From shelter to equity

A multi-disciplinary team led by the architects of Elemental design a radical new typology of social housing that is able to grow over time, both in size and in value. We see how they practice strategic design, discovering along the way that: 1) A realistic look at the status quo can inspire new design solutions that address higher-order challenges 2) Participatory processes should be carefully designed not to make promises that are too big to keep 3) Savvy engagement with the media is useful to generate political capital necessary to launch an unconventional design.