HAPPI

The high-profile Housing our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation (HAPPI) was established in June 2009 to tackle the following question: What further reform is needed to ensure that new build specialised housing meets the needs and aspirations of the older people of the future?

The panel focused on:

• Improving the quality of life of our ageing population by influencing the availability and choice of high quality, sustainable homes and neighbourhoods
• Challenging the perceptions of mainstream and specialised housing for older people, for existing and future generations
• Raising the aspirations of older people to demand higher quality, more sustainable homes
• Spreading awareness of the possibilities offered through innovative design of housing and neighbourhoods

The report outlines innovative housing examples from across Europe and makes recommendations to central and local government, developers and housing developers. A film summarising the key report messages can be viewed here.

• Download the Executive summary - PDF (378KB)
• Download the full HAPPI report - PDF (4.67KB)
• HAPPI newsletter - one year on - PDF (2.52MB)

Case Studies

The HAPPI panel visited 24 housing schemes across 6 countries, including Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Denmark. Details of all of these schemes are included in the Study Visit reports, and can be accessed from the case studies section of our website. below:

• Study Visit 1 – London and Brighton, UK

Case Study 1     Brunswick Centre, Bloomsbury
Case Study 2     Holly Street tower, Hackney
Case Study 3     Darwin Court, Southwark
Case Study 4     Patching Lodge, Brighton

• Study Visit 2 – The Netherlands

Case Study 5     Oranjehof (and de Lombarde), Lombardijen, Rotterdam
Case Study 6     De Plussenbergh, IJselmonde, Rotterdam
Case Study 7     De Rokade (and Maartenshof), Groningen

• Study Visit 3 – The West Country, UK

Case Study 8     Colliers Gardens, Bristol
Case Study 9     Painswick retirement village

• Study Visit 4 – Pickering, New Earswick & Allerton Bywater, UK

Case Study 10     Spire View (Pad 55), Pickering
Case Study 11     Hartrigg Oaks, New Earswick
Case Study 12     Allerton Bywater, Wakefield

• Study Visit 5 – Germany and Switzerland

Case Study 13     Gradmann Haus, Stuttgart, Germany
Case Study 14     Sankt Antonius, Stuttgart, Germany
Case Study 15     Irchel, Zurich, Switzerland
Case Study 16     Gibeleich, Zurich, Switzerland
Case Study 17     Konradhof, Winterthur, Switzerland
Case Study 18     Flurgarten, St Gallen, Switzerland
Case Study 19     Wohnfabrik Solinsieme, St Gallen, Switzerland

• Study Visit 6 – Sweden and Denmark

Case Study 20     Neptuna, Bo01, Malmö, Sweden
Case Study 21     Postiljonen, Vellinge, Skänor, Sweden
Case Study 22     Opus, Lljunghusen, Skänor, Sweden
Case Study 23     Flintholm Care Home, Copenhagen, Denmark
Case Study 24     Herfra til Evigheden, Roskilde, Denmark

Panel members

• Lord Richard Best OBE, president, Local Government Association (Chair)
• Roger Battersby, Managing Director of PRP Architects
• Dr John Belcher CBE, Chief Executive of Anchor Trust
• Vera Bolter MBE, HOPDEV and Elders Council of Newcastle
• Anthony Hamilton, User representative
• Sir Richard MacCormac CBE, McCormac Jamieson Prichard
• Aggie MacKenzie, Journalist and television presenter
• Peter Maxwell, Head of Enabling, Public Buildings, CABE
• John Penton MBE, Architect, member of the Council of City & Guilds
• Tony Pidgley, chairman, Berkeley Homes
• Professor Anne Power MBE, CBE, Professor of Social Policy, LSE
• Judith Torrington, Reader in Architecture, University of Sheffield
• Dru Vesty MBE, Chair of HCA Design and Sustainability Advisory Group

Panel biographies - PDF (445KB)

A consultant team comprising Pollard Thomas Edwards architects, Levitt Bernstein Associates and Design for Homes, were appointed to ensure that the panel were fully briefed on the key issues, as well as the broad area of study, and supported through best practice precedents and site visits.