Housing Solutions
As the world’s population increases, so does its poor, who often do not have the financial resources for, or access to, adequate housing. Architects and planners often collaborate on schemes to provide good housing for all income levels— finding ways to finance and renovate older structures and abandoned factories, or using new factory-built units for affordable apartments in developments large and small.
Another issue is the aging population. In many countries, architects are modifying traditional housing types to allow people to age in place, and to accommodate the growing trend of multi-generational living, where parents, grandparents and children share the same dwelling. Features such as flexible spaces that can be easily divided and/or converted to various uses, laundry rooms on each floor, and first-floor master suites are some ways architectural designs are responding to the needs of a range of age groups.
What about when disaster strikes? Earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, typhoons can destroy property and leave people homeless. An easily deployable quick fix is needed to house hundreds or thousands of people in the wake of the storm. Architects are designing solutions. Here are just a few examples.