Architectural and Residential Visions – Tendencies and Strategies in European Architecture and Housing

Paper i proceeding, 2008

Housing is a complex field of relations integrating many aspects at individual as well as societal levels. The conditions and desires concerning housing is changing due to alterations in family structures, working conditions, ways of living, etc. Could some tendencies or specific strategies be seen that meet the changes? Are new typologies or spatial configurations in housing being developed? Are innovative and explorative projects giving new possibilities to discuss notions, visions and directions for future housing? How do housing markets meet new desires and wishes, especially in relation to the industrialisation of housing production? This paper will discuss these questions based on a study of contemporary housing production in Europe, a survey of built work and discussions of central problems as published in recent journals and literature. The paper delineates some tendencies and main issues of concern – especially “diversity”, “adaptability” and “strategies of spatial combinations and zoning” – and discusses the concept of “coherent multiplicity” as one strategy used to manage some current issues.