{"id":177,"date":"2014-01-15T12:47:43","date_gmt":"2014-01-15T11:47:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.iese.edu\/ethics\/?p=177"},"modified":"2015-04-08T16:50:25","modified_gmt":"2015-04-08T15:50:25","slug":"social-housing-architects-amazing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.iese.edu\/ethics\/2014\/01\/15\/social-housing-architects-amazing\/","title":{"rendered":"Social Housing Architects: Amazing!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Don\u2019t forget: I promised to speak about positive examples<\/strong>, best practices<\/strong> in our global society.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s story is about social housing<\/i><\/b>. I did not know anything about social housing<\/strong> before accidentally meeting with Floriana Marotta<\/strong><\/a> and Massimo Basile<\/strong><\/a>. They are two amazing architects, Italians like me, almost same age, travelling around the world to find opportunities. The interesting part of this story is the kind of opportunities that Floriana and Massimo look for.<\/p>\nSocial housing tries to merge three apparently conflicting goals: beauty, social and economic impact <\/span><\/a>. Amazing, but this seems almost like rhetoric, right? So, please, look at these pictures:<\/p>\n

\"Social<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Social<\/a><\/p>\n

Floriana and Massimo\u2019s project provides 184 apartments of social housing, services and public space in via Gallarte, a peripheral area of Milan. \u00a0\u201cSocial housing\u201d means that apartments are rented at a symbolic price to people in need <\/span><\/a>\u00a0(generally for a limited amount of time).<\/p>\n

But, a careful analysis of Floriana and Massimo\u2019s work shows that these constructions have achieved many objectives, above and beyond the original intention of the City of Milan that sponsored the design and construction.<\/p>\n

First, they provide beautiful, stylish constructions in an area characterized by \u201ccheap buildings\u201d<\/strong> or shoddy constructions. \u00a0Frankly, I like the idea that people in need, and the less wealthy persons can live in a beautiful place <\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Second,\u00a0the creation of public spaces has ignited social activities and a sense of community<\/i><\/b>\u00a0in an area that was characterized by social disintegration and marginalization<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Third, the new constructions have re-launched local economic activity providing new working opportunities <\/span><\/a>\u00a0to the local people<\/strong>.<\/p>\nSocial housing: beauty, social and economic impact. How could we possibly want more? <\/span><\/a>\u00a0I leave you with a beautiful video so you can see how good, responsible design can dramatically improve the life of people that deserve a better future<\/strong>:<\/p>\n