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Johanna Günzel, Kassandra Löffler

The dream of a house with a garden – Is there another way?

beitraege/der-traum-vom-haus-mit-garten-geht-das-nicht-auch-anders 231031-fw-mariapol-02-353535.jpg — A garden (of your own)?, Illustration: Marijpol, 2023

The decision to buy and live in a single-family house with a garden is not always rational: the long-term financial burden, the sole responsibility for a house, from the basement to the roof, the location and immobility … even on an individual level, there are many arguments that actually speak against this housing decision. Despite these arguments, it is a persistently popular form of housing. In the sub-project Wohnwünsche und ihre Erfüllung zwischen Gemeinschaftsprojekt und Eigenheim, we asked ourselves why?

single-family house

This term refers to a form of living that encompasses both an architectural typology and a type of usage. Architecturally, the house is typically a detached single building, or less commonly, a semi-detached house. It consists either of a main residence with an additional unit or, in the case of a semi-detached house, two living units. The primary purpose is residential. However, the concept also embeds the notion of a heteronormative family structure. In contemporary terms, this living form can be described as a single-family house. Predominantly, this form of living and usage represents owner-occupied property.

housing wishes

Housing wishes are ideas about what constitutes good housing that go beyond the satisfaction of pure housing needs. These can relate to architectural and structural, legal, supra-regional or interpersonal parameters and are based, among other things, on housing biographies.

community housing project

Residential buildings inhabited by one or more parties, which can have various legal forms; ranging from a GbR (a type of German partnership), cooperative model e.G., an association, to the Mietshäuser Syndikat (tenants' syndicate). The residents actively choose to live together with others. The organisation and differentiation of privately or communally used spaces vary depending on the project. Typologically, these are multi-party houses, both existing and new constructions.

home ownership

Describes owner-financed and owner-occupied housing, usually with the link between legal forms and the detached house. It also describes living in single or multi-family houses or single and multi-party houses within an apartment (condominium).

care work

Care work encompasses a wide range of tasks including reproductive labour, childcare, caring for family members, assisting those in need, and housework. This work is still predominantly done by women, often without pay. When compensated, it usually involves low wages. Outsourcing care work typically results in low-income individuals providing care services for those with higher incomes, highlighting a global imbalance.

type of housing

Living patterns describe housing units and their inhabitants, thereby reflecting specific living traditions. The term encompasses various configurations and circumstances of cohabitation. The choice of a particular living pattern is often directly tied to associated expectations (for example, a single-family house or an apartment in a large housing estate). Alternative terms like single-party house instead of single-family house imply a less traditional view of housing typology and an openness to alternative user groups.

Johanna Günzel, Kassandra Löffler

The dream of a house with a garden – Is there another way?

The decision to buy and live in a single-family house with a garden is not always rational: the long-term financial burden, the sole responsibility for a house, from the basement to the roof, the location and immobility … even on an individual level, there are many arguments that actually speak against this housing decision. Despite these arguments, it is a persistently popular form of housing. In the sub-project Wohnwünsche und ihre Erfüllung zwischen Gemeinschaftsprojekt und Eigenheim, we asked ourselves why?

single-family house

This term refers to a form of living that encompasses both an architectural typology and a type of usage. Architecturally, the house is typically a detached single building, or less commonly, a semi-detached house. It consists either of a main residence with an additional unit or, in the case of a semi-detached house, two living units. The primary purpose is residential. However, the concept also embeds the notion of a heteronormative family structure. In contemporary terms, this living form can be described as a single-family house. Predominantly, this form of living and usage represents owner-occupied property.

housing wishes

Housing wishes are ideas about what constitutes good housing that go beyond the satisfaction of pure housing needs. These can relate to architectural and structural, legal, supra-regional or interpersonal parameters and are based, among other things, on housing biographies.

community housing project

Residential buildings inhabited by one or more parties, which can have various legal forms; ranging from a GbR (a type of German partnership), cooperative model e.G., an association, to the Mietshäuser Syndikat (tenants' syndicate). The residents actively choose to live together with others. The organisation and differentiation of privately or communally used spaces vary depending on the project. Typologically, these are multi-party houses, both existing and new constructions.

home ownership

Describes owner-financed and owner-occupied housing, usually with the link between legal forms and the detached house. It also describes living in single or multi-family houses or single and multi-party houses within an apartment (condominium).

care work

Care work encompasses a wide range of tasks including reproductive labour, childcare, caring for family members, assisting those in need, and housework. This work is still predominantly done by women, often without pay. When compensated, it usually involves low wages. Outsourcing care work typically results in low-income individuals providing care services for those with higher incomes, highlighting a global imbalance.

type of housing

Living patterns describe housing units and their inhabitants, thereby reflecting specific living traditions. The term encompasses various configurations and circumstances of cohabitation. The choice of a particular living pattern is often directly tied to associated expectations (for example, a single-family house or an apartment in a large housing estate). Alternative terms like single-party house instead of single-family house imply a less traditional view of housing typology and an openness to alternative user groups.

