intervention strategies for renovation of social housing estates

PHYSICAL ASPECTS (technical-functional)
APPEARANCE
SOCIAL ASPECTS
FEASIBILITY
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Directed to PHYSICAL ASPECTS (functional - technical)
EXISTING DWELLINGS
1
Vertical - horizontal combination of existing units on
upper floors
Improvement of housing differentiation;
Vertical-horizontal extension/contraction of dwellings;
Local regulation (in Italy size and number of rooms of
social dwellings are subjected to restrictions provided
by law);
Available floor surface;
Structural capacity of the block (in many Italian
residential blocks, like Laurentino 38, tenants made
inner changes. Alterations they made, like moving of
walls and/or big openings, have to be calculated to
design the combinations);
Technical restrictions if used the tunnel technology (if
openings into (possible) bracing walls vertical continuity
has to be guaranteed; openings into internal or external
walls do not have to interfere with horizontal/vertical tierods;
opening of new architraves is restricted to their
distance from the border of the wall; new architraves
are also subjected to specific resistance values and
need vertical/horizontal reinforcements).
No alteration of the exteriors if only moving inner walls
2
Combination of units on upper floors by enlarging
existing archways
Improvement of housing differentiation;
Vertical-horizontal extension/contraction of dwellings;
Local regulation (in Italy size and number of rooms of
social dwellings are subjected to restrictions provided
by law);
Available floor surface;
Structural capacity of the block (in many Italian
residential blocks, like Laurentino 38, tenants made
inner changes. Alterations they made, like moving of
walls and/or big openings, have to be calculated to
design the combinations);
Technical restrictions if used the tunnel technology
(enlargements into internal or external walls do not have
to interfere with horizontal/vertical tie-rods;
vertical/horizontal reinforcements need to be
reintroduced; attention to technical equipments
incorporated into walls and floors).
**
Depending on size and shape, breaks massiveness
Renovation is not visible outside Size and shape of openings might alter building
proportions, thus attractiveness
Provision of housing for wider groups;
Provision of housing for wider groups;
Preventing ghettoization;
Preventing ghettoization;
Adaptation to current standards to extent of free choice;
Mix different groups (income level and nationality) could
be difficult but can improve the livability of the
neighborhood
Mix of different groups could be difficult (income level
and nationality) ;
Elderly people and families with young kids are best
situated at the lower storeys. Singles, families with older
children and couples on the upper floors. Less
accessible for the disabled
Differentiation of housing supply leads to differentiation
of market position of dwellings;
Improvement of housing quality by moving the walls;
Could lead to a decrease of shared spaces resulting in
less expenses for maintenance;
Substantial improvement of the dwelling's quality;
No special expertise is required;
Need for an ad-hoc regulation to manage the
transformation;
Location and competition with other neighborhoods
could be an obstacle in attracting other target groups;
Tenants should move another place during the works,
that means expenses for grants and temporary
accommodations;
In the Netherlands, far less than 50% of tenants return
their dwellings that could lead to letting problems and
vacancy after renovation;
If the commercial value of the site is high and there are
no special restrictions for that location, it is possible the
housing association will decide for demolition;
Adaptation to current standards to extent of free choice;
Mix of different groups could be difficult (income level
and nationality);
Singles, families and couples are better situated on the
upper floors
Differentiation of housing supply leads to differentiation
of market position of dwellings;
Improvement of housing quality by moving the walls;
Substantial improvement of the dwellings' quality;
Need for an ad-hoc regulation to manage the
transformation;
Location and competition with other neighborhoods
could be an obstacle in attracting other target groups;
Tenants should move another place during the works,
that means expenses for grants and temporary
accommodations;
In the Netherlands, far less than 50% of tenants return
their dwellings that could lead to letting problems and
vacancy after renovation;
Need of technical expertise;
If the commercial value of the site is high and there are
no special restrictions for that location, it is possible the
housing association will decide for demolition;
3
‘Maisonette with street front door’ at the bottom by
matching existing units at the ground and first floor
4
Extent outer livable space by attaching loggias
to the façade
Improvement of housing differentiation;
Horizontal extension of dwellings;
Vertical extension of dwellings;
Shading the facade
Make use of the short span at the ground floor;
If porticos at the ground floor remove horizontal thermal
insulation to get higher ceiling;
Better energy savings when filling porticoes at the
ground floor;
Local regulation (in Italy size and number of rooms of
social dwellings are subjected to restrictions provided
by law);
Available floor surface;
High of ceiling (in Italy the minimum high is 270cm.
Matching could be difficult when the bottom is only
240cm. See Tab. 8, Chapter 4);
Structural capacity of the block (in many Italian
residential blocks, like Laurentino 38, tenants made
inner changes. Alterations they made, like moving of
walls and/or big openings, have to be calculated to
design the combinations);
Technical restrictions if used the tunnel technology (to
place new openings into the floors consider location of
reinforcements (horizontal tie-rods); high of rooms
should not interfere with reinforcements of walls (tierods
and clamps are usually placed up to 240cm from
the façade); thermal insulation of new external walls is
required. ).
Thermal insulation of new external walls is required.
*
Facilitate differentiation of ground and upper floors
Lack of integration with the rest of the block;
Short lasting materials shorten 'wow effect' of
renovation
Social control of the ground level;
Housing at the bottom prevents abandonment or
improper use of open spaces;
Reduction of uncontrolled/unattended public spaces;
Increase of vividness, attractiveness and livability of
neighborhood;
Allows housing of disabled
Local regulation (in Italy size and number of rooms of
social dwellings are subjected to restrictions provided
by law);
Obstruction of day lighting due to extended projections;
Structural capacity of the block (in many Italian
residential blocks, like Laurentino 38, tenants made
inner changes. Alterations they made, like moving of
walls and/or big openings, have to be calculated to
design the combinations);
Technical restrictions if used the tunnel technology
(anchorages of extensions restricted to location of
walls/floors of the tunnel, and its horizontal tie-rods;
better new structures hanged to the tunnel to prevent
overloading of existing floors; thickness of new
horizontal structures needs to be compatible with
existing floors).
