Stuart LeoManaging Director

07 5660 6118 stuart@blirt.co

Visit: blirt.co

Creative Thinking in Affordable Housing

The problem, paths to answers and examples of different solutions.

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Why are all our efforts on making things smaller or

cheaper?

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http://woondu.com/galapagos-gaint-tortoise/

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The problem is we’re all looking for a silver bullet, believing one

bullet will win a whole war.

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What Type of Problem?

•We need to look at the problem carefully to make sense of the type of problem.

•Cynefin Sense Making Framework (Prof. Dave Snowden)• Cynefin = Habitat or Place

•Brings context to the type of problem and how to go about solving it.

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Different Types of Problems

Simple

ComplicatedComplex

Chaotic

Sense - Categorise - RespondBest Practice

Sense - Analyse - RespondGood Practice

Probe - Sense - RespondEmergent Practice

Act - Sense - RespondNovel Practice

Disorder

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The lack of affordable housing is not one problem.

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It is a group of many different types of problems, each requiring

different paths to solutions.

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Within Australia and New Zealand almost 400,000 homes ... with an asset value approaching $100 billion are currently owned and

managed by government.

The costs of ... these homes, ... and the need to substantially increase supply, cannot realistically be funded by the public sector alone.

Consequently, there is a need for innovative funding and investment to be brought into housing.

Andrew McAnulty, CEO of MA Housing

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More Than Just a Housing Issue

DesignSocial

Economic

• The urban development / housing industries will not solve this problem alone.

• Affordable housing is impacted by design outcomes, social frameworks and cultures plus economic influences.

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Urban Affordability

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Affordable housing within realistic distances from affordable

working, recreation and education.

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So What?

What Can Be Done?•Address problems in different ways•Don’t create one Affordable Housing Strategy with best

practice examples•Look for dynamic and organic responses •Look for the people who are probably breaking local

planning laws and ask why.

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5 Examples

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Multi Generation

• Hillside, flat top housing• As new generations of the

family grow, levels are added.

• This wouldn’t pass traditional western planning laws.

• Extremely effective and low cost. Lifta village (Aisha Mershani)

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Extreme Low Cost

• The $300 House• Massive goal to solve

affordable housing in 2nd/3rd world

• Using world wide resources to achieve collaborative outcomes

• The finance, design, energy, co-creation, marketing, performance, corporate, sustainability, urban challenge.

http://www.300house.com

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Economic Leverage

•Hans Rosling: The magic of the washing machine.

•Economic miracle enabling women to gain time freedom.• Learning, caring,

working, creating, participating in society.

•What’s the next “Washing Machine” in your community?

http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_and_the_magic_washing_machine.html

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Creative Design• Live / Work

• SOHO, Multi Generation

• Small Footprints, Big Houses

• Village Living

• Probably illegal under vast majority of planning laws Designed & developed in Varsity Lakes on

the Gold Coast by DegenhartShedd Architects & Urban Designers.

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Urban SOHO•SoHo 1

• 2 storeys

• 2 bedrooms

• 1 bathroom

• 1 garrotte (good crash pad for young people)

• 1 first-floor open plan kitchen/dining/living

• 1 breezeway deck between bedrooms and living space

• 1 ground floor office w/kitchenette and WC

• 1 lift (for potential elderly parents staying and future elderly selves)

• Display window to street hiding carparking 

•SoHo 2:• 3 storeys

• 2 multi-purpose studios of similar layout (one for residential use, one for either commercial or residential), each with kitchenette, ensuite and mini balcony

• 1 ground floor office w/potential tea area combined with laundry

• shopfront to the street

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Micro/Pop Up/Multi-Use

• Mixed Use Spaces

• Use to vitalise

• Create density at low cost

• Generate alternative short term working solutions

• Incubate start ups

• Take advantage of time relevant events / situations.

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Urban Affordability

•What type of problem are you solving?•What alternative methods are at your fingertips?•How can you catalyse many different types of organic new

ideas?•Who is already helping you solve your problems?•Where can you release control to reveal an increase in

new ideas and experimentation?

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Creative Thinking is Smart BusinessThe DNA of your business is the underlying business model.

The anatomy of your business is your brand.

And, the end state of how you knit together these two things is your strategy.

Blirt! is a strategy firm.

We help you create, shape and execute better strategy.

We believe we can change the world one creative thought at a time.

And, we believe your business will be smarter for it.

Quite simply, we apply the science of creative thinking to deliver the art of strategy & execution.

All the creative thinking we do at Blirt! is underpinned with strategy, simplicity, wisdom & inspiration.

We’d love to create an inspirational business with you.

We’d love to see you win.

Thank you.

Stuart LeoManaging Director

07 5660 6118 stuart@blirt.co

Visit: blirt.co

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