Oukalas Project in Tunis

0

Oukalas Project in Tunis

Mismatches Segregation Vulnerable groups Demographic/Urban growth Vacant housing
Policies and regulations Global frameworks
Urban Design Liveability Inclusion Equity Segregation
Promotion and production

Main objectives of the project

Tunis grapples with intricate migration dynamics, serving as both a destination and a transit point for international migrants bound for Europe. Additionally, internal migration has significantly shaped the city's demographic landscape since gaining independence in 1956. Drawn by employment prospects, a large influx of internal migrants settled in Tunis, particularly in the historic center known as the Medina. This area saw an increase in vacant housing units as former residents moved to suburban areas seeking modern accommodations. In response to the housing challenges faced by these migrants, many from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, makeshift living arrangements called Oukalas emerged within the Medina. While these Oukalas provided affordable housing, they often lacked basic amenities, were overcrowded, and posed safety hazards due to deteriorating conditions. To address these issues, the Municipality of Tunis launched the Oukalas Project in 1991 with dual objectives: to improve living standards for residents, many of whom were internal migrants, and to preserve and restore historic structures within the neighborhood. This initiative, which concluded in 2012, positively impacted over 3,000 households in the Medina.

Date

  • 1991: Implementation
  • 2012: Rehabilitación

Stakeholders

  • Tunis Municipality

Location

Continent: Africa
Country/Region: Tunis, Tunisia

Description

Tunis experiences a significant influx of migrants, although the city does not undertake specific projects tailored exclusively to address their needs. Instead, the municipality incorporates migrants into existing social and cultural initiatives aimed at enhancing the overall quality of life for all residents of Tunis. One such initiative is the Oukalas project, which ran from 1991 to 2012. Focused on inhabitants of the Medina, including a substantial number of internal migrants, the project aimed to offer suitable housing and essential services while simultaneously preserving and revitalizing this historic area. Consequently, the project serves as an illustration of government-led revitalization efforts aimed at improving housing conditions for Medina residents, many of whom are internal migrants.

Oukala refers to an urban caravanserai, resembling a hotel where rooms are rented for short periods like days or weeks. Following the expansion of the city and shifts in demographics within the Medina, numerous private residences and historical landmarks in the old city were converted into multi-family dwellings. They were "oukalaised". These transformed dwellings accommodated multiple households, often those facing economic challenges, in substandard living conditions. Deterioration of buildings, compounded by inadequate rental regulations, rendered oukalas precarious residences for low-income families, with some buildings experiencing partial or complete collapse over time.

The oukalas project constitutes a multifaceted intervention strategy aiming to enhance living conditions and restore the aesthetic appeal of the Medina. By implementing appropriate technical, legal, and financial protocols, its overarching goal is to address the housing challenges within the Medina while preserving its cultural heritage.

Initially, the project aimed to improve the housing conditions of 3,000 households residing in the Medina's 600 oukalas through demolition and subsequent reconstruction. The program's broader objective focused on ameliorating the precarious living situations of the oukalas' occupants, encompassing several key components:

Re-housing: Identified 256 oukalas accommodating 1,296 households in severe disrepair for demolition. To accommodate these occupants, three new residential areas were established in Tunis' western suburbs—Douar Hicher, El Agba, and Sidi Hassine Séjoumi. New residents were offered 25-year sale-by-rent plans with affordable monthly payments.

Reconstruction: Sites of demolished oukalas were either sold through public auction or reclaimed by former owners. Municipality-led or private and public developers were tasked with new construction in accordance with existing land use regulations within the Medina.

Rehabilitation: Identified 404 oukalas housing 1,600 households requiring renovations to meet standards. This rehabilitation effort encompassed both privately and municipally owned housing stock. Private owners were offered a 15-year loan with a 5% interest rate and complimentary technical assistance.

Restoration/Adaptive Reuse: Thirteen buildings of significant historical or architectural value were identified for restoration and adaptive reuse for public purposes, with specific projects devised to facilitate their transformation.

In addition to ensuring secure housing and restoring historical edifices, the project extended social support to vulnerable residents of the Oukalas. These initiatives comprised various interventions, including the construction of 76 residences tailored for elderly individuals living independently, facilitation of loan access for 220 elderly individuals lacking familial or social support networks, provision of assistance for twelve disabled children encompassing education and healthcare expenses, allocation of 60 scholarship grants to local students pursuing higher education, and seasonal aid for vulnerable groups to address expenses related to religious observance and school year cycles.

The nature of the project evolved across its phases. In earlier stages, residents from central Oukalas were relocated to peripheral districts, prompting significant considerations regarding the impact of such relocations on residents' social connections and employment prospects. However, in the final phase, Oukalas inhabitants were offered housing opportunities within the Medina itself, in buildings constructed over the sites of previously demolished structures deemed unsafe in earlier phases. Residents were presented with the option to rent or purchase these new apartments at discounted rates, with residents covering expenses equivalent to construction costs, supplemented by contributions from the municipality and the national government.

