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Urban Science
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Sustainable and Resilient Affordable Housing in Architecture Design and Urban...
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Sustainable and Resilient Affordable Housing in Architecture Design and Urban Plans

A special issue of Urban Science (ISSN 2413-8851). This special issue belongs to the section "Urban Planning and Design".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 April 2027 | Viewed by 6489

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Giovanna Mangialardi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
ArCoD Department, Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, Italy
Interests: housing policies; student housing; urban regeneration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Umberto Berardi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
ArCoD Department, Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, Italy
Interests: energy-efficient buildings; nearly zero-energy buildings; energy storage; advanced materials; nanotechnologies; phase change materials; climate change; resilient buildings
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This special issue aims to explore innovative and sustainable approaches to affordable housing projects and plans. It seeks to highlight the current debates surrounding affordable housing within the context of the environmental, social, and economic challenges posed by urbanization, climate change, and recent global crises. These issues, now more than ever, must be studied and addressed in an integrated and multidisciplinary way, adopting affordable, resilient, and inclusive strategies that respond to the evolving needs of communities. Topics include (but are not limited to) affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, public housing re-typing, regeneration, inclusion and integration strategies, heritage reuse and land use policy, and energy efficiency, with a particular focus on reducing the carbon footprint and adapting to climate change.

The special issue aims to explore the connections between housing policy and project and urban, financial, energy, environmental, and transportation policies and strategies through interdisciplinary approaches.

We welcome manuscripts examining these topics in any national context, as well as comparative case studies across different contexts.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following:

  • Integrated housing policies with a focus on environmental and social sustainability
  • Innovative and inclusive housing projects that promote resilience and reduce environmental impact
  • Publicness in social housing projects and plans with a focus on equity and environmental justice
  • Housing and urban regeneration with a focus on reducing the ecological footprint and promoting urban biodiversity
  • Sustainable approaches in housing re-typology with a focus on the circular economy and waste reduction
  • Participatory processes in social and public housing that promote environmental awareness and social responsibility
  • Public and private heritage reuse with a focus on resource conservation and reducing environmental impact
  • Implementation of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in social housing for climate change mitigation and adaptation
  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of materials and construction techniques in sustainable social housing
  • Strategies for reducing energy poverty through the efficiency improvement of social housing buildings

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Buildings.

Dr. Giovanna Mangialardi
Prof. Dr. Umberto Berardi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Urban Science is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • housing policies
  • housing projects
  • publicness
  • regenerate
  • housing sustainability
  • social and public housing
  • affordability
  • inclusion
  • circular economy
  • reuse

