Building Affordable Homes and Communities Workshop
Overview
Dr. Avi Friedman, world-renowned expert on affordable housing, brought his considerable expertise to Edmonton and led a workshop on November 5th and 6th, 2007. Dr. Friedman began with an overview of the critical issues involved in the design of affordable homes and sustainable communities, and then went on to offer practical solutions to the housing crisis in this region. He spoke on such issues as: selecting a site, open spaces, interiors, construction and utilities, and finally showcased sustainable housing projects from around the world. The event was attended by over 70 government officials, planners, architects, builders, and community group representatives. The goal of the event was to equip the audience with knowledge and strategies that will enable a positive response to the need for affordable housing in the region.
Many delegates brought forward interesting ideas during the event. While there was agreement with respect to the need for more affordable housing in this region, delegates differed on how this might be achieved and on who is primarily responsible. As there are few mechanisms within the community to discuss and resolve these issues, the Centre is looking into ways to follow up.
Dr. Friedman is a visiting professor with the City-Region Studies Centre for 2008.
Workshop Topics
Monday, November 5
9:00 – 10:30
Thinking Outside the Box About Homes & Communities
10:45 – 12:00
The Fundamentals
Affordable Housing fundamentals - definitions, societal trends, family life cycles and housing, cost reduction measures, and the building process - are discussed in this introductory lecture.
12:00 – 13:00
Selecting a Site
Location. Location. Location. Selecting a suitable building site will have significant impact on project costs, duration, and appearance. Issues such as plot size, needs assessment, and zoning will be outlined along with the examination of the physical properties of the site.
14:00 – 15:00
Dwelling Forms and Prototypes
In an affordable housing project, the choice of homes and their price will relate to the future occupants' income, which will help define a target cost. In addition to cost considerations, macro issues such as zoning bylaws, demographic makeup, and cultural norms will also influence the chosen prototype.
15:00 – 16:00
Interiors
By understanding how different areas of a home are used and how interior design and finishes can increase efficiency and create a feeling of spaciousness, small dwellings can be made comfortable and functional. Strategies ranging from conceptual approaches to space design, access, circulation, and finishes will be discussed.
16:00 – 17:00
Construction & Utilities
Affordable housing must be built inexpensively, but with quality. This balance can be achieved through cost reduction strategies related to construction and utilities. Following a description of general pre-construction steps, various key building components such as foundation, framing, roof, interior, and home utilities will be described.
Tuesday, November 6
10:00 – 11:00
Lots
In the design of an affordable housing project, lots, dwellings and streets are jointly considered. This lecture focuses on lot subdivision. Following an introduction to terminology, issues of density measurement, lot typology, and the relationship between homes and streets are examined.
11:00 – 12:00
Circulation and Infrastructure
In a high-density affordable housing project, careful attention needs to be given to traffic design components since they affect the overall cost and contribute to the community's curb appeal. This lecture outlines issues related to the development's traffic systems design and construction, parking arrangements, pedestrian and cyclist paths, and the project's infrastructure.
13:00 – 14:00
Open Spaces
As housing density increases, so does the functional and psychological importance of open space between dwelling units. This lecture recalls the roots and evolution of open space use, then outlines design strategies for energy conservation, landscaping, and grading.
14:00 – 15:00
Infill Housing
This lecture elaborates on issues related to infill housing, and strategies for their community planning and home designs. It looks at the advantages (easy access to nearby roads and utilities) and disadvantages (encountering contaminated soil, odd-sized lots, and facing NIMBY sentiments) of vacant land within built areas. The need to curb urban sprawl, adopt smart growth strategies, and lower dwelling costs makes infill housing worth considering.
15:00 – 16:00
Notable Projects
The final lecture examines the decision-making process involved in weighing design alternatives. Certain strategies are rendered impractical while others become the foundation of the project's identity and affordability. Real life examples from around the world will be given to illustrate a comprehensive design process.
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