Apartments for graduates - Affordable housing to retain talent

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Apartments for graduates - Affordable housing to retain talent

Promotion and production Public promotion

Main objectives of the project

Many recent graduates struggle to find a housing option. Despite its instability in the working market, they are not eligible for public loans or the vast majority of social housing options. The result is that they are forced to leave the city. Poznan faced the challenge to retain talent to help its economy while rental prices are at its highest point. For this reason, the Poznań Social Housing Association (PTBS) created “Apartments for graduates”. The programme consists of a promotion of social housing whose target are recent graduates under 36. Moreover, the programme also supports universities and local employers who gain young and qualified staff.

Date

  • 2015: Construction

Stakeholders

  • Promotor: Poznań Social Housing Association (PTBS)

Location

Country/Region: Poland, Poznan

Description

Numerous European cities are currently grappling with housing challenges, with adequate housing being a crucial component of overall quality of life. A segment of the population significantly impacted by steep apartment rents is young adults, with studies, and embarking on their independent lives. Typically earning modest incomes and often ineligible for loans, they find themselves financially constrained. Conversely, individuals from Generation Y exhibit a willingness to relocate for promising job opportunities without wanting to commit to substantial financial obligations. In 2015, recognizing this dilemma, the Poznań Social Housing Association (PTBS) launched an initiative titled "Apartments for Graduates" aimed at addressing the housing needs of university graduates and retaining young talent within the city.

This program offers affordable rental rates coupled with favorable housing conditions, leading to a surge in demand for its flats. Applicants undergo a selection process based on specific criteria of income, qualification, jobs opportunities... Successful tenants sign agreements for a fixed term of 10 years, after which apartments are reallocated. They then have the option to enter into indefinite tenancy agreements for other PTBS properties or participate in a rent-to-own scheme.

The existing housing estate comprises five residential buildings encompassing 143 apartments, including 77 one-room and 66 two-room units, along with two underground parking facilities. Situated in close proximity to amenities such as a city park, forest, and astronomy dome, the area is characterized by abundant light and green spaces while being conveniently located near the city center and its well-established infrastructure. Rent levels are tailored to the financial capabilities of young individuals, and apartment sizes and locations are aligned with their requirements.

While the primary objective of the program is to provide quality housing for young people, it also serves to foster the city's overall development. By attracting and retaining educated youth, it contributes to economic and social progress, fostering a vibrant community. Furthermore, the initiative benefits local universities and employers by supplying them with a pool of qualified, young professionals. Applicants are required to contribute to the city's development through tax payments.

Nowy Nikiszowiec Affordable Housing Settlement

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Nowy Nikiszowiec Affordable Housing Settlement

Mismatches
Promotion and production
Ownership and tenure

Main objectives of the project

Nowy Nikiszowiec Housing Settlement is an unprecedented example on the Polish housing market. This is mainly due to nature of the investment. It is the first Polish state-funded housing complex with flats intended for rent only. It is a step towards large part of customers who can't afford a mortgage and are looking for a place to live in decent conditions

Date

  • 2021: Construction

Stakeholders

  • Architect: Stanisław Tomaszewski
  • Architect: Paweł Gumuła
  • Architect: Karolina Bielonko
  • Architect: Katarzyna Kłaczek
  • Architect: Weronika Misiak
  • Architect: Aleksandra Zubelewicz-Lada
  • Architect: Michał Tatjewski
  • Architect: Maciej Kowalczyk
  • Architect: Wojciech Conder
  • Architect: Aleksander Drzewiecki

Location

Continent: Europe
Country/Region: Poland

Description

Nowy Nikiszowiec is a complex of multi-family buildings located in the iconic Nikiszowiec district of Katowice. The place is famous for its unique on a global scale, well-preserved housing estate from the beginning of the 20th century, intended for employees of the nearby Giesche mine. The newly created housing estate refers directly to the original idea of spatial arrangement, which is its historical counterpart.

The difference is the purpose of the new investment. The project is being developed not with mine employees in mind, but with a large social group of middle-class people looking for a flat but unable to get a mortgage to buy it. To meet this need, the Polish government launched a program called "Apartment for Development", in which it finances the construction of housing estates with flats for rent. The Nowy Nikiszowiec estate is the first case of this type on a larger scale
The Nikiszowiec district in the background of the city of Katowice resembles an island divided by forest areas and numerous expressways connecting the cities of Silesia. The designed housing estate has similar characteristics. It is surrounded on three sides by a forest, while to the east it borders the mine area and the historic estate from the beginning of the 20th century.

It consists of three buildings in a block shaped development. At the same time, it has many distinctive features, among which the brick-colored façades, terraced courtyards and the central square which is the core of the estate and future meeting center for residents. The buildings will contain 513 turnkey apartments for rent as part of the government program piloted by Polish Fund for Real Estate Development.

The main concern was to provide a scale-friendly space for residents with numerous references to the most interesting elements of the historic neighboring estate. The priority was to create an open space conducive to the integration of the local community, as opposed to the often fenced housing estates implemented by private developers.
The buildings are designed in a reinforced concrete skeleton structure. The predominant height is four storeys. The exceptions are eight-storey dominants at the corners of the buildings. In addition, the inclined area causes the buildings to gradually lower, creating a terraced shape of solids.

One of the most characteristic features of Nowy Nikiszowiec is the homogeneous facade, which has the same expression both outside and in the courtyards. Its colors, like many other features, were taken from the surrounding context where brick dominates. Due to the economic aspect the brick was replaced by a noble plaster with an admixture of shiny mica flakes. The façade is characterized by inter-window spaces shimmering in several brick shades, creating a characteristic rusty checkerboard. It is a reference to the composition of different shades of the brick facade, only applied on a larger scale. As a result, a unique effect was created that confusingly resembles facades made of prefabricated concrete facings.

An equally important element of this investment is the partial use of prefabricated concrete elements, such as stair flights, staircase landings and balcony slabs

Sprzeczna 4 Residential Building

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Sprzeczna 4 Residential Building

Policies and regulations
Financing
Urban Design
Promotion and production

Main objectives of the project

Sprzeczna 4 is a manifest of prefabrication. This prototypical, demonstration building ordered in our office was designed to disenchant prefabrication – a technology compromised in Poland in the communism era by the large-panel housing estates.

Date

  • 2017: Construction

Stakeholders

  • Architect: Jan Belina-Brzozowski
  • Architect: Konrad Grabowiecki
  • Architect: Wojciech Kotecki

Location

Continent: Europe
Country/Region: Poland

Description

The building was deliberately erected on a plot of land that apparently does not fit the stereotype of prefabrication: tiny, rambling and located in a compact 19th century frontage development. Consciously, at times unreasonably, all the available prefabrication technologies were applied: exposed coloured concrete, impression and reliefs, electrical installations integrated into the walls, heating ceilings and many more. The result is a building assembled from numerous large-size elements produced in a factory, not built with the hands of labourers on a construction site. The facility folded from large-size elements is not finished and it does not incorporate any accessories or decorations. It is a sincere story about what a building is, what it is made of and how it works.
Sprzeczna 4 has become an occasion to discuss current issues in housing construction. Not only does it stand as a polemic against the semi-feudal system of housing construction, which dates back to the 19th century and relies on the labor of poorly paid immigrants. It has also been exemplary in its implementation of fair business practices and appeals to society’s social responsibility with its low-cost technology.
precast sandwich concrete walls with insulation and architectural concrete elevation; aluminum glazing; timber windows; steel balustrades; timber terraces