“Social Green Housing”

This book describes the factors to be taken into account to achieve new and advanced typologies of ecological and bioclimatic social housing, able to meet the needs of its occupants, and with which social housing complex can be designed, perfectly integrated in the urban and social structure of the cities, and allowing them to evolve in the desired direction.

First, by analyzing the most important social housing buildings in USA, Europe and Latin America, provides a list of the major problems associated with social housing (poor quality, poor creative projects, devalued image market, high dissatisfaction of occupants, location devaluation of land, distant location favoring social segregation, poor functional diversity (commuter towns), high density buildings, etc …).

Following an exhaustive comparative analysis of these problems, and based on the different successful experiences that have been made in several cities on the planet, it is possible to identify a set of parameters to be considered, in order to achieve the best possible social housing typologies for each particular environment. Specifically, Luis De Garrido analyzes in this book 22 parameters that he has identified, and that he takes into account in his professional work.

Finally a design strategy and the parameters to be considered for social housing design with the highest possible ecological and bioclimatic level, capable of being thermally self regulated, is described (without the need of technological devices, and at the lowest possible price). As social housing is the architectural typology with the lowest budget, the most effective ecological and bioclimatic actions, with no additional costs, must be carefully chosen.

To illustrate the concepts presented some of the most advanced social housing complexes, designed by Luis de Garrido, are analyzed in depth.