Social Housing and Heritage: Past, Present and Future

Modernist Social Housing as Heritage: Past, present and future

Dr Alonso Ayala
Senior Expert in Housing and Human Settlement Planning

IHS, Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies

Alonso Ayala is an architect and development planner specializing in regional development planning, human settlement planning, urban and housing research in emerging economies, and academic and professional capacity building. He obtained his PhD at the Faculty of Spatial Planning of TU Dortmund University, entitled Urban Upgrading Intervention and Barrio Integration in Caracas, Venezuela. He has over fifteen years of working experience. He has conducted field research on informal urban processes in Venezuela, Bangladesh and the Philippines. 

Post 65 heritage in the Netherlands: civic engagement and participation

Kees Somer
Architectural Historian

Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands

Kees Somer is an architectural historian working at the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands. He is primarily involved in research into post-war built heritage.

More about the talk
In the Netherlands, we are currently focusing our attention on the extensive heritage from the period 1965-1990, also known as Post 65. Almost a third of the current housing stock dates from this period. Many of us live or work in buildings from these years. In assessing, selecting, and protecting this recent heritage, we draw on the experiences of former and current users and residents. In addition to the existing assessment criteria, we use storylines to express the social significance of this heritage: societal developments that had a defining effect on the physical living environment. The aim is that this approach to heritage, with more attention to the bigger story and citizen involvement, will benefit the understanding and appreciation of this young heritage and the collective care for the future of our living environment.

Western Australia Case Study: Social Housing Challenges and Local Action

Yolanda Cool
Heritage Skills Facilitator

Heritage Skills

Since 2016, Yolanda has led heritage skills training initiatives in Western Australia. Drawing on her expertise in Education and Museology, along with recent certifications in Oral History and Heritage Urban Planning Strategies, she partners with organisations at the local, national, and European levels to advance heritage skills development, facilitate skill exchanges, and promote site preservation. In 2020, she delivered a comprehensive report on heritage skills gaps and strategic recommendations to heritage chairs and government bodies in Australia and New Zealand. She is also the co-founder and current CEO of the Heritage Skills Association. Her professional background encompasses facilitation, community engagement, heritage site management, and the integration of intergenerational, project-based learning into skills training programmes. She works collaboratively with stakeholders to foster constructive dialogue and enhance heritage advocacy efforts within Western Australia and internationally.

More about the talk

Since the end of COVID lock downs in 2022, Western Australia is facing significant social housing issues, with a substantial portion of the population struggling with housing affordability and homelessness. The propriety for social housing waitlist and affordable housing has exploded. The system remains insufficient and policy playing catch up. How can a local community action group and conversations change the narrative, into how to reuse our heritage and old stock places to meet this housing need? The presentation will Include insights from one such group ‘The Southwest, Western Australia, Social Housing Taskforce’. Encouraging conversations “Think globally, act locally’.

Jean-Paul Corten

Moderator

Senior Policy Officer
Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands

Jean-Paul Corten obtained his degree in history at Utrecht University, and later studied planning. He started his career as a researcher in the history of technology at Eindhoven University. Currently he is employed as senior policy officer on Integrated Conservation at the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (Ministry of Education, Culture and Science). Besides he is affiliated with the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies, Erasmus University of Rotterdam. He is involved in many urban regeneration projects abroad.