The federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities’ housing catalog idea, as a response to the national housing crisis, is good news. However, the idea of saving on “architects’ fees” is aimed at the wrong target!
Minister Fraser’s announcement presents a potentially beneficial and sensitive strategy on a national scale, but demonstrates a misunderstanding of the real issues and objectives. For the entire life cycle of a building, the costs related to the fees of professional designers represent a tiny percentage. Conversely, the materials and their implementation, as well as the maintenance and operation of the asset for a period of 50 years, represent the lion’s share.
Our building and landscape architects, engineers, urban planners and urban designers are the best source of know-how, expertise and creativity to build a desirable future now. Their knowledge and the synergy between these professionals can offer an adequate response to the multiple ongoing crises, including that of housing, which is undoubtedly the most acute.
As building specialists, architects understand all aspects and are able to constantly improve them. They are also aware that affordability is essential to ensure access to housing for as many people as possible. Architects can optimize the design to make the building efficient, functional and sustainable.
Constructive thinking
A housing catalog should not do without constructive thinking, thoughtful reflections on housing, optimal solutions in terms of embodied carbon and passive solar strategies. These are extraordinarily effective; they lead to considerable energy savings and greater comfort for occupants.
The post-war model, under
underlying this catalog, where entire neighborhoods of identical single-family houses were created, is nonsense today. The current suburbs, resulting from these experiences, could however become, thanks to significant densification and refined prefabrication solutions, living neighborhoods, catalysts for social cohesion and which bring people together.
Marrying traditional and contemporary best practices would allow for a logical transition between eras. The post-war period, characterized by heavy industrialization, fueled by fossil fuels, generated today’s urban sprawl. A desirable future must be sober and based on denser developments, better anchored in nature and communities.
If the catalog were well adapted to various regional contexts, bringing together a diversity of built forms respecting geography, urban centers and landscape elements, it would become relevant. The rapidly expanding prefabrication industry can innovate and raise its standards by working with engineers and architects to create high-performance, adaptable assemblies that fit delicately and harmoniously into the landscape. Inexpensive construction at the cutting edge of building science is part of a just response to the climate crisis.
The response to the housing crisis is an opportunity. Let us hope that our governments understand that the contribution of architects and other professionals in the design of living environments is not a superfluous expense. Rather, it is the best investment there is. These designers can generate the heritage of tomorrow, which must also be embodied in the work of local artisans and producers, and contribute to the consolidation of a local economy.
Visionary leaders would not compromise on efficiency, elegance, adaptability, affordability and beauty. These catalogs can become real guides for establishing resilient and diverse communities.
Minister Sean Fraser, this is a historic opportunity: leaving a legacy of functional, robust and inspiring living environments and habitats, with a greatly reduced carbon footprint, this should inspire you.