The Oukalas is one of the major transformations of the city center in Northern Africa.

Al-Darb al-Ahmar Housing Rehabilitation Programme (ADAA HRP), Cairo

0

Al-Darb al-Ahmar Housing Rehabilitation Programme (ADAA HRP), Cairo

Mismatches Financing Segregation Functional adequacy Cultural suitability Vulnerable groups Demographic/Urban growth
Policies and regulations Local policies Planning Data and monitoring Public-private initiatives
Financing Financial actors Supply subsidies Public-private collaboration
Urban Design Urban fabrics Environments Liveability Public-private initiative
Promotion and production Public-private partnerships Private promotion

Main objectives of the project

The district of Al-Darb al-Ahmar in Cairo holds significant historical importance, yet its approximately 100,000 residents are among the most economically disadvantaged in the city. Despite being home to numerous Islamic landmarks, the area suffers from inadequate infrastructure and services, leading to a high prevalence of health issues among its inhabitants. In response, the Housing Rehabilitation Programme (HRP) was initiated to enhance both the quality and quantity of housing while adhering to health standards and preserving the district's architectural heritage. Launched in 2004 with a goal of rehabilitating 200 houses by the end of 2009, the programme has since continued with ongoing efforts, reliant on the involvement of local communities and contributions from various donors. The HRP is committed to improving housing conditions sustainably by addressing the root causes of deterioration through a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach involving all stakeholders. The goal is to change the “Action Areas” and the surrounding of monuments into vivid communities.

Date

  • 2004: Rehabilitación

Stakeholders

  • Promotor: Aga Khan Trust for Culture
  • Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance
  • Ford Foundation
  • Cairo Government

Location

Continent: Africa
Country/Region: Cairo, Egypt

Description

The Greater Cairo Region, with a population exceeding 18 million, confronts substantial challenges, notably over half residing in informal settlements. The Cairo Governorate alone hosts over 7 million inhabitants, positioning Cairo as one of the Arab world's most populous cities boasting a rich Islamic architectural heritage. Over the past century, urban management policies have grappled with the region's burgeoning population and associated issues such as informal housing proliferation, overcrowding in historic areas, and the deterioration of ancient urban fabrics due to transformations and gentrification.

Less than two centuries ago, al-Darb al-Ahmar epitomized wealth in Cairo. Today, its 100,000 residents, living within a historic district spanning 1.2 square kilometers, rank among the city's poorest. Despite its central location, historical significance, and vibrant community, living conditions have steadily deteriorated, resulting in a 50% population decline since the 1970s. Contributing factors include infrastructure neglect, low incomes, and the degradation of monuments and private housing. Outdated planning regulations, coupled with tenure insecurity and unrealistic rent controls, exacerbate the situation. Nonetheless, al-Darb al-Ahmar maintains social cohesion and architectural authenticity, necessitating interventions meeting varied needs while upholding health standards. Thus, the Housing Rehabilitation Programme emerged, advocating against neighborhood demolition while enhancing housing quality and quantity, preserving original architectural elements.

In 1999, a survey in the Aslam Mosque neighborhood kick-started efforts to identify planning and housing strategies for area-wide preservation and development. Subsequent baseline surveys in 2003 revealed alarming deficiencies, with 22% of dwelling units lacking private lavatories, 51% deprived of consistent water sources in kitchens, and 32% suffering from non-ventilated rooms. Despite declining living conditions, 86% of residents expressed a desire to remain in al-Darb al-Ahmar.

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture spearheaded redevelopment post-survey, focusing on physical upgrades and socioeconomic development. By 2004, completion milestones included 19 community-owned houses, a health center, a business center, school building restoration, and reconstructed minarets. Additional housing rehabilitation projects ensued, supported by microcredit programs. Subsequent phases targeted broader infrastructure enhancements and private investment facilitation. Emphasizing local engagement and capacity-building, the project ensured staff recruitment from the al-Darb al-Ahmar community, foreseeing self-sustaining credit services and envisioning microcredit activities evolving into a formal microfinance bank.

The policy targets the residents, businesses, and social groups within the district. The proposed urban improvement program by AKTC necessitates coordinated physical, social, and economic efforts sustained over an extended period. It also emphasizes the importance of institutional capacity-building, including supporting the establishment of local NGOs across various domains until they can operate with reduced assistance. Additionally, a public/private Development Corporation has been set up as an overarching entity in Al-Darb al-Ahmar, tasked with coordinating ongoing activities, generating income from restored facilities and services, and ultimately overseeing a self-sustained rehabilitation process. Furthermore, there is a focus on promoting community awareness and self-governance as a means of restoring the traditional Muslim city feature in residential areas and enhancing cultural awareness among residents.

