One of the impediments to the provision of affordable homes to Canadians is inefficient and inadequate communication between housing users and housing providers. This is the result partly of the decentralized nature of the housing industry and partly of changes in demand. New types of first-time buyers (childless couples, single-parent families, singles) have new and different aspirations and needs. Affordable homes require inventive trade-offs between, for example, unit size and quality, or between plan adaptability and flexibility. These trade-offs can only succeed if they take into account what is desirable (by buyers) and what is feasible (by builders).

 

RESEARCH AREA
ASPECTS
RESEARCH PROJECTS
Cost reduction strategies for sustainable units and communities Cost reduction through flexible design in the pre- and post-occupancy stages

- Affordable housing alternatives/ The Next Home

- Planning Housing for Change

- Post-occupancy evaluation projects
Cost reduction through systemization and industrialization of housing production

- Industrialization of Narrow-Front Rowhousing

- Cost comparison: conventional vs. prefab
Reduce resource consumption at the unit and community levels

- Guidelines for High-density Communities

- Sustainable Residential Development
Cost reduction strategies through planning of units and communities

- The Grow Home

- Conversion of Industrial Buildings to Affordable Housing