intervention strategies for renovation of social housing estates

Physical measures for renovation of social housing estates Chapter 8
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social structure (see the exceptional example in Tab.3 Chapter 4, where homeownership for
‘Bijlmermeer believers’ was combined with rental social housing on neighbourhood level).
However, when social rented dwellings shift to homeownership, social problems might be
reduced as people care more about the quality and maintenance of their private goods than
of rented goods. Such a shift in tenure constitutes high financial returns on the short term
for the housing association, if the dwellings are sold for a market price.
Unused spaces can be used for these transformations: top-floor, washrooms, porticoes,
basement, storages and any shared facility. Apart from making use of those rooms, strength
is also that this would also decrease expenses on their maintenance.
When transformations improve the physical relationship of the building with its surroundings
(like dwellings at the ground floor and opening of new passageways) they can improve not
only liveability, but also social safety. They can also prevent improper use and abandonment.
However, a weakness is that higher criminality figures (like thefts) and lack of privacy might
derive when using the ground floor, especially to place housing.
Limitations for feasibility of the described transformations, thus further weaknesses, might
derive from local building and urban regulations, actual structural stability of the block,
constructive technology (in the case of the Tunnel-technology this regards openings and
selective demolition), available space (limited height of ceilings), need of further facilities (if
that is “optoppen elevators might be required) and “the removal of tenants during the works
(if high-level and envelope directed renovation people need to move). Removal of residents
can be a risky issue since, according to the Dutch practice, not all the people come back to
their dwellings after renovation. (In the picture below an example of optoppen in Rotterdam
Alexander).
Accessibility.
Improvements of accessibility by new galleries, elevators and further entrances also
contribute improving the functional quality of dwellings and make them available for wider
target groups. This is a strength particularly true for elderly households, the disabled and
families with children. Moreover, these solutions not only improve liveability but also the
attractiveness when used to transform the look of the building. This might be relevant to
attract new residents after the intervention.
Most of the solutions to improve the accessibility are subjected to limitations similar to those
described above.
Non-residential functions.
Addition of non-residential functions, like education, small commercial businesses and
medical care, improves not only the liveability of the block but also its surroundings. A
strength is also that they could attract people form other neighbourhoods and decrease the
9. H