Resource types, roles, and team players are diverse. It has financial resources from the Social Fund for Development, Aga Khan Trust for Culture, and Ford Foundation grants; residents’ direct financial and in-kind contributions (cost share 30% to 50% of rehabilitation costs); and Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance’s housing loans to support different income levels. The technical expertise in rehabilitation comes from the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the Community Development Corporation; partners at different levels ranging from Cairo Governorate, municipal authorities, community-based organizations, to communitymembers; and local HRP staff providing administration and technical support. And, as we stated, there is Microenterprises, suppliers, and small contractors in Al-Darb al-Ahmar providing construction and finishing works.

To bolster physical rehabilitation efforts, the Housing Rehabilitation Programme (HRP) has enlisted a social housing team. This team aids in procuring the necessary legal documentation for building rehabilitation, mediates among stakeholders, and ensures that all non-physical conditions are addressed prior to the commencement of physical rehabilitation. Once a preliminary agreement is reached with residents of earmarked buildings, an independent credit team evaluates the creditworthiness of individual families. Consequently, microcredit loans are allocated based on each family's earnings. This microcredit scheme serves both tenants and property owners while ensuring secure tenure. Notably, through negotiations with tenants, property owners, and public authorities, approximately 285 households facing eviction due to deteriorating structural conditions were granted secured tenure status. These households were part of the housing stock at risk of demolition, and their rehabilitation allowed tenants to retain their residences.

The Housing Rehabilitation Programme catalyzed policy shifts, influencing demolition regulations and urban planning practices to prioritize community needs and conservation. Notable outcomes include a decree protecting existing housing stock near monuments and a revised conservation plan fostering community involvement. In summary, the program safeguarded residents' tenure, established national planning norms acknowledging community needs, and circulated a significant percentage of rehabilitation costs within the community, fostering job creation and supporting local businesses.

Dzivarasekwa Slum Upgrading Project, Zimbabwe

0

Dzivarasekwa Slum Upgrading Project, Zimbabwe

Mismatches Vulnerable groups Demographic/Urban growth
Policies and regulations Local policies Planning Governance Evictions Participatory processes
Financing Savings systems Public-private collaboration
Promotion and production Favelas/Slums

Main objectives of the project

The Dzivarasekwa Slum Upgrading Project, situated in Dzivarasekwa Extension, is a significant component of the broader Harare Slum Upgrading Project. Spearheaded by the Zimbabwe Homeless People's Federation and the Dialogue on Shelter for the Homeless Trust, in collaboration with the City of Harare and the central government, this initiative marks the first instance of city authorities partnering directly with slum communities in such a manner. This innovative partnership model empowers residents to actively participate in all aspects of the upgrading process, ensuring that improvements align closely with their needs and priorities. Additionally, residents receive training across various fields, including construction, fostering skills development and community involvement. Commencing in 2011, construction efforts remain ongoing, with 480 families poised to benefit as primary recipients of land for housing development, leading to enhanced tenure security and the provision of essential services such as water and sanitation facilities.

Date

  • 2011: Rehabilitación

Stakeholders

  • Promotor: City of Harare
  • Promotor: Zimbabwe Homeless People’s Federation
  • Promotor: Dialogue on Shelter for the Homeless in Zimbabwe Trust
  • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
  • Slum Dwellers International (SDI)
  • Selavip Foundation

Location

Continent: Africa
Country/Region: Harare, Zimbabwe

Description

Following independence in 1980, Zimbabwe witnessed a significant influx of rural residents migrating to urban areas, resulting in the rapid proliferation of slums throughout major towns and cities. However, the lack of housing development exacerbated this issue. In response, the government launched a nationwide slum clearance campaign in 2005, displacing thousands and demolishing their homes. During this campaign, slum dwellers were relocated to holding camps, including the one in Dzivarasekwa Extension in Harare, where basic services were lacking. Two years later, the government allocated land to upgrade the settlement, aiming to prevent further eviction and displacement. In 2010, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Dialogue on Shelter for the Homeless in Zimbabwe Trust, Zimbabwe Homeless People’s Federation, and the City of Harare, focusing on city-wide slum upgrading initiatives, marking a radical shift in approach where city authorities collaborated directly with slum communities.

