For the past two or three years there have been activist rumblings in America about the possibility of successfully creating world class social housing1. Something entirely unlike their terminally botched-up public housing. Something closer to a classless housing, but not one stretching downwards towards the lowest common denominator, like existing public housing in its virtually hopeless state of decay.
This new social housing model is only slowly attracting public interest. One of the earliest tests of public interest will shortly be happening via a Seattle initiative with voting complete by mid-February. Can a new social housing developer sidestep public housing authorities and get social housing of the ground? The Seattle Times backs the nay-sayers: The Times recommends: Vote no on Seattle Initiative 135 for ‘social housing’
The features of the plan, if it receives enough ‘yes’ votes, are proposed by the publication YES ON I 135. The social housing developer would initiate truly affordable housing that would be desirable for residents with little or no income — retirees for example. But this notional social housing, influenced by successes elsewhere in the world, would be equally attractive to the middle classes, leaving only the well-heeled upper classes to find their own housing ways.
What successful models exist elsewhere that America might look towards? Can those models offer not only an existing successful social housing but also a pathway to grow initiatives towards achieving the same results in America?
A short video about one of the most widely admired cities with a strong foundation of social housing certainly charms with its physical and social pleasures. However, though now a capitalist city in a capitalist state, the initial roots of its social housing emerged from a war, followed by a socialist state. Could America ever rise to such a social challenge, or duplicate its success by building in a capitalist framework? Singapore managed to do so, giving hope. The following example of a model for American social housing is that of the European city of Vienna, Austria.
Watch the following short video from MONOCLE: Design tours: The world’s best public housing?
