ABSTRACT
The housing crisis needs sustained investment rather than frenzied bursts of quick fixes, which are likely to be demolished within our lifetimes. About two-thirds of new housing is generated by speculation, a short-term transactional process where notions of place, longevity and community are often sidelined in favour of a quick return on capital. Commissioning homes for Peabody provided a close view of 150 years’ worth of housing development and its resilience. The contemporary absence of the ‘art of construction’ may be the most damaging influence on the longevity of our housing stock. The layout of housing, especially if it departs from the lower-density norm of streets and houses, is fundamental to engendering security and safety and thus to the lasting success of a neighbourhood. The design of landscape is particularly important, especially in urban housing: every square metre of horizontal space is precious, with trees and plants essential for the wellbeing of the higher-density dweller.