The Dzivarasekwa project aimed to enhance living conditions for residents, promote inclusive local government practices, and serve as a model for upgrading other slums under the Harare Slum Upgrading Project (HSUP). The project's implementation involved distinct roles for various organizations. The Dialogue on Shelter for the Homeless in Zimbabwe Trust and the Zimbabwe Homeless People’s Federation were responsible for documentation, labor provision, community mobilization, and construction, while the City of Harare oversaw infrastructure installation, technical expertise provision, and project supervision. A project management committee, comprising community, alliance, and city representatives, supervised the upgrade project. Funding for the project was sourced from savings by beneficiaries, waivers from the City of Harare, and contributions from partners like the Selavip Foundation, SDI, DFID, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Community engagement was integral to every phase of the Dzivarasekwa initiative to ensure improvements aligned with residents’ needs. Community members participated in data collection, mapping, inventorying, service upgrading, and housing planning and construction. Architectural designs for new homes were developed through community consultations, leading to the adoption of a semi-detached design to reduce construction costs. Residents contributed to trench digging, pipe laying, and house building, while artisan training programs produced teams of plumbers and bricklayers. Housing beneficiaries were selected based on household employment status and income, with priority given to vulnerable households led by children, elderly, or women. The average cost per 24 square meter house was $2,400 USD, financed through resident loans from savings groups.

Since commencement in 2011, approximately 2,050 residents have obtained secure land tenure, 336 homes have been constructed, and 1,344 people have been housed. Sanitation facilities have been upgraded, solar-powered water and lighting systems installed, and roads tarred. Slums like Dzivarasekwa are now recognized as integral parts of the city, aligning with its broader development agenda. This integration fosters community inclusion and secures housing rights and access to basic services. The project contributed to the formulation of the Harare Slum Upgrading Strategy in 2012, enhancing residents' understanding of city processes, rights, and obligations. This initiative established a precedent for constructive engagement between local authorities and slum communities, contrasting previous adversarial relations marked by evictions and demolitions. Lessons learned from the Dzivarasekwa project are being applied in other HSUP initiatives across Harare and beyond, such as in Masvingo, where the city council has supported the construction of 1,000 eco-san toilets.

Nettelbeckplatz renovation

0

Nettelbeckplatz renovation

Mismatches Diversity Vulnerable groups
Promotion and production Cooperatives

Main objectives of the project

The Housing Cooperative Berliner Bau- und Wohnungsgenossenschaft von 1892 eG (referred to as 1892) embarked on an experimental and forward-thinking revitalization of a housing complex dating back to the 1970s. This renovation was guided by an award-winning collaborative process, engaging a broad coalition of architects, social and healthcare organizations, and research teams from the EU-funded DREEAM project, alongside residents, neighborhood committees, and 1892 staff. The approach adopted encompassed both conventional and innovative technological solutions, including the implementation of PV energy storage. Additionally, the initiative aimed to diversify the social composition of the neighborhood by inviting various groups to reside within the estate, such as singles, families, retirees, students, artists, couples, or occupants of shared flats. To address diverse needs, the architectural strategy incorporated adaptable housing sizes and layouts, as well as the transformation of existing units into communal and public spaces, fostering a heightened sense of community and belonging. The rent increased by 1.05€/m2, but this was outweighed by energy savings. The total costs were reduced.

Date

  • 2019: Rehabilitación

Stakeholders

  • Promotor: Housing Cooperative 1892
  • Architect: tafkaoo architects

Location

Continent: Europe
City: Berlin
Country/Region: Berlin, Germany

Description

The cooperative housing estate "Nettelbeckplatz" traces its origins to the era of stringent refurbishment strategies of the 1970s, which aimed to replace the so-called "Mietskaserne" (tenants' barracks) characterized by dimly lit rear courtyards and inhospitable living conditions. During that time, an official renewal program mandated the complete demolition of these old building areas to construct "modern" social housing structures. In 1973, the housing cooperative "1892" participated in this program, erecting a building complex reaching up to seven levels high, situated in the traditional workers' quarter of Berlin-Wedding. The original 175 apartments were arranged around a verdant courtyard featuring playgrounds and recreational spaces. The cooperative served as the cornerstone for fostering a robust local community grounded in self-help, solidarity, and self-organization.

Four decades later, the effects of demographic shifts are evident, with over 40% of the residents surpassing the age of 65. Many inhabitants now require barrier-free accommodations or assisted living options. The once-vibrant community has seen a decline in vitality and influence within the neighborhood. Moreover, the state of the building structure has deteriorated, necessitating renovation. In addition to inadequate energy standards, certain entrance areas and floor plans no longer meet contemporary needs. Compounded by social issues in the surrounding disadvantaged area, an atmosphere of insecurity and social decline has emerged.

The renovation project focused on upgrading the thermal and technical conditions of the existing building. Measures included roof insulation, window replacement, and the installation of solar panels. Furthermore, to enhance comfort and reduce heating energy consumption, windows were substituted. Renewable energy production, utilizing photovoltaic panels on the roof for common areas, was augmented with a battery storage system (Tesla PowerWall) for optimal community utilization of generated energy. Elevators were also refurbished.

The open ground floor area, where security concerns such as drug consumption were prevalent, was closed off. However, the section connecting two courtyards remained open. New dwellings were constructed in these remaining ground floor spaces to accommodate student and elderly residents, alongside the addition of communal areas, fostering a more diverse and interconnected community.

