It Takes a Village: A collective approach to NZ housing

Access to affordable, quality housing is a necessity that has become unattainable for many New Zealanders. Land values, property prices and rents continue to increase at rates higher than income growth. As urban populations continue to rise, existing housing strategies are not ensuring that housing supply keeps up with increasing demand and continuously changing demographics. Not only this, but increasing housing inequality has resulted in both spatial and social exclusion. This thesis argues for a more inclusive, socially adaptable, needs-oriented delivery of housing.

The thesis proposes testing mixed-use collective housing as an integrated approach for housing delivery in NZ. Collective housing has the potential to facilitate community and social cohesion; reduce social isolation; encourage diversity and inclusion; and reduce spatial inequality. This also enhances the urban context and creates opportunities for sustained prosperity for a wide range of occupants. It can create socially stable and sustainable long-term communities.

The thesis argues that through the a mix of tenures, a mix of housing typologies and spatial adaptability, collective housing has the potential to increase housing stability, reflect changing urban identities and promote social cohesion. Exemplar mixed use developments are designed, with particular emphasis on inclusive planning principles and the implementation of ‘third places’, as a response to increased social isolation in contemporary society.

It demonstrates that mixed tenure, mixed use, collective housing developments can together offer an alternative to traditional forms of housing that are more inclusive.