Z E M C H 2 0 1 2 I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e
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Introduction
Housing policies for the greatest number and the consequent level of dwelling supply is
still an important indicator of the social character of a society and even nowadays one of
the main themes of discussion and research in architecture and urban planning.
In Italy in the recent years, numerous studies have highlighted a growing discrepancy
between the supply and the demand in the housing market: a high percentage of the
population not only has to be content with an unwelcome type of housing, but as a result
of the low ownership rate also has to bear even higher expenses in the form of rising
rents or mortgage
.
The demographic structure of the society is becoming more complex and elusive: on the
one hand, the society transformation, the new household idea, the unsettled job market,
that turns individuals into “city users”, are all factors that define a diversified scenario; on
the other hand, the global financial crisis in 2008 has stricken in particular young people,
immigrants, young couples, elderly people, city users, “atypical” families, in short that
“grey area” of the population not “poor enough” to be in the list for a public housing
project, but not “rich enough” to buy or rent a house.
The survey on the Italian real estate market promoted by the Chamber of Deputies and
held by the VIII Commission in 201
has highlighted the most critical aspects of the
national housing policies and has addressed some of the recent legislative decisions
regarding public and subsidized housing policies
, with the aim to give a new start to the
construction sector in this historical moment characterized by an extreme reduction in
turnover. The construction sector, in fact, to deal with this crisis period, is taking account
of the change in the demographic structure and is changing its internal rules to address
this new market demand into a new positive phase. The signs of change are still
numerous and, although in some cases niche, give the direction of the on-going process:
the reduction of the “traditional market” on one side and the “new methods” in
construction on the other side, more oriented to “low cost” and “innovation” (Cresme
2011).
This process of change, driven by the globalization dynamics, the technological
evolution, the energy and environmental issues, is also being pushed by a new approach
to the architectural design, that, rejecting the wiles of the exhibition end in itself, is
increasingly the difference in terms of quality, performance, sustainability, time and costs
and therefore competitiveness of both designers and construction companies.
Reducing, simplifying, inventing, using old and new materials: the "plainness" resulting
from the actual reduction of resources defines an architecture maybe not better but
1
On average Europeans spend over a fifth of their income (22.9%) on housing. The share of housing costs
out of disposable income for those at risk of poverty is almost double the overall rate (40.4%). People at risk
of poverty living alone are the ones who spend the most on housing compared to their income, while large
families are the ones spending relatively the least. (Cecodhas, 2012)
2
The Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, completed its survey on July 29, 2010, with approval of the
final document. The survey has served to bring into focus the delicate situation in which lies the real estate
market and, above all, to identify a series of concrete proposals, capable of responding to the need for a
rapid end to the ongoing difficulties and of encouraging a sector which is crucial in the construction and real
estate market.
3
On the housing theme, the italian government adopted between 2008 and 2009 two different programs.
The first contained in the Financial Bill of 2008 called "National Housing Plan" (Law 133/2008). The second,
called "Husing Plan" was launched by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on March 6, 2009 with the intent to
raise - in a time of crisis - a key sector for italian economy as the construction sector.
