Gaps in understanding sustainable housing: Case study in Adelaide and Hanoi

Abstract

This paper argues that the unsustainability of today's housing practices is rooted from different perceptions about sustainable housing by the "actors"involved--the designers, producers, and users. This is demonstrated in the case studies of some housing in Adelaide, South Australia, and Hanoi, Vietnam. The paper suggests that understanding and bridging these gaps will help ensure sustainability in housing. It further suggests that in order to achieve sustainable housing, the multiple dimensions of sustainability, namely the environmental, social, and economic dimensions, must be taken into account, both in the changing local and global context.