Designing tomorrow's housing
How popular, traditional architecture arrived in the Netherlands
For years Dutch housing architects were able to ignore the tastes and preferences of their tenants and pursue unashamedly modernist projects. But, as home ownership increased, the demand for more traditional yet affordable houses grew with it
We must encourage the building of urban one-home wonders
The National Planning Policy Framework includes a specific allowance for single houses in rural areas that are “truly outstanding” where they would otherwise be refused. An equivalent provision is needed in urban areas, writes Russell Curtis
How the viability crunch is putting Britain’s housing ambitions – and design quality – under strain
Mary Richardson examines how Britain’s viability crisis is squeezing design quality and stalling the creation of real places to live
Come with me to Clamart: a postcard from a Parisian regenerative development that really works
British ‘regeneration schemes’ could learn a lot from the Clamart Panorama brownfield development near Paris, says Nicholas Boys Smith – above all the humility to ask people what they really like
Britain’s lost builders: making housing viable again for SMEs
Miranda MacLaren argues that financial reform, fairer procurement and design for local delivery are essential to revive small builders and rebuild housebuilding capacity
Good housing starts with good urban design
Ana McMillin argues that the success or failure of new neighbourhoods will be decided by the quality of streets, public spaces and community life
Beyond the quick fix: why permitted development needs strategic guidance
Diego Calderon and Gianmaria Givanni make the case for how clear, community-led design guidance could enable permitted development to become a tool for coherent neighbourhood growth
New towns. Old wisdom?
Nicholas Boys Smith celebrates the strengths and examines the flaws of the new towns task force’s recommendations and site list
Building communities: why the Neave Brown Award matters
Mellis Haward considers what it means to design homes that foster connection and community life
Inside the party conferences: why architects need to be in the room where housing policy is made
Félicie Krikler examines why architects and built environment professionals must make their voices heard in policymaking circles
BDP turns disused garages into social housing in Bristol
The homes were designed in line with the architect’s “gap house” concept
London’s housing delivery in ‘major crisis’, HBF warns in damning report
Excessive bureaucracy, building safety hold-ups and unrealistic targets sees completions head into reverse
Vacant to valuable: unlocking stranded assets for much-needed homes
Miranda MacLaren highlights how architects are uniquely positioned to work with councils and private developers to reimagine stranded assets as places to live
The long road to regenerating the Carpenters Estate
In 2018, a new mayor tasked Newham’s housing company with building more affordable homes. Seven years later, it’s getting ready for its biggest scheme yet. Daniel Gayne headed east to find out more
How a transport investment shortfall threatens to scupper housing delivery in London
After setting out a vision for development centred on public transit links, the mayor of London came out of the spending review empty handed. Can London build 88,000 homes a year without new infrastructure? Daniel Gayne reports.
Unlocking MMC housing: why digital transformation and industry standardisation are essential
Anne Daw and Katie Rudin make the case for how digitisation, through the new Digital Kit of Parts, can unlock the potential of MMC
RIBA urges parliament to prioritise design quality in planning reform bill
Amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill would require design visions to be incorporated into Spatial Development Strategies
UK needs 100,000 ‘beautiful’ council homes a year to solve affordable housing crisis, report claims
Policy Exchange report calls for new social housing boom which learns from ‘traumatic’ legacy of brutalist post-war estates
Why building a culture of viability is key to safeguarding quality in major housing programmes
Alison Coutinho argues that by prioritising viability from the outset, housing schemes can avoid delays and achieve better outcomes
RCKa installs prototype modular solution to housing crisis outside City Hall
The home can be installed in under two hours and a prototype scheme is planned for Havering later this year