a housing subsidy is probably the biggest aid an underpriviliged family will receive from the government. however, social housing today is more like buying cars than buying houses, decreasing the value of these habitats. architect alejandro aravena of elemental presented his solution for emergency housing at the biennale this year.
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the project deals with problems which affect society as a whole, using tools and procedures specific to architecture to resolve these issues. elemental works to offer knowledge and tools to the community so that they may work towards building a stronger foundation for themselves.
image © designboom
one of the biggest problems attached with the current situation of subsidized housing is that these communities are not located in central area making it difficult for individuals to access jobs, markets, education, health and recreation.
view finders allow visitors to look at images of the various stages of the housing project
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land is scarce in urban city centers, thus making it more expensive to purchase. despite this, elemental aims to concentrate more on the location of its housing rather than the size. given a defined set of design conditions, the project aims to give these houses value over time, not just socially, but economically so that one’s home can become a sign of a family which has been able to get past just the ‘survival’ stage.
small model houses which were made at a community design workshop
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this solution looks at density without being crowded and involves the communities, with hopes of the city becoming an efficient course of equality and inclusivity.
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construction of one of elemental’s housing communities in chile
project by alejandro aravena of elemental
image © designboom
related
designboom’s report on alejandro aravena at the milan triennale 2008
more
alejandro aravena: http://www.alejandroaravena.com
elemental: http://www.elementalchile.cl
venice architecture biennale: http://www.labiennale.org