Residents actively participated in the project, engaging in a study within the DREEAM project to monitor energy consumption trends in the neighborhood. A trained group of residents exhibited 30-50% lower energy consumption compared to the control group, showcasing significant energy savings. The reduction in energy consumption, as demonstrated by the DREEAM project, was as high as 50% compared to pre-renovation measurements.

This project serves as a blueprint not only within the housing cooperative "1892" but also for other community-oriented investors. In the context of increasing urbanization, particularly in Berlin, and to counteract speculation, interdisciplinary approaches are essential to synthesize quantified growth, intelligent building design, affordability, and social values into sustainable developments. This innovative project integrates various aspects, including the renewal and further development of housing estates through multi-building strategies and integration into the surrounding neighborhood area. Insights gleaned from this project could inform the development of similar urban strategies in the future. Additionally, the project underscores the value of employee motivation stemming from involvement in a European project, providing opportunities for cross-cultural exchange and learning from counterparts in other countries.

Soap factory Heymans

0

Soap factory Heymans

Policies and regulations
Urban Design
Promotion and production
Ownership and tenure

Main objectives of the project

The Savonnerie Heymans complex reflects a truly sustainable approach by recreating a real new neighbourhood of 42 low-energy and passive social accommodations including apartments, lofts, duplexes and Maisonettes.

Date

  • 2010: Rehabilitación

Stakeholders

  • Architect: Marie Moignot
  • Architect: Xavier de Wil
  • Architect: Gilles Debrun

Location

City: Bruxelles
Country/Region: Belgium, Brussels

Description

Winning scheme of a European competition organised by the developer, the Savonnerie Heymans complex reflects a truly sustainable approach by recreating a real new neighbourhood of 42 low-energy and passive social accommodations including apartments, lofts, duplexes and Maisonettes. Although a 100% public housing scheme, thanks to the diversity of its program the Savonnerie Heymans provides a variety of spaces echoing the diversity of the people living in the very heart of Brussels. Glass-enclosed bioclimatic loggias characterise the entire complex, providing an effective acoustical and thermal barrier but also providing a sense of privacy.

On the 6,500m² site of a former soap factory less than half a mile from the Grand’Place, the social housing project creates a real “village” of 42 sustainable accommodations of different types including studios, 1 to 6-bedroom apartments, lofts, duplexes and Maisonettes.

Although a 100% public housing scheme, thanks to the diversity of its program the Savonnerie Heymans provides a variety of spaces echoing the diversity of the people living in the very heart of Brussels. Glass-enclosed bioclimatic loggias characterise the entire complex, providing an effective acoustical and thermal barrier but also providing a sense of privacy.

Considering Brussels’ rapid growth in population, the scheme features high density accommodations equipped with amenities such as a room for social meetings and events, a crèche and extensive public space: the “Mini-forest” garden, the 3D landscaped park and playground and the main promenade.

All the existing valuable - but not listed - historic buildings and elements such as the chimney, the main 19th century house on the street and the postal relay were retained and integrated into the complex (the 40m high chimney, for example, was used as part of the underground garage ventilation system).

The glass-enclosed bioclimatic loggias provide each housing unit with a state-of-the-art acoustical and thermal barrier requiring no expensive/complicated services to run and lowering considerably energy consumption. The Loft building has been treated one step further as thanks to super-tight insulation, the building is now considerate “Passive” and requires less than 15 Kw/m2 per year to heat.
Located on the site of a former soap factory, the decontaminated land now welcomes a high-density social housing complex that provides a series of private outdoor spaces allowing its occupants to interact easily with each other and creating a convivial, village-like atmosphere.

The scheme was intentionally developed around the concepts of sustainable development (socially, economically and environmentally) and relies on low-serviced buildings. The glass-enclosed bioclimatic loggias provide each housing unit with a buffer acting as a state-of-the-art insulation tool lowering considerably energy consumption and protecting from the city centre noises. They also allow sharing the variety of arrangements of the semi outdoor space of each individual unit.
Beside the loggias, the scheme also features a collective heating system for the entire site (cogeneration), sanitary hot water heated by 60m² of solar panels, rainwater harvesting and natural materials for insulation (hemp fibres, expanded cork etc.). Whenever possible, existing buildings and structures have been retained and reused.

Neppert Gardens Social Housing, 59 Dwellings

0

Neppert Gardens Social Housing, 59 Dwellings

Financing
Urban Design
Promotion and production
Ownership and tenure

Main objectives of the project

The project is located in Mulhouse in a popular district close to the city center, currently under renovation. It includes 59 social rental dwellings developed by SOMCO, operator on public social housing. A few years after the Cité Manifeste experience, our common goal was to pursue the same aims: generous dwellings without increasing the rent.

Date

  • 2015: Rehabilitación

Stakeholders

  • Architect: Anne Lacaton
  • Architect: Jean Philippe Vassal

Location

City: Mulhouse
Country/Region: France, Mulhouse

Description

3 blocks of 20 dwellings that are built along the two streets; Neppert and Buhler and define a collective small garden in the middle.

