Greg Okladnikov’s Post

The question of housing affordability- and issues with costs, supply chain, design and affordability - are not a new problem. Today, I read about a program from the 1940s and 1950s - The Small Homes Service ( NSW) which was a strategy for a solution. Some quotes below - from the paper by Dr Noni Boyd “the NSW Small House Plan Service was intended to provide ‘plans for small houses which shall be architecturally correct, economically built, and correctly planned” “in New South Wales building costs had doubled between 1939 and 1946 and building materials were very hard to get. There was up to a two-year wait for bricks in areas” “The Small Homes Service (NSW), conducted by the Chapter in conjunction with Home Beautiful, continues to operate satisfactorily, giving a useful public service which aims at contributing to the improvement of design standards in small low-cost houses.” #housing #affordablehousing #housingaffordability #buildingahome

Residential Case Study: Spring Boroughs, Northampton Spring Boroughs is a development of 34 new affordable homes, comprising of 2 and 3 bed houses and a retail unit. Originally a scheme comprising of 18 homes off Little Cross Street, this development went under a full review to secure more sites and increase the development, including the relocation of a retail unit. Significant social value was created as part of the development, as it provideded the community with much needed affordable housing, provided the community with much needed affordable housing. Cellecta’s ScreedBoard 28 was specified by Northampton Partnership Homes due to the high sound reduction performance and low floor levels. As it’s suitable for all floor types, it is frequently viewed as the solution of choice for new build and refurbishment developments. Its interlocking edges for installation convenience, high density, and unique resilient layer provides unrivalled acoustic performance. Willmott Dixon was supplied 600m² of Cellecta products to develop these flats in Northampton. Download PDF here: https://ow.ly/LAmF50Qs7TG #ConstructionCaseStudy #Insulation #Cellecta #Architecture #Residential #ScreedBoard #Development #AcousticFloors

Extraordinary that, in a time of acute housing affordability deficit , not one of these units is affordable or adaptable or for rehousing the poor on houso lists. The revitalised architectural envelope may well be meritorious but the social aspect of displacement - is appalling https://lnkd.in/eRtv2RHM

What Are the Benefits of Buying New Construction Homes? New construction homes have become increasingly popular ways for homeowners to enjoy the comforts of modern technology and design. Click here to learn more. https://lnkd.in/euDAhwAt #pmiprimeproperty #leasenorthernnewjersey #northernnewjerseypropertymanagement #propertymanagement101 #landlordtips #propertymanager #realestateinvestors #propertyinvestor

We were happy to sign a letter to The Times last week warning The Labour Party against housebuilding visions overly-focused on style, along with colleagues at Proctor & Matthews Architects, HTA Design LLP, PRP and Levitt Bernstein. As writer and critic (and former housing manager and educator) Jane Darke reminded us during our housing conference day last September (https://lnkd.in/dq75MB9T), her research showed that for residents – ‘the appearance does not have to be traditional. The case studies show that brickwork is not automatically popular: what is liked is lightness and brightness. Monotony is disliked. A pleasant outlook—open spaces, greenery, trees—is also important.’   With this in mind we’ve just published our latest sector guide – on rural and suburban housing – featuring future-proofed, connected homes in a range of projects from new settlements on the edge of small towns to finely calibrated townscapes set within historic suburbs. Their design and appearance is, of course, inspired by tradition and local character, but the overall look is contemporary. If you can win planning permission in Woodstock, West Oxfordshire, as we have, for a new settlement featuring fabric-first, Passivhaus-standard homes, there’s a simple takeaway to be had: Style wars are a massive distraction. If you'd like to know more about our rural and suburban housing work please take a look at our sector guide and get in touch with Kaye Stout or Alexis Butterfield. Sector guide: https://lnkd.in/dAPi2-KU #ruralhousing #suburbanhousing #distinctivelylocal #stylewars

A quick listen for your Tuesday. The discussion covers some interesting, and very relevant themes, that we consider daily when designing homes of all scales. https://lnkd.in/gWSqD-4j #design #housing #futureproofing

✨ **Project Highlights:** - **Comprehensive Redevelopment:** Preliminary masterplan studies suggest the potential to replace the existing structure with a new residential complex. Options include 26 apartments or 15 houses with diverse one, two, and three-bedroom layouts. - **Integration with Environment:** A key feature of this project is its seamless blend with the surroundings, ensuring a harmonious balance between development and nature. The inclusion of a scenic communal courtyard is a testament to this commitment. - **Accessibility and Security:** Ensuring full accessibility and security is a top priority, making this a welcoming and safe community for everyone. 🤝 **Strategic Partnership with Hamson Barron Smith:** As a division of Norse Consulting, HBS is playing a pivotal role in refining the development concepts, focusing sharply on the site’s context and the aspiration for zero-carbon in-use living standards. Their multidisciplinary expertise in #design and #planning #consultancy services is invaluable in this venture. Jonathan Stephenson Paulette McAllister FRSA Justin Galliford BSc(Hons) MSc MBA DipMC Nick Maddox PgD Daniella Barrow MRICS Paul Pawa #affordablehousing #localgovernment #netzero

The Canadian Minister of Housing is talking about introducing a 21st century version of the plan books CMHC put out from 1947 to 1976. Today I look at my favourite, the 1965 Small House Designs that I have carried around since I was a practicing architect. We don't need a lot of single family houses built on farmland today, but we need to relearn the real lessons from the CMHC plan books: creativity, efficiency and above all, sufficiency, building no more than we really need. https://lnkd.in/gf6QMeA6

Toronto's Planning and Housing Committee recently considered a feasibility report that could reshape residential construction by permitting single exit stairs in four-storey buildings. This change could mitigate the housing crisis by freeing up floor space and improving living areas. Remember the days when two staircases were mandatory? This rule, rooted in early 1900s US codes, might soon evolve with modern building designs and advanced fire safety measures. Talk about progress! The proposed benefits include: - Enlarged living spaces - More natural light and accessible units - Efficient design allowing more bedrooms Potential alternate safety measures like sprinklers and wider stairs ensure that this innovative approach maintains high safety standards. Could this be the game-changer Toronto's housing market needs? What are your thoughts on adopting single exit stairs for low-rise buildings? #RealEstate #Toronto #HousingCrisis #BuildingCode #UrbanPlanning #Innovation 🚪🏙️

The Point Access Block movement is growing! And over on Architectural Record, my colleague Alex Armlovich gives a brief write up on the history and benefits of this approach - highlighting how the US diverged from other countries in this regard. I think Alex sums up what has drawn me to single stair buildings in the first place: the far superior quality of living compared to double loaded corridor buildings. 'At the same time, developing large lots with multiple single-stair buildings would unlock a unique amenity: park-like shared interior courtyards. If on small lots, single-stair designs compete on both cost and quality, on large lots, they compete on quality.' Even on large lots - I think there is an opportunity to compete on cost as well, if cities actually regulated FAR better, and floor plate depth at all (we are averaging 90' for new double loaded corridor buildings that are not infill in Seattle - 45' deep single aspect units... It's like living in a bowling lane). Good stuff, Alex! #buildingcodes #egress #housing #multifamily #development #citiesforpeople #qualityoflife #stadtplanung #mehrfamilienhaeuser #stairs https://lnkd.in/d-WgcFqU