Q2. I also found it cool that there had to be specific compositions of residents of different ages and racial groups to maintain a safe environment in public housing blocks. I just did not expect that ratio of different kinds of people would affect the quality of housing.

Q3. I WAS surprised by the amount of detail put into public housing blocks and the quality of living conditions such as adding floors to blocks to prevent overcrowding, having swimming pools in the roof and large spaces open spaces of grass for recreational activities. This is because I had originally believed that the cheaper the development of houses, the worse the quality would be but it still appeared to be really comfortable.

1b. the section that interested me was when they talked about holding competitions to decide which designs were going to be finalized and constructed. This was interesting because the way that it made designing large scale projects and then building them far more easy and accessible for the clients and the idea of building your own housing seems very appealing.

2a. and 2b. The subsidized housing idea seemed effective due to its far lower cost and less social stigmas associated with it compared to public housing. it stood out because this idea seems quite unique to vienna/ not as well known as public housing

3a. and 3b. i was surprised by the clips of public housing in the US in the 1990s that was shown due to its poor condition

The solution/idea of having developer competitions being implemented seemed really effective to me, and it stood out because developers would compete to make affordable housing even better and in general improve the quality of living. (for example in the video it talks about a swimming pool in the roof)

The moment that did surprise me was that the city was always trying to retrofit its stock of around 500000 flats affordable flats. The reason this surprised me was due to the fact that most people would rush to sell the affordable flats to make a quick profit

1b) It interested me because in my neighbourhood, there aren't really many places for people to hang out at and converse with each other, as we don't really have any cafe's that are in a 10 minute walk radius.

2a) I think the fact that despite being affordable, the apartments were accessible to transportation, kindergartens, clinics, libraries and that there are many amenities in the apartment as well made it really cool.

2b) It stood out because not only the price is low, there are so much to do in one singular space to satisfy your enjoyment.

3a) Something that really surprised me about Vienna's housing was that it really cared about its people enough to make houses priced at a good value, for everyone, and there are also some available for rent if they cannot afford it.

3b) I always thought the houses in cities or countries were only big enough to fit 3 to 4 people at max, like back in Hong Kong. The houses in Hong Kong are small and expensive, which is the opposite of Vienna. This made me feel happy for the citizens to be able to have the space they needed.

1b. This part interested me as it showed different view points of what it was like living in the public housing

2a. In the video, the part where they showed the communal play room and kitchen seemed very cool and unique to me

2b. It stood out to me because it isnt common at all to see different families using the same living quarters in singapore

3a. The part that surprised was the part where they showed the 3 failed public housing plan buildings, crumble down

3b. This part surprises me as it makes me wonder if it was a accidental demolition or it was planned since there were people afar viewing it

1a. The part about Vienna’s housing model, especially Seestadt, stood out to me. The concept of building a new urban development that balances affordability, community, and sustainability is inspiring.

1b. It was interesting because Vienna’s approach is so different from typical housing models around the world. The idea of residents helping to design their own apartments in subsidised housing projects creates a stronger sense of ownership and community, which seems really innovative.

2a. Yes, the concept of collaborative housing, where families or groups design their own multi-family homes, seems especially cool. It encourages community building and makes people feel more connected to their living space.

2b. The inclusion of shared spaces like coworking areas, communal kitchens, and seminar rooms made the project feel more than just affordable housing. It’s about building a real community where people interact and support each other.

3a. The fact that Vienna focuses on social housing as a middle-class subsidy, instead of limiting it to low-income residents, surprised me. It made me think differently about how housing policies can create more integrated and diverse communities, preventing the segregation that often happens with public housing in other countries.

1b. This was interesting because it ensures that all people, regardless of income, can live in desirable parts of the city which shows inclusivity.

2a. The most effective solution was Vienna’s approach to continuously building affordable, high-quality housing.
2b. This stood out because it ensures that the city can meet growing demand and prevent housing shortages.

3a. I was surprised by how Vienna can maintain affordable housing for 60% of its population while still making the city a great place to live.
3b. It made me think differently about how cities can make housing a priority and ensure everyone has access ,to good homes

1b) It emphasised community-driven development, offering a creative solution to creating a sense of ownership and community in this urban environment.

2a) The idea of public housing competitions really stood out.

2b) It encouraged innovation and pushes people to be more creative and make high quality housing designs, while at the same time keeping construction costs down and making the houses more affordable.

3a) The section about gentle urban renewal surprised me.

3b) Instead of demolishing older buildings and displacing low-income residents from their homes, Vienna renovates these structures to maintain quality while keeping communities intact. Conserving the structures while at the same time making innovative decisions on them, which I think is extremely creative and also effective.

• when the video shows us the way that vienna prevents slums from forming and how it is easy to copy and paste the design but not many and succeed in the process of building affordable housing.

1b. Why did this section interest you?

