Architecture Sans Frontieres-UK’s Post

On World Cities Day, I shared my insights on Zimbabwe's urban challenges, highlighting how our cities' rapid growth has outpaced their design, leading to overcrowding and the use of outdated bylaws guiding infrastructural development is doing more harm than good. To address this, we need to adopt smart city concepts and resilience strategies, ensuring sustainable adaptation and growth. In informal settlements, I have seen firsthand the lack of adequate infrastructure, including that of education, healthcare, and public spaces, due to being sidelined in formal administration structures. However, through my work with House of Arts Association and Dreamtown Dreamtown.ngo , we have made progress in showcasing art's role in community development. We have engaged with local stakeholders and government officials to demonstrate how art can bridge gaps and empower young people to shape safe, resilient, inclusive, and creative cities. Our efforts aim to meet the needs of young people and support the realization of their dreams. Greg Mews' theory resonated deeply - he introduced the concept of Speculative, Pluriversal Imaginary Research Assessment Loop (SPIRAL) which highlights how individual stories continuously shape the narrative. With enough power backing these stories, they can influence policies, materialize into tangible change, and contribute to rewriting the narrative. This cycle has the potential to create a transformative loop, where stories shape policies, policies shape stories, and the cycle begins anew. We are committed to continuing this work and amplifying young people's voices in urban planning and development. Together, we can create a future where stories shape policies that prioritize people, planet, and resilience. #sustainabledevelopment #climatesmart #youthfordevelopment #communitydevelopment #art

As we grapple with the housing crisis here in Australia. Today, my country of birth, South Africa, goes to the polls. The relationship between land use and urban policy; housing and jobs; and security and personal realisation was controlled by apartheid. 30 years since the fall of apartheid it’s spatial distribution of land, jobs and housing continues to have a legacy. Reinforcing the role of planning to enable equity (or inequity) of access for communities to reach their full potential. Have a listen to this Bloomberg video on how urban design keeps South Africa segregated - to remind us all of the important role city planning has on the lives of our people. https://lnkd.in/gAbjWUi3 #housing #housingcrisis #equity #jobs #urbanpolicy #cityplanning #southafrica #landuse Jenny Rudolph Kim Samuel Barbara Schaffer Jacqui Salter Karen O'Donnell-McGrane

"Collaboration among councils, housing associations, and communities to transform empty spaces is essential to address the housing crisis," Our National Director, Dr Henrietta Blackmore, is championing a powerful initiative in her latest comment piece for Inside Housing - urging stakeholders across the country to join forces and repurpose empty spaces to tackle the ongoing housing crisis. From vacant offices to unused buildings, there are countless opportunities to transform spaces into affordable homes for those in need. Let's work together to create sustainable, community-driven solutions and make housing accessible for all. Read more: https://ow.ly/PpPH50Tb111 #UKHousing #Collaboration #EmptySpaces #HousingCrisis #ESTHer Habitat for Humanity Europe & Middle East

There isn't enough access to decent, affordable, suitable homes for everyone who needs them in the UK. That's because, for decades, we've failed to ensure that the right kinds of homes are created in the right places. So now we've got a complex problem to solve: and like most complex problems, there is more than one useful answer. One way of increasing the number of homes that people really need is to use existing empty spaces. At least 7,000 commercial and business premises across England, Scotland, and Wales, currently owned by Local Authorities, have been empty and vacant for over 12 months. It is estimated that these spaces have the potential to create over 19,500 residential units through the conversion of vacant office and retail space. That's over 19,500 new, decent, affordable homes for people that need a safe and secure place to live. Join Habitat for Humanity Great Britain in calling on government and other decision makers to include the use of empty spaces for homes in their plans to tackle the UK housing crisis 👇

Understanding the Long-Term Impacts of Urban Sprawl. Urban sprawl is often seen as a convenient solution for rapid development, but it comes with significant challenges that impact our communities in the long run. Disconnected neighbourhoods can lead to increased car dependency, diminished community engagement, and longer commute times, ultimately detracting from the overall quality of life. As professionals in the design and construction sectors, it is crucial for us to recognize the importance of promoting sustainable and connected communities. While designers may face limitations in influencing policy and private sector decisions, we can play a vital role in educating our stakeholders on the benefits of thoughtful, integrated development. By fostering awareness around smart growth principles and advocating for spaces that prioritize connectivity and community interaction, we can encourage decision-makers to adopt practices that not only meet current needs but also enhance the resilience and vibrancy of our urban environments. Together, we can pave the way for a more sustainable future in South Africa's urban landscapes. #SmartGrowth #SustainableDevelopment #CommunityBuilding

I'm thrilled to have attended the recent housing webinar hosted by African Centre for Cities and Ndifuna Ukwazi. I had the opportunity to engage in an insightful conversation on housing and access to land. This experience has been invaluable for my research, providing me with a deeper understanding of the growing issues of urban occupations as alternative housing strategies in South Africa. The discussions highlighted the complexities of entering the housing market, revealing that the struggle extends beyond low-income groups to the middle-income segment as well. This raises critical questions about the significant challenges faced by middle-class groups in achieving home ownership and building wealth. Learning that both low and middle-income groups have difficulty accessing the housing market emphasises the importance of more inclusive and effective housing policies. Brazil's 1988 constitution, which views housing as a social function of property, has several lessons that I believe we might learn from. In addition, there is the 2001 City Statute that makes it unlawful to leave a vacant building. The Brazilian spatial plan of 2014, which focuses on the city taking over abandoned structures after five years without use for society, can also be used as a model by the South African government. I would like to thank the organisers and speakers Alison Hickey Tshangana, Prof Francois Viruly and Dr Suraya Scheba for shedding light on these critical issues and contributing to my ongoing research which focuses on responses to different forms of urban land occupations. I am looking forward to the third conversation of the recentering housing series. #Housing #UrbanPlanning #Research #UniversityoftheWitwatersrand #Recenteringhousingwebinar #Webinarinsights

Housing prices are rising across the globe. Community building may be the answer. Cities like Paris, Lisbon, or Brussels have permanent citizen assemblies to support decision-making in the housing sector. By leveraging collective intelligence, developers have found it easier to make more conscious decisions and adapt projects to local needs. Creating this dialogue not only helps address key issues but also helps to improve trust and reduce resistance to affordable or social housing projects. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/exkcDjuM #Housing #CommunityBuilding #CitizenAssemblies #CitizenEngagement

Global Housing Initiative Less Expensive Faster Turnaround Green Building Our passion is teaching others how to build safe and affordable housing in their own communities. Click the link to talk more about developing a partnership to meet the global housing needs. https://lnkd.in/geFhME_B #GlobalHousing #GlobalPartnership Wall-tech

#CDHAlert | In today's alert, Lutfiyya Kara talks about building a community: A step-by-step guide to township establishment in Johannesburg. Township establishment involves converting land, usually farmland, into a township by opening a township register. The Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act 16 of 2013 aims to develop a new framework to govern planning permissions and approvals, set parameters for new developments, and provide broad principles for a set of provincial laws that will regulate planning. In this alert, we outline the four phases of establishing a township in the City of Johannesburg. Click here to read more - https://bit.ly/4f3Uczp #RealEstateLaw #CommunityBuilding #TownshipEstablishment #FourPhasesOfEstablishment

Global Housing Initiative Less Expensive Faster Turnaround Green Building Our passion is teaching others how to build safe and affordable housing in their own communities. Click the link to talk more about developing a partnership to meet the global housing needs. https://lnkd.in/geFhME_B #GlobalHousing #HousingInitiative Wall-tech