Posted 18.11.15
From environmentally-focused communal living in Colombia and the UK to capacity building in Malawi, this year's ten World Habitat Awards finalists demonstrate innovative practices which can inspire others:
The World Habitat Awards were established in 1985 by the Building and Social Housing Foundation as part of its contribution to the United Nations International Year of Shelter for the Homeless.
Two awards are given annually to projects that provide practical and innovative solutions to current housing needs and problems.
Every year an award of £10,000 is presented to each of the two winners at the World Urban Forum (even years) and UN-Habitat Governing Council (odd years).
This year's winners will be announced in February 2016 and presented with their awards at Habitat lll in October 2016.
Use this link to find out more about each of the 2015-16 World Habitat Award finalists.
Posted 06.11.15 by Josh Crites
Stuttgart has promoted for decades the construction of social housing. In return, the owners have committed to comply with certain occupancy and rent restrictions. Basically owners will give tenants cheap apartment for rent with certain conditions.
Living space is becoming increasingly scarce in the Stuttgart area. The rental rates rise, so that many people can no longer afford their homes any more. At the same time, social housing has fallen dramatically in recent decades.
Until the late 80s, laws and state subsidies apply to social housing in Germany. Since this has been abolished, the construction of social housing has regressed and many older units have been privatized.
Some social scientists have asked what would make it more attractive for private investors to plan their projects in social housing? "With social housing only a small rent can be generated, thus the returns of the overall project are reduced", says a researcher at the IBL. Even if you build low, the costs are not covered by the expected rent.
This resulted in the question of what options can provide the public sector, to make it more economically attractive for private investors to build social housing.
In one study, scientists show at the Institute of Construction Management (IBL) at the University of Stuttgart ways in which it could be cool for investors to build social housing.
Click here to read Josh's blog in full.
