Innovations in Affordable Housing Design

Dear Colleagues,

Public housing, intended primarily for low-income populations, constitutes a vast architectural and urban heritage that forms an essential part of contemporary cities. The economic constraints that have historically conditioned its construction have often resulted in limitations in design quality and spatial diversity, leading to standardized solutions and, in some cases, to the social stigmatization of the inhabitants of such developments. These outcomes contrast with the expectations raised by the long-standing architectural debate that has driven the typological evolution of minimal housing. Over time, housing design has incorporated new objectives, tools, and techniques while preserving strong social commitments as fundamental principles.

Following periods of intense research and critical debate, often characterized by a reassessment of the legacy of modernity, residential architecture has been reinterpreted from multiple perspectives. These include its social function; its understanding as an open and flexible system; its relationship with place, memory, and history; and its capacity to foster community life. Such reinterpretations have enriched architectural discourse and opened up new paths toward addressing contemporary housing challenges.

Today, these perspectives are becoming increasingly relevant. In response to global evolutionary trends and international demands, the domestic habitat must now address a broad and complex range of factors, which necessitate the development of innovative housing solutions from minimal dwelling to co-operative housing or collaborative living. These solutions are not only required for future planning strategies but are also essential to counteracting the obsolescence of existing public housing stock. Many of these buildings possess historical, cultural, or architectural value, yet they frequently fail to meet current standards due to technological, functional, or spatial deficiencies.

At the same time, significant social transformations—such as declining birth rates, aging populations, migration, evolving models of coexistence and gender roles, new forms of work, and post-COVID habits and routines—are reshaping housing needs. These changes intersect with growing concerns related to well-being and the green transition, including healthy living environments, safety, social integration, accessibility, environmental protection, and energy efficiency. These objectives are strongly promoted by the United Nations through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which advocate for inclusive, resilient, safe, and sustainable urban settlements.

The increasing complexity of contemporary habitat conditions, particularly from the perspective of accessible housing, confers new meaning on residential architecture. Architecture and urban planning therefore operate in a complementary and interdisciplinary manner, engaging with historical, socioeconomic, political, philosophical, anthropological, and environmental dimensions. Addressing these interconnected perspectives enables the development of new housing models capable of responding more effectively to the needs, demands, and concerns of society as a whole.

We are pleased to invite contributions to this Special Issue, which aims to provide a critical and up-to-date perspective on affordable housing and to contribute to the debate on contemporary alternatives, considering present-day standards of comfort, accessibility, environmental sustainability, evolutionary housing, participatory processes, or the sharing of collective spaces.

Areas of interest include the following proposed topics:

- Innovative affordable housing strategies;

- Accessible and universal design in public housing;

- Housing flexibility and adaptability over time;

- Co-operative housing and collaborative living;

- Historical and critical approaches to public housing;

- Comparative and diagrammatic typological methodologies;

- Architectural and urban strategies for public housing transformation;

- Social inclusion, equity, and anti-stigmatization strategies;

- Public housing and sustainability transitions;

- Governance, policy, and housing management models.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Noelia Cervero Sánchez
Prof. Dr. Jaime J. Ferrer Forés
Guest Editors

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• public housing
• affordable housing
• social sustainability
• housing typologies
• co-operative housing
• urban transformation
• accessibility
• architectural heritage
• flexibility and adaptability
• sustainable development
• community and inclusion