Introduction 5.3

So far, we focused on theories and practices of sustainable housing management in the Netherlands. However, SHM is a complex domain with context-specific conditions. Problems cannot be solved by simply copying and pasting successful solutions from one place to another context. Therefore, it is important to explore and discuss the SHM approaches that are appropriate to your context.

In this regard, we gratefully refer to the remark in the TU Delft MOOC Rethink the City: “If you want to learn from another country or apply ideas from other places, you first need to understand the local situation and challenges, and then, only then, think carefully about addressing these challenges.”This requires critical thinking. So please, also be critical to the examples included in our module 5.

For instance, we recognize that in many countries energy and resource efficiency is not the main priority. Especially in fast-growing urban areas in the Global South, sustainable housing solutions like providing clean water, organizing waste collection, and creating safe heating facilities for cooking, have a much higher priority.

Therefore, in module 5.3, we would like you to explore the main sustainable housing management challenges in your own context. You can watch a video lecture on this topic, and then you can indicate the nature, actions, and actors related to the sustainable housing management challenges in your country, region or city.