Equitable Housing Design Advisor

Equitable housing is a critical component of creating inclusive and sustainable communities. Equitable housing is another name for affordable housing.  It ensures that all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status, have access to safe, affordable, and dignified living spaces. The Project Book, a design-focused workbook, plays a pivotal role in guiding decision-making throughout the development of affordable housing projects. It serves as a field manual to structure and record key design decisions, ensuring that housing principles are embedded from the outset. This workbook is designed to be used interactively with the Affordable Housing Design Advisor, an electronic tool that complements the printed workbook with detailed resources, links, illustrations, and case studies.

The Project Book emphasizes the design considerations in creating housing. It provides a structured approach to embedding equity into all design decisions and development processes. By applying a comprehensive framework, such as the 7 Switches lens, the Project Book helps design and decision-makers challenge traditional norms, systematically check for bias, and integrate perspectives of equity, diversity, and inclusion at every stage of project development. This approach moves beyond legislative standards, demonstrating how the built environment can be shaped to truly serve all communities.

One of the unique features of the Project Book is its interactive use with the Affordable Housing Design Advisor. This electronic tool contains a wealth of detailed resources, links, illustrations, and case studies that complement and expand on the information contained in the printed workbook. The Design Advisor provides practical actions for embedding equity into the earliest stages of project planning and design development, shaping design visions and priorities that respond to the needs of diverse communities. It also includes detailed case studies demonstrating how thoughtful design fosters dignity and creates environments that address the nuanced needs of often underrepresented populations, including women, Indigenous communities, and people with disabilities.

The Project Book outlines several practical steps for implementing housing design. These steps include analyzing target occupants and establishing resident-related design goals, analyzing the surrounding neighbourhood and establishing community-related design goals, and analyzing the potential site to ensure it can physically accommodate the proposed project and provide easy access to amenities and services. Additionally, the workbook emphasizes the importance of obtaining professional design assistance at the very beginning, assembling the right project design team, and developing alternative site plan concepts. By following these steps, developers can ensure that their projects are not only affordable but also equitable and inclusive.

The Project Book and the Affordable Housing Design Advisor provide a wealth of case studies and resources to support housing design. These case studies cover major sports stadiums, health facilities, community, transport, and housing hubs, showing how design standards can be used to enhance accessibility, safety, and a sense of belonging for all. The resources also include a literature review bringing together leading frameworks and resources on embedding gender-aware and design principles into the built environment. By leveraging these case studies and resources, developers can gain valuable insights and practical guidance for creating housing projects.

The Project Book and the Affordable Housing Design Advisor are invaluable tools for advancing housing. By providing a structured approach to embedding equity into design decisions and development processes, these resources help create inclusive and sustainable communities. The interactive use of the Project Book with the Design Advisor ensures that developers have access to detailed resources, links, illustrations, and case studies that complement and expand on the information contained in the printed workbook. Through practical steps, case studies, and resources, developers can implement  housing design that addresses the needs of diverse communities and fosters a sense of belonging and dignity for all. By embracing these tools and principles, we can move closer to achieving housing for everyone.