***
Break of repetitiveness. Transform massiveness and
silhouette;
Better appearance if using materials that remind good
quality housing (no cheap materials like masonry or
plastic)
Repetition of the same solution (like shape and
material) could replicate initial problems;
Short lasting materials shorten 'wow effect' of
renovation
Improvement of sense of identification with own block
and dwelling;
Improvement of orientation within the neighborhood by
new appearance;
Addition of outdoor space which is though to be very
Possible lack of safety because of the direct spatial People could feel uncomfortable with very extended
relationship of housing and surroundings;
projections;
Less housing privacy (this is true in the Italian context Effectiveness of the renovation design is subjected to
where apartments at the ground floor are protected with preferences of people;
solid fences to prevent overlooking. Curtains are often Lower floors might have higher risk of thefts (access
not enough to get the feeling of being visually protected from balcony)
from the street);
Higher chance of criminality (thieves could have easier
access)
Differentiation of housing supply leads to differentiation
of market position of dwellings;
Improvement of housing quality by moving the walls;
Could lead to a decrease of shared spaces resulting in
less expenses for maintenance;
Substantial improvement of the dwellings' quality;
No special expertise is required;
Need for an ad-hoc regulation to manage the
transformation;
Location and competition with other neighborhoods
could be an obstacle in attracting other target groups;
Tenants should move another place during the works,
that means expenses for grants and temporary
accommodations;
In the Netherlands, far less than 50% of tenants return
their dwellings that could lead to letting problems and
vacancy after renovation;
If the commercial value of the site is high and there are
no special restrictions for that location, it is possible the
housing association will decide for demolition;
5
Extent livable space by attaching new balconies
to the façade covered by a glazed surface
Improvement of housing differentiation;
Vertical-horizontal extension/contraction of dwellings;
Wider glazing improving day lighting;
Shading the facade
Local regulation (in Italy size and number of rooms of
social dwellings are subjected to restrictions provided
by law);
Obstruction of day lighting due to extended projections;
Possible decreases of inner comfort in summer due to
overheating;
Structural capacity of the block (in many Italian
residential blocks, like Laurentino 38, tenants made
inner changes. Alterations they made, like moving of
walls and/or big openings, have to be calculated to
design the combinations);
Technical restrictions if used the tunnel technology
(anchorages of extensions restricted to location of
walls/floors of the tunnel, and its horizontal tie-rods;
better new structures hanged to the tunnel to prevent
overloading of existing floors; thickness of new
horizontal structures needs to be compatible with
existing floors).
***
Break of repetitiveness. Transform massiveness and
silhouette ;
Better appearance if using materials that remind good
quality housing (no cheap materials like masonry or
plastic)
S
W
Repetition of the same solution (like shape and
material) could replicate initial problems;
Short lasting materials shorten 'wow effect' of
renovation W
Improve sense of identification with own block and
dwelling;
Improvement of orientation in the neighborhood by new
appearance;
Addition of outdoor space which is though to be very
important both in terms of well-being (more space, fresh important both in terms of well-being (more space, fresh
air, smoking outside) and offering place to dry wash air, smoking outside) and offering place to dry wash
which improves indoor air quality;
which improves indoor air quality;
If balconies are adjacent, it might increase social
contacts with neighbors;
Increased social control of outdoor public spaces
(spotting children form your balcony)
Could lead to improvement of the dwellings' quality;
Works could be quick;
Tenants can stay their dwellings during the works;
Relevant transformation of appearance could be used
as a window sponsoring the restructuring of the area;
Could be used as a selling point;
Need for an ad-hoc regulation to manage the
transformation;
Location and competition with other neighborhoods
could be an obstacle in attracting other target groups;
Need of technical expertise;
Attract different target groups could be difficult even
when the appearance substantially change;
Relevant transformation of the appearance could be
subjected to the approach undertaken by the housing
association;
If the commercial value of the site is high and there are
no special restrictions for that location, it is possible the
housing association will decide for demolition;
People could feel uncomfortable with very extended
projections;
Effectiveness of the renovation design are subjected to
preferences of people;
Lower floors might have higher risk of thefts (access
from balcony especially if they are opened on the front
side)
When the external wall is in good physical conditions,
the new extension can improve the performances of the
envelope preserving the existing facade (advantages in
terms of technical and financial effort) (this could be
particularly effective in those Italian residential blocks
like Laurentino 38 where it has been used the tunnel
technology);
Leads to differentiation of market position of dwellings;
Substantial improvement of quality of dwellings;
Improvement of housing quality without moving the
walls;
Renovation works could be very quick (a few weeks);
Tenants can stay their dwellings during the works;
Relevant transformation of appearance could be used
as a window sponsoring the restructuring of the area;
Could be used as a selling point;
Need for an ad-hoc regulation to manage the
transformation;
In the case of tunnel technology, adaptation of existing
openings when the external wall is in good condition or
entire substitution of the wall can be expensive and
technically difficult (this is the case of the blocks in
Laurentino 38);
Location and competition with other neighborhoods
could be an obstacle in attracting other target groups;
Need of technical expertise;
Attract different target groups could be difficult even
when the appearance substantially change;
Relevant transformation of the appearance could be
subjected to the approach undertaken by the housing
association;
PHYSICAL ASPECTS (technical-functional)
APPEARANCE
SOCIAL ASPECTS
FEASIBILITY
S
S
W
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W