Grant to experiment with innovative solutions to social housing and liveability problems.
Main purpose: Lighthouse Renovation Districts take the role of development and testing area for innovative solutions to social housing and liveability problems, to eventually act as exemplars for other districts and support the replication of innovations and adaptation to local needs. Simultaneously, districts seek to mobilise cross-sectoral partnerships linking to local actors, including from the social economy, to promote efficient, circular and modular processes, social engagement models to empower residents, inclusive and accessible developments, and cultural innovation.
Lighthouse Renovation Districts are expected to address:
- The development of a broader integrated methodology towards renovation of social housing districts starting from a cross-sectoral approach (e.g. INNOSUP) and engagement models of residents to develop the application of technologies that make social housing more energy efficient, accessible and liveable;
- Research how technologies for housing and renovation can be adapted in a way that serves the needs of residents in social housing at affordable cost as well as how development at scale (e.g. district level of multi-apartment building) might bring cost optimisation and improve the affordability;
- The adaptation of technology in way it addresses the basic and essential needs of residents rather than to showcase the most advanced application from a technical perspective (human centred, fit for purpose and tailor made);
- Research on how renovation of social housing districts can deliver a more balanced population in terms of income, age and socio-economic profile as well as to avoid formation of ghetto’s on the one hand and gentrification on the other hand;
- Aspects of environmental friendly traffic and internet connectivity to facilitate inclusion are to be considered;
- Energy poverty issues that must be avoided as a result of the renovation. Social innovation and financial planning must ensure that the cost of living will not increase significantly for tenants and residents;
- Integration of ICT and digital tools, including smart grids, smart living applications, advanced modelling for eco-design and modular construction, to design and establish novel symbiotic interactions, data sharing and preservation of data confidentiality, as a non-exhaustive list;
- Assessment methodologies and KPIs to measure the performance of symbiosis, including environmental, economic and social impacts. Life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis should take into account existing sustainability standards (e.g. ISO 14000) and existing best practices;
- New skills acquisition in construction sector by piloting new technologies and processes in the renovation at district level focussing on needs in social housing;
- Development of common reporting methodologies for the assessment of industrial symbiosis activities and exchanges;
- Tools to support companies in redefining their products process and systems from the point of view of design, production, logistic and business models;
- Research on how realised lighthouse models can be duplicated and adapted to other social housing contexts, for example, where no strong social housing sectors are present or where participation models are less developed, such as energy communities and cooperatives;
- This topic supports the Bauhaus Initiative as lighthouse districts could display the application of the New European Bauhaus practices focussing on the aesthetic and co-creative aspects of renovation and building of social housing districts.
Programme: Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON)
Institution: European Commission
Budget: 10 million EUR
Financing type: Action grant