Affordable housing in New York City is a daily headline, with a growing homeless population and aging housing. How do other countries address this issue? The current exhibit, Social Housing ~ New European Projects, at the Center for Architecture displays their best efforts.
The exhibit takes up two floor of the Center for Architecture and showcases 25 European social housing projects by 20 different firms. Each project includes a short description, drawing, rendering and a model. The projects cover a broad thought-process with a focus on affordable housing, including mixed-use housing and even co-op models for ownership.
The public projects are meant to offer up a challenge to our housing professionals to rethink not only how we build, but also the vital role of accessible, low-cost housing, while we work toward a higher standard in design.
The exhibit, Social Housing ~ New European Projects is based on a 2017 publication by the same name, a project of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), who commissioned London-based Karakusevic Carson Architects. In the end, RIBA ~ who specializes in social housing – created a “how-to manual for housing.” The RIBA team reviewed 500 submissions before selecting the 25 finalists presented here. The “how-to” manual, now a book by the same name: Social Housing: Definitions and Design Exemplars.
New York’s Public Design Commission (PDC) has been working with numerous groups, including AIA New York chapter (AIANY) to formulate a new report on how to deliver enough high quality affordable housing. This report is due this spring. Perhaps we will gather some new ideas from our European counterparts.
Social Housing ~ New European Projects is on view at the Center for Architecture through May 19, 2018. Related programming includes a panel discussion on March 20th, also held at the Center. The Center for Architecture is located at 537 laGuardia Place, between West 3rd Street and Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village.