Unfolding the Concept of Flexibility in Collaborative Housing Design

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26754/ojs_zarch/zarch.2023218935

Keywords:

Flexibility, Housing Revolution, Collaborative Housing, Cohousing

Abstract

The article discusses the concept of flexibility in architecture and its application in collaborative housing projects. It explores three key connotations of flexibility - redundancy, technical means, and political strategy - as put forth by Adrian Forty. The design strategies for flexibility in collaborative housing include filter elements to create an intimacy gradient, redundant circulation spaces, programmatic genericness of spaces, and a wide variety of typologies and technical devices. The article also discusses the role of collective decision-making in collaborative housing design and the construction of a shared meaning system to guide future choices.

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Author Biography

Ludovica Rolando, Politecnico di Torino; Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

Ludovica Rolando (Turin, 1994) is an architect and Ph.D. candidate between Politecnico di Torino - Architecture. History and Design, and Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya - ETSAB. She graduated in Architecture at Politecnico di Torino (2018), but she also studied at UCL Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium, and Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotà, Colombia. She collaborated with F: L Architetti, Turin (2016), TeamMinus, Beijing (2016) and Miralles Tagliabue EMBT, Barcelona (2019/2020). Her research work focuses on Collaborative Housing Models, looking at the specific context of Southern Europe. She collaborated as a teaching assistant at the Polytechnic University of Turin from 2017 to 2022. She has published in academic journals such as AGATHÓN (3/2018) and TECHNE (24/2022), and she has contributed to the book “Abitare alternativo, modelli in azione. Housing collaborativo, accessibile e inclusivo in Europa” edited by Feltrinelli.

References

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Published

2023-12-31

How to Cite

Rolando, L. (2023). Unfolding the Concept of Flexibility in Collaborative Housing Design. ZARCH. Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Architecture and Urbanism, (21), 158–169. https://doi.org/10.26754/ojs_zarch/zarch.2023218935

Issue

No. 21 (2023): Habitat Perspectives

Section

Topic papers