Self-Building: A solution to affordable urban development and future living

Conclusion: The product of this research will be in the form of getting involved in self-built architecture, engaging with ongoing live projects to test the benefits of self-building. Concluding if this Europian method of construction could be the solution to the UK housing crisis. The research will require visiting established European sites such as Almere and experimenting sites like Graven hill, to understand similarities, constraints and opportunities when the governments collaborate in future living strategies. Self-building will not solely overcome the affordable housing crisis, but if implemented effectively, it has the potential to address the deficit. It is essential not to idolize self-built architecture by disregarding the constraints.

As discussed, even modest targets are challenging to achieve.

In some cases, strategies such as this have the opportunity to cause gentrification. Government intervention is required to release suitable land. Whist this method is excelling in Europe; this area of affordable housing is under-theorized in the UK. The following critical study will investigate how self-built architecture can support the poverty, climate and housing crisis in a sustainable futureproofed manner by targeting the economic gentrified constraints of land ownership.