Bristol City Council is supporting a local charity to help tackle the local housing shortage, in conjunction with the Charity, We Can Make, which is approaching the issue through what it calls ‘urban acupuncture’.
The phrase ‘urban acupuncture’ is taken from in the 1970/80s architect and urbanist, Jaime Lerner, who later penned a book by the same name. The philosophy promotes urban regeneration at a local level, supporting the transformation of public spaces without the requirement for ample or expensive interventions. It is an alternative to conventional development processes, and focuses on targeted initiatives that help regenerate neglected spaces or consolidate the social infrastructure of a city.
Another advocate of the idea was Gordon Matta Clark, whose Spaces between Places was an expression designating leftover spaces in New York in the 1970s – those places that had been forgotten by planners and the community.
So how has Bristol adopted the idea of urban acupuncture?
The scheme involves building micro houses in the back gardens of existing properties. Two homes have so far been built, one of which provides a much needed home for John Bennet, who was left homeless after a previous relationship broke up.
Mr Bennet’s home is built in the back garden of council tenant, Bill Kelly, who was finding it impossible to look after his large council house garden which was neglected and overgrown with weeds. He transferred part of his garden to the community land trust, which recently had its plans for the Knowle West council estate officially approved by Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), Michael Gove. The approval means that 150 additional homes can now be built on the estate which currently provides around 5,000 homes.
On the inside, John’s low-carbon house is open plan, with plenty of natural daylight. The building is constructed from wooden ‘building blocks’ which slot together to form the property.
As a former bricklayer, Mr Bennet was well qualified to help clear the garden of overgrowth, with help from Mr Kelly’s son. He now considers himself a ‘pioneer’ and hopes the scheme will benefit others for people like himself.
The second home was built for Toni Gray, who had lived with her daughter in her parents’ overcrowded council house. Ms Gray now lives in a two bedroom home in the back garden of the property.
We Can Make hopes other council house tenants will volunteer to give up their back gardens for another home to be built. Melissa Mean, director of We Can Make, said:
“Our two homes in Knowle West are just the start. Our toolkit for unlocking micro-sites through community-led opt-in densification is designed so other neighbourhoods can use it. Imagine 33,000 new affordable homes across the country – all inserted exactly where people need them most – helping elders to downsize, and ease pressure on overcrowded families. It opens up a new way to scale with real impact, one where communities are in control.”
See more on the charity’s website: We Can Make