The document discusses creative approaches to addressing the complex problem of affordable housing. It notes that affordable housing is impacted by design, social, and economic factors. It provides 5 examples of non-traditional solutions: multi-generation housing that allows adding levels over time; extreme low-cost housing like the $300 House project; leveraging economic opportunities like appliances; creative small-footprint housing designs; and mixed-use micro-housing. It encourages taking different paths beyond a single strategy and considering what local innovators are already doing.

1. Creative Thinking in
Affordable Housing
The problem, paths to answers and examples of
different solutions.
Stuart Leo
Managing Director
07 5660 6118
stuart@blirt.co
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Tuesday, 16 October 12 1

2. Why are all our efforts on
making things smaller or
cheaper?
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3. http://woondu.com/galapagos-gaint-tortoise/
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4. The problem is we’re all looking
for a silver bullet, believing one
bullet will win a whole war.
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5. What Type of Problem?
• We need to look at the problem carefully to make
sense of the type of problem.
• Cynefin Sense Making Framework (Prof. Dave
Snowden)
• Cynefin = Habitat or Place
• Brings context to the type of problem and how to go
about solving it.
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6. Different Types of Problems
Emergent Practice Good Practice
Probe - Sense - Respond Sense - Analyse - Respond
Complex Complicated
Disorder
Chaotic Simple
Act - Sense - Respond Sense - Categorise - Respond
Novel Practice Best Practice
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7. The lack of affordable housing
is not one problem.
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8. It is a group of many different
types of problems, each requiring
different paths to solutions.
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9. Within Australia and New Zealand almost 400,000 homes ... with an
asset value approaching $100 billion are currently owned and
managed by government.
The costs of ... these homes, ... and the need to substantially increase
supply, cannot realistically be funded by the public sector alone.
Consequently, there is a need for innovative funding and investment
to be brought into housing.
Andrew McAnulty, CEO of MA Housing
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10. More Than Just a Housing Issue
• The urban development /
housing industries will not
solve this problem alone.
• Affordable housing is
Design
impacted by design
outcomes, social Social
frameworks and cultures
plus economic influences.
Economic
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11. Urban Affordability
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12. Affordable housing within
realistic distances from affordable
working, recreation and
education.
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13. So What?
What Can Be Done?
• Address problems in different ways
• Don’t create one Affordable Housing Strategy with best
practice examples
• Look for dynamic and organic responses
• Look for the people who are probably breaking local
planning laws and ask why.
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14. 5 Examples
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15. Multi Generation
• Hillside, flat top housing
• As new generations of the
family grow, levels are
added.
• This wouldn’t pass
traditional western
planning laws.
• Extremely effective and
Lifta village (Aisha Mershani)
low cost.
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Tuesday, 16 October 12 15

16. Extreme Low Cost
• The $300 House
• Massive goal to solve
affordable housing in 2nd/
3rd world
• Using world wide resources
to achieve collaborative
outcomes
• The finance, design, energy, http://www.300house.com
co-creation, marketing,
performance, corporate,
sustainability, urban
challenge.
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17. Economic Leverage
• Hans Rosling: The
magic of the washing
machine.
• Economic miracle
enabling women to
gain time freedom.
• Learning, caring,
working, creating, http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_and_the_magic_washing_machine.html
participating in
society.
• What’s the next
“Washing Machine”
in your community?
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18. Creative Design
• Live / Work
• SOHO, Multi Generation
• Small Footprints, Big Houses
• Village Living
Designed & developed in Varsity Lakes on
the Gold Coast by DegenhartShedd
• Probably illegal under vast majority of planning laws Architects & Urban Designers.
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19. Urban SOHO
• SoHo 1 • SoHo 2:
• 2 storeys • 3 storeys
• 2 bedrooms • 2 multi-purpose studios of similar layout
(one for residential use, one for either
• 1 bathroom commercial or residential), each with
kitchenette, ensuite and mini balcony
• 1 garrotte (good crash pad for young
people) • 1 ground floor office w/potential tea area
combined with laundry
• 1 first-floor open plan kitchen/dining/living
• shopfront to the street
• 1 breezeway deck between bedrooms
and living space
• 1 ground floor office w/kitchenette and
WC
• 1 lift (for potential elderly parents staying
and future elderly selves)
• Display window to street hiding
carparking
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20. Micro/Pop Up/Multi-Use
• Mixed Use Spaces
• Use to vitalise
• Create density at low cost
• Generate alternative short term working
solutions
• Incubate start ups
• Take advantage of time relevant
events / situations.
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21. Urban Affordability
• What type of problem are you solving?
• What alternative methods are at your fingertips?
• How can you catalyse many different types of organic new
ideas?
• Who is already helping you solve your problems?
• Where can you release control to reveal an increase in
new ideas and experimentation?
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22. Creative Thinking is Smart Business
The DNA of your business is the underlying business model.
The anatomy of your business is your brand.
And, the end state of how you knit together these two things is your strategy.
Blirt! is a strategy firm.
We help you create, shape and execute better strategy.
We believe we can change the world one creative thought at a time.
And, we believe your business will be smarter for it.
Quite simply, we apply the science of creative thinking to deliver the
art of strategy & execution.
All the creative thinking we do at Blirt! is underpinned with strategy,
Thank you. simplicity, wisdom & inspiration.
We’d love to create an inspirational business with you.
We’d love to see you win.
Stuart Leo
Managing Director
07 5660 6118
stuart@blirt.co
Visit: blirt.co
Tuesday, 16 October 12 22