having good accommodation is one of the pillars on which the quality of life of each individual and his social inclusion are built. The housing issue is the center of debates due to the economic and financial crisis of the last few years that saw the homeownership race determine the rise in house prices and the collapse of the demand. Moreover, the social groups unable to satisfy their housing needs for economic reasons and those without the characteristics to access popular housing are increasing. Even the socio-cultural changes due to globalization have affected the form of living, making the temporary nature of living one of the characteristics of primary importance. A new concept of living is developing tending to the hybridisation of spaces, sharing of resources, social commitment, group activities and participatory decision-making processes; the space becomes dynamic, capable to adapt itself to the circumstances and needs of the user, giving shape to a new way of living based on flexibility, typological variety and technological aspects such as replaceability and adaptability of the components. Therefore, changes in social nature also correspond to changes in the relationship between spaces, people and inhabitants. Moreover, the themes of sustainability and sustainable living are maturing in people a greater awareness on the problems of saving resources, setting in motion that “ecological thinking” that should be the basis of every design idea at any scale and for any scope. Starting from these premises, good Social Housing development needs to make dialogue different fields such as architectural and urban planning, environmental sustainability, politics and sociology, economic changes, and trans- formation of welfare. To better understand Social Housing, it needs a deep read- ing of how it has developed, interpreted, and implemented in the current critical socio- economic scenario that all European countries are living in.