• it helped me learn that not all countries are the same and there are different needs of different countries

2a. Did any of the solutions or ideas presented in the video seem really effective or cool to you?

• gentle urban renewal. i think this solution is very effective because we can have real people come in the neighbourhood and experience the problems that the people living there have and fix the problems

2b. What about it stood out?

• not many countries do this and this seems like a good way to help develop neighbourhoods. also that they pay attention to every neighbourhood

3a. Was there a moment that surprised you or made you think differently about cities or housing?

• that alot of cities dont pay attention to the underdevloped places in the cities

3b. explain your answer

• in vienna they have the system of have affordable housing so that everyone in vienna has a place to stay but not many cities have this which results in counties having many forms of illegal housing

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1b) because Singapore’s housing projects are always really expensive despite having very limited facilities and some are also not convenient to places of visit like cafes, which was also considered in the housing projects of Vienna,

2a) All the convenient and accessible facilities and amenities that were well planned and thought out yet still being cheap was really cool to me.

2b) It stood out to me because despite having low prices, there is everything you need right where you need it which actually saved you money not only on the housing but also travelling and other expenses considered to get to these areas.

3a) Something that surprised me was the amount of thought and care they put into these housing projects, with the amenities and all the space while also making sure its affordable for most of the people in Vienna.

3b) Singapore apartments are usually very expensive for places that can only have a small limited number of residents while only having the basic facilities. So it really surprised me how much effort and dedication they put into the housing, making peoples lives more comfortable.

1b) This intrigued me as in Singapore when you buy a house, you have to hire someone to help you tear down or build a specific part of the house. In Vienna however, you are able to contact the building company and ask them to help you customize the building and they would do the building for you.

2a) The ideas presented in the video seemed cool and effective. Many ideas like allowing people to customize the house that they bought, the fact that they knew that if you have a very dense population, you had to make a good living condition to satisfy them and so much more.

2b) What really stood out to me, however, is the fact that many of the houses in Vienna have swimming pools on the rooftop. In Singapore, usually, public houses do not have swimming pools on the roof and some places are very far from a waterpark/swimming pool. This is why I find it interesting.

3a) Since I live in Singapore and Singapore is known to have an abundance of HDBs. So I was definitely surprised when I realized that many people did not wish to live in public housing and feel threatened by public housing.

3b)

I was surprised to discover that, beyond Singapore, people in various parts of the world also have fears or reservations about living in public housing. It’s striking to realize that in many countries, public housing is often viewed through a lens of stigma, with individuals associating it with lower socio-economic status or a lack of success. This perception can lead to apprehension and reluctance to consider public housing as a viable option.

Concerns about safety and quality of life in public housing are prevalent globally. Many individuals fear that densely populated areas may come with issues like noise, overcrowding, and crime, which can foster a sense of unease. Furthermore, the idea of living in close proximity to others can be intimidating for those who value privacy and solitude.

Social integration challenges can also contribute to this fear. In diverse neighborhoods, individuals might feel apprehensive about engaging with neighbors from different backgrounds, leading to concerns about community cohesion. Negative stereotypes about public housing, often perpetuated by media representations, can further exacerbate these fears.

Additionally, personal experiences play a significant role; stories of poor living conditions or community issues can deter people from viewing public housing favorably. Overall, it’s surprising to see that the fear of living in public housing is not confined to Singapore but is a common sentiment shared by many individuals around the world.

The part I liked most was about collaborative housing in Vienna, where people help design their own homes and communities.

1b.

It was cool because it gives people more control over their living space and builds a strong community, all while keeping the housing affordable. It’s a unique way to make neighborhoods feel more connected.

2a.

Yes, I thought Vienna's developer competitions were really smart.

2b.

The competitions make developers focus on things like affordability, design, sustainability, and community. This means they’re not just building cheap apartments, but creating high-quality homes that benefit lots of people, at a lower cost. That’s not something you see often.

3a.

Yes, I was surprised that social housing in Vienna is for the middle class too, not just low-income people.

3b.

In most places, public housing is just for people with low incomes. But in Vienna, almost anyone can live in social housing, and they aren’t kicked out if their income increases. That made me think differently about how housing could be more inclusive and keep communities together.

1b Public housing is a good idea for all countries to pick up but yet they still are not able to.

2a I thought that the creation of Aspen Zesta is a cool concept for Vienna to do.

2b Aspen Zesta is able to reduce housing prices so less well-off people can afford it. It is also cool that the owners of the houses can design it. People are able to think about what they can add to their house such as co-working spaces or a kitchen are it can be shared by everybody

3a Renters in other countries may not be able to afford necessities such as healthcare and food.