The aim of the project is first defined in terms of quality of living :

- to create dwellings with surfaces bigger than standard.

- to offer additional and intermediate spaces with characteristics that differ from traditional rooms in an individual house and that widen the possibilities for usage, the diversity of spaces and the climatic conditions.

- to bring the collective housing close to the qualities of an individual house in developing outdoor spaces that extend the indoor rooms.

- to optimize the number of dwellings in comparison to the plot capacity in order to develop an efficient project economy that allows to create the largest possible surfaces for the housing.
The objective shared with the client was to create an innovative project with typologies that differ greatly from standard. The aim is to create a diversity in housing and a social mix, an attractive housing scheme in an area that is little sought after.

The flats, from T1 to T5, offer various plans and typologies of one-storey and duplex apartments.

The housing units offer surfaces that are nearly twice as large as a standard dwelling but nevertheless within the same budget. They offer living spaces in a dense urban environment that are comparable to those of a house.

The density, the maximum use of the right to build on the site, the combination of typologies, the effective construction system along with collaboration with the developer have all combined to allow for this generosity in space whilst also creating a large number of dwellings.

All the flats are dual-aspect. The living rooms, (south east orientation and a 10m wide façade), open on to a terrace that can be fully closed in winter.

These winter gardens, largely open in summer, define a bioclimatic system with a wide natural ventilation.

They offer an extra space supplementary to the living rooms, like a private garden.
The efficiency of the structure is the key point in the economy of the design that allows for the creation of oversized surfaces without an increase in construction cost.

The 3 buildings are designed on the same principles of construction: a post and beam structure with reinforced concrete slabs, using prefabricated elements. The 10m grid, without intermediate posts, defines the width of the dwellings and allows for the creation of large spaces that are not constrained by the structure.

The facades consist in fully glazed sliding framework and are equipped with thermal curtains and shading devices.

The winter gardens are closable in winter with the use of aluminum framed shutters clad in transparent polycarbonate. These are sliding shutters that come to stand on one side of the balcony.

The bioclimatic concept performs in terms of energy saving and fulfills a good standard of low energy construction.

The winter gardens create an intermediate non-heated space that plays a very active role in the thermal efficiency. They improve and naturally moderate the normal external conditions by creating a buffer volume, very favorable in terms of energy saving.

Experimental Public Housing

0

Experimental Public Housing

Policies and regulations
Financing
Urban Design
Ownership and tenure

Main objectives of the project

Our time strives for the environmental quality of buildings and their energy frugality. In a social perspective of housing history, such collective pleas have lead to creating housing schemes, garden cities and even Bastides. In our turn, aware of this issue, which architectural expression will our generation convey?

Date

  • 2013: Rehabilitación

Stakeholders

  • Architect: Marc Reynaud
  • Architect: Armand Nouvet
  • Architect: Thibaud Babled

Location

Continent: Europe
City: Paris
Country/Region: France

Description

This small experimental building was an opportunity to look into sustainable construction. Very low energy consumption goals are achieved exclusively through architectural means. That is, without relying on technological accessories, but using definitely low-tech displays and devices (orientation, windows, piers, verandas, curtains) and involving inhabitants gestures and use of their home. Therefore the façade geometry is ever changing, animated by use, weather and glass reflexions. The global architectural design proposes some evidence: it favours a straight expression of its construction.
The project is part of the urban redevelopment of the Frequel-
Fontarabie block in North-East Paris. It was to become a pilot operation for the newly voted Plan Climat de la Ville de Paris, which asked for a maximum energy expenditure of 50 kWh/m2/year. To meet this target, the architectural team decided to rely solely on architecture on a site that, although very dense, offered to take advantage of sun.
The new volumes are adjusted to the end walls of the next buildings to reduce shadows. They draw a ribbon garden shared by residents and opening onto the new public garden, constructions getting lower as you penetrate the block.
The three entrance-halls open directly onto this courtyard. Each one is open to all residents: respectively giving access to the underground garage, the letterboxes or the bike storage room.
The bearing structure is minimized to a post-slab system using less concrete, offering more flexibility in flat layouts and enabling future conversion of the building. The resulting colonnade, allows the sunlight deep into the flats.
Limited use of concrete on facades favours a larger use of renewable materials. Custom-made wood framed sliding windows give a very precise quality to both exterior and interiors.
Apartments are designed so as to maximise natural light and ventilation, most bathrooms opening onto a window. Inhabitants are given greater control over temperatures in any season.
The double envelop sets an acoustic and bioclimatic device reinforced by Trombe walls. Sunlight penetrates the first extra-clear glass envelope and hits the wavy wall, whose dark matt surface turns light into heat. To stop this natural heating, inhabitants simply roll down the blind facing the wall and open the exterior windows.
Size of the site :944 m2
Size of the building :1960 m2 (GFA)

110 ROOMS. Collective Housing

0

110 ROOMS. Collective Housing

Policies and regulations
Promotion and production
Ownership and tenure

Main objectives of the project

The collective housing contains a system of 110 rooms, which can be used as desired. Answering to the client’s demand, each apartment can be expanded or reduced adding or subtracting rooms in order to answer to inhabitants needs. With that flexibility in mind, rooms are similar eliminating any type of spatial hierarchy and program predetermination.

