Social Housing: Definitions and Design Exemplars

Across Europe a new generation of practices are transforming social housing. Responding to continued high demand, changing clients and new funding methods, architects are once again addressing how homes are delivered at scale, achieving high standards of design and a new focus on city making. Bringing together 24 exemplar case studies and featuring a range of interviews and testimonies, Social Housing explores the best new housing at a pivotal time for the sector. Considering shifting definitions of tenure and featuring a variety of typologies and emerging themes, the projects together offer a challenge to housing professionals to rethink how we build and highlight the vital role of housing in the life of our cities. "Providing an astute survey of exemplar projects from the UK and across Europe, it should be essential reading for all architects and clients working in the sector." - Ellis Woodman, Director, Architecture Foundation "Good social housing is re-emerging across Europe in the hands of committed architects and clients. This is a repository of the best ideas in real-life projects." - Hugh Pearman, Editor, RIBA Journal "This book is invaluable in showcasing impressively what can be achieved in designing and planning new social housing even now, but also in making clear the hoops councils are forced to jump through to provide it, and offering examples from elsewhere in Europe." - Owen Hatherley, journalist "A fascinating overview of social housing today. Complete with the essential nitty gritty details of plans, sections, budgets and timeframes, it's both a practical manual and optimistic manifesto for what it's possible to achieve, against all the odds." - Oliver Wainwright, architecture and design critic, The Guardian