intervention strategies for renovation of social housing estates

Conclusions and recommendations. Chapter 9
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The physical measures that lead to transform the appearance of the facades are
those that aim at an interrupting of the repetition and the massiveness of the
envelope, and diversifying its silhouette (profile) (Matrix in Chapter 8).
Design physical transformations in agreement with structural advisers.
All the physical interventions aiming at changing the existing layout of the building
(like combination of existing units or substitution of the façade) must be planned
according to its actual constructive stability and load bearing possibilities.
In the cases like Laurentino 38, where the tenants made lots of changes inside
their dwellings (like the moving of walls and making new openings), a prerequisite
is a clear update of all the transformations.
Employ new housing as temporary accommodations for tenants
Since in both implementation of high-level renovation and envelope directed
approach tenants have to move out during the works, the addition of new housing
units (like optoppen, new low-rises and top-end attached at the bottom or
maisonettes at the ground floor) could be used as temporary accommodation.
Special measures should be undertaken to prevent social problems like squatting
during the process (particularly in neighbourhoods in troubles like Laurentino 38).
9.1.2) RESEARCH QUESTION 2
RQ 2) What envelope directed physical measures have been applied in good
examples practices of renovation of social housing estates in the Netherlands?
Learning form best practice and good examples can be inspiring in contexts standing for
alternative approaches to renovation. This is the reason why it has been decided to observe
some examples already realized in the Netherlands. Conclusions concerning Research
Question 2 are spread over Chapter 4 (ten examples of renovation), Chapter 5 (the
Bijlmermeer) and Chapter 6 (the Florijn Noord). The answer to this question it is not
provided by presenting the entire list of physical solutions (see the matrix in Chapter 8)
rather by describing groups of measures, their purpose and location within the existing
block.
Especially when awarded or nominated by the National Renovation Prize the projects
included in this study are not only useful in the view of possible transferability of measures
to other contexts, but also to improve the knowledge on the possible solutions for physical
transformation for existing buildings (list in Section 8.1.1). However, as already discussed in
the previous section, their actual applicability could be strongly subjected to specific local
restrictions (like, for example, building regulations). This is the reason why the two groups
factors described above are relevant for the feasibility of such transformations, especially
those indicators related to the model of the housing association. Considering the current
social housing system in Rome, in fact, most of them would not be applicable.
Fours groups of measures are extrapolated from the Dutch renovations.
In terms of purpose the range of physical solutions applied in the projects presented
in this study are quite homogeneous and can be grouped as follows:
Measures directed to physical aspects (technical and functional quality).
Those regarding transformation of existing dwellings, addition of new dwellings,
(selective) demolition, improvement of accessibility, conversion-addition of nonresidential
functions and placement of storages;
Measures directed to appearance.
Those regarding the façade (mainly cladding and new volumes), the entrances to
the building, the bottom of the building, stairwells and elevators, and parapets (like
shape, colour and material);
4. I
RESEARCH
QUESTION 2