Date

  • 2016: Rehabilitación

Stakeholders

  • Architect: Guillermo López Ibáñez
  • Architect: Alfredo Lérida Horta
  • Architect: Anna Puigjaner Barberá
  • Architect: María Charneco Llanos

Location

Continent: Europe
City: Barcelona
Country/Region: Spain

Description

The building is designed as a system of similar rooms. So each apartment can be sized and programed depending on the need.

For the next years, each floor is divided as a set of 4 apartments of 5 rooms. Rooms are connected, no corridor is needed. A kitchenette is placed in the middle acting as the center, the other rooms will be used as bedrooms and livingrooms. This flexibility is able due to the position of bathrooms, where all installations are placed as points for supply. The interior patio is roofless allowing natural ventilation, an important factor for comfort and consume control.

The ground floor refers to Eixample’s traditional halls where marbles and large spaces define the place of reception and representation. The facade as well searches to consolidate the traditional style of the area, where prevail opaque stucco walls with vertical openings and balconies.
This project is born from the radicalization of everything that seems to us valuable from Eixample’s typological tradition. Thus, floor plants are formalized following the distribution of equal (or almost equal) rooms that traditionally characterized late XIX C. housing in the area, and have modified their use throughout the decades without substantial changes. A rigid system that allows changing its use over time.

Something similar happens with the façade, where the traditional archetypal composition has simply been replicated to consolidate the preexistent: vertical openings, balconies and wood shutters. Zero invention, pure reproduction. The façade finishing is done with traditional lime stucco, which, as often happened, represents through its pattern the memory of its old inhabitants.

The ground floor recovers the popular language of old Eixample’s halls, where, through furniture and large habitable objects, the space was arranged to house different uses. Here, these furnitures are transformed into marble volumes in the middle of a large open space (where it literally rains allowing to understand the hall as an extension of the street)
The building structure is defined by a mixed system. In the ground floor a metallic structure forms each volume, and supports the building loads. The rest of the floors are supported by a reticular grid of concrete pillars and slabs, which define an order that allows future changes.

The construction system rationalizes costs and optimizes long-term use. Thus, the constructive solutions follow the tradition of the Eixample’s neighborhood, where the building is placed. Solutions which have been already used during decades there, proofing to be successful and efficient.

At the exterior façade, a ceramic layer with thermal insulation is suspended covering completely the structure and the inner enclosure. This sheet defines a continuous base for the finishing coating, which is a two-color lime stucco following the traditional neighborhood façade type. The exterior carpentry is done with laminated pine wood, complemented with traditional wood shutters for sun and ventilation regulation, increasing the building’s energetic efficiency.

In the interior, all the partitions are done with dry wall systems, allowing easy future changes in room connections.

Transformation of 530 dwellings

0

Transformation of 530 dwellings

Policies and regulations
Financing
Promotion and production
Ownership and tenure

Main objectives of the project

The project consists in the transformation of 3 social housing’s buildings of 530 dwellings.

Date

  • 2017: Rehabilitación

Stakeholders

  • Architect: Christophe Hutin
  • Architect: Frederic Druot
  • Architect: Jean Philippe Vassal
  • Architect: Anne Lacaton

Location

Continent: Europe
City: Bordeaux
Country/Region: France

Description

The transformation gives to all dwellings new qualities of space and living, by inventorying very precisely the existing qualities that should be preserved, and what is missing that must be supplemented.

The addition of large winter gardens and balconies in extension of the existing give the opportunity, for each apartment, to enjoy more space, more natural light, more mobility of use and more views.

The existing small windows are replaced by large glazed sliding doors opening onto the winter garden.

The technical facilities are upgraded: bathrooms electrical installation, the two former elevators in every staircase are replaced by a bigger one and supplemented by a new elevator.

New access halls are done and the gardens in front of the building are improved. All the families stayed in their dwelling during the construction works. No increase of rent after the transformation.
While the high-rise buildings for luxury housing are now designated as examples of ecological housing, the G, H and I buildings offer the opportunity to reach these qualities immediately, in a generous, economic and sustainable way.

Due to the proposal of transformation with all inhabitants inside, the project excludes interventions on the existing structure, stairs or floors, and proceeds by additions and extensions, large enough to be fully used. Inside the flats, only refurbishment of facilities or finishes has been done.

