‘They look like homes for rich people’: why Britain should look to Europe for its council housing revolution
On the continent, stylish, sustainable, community-minded social housing is a given, and nowhere more so than in Spain – from an elegant Barcelona women’s refuge to cool, solid stone houses in Mallorca
In Britain, as our government has promised, we’re going to have a “council housing revolution”, the building of as yet unknown numbers of homes at genuinely affordable rents, a return to policies of 50 and more years ago in order to address the well-known housing crisis. Which is welcome. It also raises the question of what these homes may be like, of their quality as well as their quantity, whether they are stacked-up accumulations of units or places that contribute to their communities and enrich the lives of their inhabitants.
Luckily there are, close at hand, outstanding examples of how this might be done, in cities and countries on the continent of Europe. In many of these places, public bodies and architects see their job as doing more than meeting numbers of homes completed. They also want to make beautiful places to live, sustainable to build and run, with homes planned to suit contemporary ways of living, and with shared and public spaces given as much importance as the private interiors. They seek to reduce environmental impacts by using natural materials, and to adapt existing buildings where possible rather than demolish them. They aim to reduce the costs of heating and air conditioning almost to zero – a simple-enough ambition, and extremely important to their tenants.
Continue reading...Topics
-
GOP Control of the House Looks Likely
Business - Inc. - Yesterday -
UK looks at handing asylum seeker housing contracts back to local councils
Business - Financial Times - November 4 -
The Fed Looks Like It Made a Mistake With Its Jumbo Rate Cut
Business - Inc. - October 18 -
Here's why inflation may look like it's easing but is still a huge problem
Business - CNBC - October 19 -
Why these Celtics look so much like the 73-win Warriors
Sports - ESPN - 5 days ago -
Why Steelers should be considered legitimate AFC contenders entering second half of 2024 NFL season
Sports - CBS Sports - October 29 -
Why Shaq loves Steph, says he looks ‘like a normal office guy'
Sports - Yahoo Sports - October 26 -
Four reasons why Knicks fans were thrilled with home opener as new-look lineup blows out Pacers
Sports - CBS Sports - October 26 -
UK government looks at ending Gove ban on councils opening new schools
Business - Financial Times - 3 days ago
More from The Guardian
-
Trump advisers reportedly consider ‘warrior board’ to remove military leaders; Mike Huckabee named US envoy to Israel – live
World - The Guardian - 37 minutes ago -
Jack Teixeira sentenced to 15 years after pleading guilty to Pentagon leaks
World - The Guardian - 40 minutes ago -
Justin Welby to quit as archbishop of Canterbury over handling of abuse scandal
World - The Guardian - 3 hours ago -
Aid groups accuse Israel of ignoring US ultimatum on ‘apocalyptic’ Gaza crisis
World - The Guardian - 4 hours ago -
Dozens killed in China after car driven into sports centre
World - The Guardian - 9 hours ago
Latest in World
-
Israel Intensifies Strikes in Lebanon Amid Push for Cease-Fire
World - The New York Times - 5 minutes ago -
Middle East latest: US won't halt any weapons to Israel over Gaza humanitarian aid situation
World - ABC News - 6 minutes ago -
Jannik Sinner v Taylor Fritz: ATP Finals group-stage tennis – live
World - The Guardian - 21 minutes ago -
A Diver and His Metal Detector Solved This Nearly 50-Year-Old Mystery
World - The New York Times - 24 minutes ago -
The U.S. Warned Israel to Increase Gaza Aid. The Results Are In Dispute.
World - The Wall Street Journal - 26 minutes ago