Digging deeper: Public housing in Ghana managed by local authorities

In the 1980s, the government of Ghana decided to withdraw from direct housing provision. In lieu of this, the two main institutions through which government provided and managed public housing – the TDC and SHC sold off most of their dwellings. The few remaining dwellings were transferred to local authorities to own and manage. There have been...

Obsolescence: The underlying processes

Obsolescence, defined as the process of declining performance of buildings, is a serious threat for the value, the usefulness and the life span of housing properties. Thomsen and van der Flier (2011) developed a model in which obsolescence is categorised on the basis of two distinctions, namely between endogenous and exogenous cause-effect...

Cordaid's post-disaster shelter strategy in Haiti: Linking relief and development

Haiti was struck by a heavy earthquake in 2010 and international aid poured into the country. News reports in 2011 were not very positive about the results of post-disaster reconstruction: “The relief efforts are only putting Haiti on lifesupport instead of evolving into the next stage of development”. One of the non-governmental organisations ...

Housing obsolescence in practice: Towards a management tool

Obsolescence, broadly defined as a process of declining performance resulting in the end of the service life, is a serious threat for built property. This is even more the case in present times of reduced investment budgets and relatively small numbers of new-built homes, which increase the relative importance of the existing housing stock....

Housing obsolescence in practice: Model implementation

Obsolescence is a serious threat for built property. As an often used demolition motive, obsolescence can be regarded as the last phase of the life span of buildings. From a sustainable viewpoint, life cycle extension is necessary to minimize waste. But there are more considerations to carefully maintain the existing stock. Knowledge about the...

Disruption of Functional Brain Networks in Alzheimer’s Disease: What Can We Learn from Graph Spectral Analysis of Resting-State Magnetoencephalography?

In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), structural and functional brain network organization is disturbed. However, many of the present network analysis measures require a priori assumptions and methodological choices that influence outcomes and interpretations. Graph spectral analysis (GSA) is a more direct algebraic method that describes network...

Obsolescence, conceptual model and proposal for case studies

What is obsolescence? There is a general understanding that buildings, similar to machinery, should be demolished and replaced when they become obsolete. The truth of this assertion is found problematic, as obsolescence is not clearly understood in conceptual or practical terms. Understanding obsolescence is important. It presents a serious...

Understanding obsolescence: A conceptual model for buildings

What is obsolescence? Numerous older buildings have been demolished due to being labelled as obsolete. There is a general understanding that buildings, similar to machinery and durable consumer goods, should be demolished and replaced when they become obsolete. The truth of this assertion is examined and found to be problematic, as obsolescence...

Obsolescence and the end of life phase of buildings

What is obsolescence? Numerous older housing blocks have been knocked down because of being obsolete. There is a general understanding that buildings, like machinery and durable consumer goods, should be replaced when they become obsolete. But is this true? Obsolescence is a serious threat for built property. Given its immobile, long lasting and...

Obsolescence and the end of life phase of buildings

What is obsolescence? Numerous older housing blocks have been knocked down because of being obsolete. There is a general understanding that buildings, like machinery and durable consumer goods, should be replaced when they become obsolete. But is this true? Obsolescence is a serious threat for built property. Given its immobile, long lasting and...

Demolition in Europe: Volume, motives and research approach

What determines the life span of dwellings? Much is known about the initial phase of buildings. The vast majority of scientific knowledge is concentrated on the building initiative, the programming, design and in particular the construction. Knowledge about the utilization phase, including management, transformation and redesign is growing. But...

Upgrade or replace?: The effect of the EPBD on the choice between improvement or replacement

What is better: improvement or replacement by new construction? The choice between life cycle extension and replacement of existing buildings is at itself a vital but very difficult decision, involving a wide range of different aspects and affecting several contrary and often conflicting interests. The emerging ecological awareness of the...

Life cycle of dwellings: A conceptual model based on Dutch practice

Van integraal beheer op wijkniveau naar beheer van woonmilieu's

De titel 'Van integraal beheer op wijkniveau naar beheer van woonmilieu's' is weliswaar lang maar geeft een goede karakterisering van het onderzoek dat hier gerapporteerd wordt. Het onderzoek is gestart met de vraag wat de voorwaarden zijn om te komen tot meer integraal beheer op wijkniveau. Bij het zoeken naar deze voorwaarden zijn wij gestuit...

Onderzoek vergeleken: Een vergelijking van de opzet en methodiek van zeven onderzoeken gericht op de aanpak van naoorlogse wijken

De naoorlogse wijken en daarmee bedoelen we in deze rapportage de wijken die gebouwd zijn in de periode 1945-1975, (1) staan sinds het begin van de jaren tachtig in de belangstelling. Vooral woningcorporaties brachten een toename van verhuur- en exploitatieproblemen in complexen die ze in deze wijken beheren in de publiciteit.

Gemeente en bewonersorganisaties in de Rotterdamse stadsvernieuwing