The UN advocates a more holistic approach to sustainable housing. It should be seen as a physical and a social system, seeking to enhance and harmonize the environmental, social, cultural, and economic dimensions in building communities.
Recent events like the COVID-19 pandemic, typhoons, floods and rapid urbanization have changed our perspectives on many things, including our preference for homes.
Today, a house isn’t merely a roof over one’s head. The idea is continually changing to address the urban divide, economic and human development, and climate change. It’s now intertwined with the evolving outlook on sustainability.
Sustainability is more than just planting trees or recycling; it includes developing resilient urban centers and housing, among many others. The experience with the pandemic, for one, has amplified the need to create homes that allow ease of access to essential products and services.
Sustainable housing, as defined by the United Nations, weaves the social, cultural, environmental and economic facets of housing in its masterplan. It is not just about building homes for building’s sake. It is about building homes that are disaster-ready and resilient, in communities that promote healthy living and social connectedness and provide livelihood opportunities; communities that can be enjoyed by this and the generations after, regardless of social or economic status.
The UN advocates a more holistic approach to sustainable housing. It should be seen as a physical and a social system, seeking to enhance and harmonize the environmental, social, cultural, and economic dimensions in building communities.
“Thus, along with the solutions for the built environment (resource and energy efficiency, environmental, ecological and health safety, resilience to natural disasters), sustainable housing policies should deal with the affordability, social justice, cultural and economic impacts of housing, and contribute to making healthy residential neighborhoods and sustainable cities,” it noted.
Some property developers in the Philippines are looking at ways to respond to the call of the UN.
KAREN DAVILA Broadcast journalist Webinar host
Take SM Development Corp. (SMDC) for instance. It has been leading the way with the construction of integrated communities where all the essentials are within easy reach, addressing the urban divide by creating homes that the average Filipino can afford and that provide easy access to economic and livelihood opportunities.
As the Philippines dives into sustainable housing and integrated cities, Property Report is set to mount the Building Integrated Communities for a Sustainable Future webinar.
The webinar will address the Philippines’ preparation and readiness in building sustainable cities. It will answer pressing questions such as, “Are ‘integrated communities’ a step toward the right direction?”, “How can the private sector help in promoting sustainable housing?”
Hosted by veteran broadcaster Karen Davila, the webinar will feature experts on the subject: UN-HABITAT country program manager Chris Rollo, Leechiu Property Consultants co-founder and CEO David Leechiu and SMDC president Jose Mari Banzon.
To join the webinar, visit Property Report PH and The Philippine STAR’s Facebook pages.