Intervention follows diagnosis: analysis' impact on open space regeneration in mass housing estates

Abstract

Diagnosis and design are part of the same process. This statement is particularly true for urban regeneration efforts, in which the way that complex obsolescence processes are understood implies a particular design method. In the specific case of the regeneration of mass housing estates, most experiences are approached from the building perspective. Even though open spaces are central to ensuring a high degree of urban quality, urban regeneration projects often fail to recognise the problems and opportunities relating to their layout. The aim of this paper is to discuss the relevance of incorporating pertinent open space diagnoses into integrated urban regeneration efforts in mass housing estates. To this end, the paper explores in depth three different experiences of urban regeneration in Spain.