Density in the Suburbs: Families with Children Adapting to Living in a Medium Density Social Housing Development

ABSTRACT

Medium-density housing (MDH) is posited as a solution to providing greater housing affordability. Yet, higher-density housing is often considered unsuitable for children. Our study investigates the experiences of families living in a new MDH development designed for affordability and sited in a suburban location. Findings highlight trade-offs made by families moving into higher density residential environments and the positive effects of a supportive social environment and flexible dwelling designs integrated with communal spaces. Also evident is the enduring challenge of car dependence and the need to address the interface between developments and surrounding amenity and public transit environments. The research provides an example of positive experiences of families living in MDH that runs counter to conventional expectations.

摘要

中等密度住房（MDH）被认为是提供更高住房负担能力的解决方案. 然而，高密度住房通常被认为不适合儿童居住. 我们的研究调查了居住在一个新的MDH开发项目中的家庭的经历，该开发项目设计用于支付能力，位于郊区. 研究结果强调了家庭迁入高密度住宅环境所做的权衡，以及支持性社会环境和与公共空间相结合的灵活住宅设计的积极影响. 同样明显的是对汽车依赖的持久挑战，以及需要解决发展与周围舒适性和公共交通环境之间的接口问题. 这项研究为生活在MDH中的家庭提供了一个与传统期望背道而驰的积极体验的例子.

KEYWORDS:

• Density
• suburbs
• families
• children
• housing choice
• trade-offs

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Māori are the indigenous people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. Pasifika is a term describing migrants to New Zealand from the Pacific region and their descendants.

2. Shared equity broadly denotes home ownership schemes in which the purchasing household shares the equity of the property with a third-party, e.g. a community housing provider. Rent-to-buy or rent-to-own schemes allow households to rent while paying down debts and becoming financial able to afford a deposit for their current house.

3. The Tāmaki Collective represents 13 Māori iwi (tribal groups) that have land ownership claims across Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) and have agreed to negotiate and act together in their collective interests.