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 4951 KB  
Article
An Exploratory Application of Low-Cost Drone Imagery and an Image Analysis Model to Evaluate Post-Disaster Recovery Progress for Planning Equitable Housing Recoveries Through Dynamic Funding Allocation
by Daniel V. Perrucci, German C. Buitrago, Brady McKay, Kathleen Short and Christopher Santos
Urban Sci. 2026, 10(4), 199; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci10040199 - 3 Apr 2026
Viewed by 591
Abstract
After major disruptive events, particularly natural and human-made disasters, community leaders face the challenge of rebuilding societal infrastructure and managing the allocation of funds, which can affect the duration of recovery periods. Decision-makers must quickly determine how to allocate financial resources while minimizing [...] Read more.
After major disruptive events, particularly natural and human-made disasters, community leaders face the challenge of rebuilding societal infrastructure and managing the allocation of funds, which can affect the duration of recovery periods. Decision-makers must quickly determine how to allocate financial resources while minimizing population distress. Conventional methods of assessing damage and evaluating relief requirements fall short of meeting the urgent recovery needs after a disaster, potentially leading to negative effects on communities, such as involuntary relocation and neighborhood gentrification. The study evaluates current methods and technologies to propose a new approach that leverages low-cost consumer drones and modern image analysis techniques to support initial damage assessments and track recovery progress, thereby promoting the dynamic allocation of limited resources. Using low-cost drone imagery enables rapid, cost-effective data collection and dynamic analysis through iterative reviews during the disaster response and recovery phases that can adjust baseline disaster funding allocations. The study investigates the potential of temporary blue tarp roofs (“blue roofs”) as a metric for recovery progress during the 2020 tornado in Middle Tennessee and conducts an R-squared and error analysis. The goal of this research is to evaluate an affordable and efficient data analysis method (e.g., modern image analysis; artificial intelligence; low-cost drones) that can improve post-disaster resource allocation and inform decision-making for governmental and planning officials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable and Resilient Affordable Housing in Architecture Design and Urban Plans)
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20 pages, 2179 KB  
Article
A Multidimensional Framework for Examining the Potential of Housing Cooperatives to Promote Aging in Place
by Ana García Sánchez, Ana Torres Barchino and Jorge Llopis Verdú
Urban Sci. 2026, 10(2), 115; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci10020115 - 12 Feb 2026
Viewed by 916
Abstract
NORC (Naturally Occurring Retirement Community) programs and senior cohousing are two community-based, sustainable initiatives for aging in place associated with cooperative housing in New York and Spain, which are spreading rapidly as an alternative to institutionalization. This paper examines how NORC programs and [...] Read more.
NORC (Naturally Occurring Retirement Community) programs and senior cohousing are two community-based, sustainable initiatives for aging in place associated with cooperative housing in New York and Spain, which are spreading rapidly as an alternative to institutionalization. This paper examines how NORC programs and senior cohousing support aging in place using a conceptual framework derived from theories on active aging and the ecological model of aging, which suggests specific dimensions to characterize the processes through which these initiatives potentially achieve their goal of promoting healthy, active aging, including aspects of the physical and social environment. Our framework was applied to a selection of case studies from each model, allowing us to conceptualize their strengths and weaknesses as developed in cooperatives in these two contexts. Findings show that NORC programs help older people stay in familiar neighborhoods and take advantage of economies of scale; however, dwellings are not adapted for reduced mobility. Spanish senior cohousing is an affordable and accessible alternative; however, existing communities are relatively isolated. Future research should consider hybrid models that incorporate the characteristics of various initiatives best suited to each context’s housing policies and welfare system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable and Resilient Affordable Housing in Architecture Design and Urban Plans)
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35 pages, 3980 KB  
Article
Influence of Technological and Socioeconomic Factors on Affordable and Sustainable Housing Development
by Manali Deshmukh, Radhakrishnan Shanthi Priya and Ramalingam Senthil
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(12), 547; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9120547 - 18 Dec 2025
Viewed by 2017
Abstract
An effective housing policy must ensure affordability for individuals across all income levels by integrating advanced technological innovations with comprehensive socioeconomic strategies. Affordable housing fosters social inclusion, whereas sustainability supports long-term environmental protection and economic stability. The success and long-term sustainability of affordable [...] Read more.
An effective housing policy must ensure affordability for individuals across all income levels by integrating advanced technological innovations with comprehensive socioeconomic strategies. Affordable housing fosters social inclusion, whereas sustainability supports long-term environmental protection and economic stability. The success and long-term sustainability of affordable housing initiatives are heavily influenced by current socioeconomic conditions, emphasizing the need for context-specific, inclusive, and sustainable housing solutions. Benchmarks are crucial in affordable housing to determine if it is climate-positive, aligning with the goals of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 11.1, which seeks to provide affordable and sustainable housing for everyone by 2030. This study uses the Scopus database to perform a scientometric analysis of 595 publications (2015–2024) on sustainability and affordability in housing. Using R-Studio 2025.05.1 + 513.pro3 and VOSviewer 1.6.20, it examines bibliographic trends, research gaps, and collaboration patterns across countries and journals. This study highlights performance thresholds related to economic, environmental, energy, territorial, and climatic factors. However, cost and ecological objectives can cause conflict with each other practically, and hence a balanced approach including green practices, efficient materials, and subsidies is crucial. There is a need for policymakers to address market gaps to prevent socially exclusive or environmentally harmful outcomes, maintain long-term urban resilience, and ensure sustained urban resilience and equitable access to affordable, sustainable housing by 2030. Integrating sustainable materials, circular and climate-resilient design, smart technologies, inclusive governance, and evidence-based policies is crucial for advancing affordable, equitable, and resilient housing. This approach guides future research and policy toward long-term social, economic, and environmental benefits. The findings and recommendations promote sustainable, affordable housing, emphasizing the need for further research on climate-resilient, energy-efficient, and cost-effective building solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable and Resilient Affordable Housing in Architecture Design and Urban Plans)
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14 pages, 5485 KB  
Article
Immersive 3D Soundscape: Analysis of Environmental Acoustic Parameters of Historical Squares in Parma (Italy)
by Adriano Farina, Antonella Bevilacqua, Matteo Fadda, Luca Battisti, Maria Cristina Tommasino and Lamberto Tronchin
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(7), 259; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9070259 - 3 Jul 2025
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1755
Abstract
Sound source localization represents one of the major challenges for soundscapes due to the dynamicity of a large variety of signals. Many applications are found related to ecosystems to study the migration process of birds and animals other than other terrestrial environments to [...] Read more.
Sound source localization represents one of the major challenges for soundscapes due to the dynamicity of a large variety of signals. Many applications are found related to ecosystems to study the migration process of birds and animals other than other terrestrial environments to survey wildlife. Other applications on sound recording are supported by sensors to detect animal movement. This paper deals with the immersive 3D soundscape by using a multi-channel spherical microphone probe, in combination with a 360° camera. The soundscape has been carried out in three Italian squares across the city of Parma. The acoustic maps obtained from the data processing detect the directivity of dynamic sound sources as typical of an urban environment. The analysis of the objective environmental parameters (like loudness, roughness, sharpness, and prominence) was conducted alongside the investigations on the historical importance of Italian squares as places for social inclusivity. A dedicated listening playback is provided by the AGORA project with a portable listening room characterized by modular unit of soundbars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable and Resilient Affordable Housing in Architecture Design and Urban Plans)
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