Skyrocketing prices of London housing have become so unbearable that many have turned to less-than-ideal compromises. Large homes can be found but come with commutes of hours; places are still available in the city, but only for those with sky-high paychecks. Unable to balance their needs, people are resorting to workarounds that disrupt the existing urban fabric and dissatisfy all involved. Surely we can do better.
Architecture competitions have always contributed in stimulating public interest and have generated numerous community-oriented designs. Bee Breeders's recent competition challenged designers to take on this issue, calling for inventive solutions to London's housing crisis as part of its Affordable Housing Crisis Design Series. Common themes and ideas emerged among the entries: the construction of new housing systems, rehabilitation of public spaces, new methods for land ownership. But the winners addressed the global demand for affordable urban housing in an innovative and sustainable approach.
