Living to learn : a proposal for affordable rental housing for tertiary students

Abstract

RESEARCH QUESTION: How can we provide housing for students that is less expensive than what is currently available?

Increases in student enrolments, plus pressure within the Auckland housing market can be seen as obliging universities and tertiary providers to plan for new student accommodation facilities. This research project responds to the current issue of the shortfall in affordable rental housing for students.

My interest in student housing is driven by personal experience. The unaffordable high cost of rental housing is a large barrier to equality of opportunity. The housing shortage is reflected in the high rents and the current poor quality of existing student accommodation that are adversely affecting students. Any solution must be affordable and designed with an understanding to how students like to live.

As the cost of living increases, smaller living spaces are becoming more popular. Sharing some space may be an alternative way of tackling this problem without sacrificing too much privacy. This research project focuses on the development of low-rise, medium density cluster environments in the Auckland region.

Through innovative land use, smaller units and good design, the project investigates the potential of private and shared spaces and the transition between the two. The resulting cluster design for a young neighbourhood community recognises the potential of units with interconnected liveable social spaces. The affordable units will be built by trade apprentices as a prototype for a residential cluster that can be used for future development.

Further, this research investigates prefabrication as a method of construction in an effort to address the housing shortage.