Michael Schwind, Elodie Vittu

What does the single-family house have to do with home and land ownership?

In recent years, the single-family house has undergone various changes. However, one aspect has remained constant: the concept of private ownership persists as the underlying logic of the single-family house. Single-family house developments and home ownership, both in terms of land and housing, are closely intertwined as a result.

single-family house

This term refers to a form of living that encompasses both an architectural typology and a type of usage. Architecturally, the house is typically a detached single building, or less commonly, a semi-detached house. It consists either of a main residence with an additional unit or, in the case of a semi-detached house, two living units. The primary purpose is residential. However, the concept also embeds the notion of a heteronormative family structure. In contemporary terms, this living form can be described as a single-family house. Predominantly, this form of living and usage represents owner-occupied property.

home ownership

Describes the ownership of one or more apartments or houses, which are either used by the owner or rented out to others.

socio-ecological transformation

In reference to the I.L.A. Collective, social-ecological transformation is defined as a radical change process aimed at achieving a good life for all people based on the principle of solidarity (see I.L.A. Kollektiv, 2019, S.106). In the context of housing, this transformation pertains to the restructuring of the production and organisation of living spaces, their forms of ownership, and their planning and architectural design. Aspects like living in a single-family house, the availability of housing, ownership of residential property, or the permanent availability of building land are often taken for granted. Social-ecological transformation seeks to change and disrupt these normalised views on how society organises housing and its relationship with nature and the environment. The long-term goal is to realise housing as a basic human need for all, in a way that is not subject to capitalist exploitation, does not exacerbate inequalities, or cause ecological costs. Such a transformation in housing, therefore, requires a rethink in architecture and design, urban planning, and construction. However, the aim is not to simply abolish the single-family house. There is no master plan for how social-ecological transformation of single-family housing areas could look.

Julia von Mende, Hanna Maria Schlösser

The Single-Family House for Disposition – Empirical knowledge and designing further

In Germany, there are 16 million single-family homes, each with one or two apartments (Destatis, 2022, p.16). To grasp the vast scale of these existing buildings, consider this illustrative calculation: If each house accommodated five individuals, the 83 million residents of Germany could theoretically all have a roof over their heads. This scenario highlights a significant potential for transformation within the realm of urban planning. However, such a transformation can only be achieved in collaboration with the residents.

single-family house

This term refers to a form of living that encompasses both an architectural typology and a type of usage. Architecturally, the house is typically a detached single building, or less commonly, a semi-detached house. It consists either of a main residence with an additional unit or, in the case of a semi-detached house, two living units. The primary purpose is residential. However, the concept also embeds the notion of a heteronormative family structure. In contemporary terms, this living form can be described as a single-family house. Predominantly, this form of living and usage represents owner-occupied property.

socio-ecological transformation

In reference to the I.L.A. Collective, social-ecological transformation is defined as a radical change process aimed at achieving a good life for all people based on the principle of solidarity (see I.L.A. Kollektiv, 2019, S.106). In the context of housing, this transformation pertains to the restructuring of the production and organisation of living spaces, their forms of ownership, and their planning and architectural design. Aspects like living in a single-family house, the availability of housing, ownership of residential property, or the permanent availability of building land are often taken for granted. Social-ecological transformation seeks to change and disrupt these normalised views on how society organises housing and its relationship with nature and the environment. The long-term goal is to realise housing as a basic human need for all, in a way that is not subject to capitalist exploitation, does not exacerbate inequalities, or cause ecological costs. Such a transformation in housing, therefore, requires a rethink in architecture and design, urban planning, and construction. However, the aim is not to simply abolish the single-family house. There is no master plan for how social-ecological transformation of single-family housing areas could look.

Introduction

Sources

The dream of a house with a garden – Is there another way?

The dream of a house with a garden – Is there another way?

What does the single-family house have to do with home and land ownership?

The Single-Family House for Disposition – Empirical knowledge and designing further