Shelter is one of mans most basic needs and the progression of its development over time has had to deal with an ever increasingly complex world that even now places renewed demands on the way we build, live, and work. The location of the site is at Kew Bridge, London, United Kingdom. It is at the important landmark junction of Kew Bridge north circular road and Kew Bridge road, with the immediate context consisting of 3 to 4 storey high built fabric to the north and west boundaries of the site. The Kew Bridge road slipway forms the eastern boundary of the site adjacent Kew Bridge, and the River Thames forms the southern boundary of the site. The aim of the project is to evaluate the existing condition of high-rise residential developments and to compare this to leading environmentally sensitive projects, which utilise sustainable development strategies and renewable energy sources. These strategies and energy sources will be applied in the residential high-rise typology in the form of the Kew Bridge Urban Village. / Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Architecture / unrestricted

Energy efficient houses benefit communities not only to provide renewable energy shares and generating surplus electricity supporting local economic development. Also, residents in energy efficient houses have less energy usage that reduces household budget expenses. However, one of the obstacles of energy efficient technology installment of residential buildings is high investment cost, which can be solved with the usage of modular housing. In Europe, housing costs have a large share, especially for Sweden, housing expenses is a burden mostly for people who are at the risk of poverty. Also, high investment costs of energy efficient housing are combined with high construction prices leading a large share of budgets and effort to make houses affordable for low income groups. This study develops a scenario to find solutions for affordable housing problem in Sweden with a design proposal. The aim of this study is to investigate if there are ways of achieving socio-economic mix by the production of energy efficient affordable housing and urban gardening to develop a strategy for resource efficiency in Jakobsgårdarna. To achieve the aim, energy efficient affordable housing designed as modular units to achieve a local economic development. This study uses a design-based research method consisting of learning from background cases to transfer lesson learned in design phase of the sustainable neighborhood consisting of energy efficient technologies. Background cases were analyzed with literature review to define sustainable neighborhood, which was then used to develop a hypothesis. Findings of this thesis generates definition of sustainability tools consisting of a collaborative ownership; designing common kitchens; producing electricity and biogas from renewable energy sources; practicing urban agriculture; managing waste and storm and methods to cross subsidize energy efficient affordable housing production. The outcome of this research provides a sustainable neighborhood design proposal for Jacobsgårdarna, Borlänge.