Hous-Es

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Hous-Es has brought together a strong and varied partnership representing both the new EU member states and those from the EU 15 (benefiting or having benefited from URBAN initiatives or Urban Pilot Projects) with the aim of examining together the subject of Management and Renewal of Large Housing Areas. The network is characterised by a high degree of differentiation not only in geographical location but also in the scale of urban concentration and perspectives, involving 1 provincial authority, 3 capital cities, 1 urban agglomeration, plus city and district authorities – as well as 4 important associate partners. The intention was to focus on the policy issues and situations affecting large housing estates and homogenous inner-city housing areas with a view to identifying strategies which can produce improved urban planning, architectural and general living standards in such areas. The network placed an important emphasis on the improvement of living conditions in deprived housing areas and neighbourhoods. In order to examine and share partner experience and expertise Hous-Es instigated a series of working seminars focussing on thematic aspects of the problem but always referring back to a holistic point of departure. The seminar topics are outlined below: > Duisburg (Germany) – An introduction to integrated practices > Milan (Italy) – The public realm > Brindisi (Italy) – The physical dimension > Gelderland (Netherlands) - Process > Brno (Czech Republic) – Financing housing provision > Rillieux-la-Pape (Grand Lyon, France) – The social context > Csepel: Budapest and Dunaujvaros (Hungary) – Review of partner experience and future perspectives… The result of these exchanges (based on preparation of case studies and papers, site visits, and partner debate) has generated a common understanding of the issues but also demonstrated a wide variety of experience among the network members ranging from: the comprehensive and often sophisticated approach to neighbourhood renewal with housing as a key component, to; the application of targeted even punctual actions in response to defined priorities; and the appreciation of the scale and scope of ongoing difficulties confronting many cities which is frequently context specific.

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