Housing
The IFHP Housing Working Group was reactivated in February 2012, in London.
The main aim of the housing working group is to become a knowledge catalyst for IFHP members either working in or with a special interest in housing themes. The main objectives are
- to provide an opportunity for dialogue about emerging policy and developing practice in relation to housing in particular in Europe
- to develop knowledge about housing and consider the implication for practice; to create a space for sharing information and experiences among housing professionals; to monitor pilot projects and practical experiences
- to become a bridge between the European context and relevant examples in emerging countries in a process of mutual learning which is core business for IFHP
The last point is particularly important: there is a lot of housing knowledge gained and rooted in Europe and developed elsewhere in the practice from which the European professionals can learn again. The emphasis will be on concrete and topical housing challenges and developing projects.
2. Hong Kong, Social Housing
The Housing Working group generates and transfers cross-cutting thematic knowledge in housing. There is a program of activities in which the group has a strategic and proactive role.
1. Gothenburg IFHP World Congress on September 16-19, 2012: The Congress aimed to develop an understanding of different levels of urban development from several perspectives: the local level, the city-dimension and the global urban issues. The main theme was The Inclusive City in a Global World. The Congress is a kick start moment for the working group in the definition of a specific road map. More information is available at the conference website.
2. Lecture series : As part of their Silver Jubilee (2012) and Centenary (2013) celebrations, AESOP and IFHP are organizing a series of 7-8 lectures by eminent planners which is addressed to professionals but also to a wider audience. In 2013 there is an opportunity for the housing group members to choose the topic and internationally renowned speakers for one open invitation lecture. The chosen subject should be consistent with topical housing issues and at the same time appeal to professionals of others fields.
3. Meeting for the housing group members: Once a year the housing group members will aim to gather together to deepen and discuss on specific themes. The meeting could be considered as a preparatory moment to others events as Conferences or Congresses and they are important to maintain continuity and coherence in the working group activities: the program of the housing group has to be seen as a continuum towards shared ideas. A first meeting is proposed in October/November 2012.
4. The 1st Hague Housing Conference in February 2013: An Annual Conference will be organized on housing issues. The theme of this year will be defined by representatives of the ‘Founding Fathers’ and others who have shown a particular interest in the conference, before the end of May. The idea is to identify a general theme that is relevant to as many stakeholders as possible and becomes a framework in which individuals and groups could present operational/strategic experiences.
5. Housing Webinar (a seminar via web) with UN-Habitat and IHS (Erasmus University of Rotterdam) on (an aspect of) the Global Housing Strategy + preparatory sessions: The Webinar is addressed to a younger audience but it hasn’t spatial boundaries. The theme that would be related to the UN-Habitat experience, interesting for young professionals and that is more relevant to Europe, and especially to Eastern Europe with which it will be increasingly important to establish an exchange of experiences and a dialogue on housing issues.
6. London IFHP Centenary Congress 2013: The Centenary will be the main event of the year. The slogan is “A tomorrow for cities - for people, by people”.
The Centenary will orientate itself towards a new thinking with a view to building up a practical content agenda relevant to dealing with new, emerging urban issues. The general themes of the Centenary Congress are: “the resilient city”, “the inclusive city” and “cities in transition”.
The housing is a cross-cutting aspect that could be considered by different points of view. The program of the congress is still in the planning stages and so it is open to proposals and suggestions.
3. Tirana, painted houses
The housing working group is open to new members and proposals. At this stage is very important to test interests of IFHP members and availability to contribute in one or more of these activities.
This contribution could be in term of:
- attending or hosting working group meetings,
- proposing contemporary themes which you are dealing with or you are interested to deepen,
- proposing other activities that would be interesting for the housing working group agenda,
- presenting in above activities ongoing projects which could be interesting for the other members of the Housing Working Group.
For further information please contact
Giulia Maci (g.maci@ifhp.org)
Pim de Leeuw (p.deleeuw@ifhp.org
