ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines an experiment, supported by a federal government agency, to involve women in the planning of a federal demonstration housing project in Ottawa, Canada. It discusses the evaluation of women’s environmental needs that was undertaken, and describes, from concept to actual design, the development of a housing complex designed to suit a particular life-style group dominated by women. The women developed a concept of their own way of life as single parents, based on their housing needs at each stage in their transition from being members of a two-parent family to becoming the head of a single-parent family. The National Capital Commission Women’s Workshop coordinators established the Women’s Resource Group (WRG) to participate on the citizens’ committee as an experiment to be discussed at the fall workshop. The experience of the WRG prompts some comments about the value of focusing on women as users and involving them as planners of housing environments.