The extensions of 3,80m deep widen the space of use and the mobility through large glazed sliding doors connecting every room to the winter garden, offering, as in a house, a pleasant private semi outdoor space.

The energetic performance of the building envelope is highly improved by the addition of winter gardens which act as passive solar collectors.

The work on economy allows to concentrate the budget on the extensions, the key point to improve in a significant and sustainable way the dwellings quality. The overall cost of transformation respects the budget, based on the usual cost for a basic renovation of facades, insulations, and facilities.
In order to reduce the duration of the works, the construction uses prefabricated modules, fast built like scaffolding in front of the building. Precasted slabs and columns are transported to the site and lifted into position by a crane to form a freestanding structure. Concrete poured in place was used only for foundations.

Along the added structure, the original windows are removed in a specific intervention to take care of asbestos-contaminated seals. Concrete window sills are removed to open from floor-to-ceiling, and create double-glazed sliding doors. Thermal curtains behind the glass provide extra insulation to the heated interiors.

On the other side, a lightweight façade of transparent, corrugated polycarbonate panels and glass in aluminium frames is assembled and equipped with reflective solar curtains. Glazed hand railings run along the balconies.

A proper planning and scheduling of the construction site allowed to achieve the transformation in just 12-16 days per apartment: half day for laying the concrete slab, 2 days for adapting the old façade, 2 days for placing the new façade, and 8-12 days for renovating the interiors.

FAVELA-BAIRRO

0

FAVELA-BAIRRO

Promotion and production Public promotion Participatory processes Materials Self-construction Transformation and adaptation Favelas/Slums

Main objectives of the project

The Rio de Janeiro Urbanization Program for Popular Settlements (PROAP), popularly known as Favela-Bairro, is an urbanization program managed by the Rio de Janeiro City Hall. Linked to the Municipal Secretariat of Urbanism, Infrastructure and Housing, the program aims to implement urban infrastructure, services, public facilities and social policies in communities in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The main objective of Favela-Bairro is to integrate the favela into the city. The Inter-American Development Bank considers it a model project for public policies to combat poverty and misery. Nominated by the UN as an example for other countries to follow in the World Cities Report 2006/07, Favela-Bairro was also chosen as one of the world's best projects presented at Expo 2000 in Hannover.

Date

  • 1994: Rehabilitación

Stakeholders

Location

City: Rio de Janeiro
Country/Region: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro

Description

In 1992, the Ten-Year Master Plan for the City of Rio de Janeiro (PDDCRJ-92) was instituted by Complementary Law No. 16, which, among other measures, determined that favelas should have the character of neighborhoods, with quality services and infrastructure. The Master Plan represented a major advance over the 1937 Building Code, whose language treated favelas as "aberrations". Following the new guidelines of the Master Plan, Favela-Bairro emerged in 1993 as one of several municipal neighborhood improvement projects proposed by the new city hall leadership. The program was conceived by the then Municipal Secretary of Urbanism, and would be coordinated by the newly created Municipal Housing Secretariat. The program emerged from a consensus on the need to improve favelas following the following basic principles: The recognition of housing as a citizen's right; The understanding that housing should be integrated into the urban space; The assumption that public investments in housing should only be made when necessary to improve the urban environment and infrastructure or to address risk situations. The Favela-Bairro program prioritized the incorporation of favelas into the existing urbanized fabric, for example, by normalizing the urban situation and providing these neighborhoods with adequate urban infrastructure. According to GEAP (Executive Group on Popular Settlements), the objective of the program was "to build or complement the main urban structure (sanitation and democratization of access) and provide the environmental conditions to read the favela as just another neighborhood in the city. The program is distinguished by having as a principle to intervene as little as possible, focusing more on the recovery of public spaces and the implementation of infrastructures. After its creation in the context of the Master Plan, Favela-Bairro was incorporated into Rio de Janeiro's Strategic Plan (1995), whose objectives at the time were: the improvement of living conditions in the favelas through the implementation of basic services (leisure, health, education, water, sewage, electricity, etc.), the requalification of accesses and the regularization of land that would allow them to be characterized as neighborhoods. Thus, the Favela-Bairro program became part of two planning models: the Master Plan and the Strategic Plan. In 1994, the IAB/RJ organized the Public Contest for the Selection of Methodological and Physical-Spatial Proposals for the Urbanization of Favelas in the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro, in order to develop intervention projects. This first initiative targeted fifteen small and medium-sized favelas. For the execution of the first stage of the Program, resources from the municipality and from agreements with the European Union, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) of the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) were incorporated. The competition was open to teams of architects and urban planners established in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The competition was organized with the support of the Institute of Architects of Brazil of Rio de Janeiro and received applications from 34 teams, mobilizing about 150 professionals, which represented a very significant acceptance considering the still small number of offices dedicated to the theme of low-income housing in the State of Rio de Janeiro.