The demands and destruction of World War II led to a postwar social housing era that placed expediency and affordability ahead of graceful architectural objectives. The result: massive postwar social housing builds that have often been damned as ugly and soulless. It’s a status that cannot have helped the loss of public support and commitment to an otherwise successful housing resource for those least able to afford permanent shelter.
And yet in this current day and age, it is not unusual for the earliest pre-war social housing to be honoured for more than fulfilling a need, and to indeed be of architectural significance, even worthy of admiration. Today, some are candidates for preservation.
Could a renewal of the ‘art’ of social housing construction contribute to a newfound respect for this immensely practical housing? Tackling some of these questions is an article from the European edition of Politico: Affordable housing doesn’t have to be ugly
Still harbouring doubts that public housing could ever be considered attractive? Here’s an article with some interesting ideas and pictures that might change your mind. Read more at The Aesthetics of Joy: 15 Beautiful Public Housing Developments From Around The World
