Early integration of the user’s perspective in the renovation process: Experiences from an “In-depth Dialogue Process with Residents” in rental flats from the 1950s

Paper in proceeding, 2014

An “In-depth dialogue with residents” has been applied in the pre-study of a renovation of a housing area from 1950s with about 500 rental flats. The paper presents the result from this dialogue process and discusses the potential of the methodology to achieve a more integrated, sustainable renovation. The process was carried out by a transdisciplinary team with representatives from the housing manager, an architect firm with competences in sociology, the tenant organization, and researchers from architecture and environmental psychology. The dialogue process comprised four main activities: design of process and selection of tools, data collection, compilation of material and feedback to residents and housing company, and a following-up. Data about the residents view were collected by intercept interviews, a questionnaire survey, a walking tour, and a focus group interview. The dialogue process identified values appreciated by the residents and had impact on alternative renovation option for the flats.