How Can Housing Be Sustainably Managed?

Question 1

What are the benefits integrated land use planning? 1(3) + 2(2) = 5

Answer 1

1. Economic (employment)
   Social (interactions)
   Environmental (clean and green environments)
2. (By developing housing in tandem with other services that an urban population needs in an integrated manner), towns become more sustainable and liveable

Question 2

What is integrated land-use planning? (Ignore?)

Answer 2

Process by which needs of different groups and their competing demands can be resolved to ensure sustainable development of the city

Question 3

Where should housing be built, and where should amenities, transport, infrastructure and other support services be built!

Answer 3

Housing should not be built independently and away from other city * functions
(2nd list of places) need to be built within or surrounding housing projects

Question 4

Describe what the Housing Development Board in Singapore did

Answer 4

Utilised the new planning conceptto successfully develop self-contained towns that include
(HER PAIR)
Healthcare (clinics and hospitals)
Education (schools)
Recreation (parks and gardens)

Public housing
Amenities
Industries (*media, finance, trade)
Retail (shopping malls and shops)

Question 5

Who are the stakeholders?

Answer 5

Stakeholders include
*industries
*planning authorities
*commercial businesses
*property developers

Question 6

Challenges of integrated land use planning

Answer 6

Skilled coordination and communication of many stakeholders is required
- this may be difficult in many countries where many different groups have many competing perspectives due to vested interest
- this may result in conflicts and limit the effectiveness of this strategy

Question 7

Describe the importance of provision of inclusive housing (ignore?)

Answer 7

• • ensures that all of the urban population can have access to housing that meets their varying needs (inclusive)
• important to provide a range of housing to cater for different groups to ensure cities can * grow sustainably

Question 8

Who are involved in provision of inclusive housing?

Answer 8

Governments together with different groups of different needs
1) diff family sizes
2) diff ages
3) diff physical conditions

Question 9

Describe how inclusive playgrounds to enhance inclusiveness? (7 features and 2 objectives)

Answer 9

Inclusive playground
Features:

BLEW CDF
Barrier-free access from carparks and bus stops to the playground
Locking mechanisms for wheelchairs or ensure safety
Equipment such as roller slide, merry-go-round and wheelchair swing designed to enhance strength, control and senses
Wellness station for the elderly

Colour contrast between the ground and equipment to guide people with visual impairment
Disability-friendly washrooms nearby
Fitness corner (pull-up bars, sit up mat) for adults

(Designed to be used by all children)
- children of different abilities can come to better understand and accept one another
- children with special needs can develop socially, physically and cognitively & no child is excluded

Question 10

Inclusivity for the wheelchair bound?

Answer 10

Elderly residents living in older Housing Board flats with multi step entrances can get heavily subsidised ramps, which will let them * enter and exit their homes more easily

Question 11

Inclusivity for the elderly?

Answer 11

Elderly households who right-size their home to a smaller flat can qualify for the Silver Housing Bonus, a $30000 cash bonus per household
-> increases their retirement income -> allowing them to retire comfortably without worrying about the cost of living in their golden years

Question 12

Benefits of provision of inclusive public housing? (2)

Answer 12

1) Inclusive public housing fosters relationships among people and vibrant community life where different needs are met
2) It promotes safety and allows residents from different backgrounds to experience life in a neighbourhood (allows all residents to feel at ease in their housing estate regardless of age and physical abilities)

Question 13

Challenges of inclusive public housing

Answer 13

1. Making public housing inclusive is costly, since added cost is needed to provide access to disadvantaged groups or groups with special needs
2. More time and effort is needed to vary the designs of public housing to achieve a variety of housing types

Question 14

Describe environmental features in buildings and how they sustainably manage housing

Answer 14

• the use of solar panels to offset electrical consumption of common lighting
• *water efficient fittings to minimise water consumption
• use of green roofs and walls to reduce surrounding temperatures

(Incorporating environmentally friendly technologies into the construction of homes) promotes sustainability

Question 15

Benefits of environmental features in buildings

Answer 15

1. Cleaner and greener technologies to ensure the long-term sustainability of cities
   -> promotes quality of life & standard of living
2. These features are environmentally friendly and reduce harmful effects on our environment

Question 16

Challenges of environmentally friendly technologies

Answer 16

1. Often expensive to produce and install (due to lack of demand and high manufacturing cost)
2. Many of these features may be perceived as being inconvenient for members of the public who do not understand their benefit. Education in the form of educational campaigns or outreach programmes is needed, which adds to the cost of building houses

Question 17

Who are involved in improving the conditions of slums?

Answer 17

• governments (funding)
• slum dwellers/ local community

Question 18

What is being done to improve the conditions of slums?

Answer 18

Enhance the living conditions of those living in slum areas rather than attempting to demolish such settlements and evict occupants

Question 19

How are improvements to the condition of slums being done?

Answer 19

• *improvement projects seek to improve access to basic services and the *building quality of homes
• involvement of the local community in the formulation and rollout of housing policies

Question 20

Example (Favelo Bairro In Minas Gerais, Brazil)

Answer 20

• Set up in 1994 to integrate favelas into the rest of the city and address access to affordable housing
  It is an ‘integrated’ programme that aims to provide basic infrastructure
• this includes sewerage and lighting, social services such as childcare, community organisation and development, and land ownership

Question 21

Benefits of improving conditions of slums?

Answer 21

1. When the conditions of the slums are improved, occupants are more motivated to invest in their own homes and make improvements to community infrastructure
2. Better access to clean water and sanitation services raise health levels and reduces the threat or disease to the people living there -> improve the quality of life

Question 22

Challenges of improving conditions of slums?

Answer 22

1) slum improvement often runs contrary to long-term development plans since these informal settlements built on plots of land not intended for housing use -> hinder and cause problems in future city developments
2) social impacts of improvements to slum conditions remains questionable (crime rates, unemployment and the stigmatisation of those living in such circumstances still remain)