The equitable housing workshop. Mapping and improving stakeholders’ decision-making process for circular equitable housing projects.

Abstract

A growing housing crisis in Western Europe increases the pressure on conventional support measures and further reduces the accessibility to equitable housing. Yet, the necessary transition to a sustainable and circular construction economy could be an opportunity to meet this social challenge. Research on the long-term costs and savings of circular strategies in housing projects demonstrates that applying specific circular strategies to specific projects can improve the long-term affordability of housing. Little research mentions circular building’s relation to housing quality nor the decision mechanism behind the design process of housing projects. Since these decisions are not only based on costs, but also social factors and practical considerations, it is important to take these into account. Introducing systems thinking in the design process could lead to more inclusive, and mindful decision making in the design process of housing projects. This paper proposes a methodology to encourage stakeholders in a housing project to think systemically and to have an open discussion about housing dimensions. The equitable housing workshop allows us to visually display rather complex networks of decisions and influences present in a project. The workshop continues by challenging the participants to find solutions that fit within the equitable housing model. These solutions are then linked to circular building strategies to encourage participants to look for sustainable and circular solutions. This also shows them how circular building design can make housing more equitable, and therefore, give them the tools to tailor a circular strategy specifically to their project. For researchers, analysing the participant’s discussions, held throughout the workshop, can bring new insights into the relationship between equitable housing and circular building.