Rethinking housing – Design and architecture for flexible and affordable living

Claudia Battaino; Paolo Fossati; Filippo Marconi

doi:10.69143/2464-9309/17102025

Authors

Claudia Battaino University of Trento (Italy)
Paolo Fossati University of Trento (Italy)
Filippo Marconi University of Trento (Italy)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69143/2464-9309/17102025

Keywords:

collective housing, design, modularity, flexibility, affordability

Abstract

Architecture is called to face the challenges of an era marked by global change, economic instability, environmental crises, geopolitical tensions, and pandemic emergencies. One of the main fields of investigation through which a response can be articulated is housing, the core of the city, and a strategic area for identifying and experimenting with new paradigms capable of adequately addressing contemporary needs. This perspective is developed through housing case studies that contribute to an ecological transition, offering quality solutions for various ‘dimensions’ of living and segments of social demand, improving well-being and a sense of community. Starting from the current condition of housing hardship, an approach is proposed that moves away from the characteristics of permanence and immutability toward a redefinition of collective housing design as a space of flexibility, modularity, and affordability.

Article info

Received: 15/03/2025; Revised: 24/04/2025; Accepted: 03/05/2025

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Author Biographies

Claudia Battaino, University of Trento (Italy)

Architect and PhD, she is an Associate Professor at the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Mechanical Engineering. Her main research areas concern the relationship between architecture and the city, urban design as a tool within architectural composition, recent forms of urbanisation, and the regeneration of marginal spaces.
E-mail: claudia.battaino@unitn.it

Paolo Fossati, University of Trento (Italy)

Architect, he is an Adjunct Lecturer at the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Mechanical Engineering. He teaches and conducts applied experimentation in Architectural and Urban Composition, particularly focusing on complex and process-based architecture themes.
E-mail: paoloremy.fossati@unitn.it

Filippo Marconi, University of Trento (Italy)

Architect and Engineer, he is a PhD Candidate in Architecture, Planning, and Landscape at the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Mechanical Engineering. His research focuses on architectural composition across different scales, particularly exploring prison architecture.
E-mail: filippo.marconi@unitn.it

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