Our Thinking: Designing for social value

There is no one way to design a hospital, a university or a communal social space. As designers, we need to take different approaches depending on the nature of the project. 

Around Australia, the need for social and affordable housing is growing exponentially. Victoria’s $5.3 billion Big Housing Build is slated to construct more than 12,000 new homes throughout metro and regional Victoria through to 2024, delivering 9,300 new social housing homes – including replacing 1,100 old public housing units. 

We’re delighted to be working with other creative teams to deliver wayfinding systems and design solutions for a number of social housing projects. We also have personal connections to a few key projects around inner-city Melbourne, including Viv’s Place. 

As we see more of these projects come our doors, we’re reminded of some important differences between designing for places that need to feel and look like home. 

Designing for social housing requires a distinct approach that prioritises community well being, sustainability, and inclusivity. Unlike more conventional housing projects, where aesthetics or luxury may take precedence, social housing needs to put people at the forefront. This is especially vital from a community building perspective, where shared spaces such as gardens, play areas and kitchens should function to both combat social isolation and promote a supportive environment. 

Sustainability is also a crucial consideration with social housing. Victoria’s guidelines outline how all new social housing must meet a certain energy-efficiency and sustainability standard to help lower utility bills for residents, who may have limited financial means. 

Inclusive design is also a factor we’re conscious of, especially as social housing must be able to meet the needs of people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. Universal design principles help to guide us here, so does incorporation of cultural context to reflect the local neighbourhood character and feel. 

There’s also a more vital element we are conscious of delivering as we design the wayfinding in these important safe places. In a hospital environment, users can be stressed, overwhelmed or disorientated. Our job in this case is to provide clarity in the unfamiliar. This isn’t the case with social housing spaces.

Rather than providing navigation clarity, we hone our skills to help instil a sense of ownership and pride among residents. In this context, instead of viewing architecture and design as a construction element, we view it more as a tool for creating social value. 

By creating spaces that prioritise social housing residents’ needs and wants, we are building shared spaces that foster greater social cohesion and improve overall quality of life for those in need. We don’t think there is anything more valuable than that.