19 November 2013
A new website raising awareness about how people can build homes together has been launched.
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CollectiveCustomBuild.org was unveiled at an event in London last night. The website is one of the key outputs of a research programme undertaken by the University of Sheffield’s School of Architecture.
A key feature of the new website is an short animated film that explains the benefits of a group of people working together to build their homes. It also explains how ‘collective custom build’ can be a great way for local authorities, housing associations and others to encourage innovative forms of affordable housing.
The research was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). Working with the University of Sheffield School of Architecture on the project was Ash Sakula Architects and Design for Homes.
In Berlin one in ten of all the new homes are built by ‘building groups’ – typically this results in people getting the custom designed homes they want, and often the cost is 25% less than any other form of new housing.
Cany Ash, from Ash Sakula Architects, said: “A single household has few choices, whereas a group of ten households can pool their knowledge and skills to overcome the political, legal and physical barriers to development.
“The idea is not to live together (although you might make friends and have the odd communal breakfast) — the idea is to build a block of flats or a terrace of houses. A group of 30 households will potentially offer a greater range of skills, and the opportunity to reassert a mix of income groups, generations and cultures: the beginnings of a neighbourhood.”
