Different cities, similar lessons: the AFWC’s pan-European discussion

On this balmy summer day a large group of people answered the call to come together to exchange knowledge and discuss the challenges that social housing associations have to cope with in modern times. Five representatives of larger European cities (Berlin, Copenhagen, Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam) presented their social housing context and the challenges they have… Read More Different cities, similar lessons: the AFWC’s pan-European discussion

June 19, 2017August 25, 2017 ISHF teamLeave a comment

A great social housing scandal

What is your background and what is your relation to social housing? I was born in Borculo in the east of the Netherlands, and currently I live in ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the south. I studied free arts (sculpture) in the art academy in Den Bosch and Ljubljana (Slovenija) and graduated in 2007. After graduation I started… Read More A great social housing scandal

June 19, 2017August 25, 2017 pepijnbakkerLeave a comment

How cities can cope with migration

“We need to rethink our cities, so they can better cope with migration. It’s not a temporally situation but a permanent one,” states Michelle Provoost of Crimson Architectural Historians. She is one of the organisers of the ISHF event ‘Migration and Mobility in cities in the West’, on emerging migration and mobility to and in… Read More How cities can cope with migration

June 18, 2017August 25, 2017 ISHF teamLeave a comment

Asylum seekers in the Bijlmerbajes: How bad is it to live behind bars?

The short answer: very bad, according to Lorien Beijaert of Studio LA. Last summer, Amsterdam welcomed 600 temporary asylum seekers in the former Penitentiary Facility Overamstel, also known as the Bijlmerbajes. Beijaert and her companion Arna Mackic decided to make sure the bars would be removed. “Every time the asylum seekers look outside, they are… Read More Asylum seekers in the Bijlmerbajes: How bad is it to live behind bars?

June 18, 2017August 25, 2017 ISHF teamLeave a comment

The drama of tenant advocacy

A wonder of technology is its ability to allow us to be everywhere at once. And so it was that today, via Skype, the Amsterdam Tenants’ Union was able to host a discussion in Amsterdam that was simultaneously in Bratislava (Slovakia), Cardiff (Wales), Barcelona (Spain) and Tuzla (Bosnia & Herzegovina). All of them had the… Read More The drama of tenant advocacy

June 17, 2017September 1, 2017 ISHF teamLeave a comment

The right of access to the city

One of the key themes of this festival is migration to cities. How can the city ensure equal and just access to housing? At the conference ‘A right to the city a right to housing’, organized by the Jaap Bakema study center in Het Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam, 6 speakers on 2 panels discussed housing… Read More The right of access to the city

June 17, 2017August 25, 2017 ISHF teamLeave a comment

‘A social housing project without amenities is not social at all’ keynote by Ilka Ruby

The keynote speaker Ilka Ruby a Berlin based publisher and curator on subjects regarding architecture and urbanism delivered a morning speech. She focused on different social housing projects from around Europe, America and Asia. You can find here website here- Mrs. Ruby gave several examples of social housing ghettos in Berlin, France and Sweden that… Read More ‘A social housing project without amenities is not social at all’ keynote by Ilka Ruby

June 16, 2017August 25, 2017 jcritesLeave a comment

Embracing change in France, UK and Italy-lessons in supporting tenant needs

The first afternoon session of the Housing Europe conference was about embracing changes. A talented panel came together to discuss how public, cooperative and social housing providers might future-proof their operating strategies. The focus was where to put our investments when it comes to technological and social innovation. To lead this discussion, a panel of… Read More Embracing change in France, UK and Italy-lessons in supporting tenant needs