
Social Housing is a principal element for a more democratic city. These housing structures provide decent dwellings for all citizens in urban areas and connect them to the rest of the city and its services.
Unfortunately, in many countries, the term "Social Housing" still has a negative connotation. It is often seen as a project that seeks to build the largest number of units with cheap materials, and little-to-no concern for the quality of life of its residents. Often times, it is designed for monetary reasons, as opposed to a project that serves the city and its people. Although this fact is recurrent, there are several examples that portray the opposite, in which architects manifest their political point of view through exceptional projects with innovative solutions that improve the urban experience.
To highlight these projects, we've gathered 60 examples that portray different modes of social housing. The diverse selection begins with small-scale, single-family residences that integrate public subsidy programs to large public enterprises for multifamily units.
Casa dos Caseiros / 24.7 arquitetura design


House for Someone Like Me / Natura Futura Arquitectura


Gutter House / Núcleo de Arquitetura Experimental


Casa Coberta / Comunidade Vivex


Social Housing in Pinotepa Nacional / HDA: Hector Delmar Arquitectura + M+N Diseño


Self-Produced Rural Housing / JC Arquitectura + Kiltro Polaris Arquitectura


Social Housing Production: Exercise I / Inhabitants of Tepetzintan + Comunal Architecture Workshop


Bogerse Velden Social Housing / META architectuurbureau


6 Social Housing Units / Atelier 56S


Life Reusing Posidonia / IBAVI (Instituto Balear de la Vivienda)


Villa Verde Housing / ELEMENTAL


Ruca Dwellings / Undurraga Devés Arquitectos


- Social Housing and Settlements: Potential Promoters of Community Living
- Addressing the Intersecting Challenges of Climate Crisis, Housing, and Social Equity
3+2 Social Housing / Antonio Holgado Gómez


Novo Jardim Social Housing / Jirau Arquitetura


Social Housing Refurbishment in Izegem / Architect Lieven Dejaeghere


San Ignacio Houses / IX2 Arquitectura


Social Housing Klein Rijsel / Abscis Architecten + A2D


Les Hallates Senior Housing / Agapé


L’Equatoria Apartments / Christophe Rousselle Architecte


35 Social Housing Units / mobile architectural office


46 Dwellings in the Former Fabra & Coats Factory / Roldán + Berengué


Social Housing in Bairro Padre Cruz / Alexandre Dias + Bruno Silvestre + Luís Spranger


Shelter for the Homeless / RKW Architektur +


Chauveau - 26 / ODILE+GUZY architectes


Jardim Vicentina Urbanization / Vigliecca & Associados


5 Social Housing Units in Navez / MSA / V+


Hargood Close / Proctor and Matthews


58 Social Housing in Antibes / Atelier PIROLLET architectes


Social Housing + Shops in Mouans Sartoux / Comte & Vollenweider


White Clouds / POGGI & MORE architecture


Morangis Retirement Home / VOUS ETES ICI Architectes


Social Housing in Nice / Comte & Vollenweider


Social Housing in Pamplona / Pereda Pérez Arquitectos


Social Housing / Vous Êtes Ici Architectes


80 Viviendas De Protección Oficial En Salou / Toni Gironès


Social housing for people over 65 in Girona / Arcadi Pla Arquitectes


Social Housing Residence / PetitDidier Prioux Architectes


30 social dwellings in Gavá / Pich-Aguilera Architects


Social Housing in Belleville Street / Atelier du Pont


La Fontenette Social Housing / frundgallina


60 Social Housing Apartments in Rive-De-Gier / Tectoniques Architects


38 Social Housing / Avenier Cornejo Architectes


Boulevard Ney Social Housing / ITAR Architectures


Fontainas Island Reconfiguration / B612 architectes


CODHA Apartment Building / Dreier Frenzel Architecture + Communication


Transformation of 530 dwellings / Lacaton & Vassal + Frédéric Druot + Christophe Hutin architecture


Herold - 100 Social Housing / Jakob + MacFarlane


Rive Seine / Tetrarc Architects


317 Social Housing Units / SV60


Social Housing / Atelier du Pont


Corruíras Residences / Boldarini Arquitetura e Urbanismo


Social Housing in Vallecas / Vázquez Consuegra


Heliópolis Social Housing / Biselli Katchborian Arquitetos


Rue Du Chateau Des Rentiers’ Housing / Explorations Architecture


Mix Dwelling Building at 22@ / Coll-Leclerc


177 Social Dwellings in Valdebebas / Francisco Mangado


Social Housing in Paris / Bigoni Mortemard


FULTON – A5 A1 / Agence Bernard Bühler


Cascina Merlata Social Housing / B22


Jardim Edite Social Housing / MMBB Arquitetos + H+F Arquitetos


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Editor's note: This article was originally published on March 31st, 2019, and updated on April 12th, 2021.