State Housing Revival: Sustainable regeneration strategies for post-war suburban state housing in New Zealand.

Government funded housing for people in need is a challenge many countries face around the world. This research investigates how to sustainably regenerate post-war suburban state housing in New Zealand, in particular, the suburb of Glen Innes in Auckland. Reviving the community and regenerating the buildings is essential for improving the overall quality of the neighbourhoods both socially and physically. Achieving this in a holistic sustainable manner illustrates that there are alternatives to demolition and new builds, as the answer to the current housing shortage problems.

New Zealand is confronted with the dilemma of what to do with existing government-funded housing which are no longer socially or physically suitable for the current demographic. New Zealand has a large cultural diversity with many new immigrants from the Pacific Islands and Asia. There is a need for culturally flexible and inclusive affordable housing. Together the conclusions drawn from empirical and ethnographic research, informed a general design toolbox and guidelines. The established guidelines and toolbox were applied at a master plan level and in-depth to an existing state house within the specific neighbourhood in Glen Innes. This resulted in a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable neighbourhood proposal which also generated a more culturally flexible home, with environmental sustainable solutions to reduce future financial and environmental pressures. The outcome of the design proposal created an overall increased density, allowed for new development and maintained the familiarity of the neighbourhood while reviving the community.