Developer Competition as a Means for Combining Cost and Design

Book chapter, 2018

This article examines a 2013 developer competition for new housing in Gothenburg. The property board called for a developer competition aimed at producing good quality housing at a reasonable rent. There was no prize money or financial compensation for the delivery of approved design proposals. Winning meant in this case that the developer got access to the site and could implement the project. The organizers estimated there would be space for 100-125 housing units of various sizes on the competition site. The rental rate and long-term maintenance costs of housing units were to be presented as part of the competition proposal. The average rent was not allowed to exceed 1 400 SEK per square meter and year, corresponding to a rent reduction of 20-25 % compared to other equivalent apartments.