3b Due to the pandemic, prices of houses in other countries has increased a lot and this would affect peoples’ ability to afford other necessities which would worsen their living conditions

I liked how through the use of architecture competitions has allowed more people access to good high quality affordable housing , this means that with density of the people packed into the building there is still good high quality architecture.

b

I think that then ideas these competitions are very innovative and very helpful, It is a very interesting idea that I personally think that other cities can implement to help with their housing situation. This idea can also be tweaked to other situations like making competitions for people to compete for teh best solution to solve world hunger for example.

2a

the idea of competitions

2b

It is a very interesting idea that I personally think that other cities can implement to help with their housing situation. This idea can also be tweaked to other situations like making competitions for people to compete for teh best solution to solve world hunger for example.

3a

I was surprised how in Vienna the idea of public housing to the people there is that it is not just for lower class people or people with bad or poor socio-economic background.

3b

In most places, public housing is seen as a place for the underprivileged people to live and reside as they have no other means of housing available for them .However in Vienna there is a stark contrast with this type of housing also being available for people of middle class standard.

apartments, fostering a strong community.

q2)

What I find interesting is Vienna’s active land policy, which involves the city purchasing land and then leasing or selling it to nonprofit organizations at low prices. This approach enables the development of affordable housing while preventing speculative price increases. The city also offers subsidies to ensure the construction remains affordable for many residents, not just those with low incomes. This model keeps communities intact, allowing individuals to stay in their homes even as their incomes rise, promoting social diversity.

q3)I’m surprised by how Vienna manages to maintain a high percentage of affordable housing about 62% of its population lives in subsidized accommodations while still ensuring a high quality of life.

1b. It was interesting because i didn't think cities cared very much about how a lot of housing isn't very affordable for some people.

2a. One solution that stood out to me was when I found out that everyone could design their own apartments

2b. I like the idea of designing my own apartment, because I know everything that works for me and which layout works best. I also like how the community works together to think about all the amenities because they all know what they want and designing them together would also invoke a sense of belonging in the community.

3a. One part of the video that surprised me was when I found out that instead of focusing on public housing, Vienna is focusing on subsidies for nonprofit companies.

3b. This surprised me because I assumed that countries would disregard nonprofit organisations and focus on making housing more affordable to the public that can actually pay for it.

1b. It interested me because I could see what different houses had swimming pools or balconies

2a. I liked the idea of collaborative housing

2b. It interested me because it made me wonder about how the different families get along in a place together. It also made me wonder about privacy and how big the houses would be, and whether the families have disagreements with each other and how they would resolve them.

3a.I was surprised when I saw the comparison of prices of building houses in Vienna and in America

3b. The video mentioned that the quality of some houses in Vienna were a lot better than the houses in America, and cost a lot less to build.

1b. Public housing is usually a place for people with low incomes, but in Vienna, most people can live in public housing, which I think is an excellent aspect of the city’s livability.

2a. Even with low, rent, I think it’s great that people have access to various amenities and can live comfortably.

2b. In most countries, it is difficult to meet the requirements for housing, but Vienna has designed its system to be very livable, which I think is really good.

3a. I was very surprised by how much Vienna is investing in building public housing. I think other countries should also focus on constructing public housing.

3b. You don’t hear much about public housing in many countries. It would be great if, like Vienna, other countries could invest in it to improve livability and contribute to national development.

I really liked the part of video that showed the difference in public housing in America and in Vienna

1b. Why did this section interest you?

It was cool to see the difference in public housing in America and in Vienna, so that I can really see how good Vienna’s public housing is.

2a. Did any of the ideas or solutions seem really effective to you?

Yes.

2b. What about it stood out?

It managed to be a good housing option for people of all ages and it is some more affordable, which leads to less homeless.

3a. Was there a moment that surprised you or made you think differently about cities or housing?

I was surprised that the subsidised housing had such nice architecture and came with pools and play areas for example.

3b. Explain your answer

In Singapore, subsidised housing is usually plain and does not come with swimming pools.

My favourite part of the video was the part where the video said that most of the Vienna city's plans to make an apartment had failed.

The reason is that even though it is the capital of Austria, it mostly failed to build apartments which is surprising.

Q2

I thought the part showing the communal playroom and shared kitchen was really cool and unique. It caught my interest because this setup isn’t common at all in Singapore, where it’s rare to see multiple families sharing living spaces.

Q3

The part where most of the plans to build apartments in Vienna is surprising. This changed my mindset that all the cities are developed. Even though Vienna is the capital city of Austria, its plan of building apartments usually failed which is surprising.

1b] This interested me as the change that took place within a short period of time was impressive. The change refers to Vienna being a normal place to being one of the most livable places in the world.

2a] The only surprising thing here is the change that took place in a short period of time.

3a] One thing i thought was that how can other developing cities learn from Vienna so that people would want to move there.

3b] The reason is that if many cities would learn to progress like vienna, it would result in the world to progress more.

1b. This section interested us as we were curious to see why they had to destroy such a large amount of buildings

2a. We thought that controlling the nature of constructions by zoning codes were interesting