Below are three iterations of collaborative issue and stakeholder maps in chronological order, that address the issue of housing affordability. The first map that was created admittedly lacks clarity in its links between stakeholders and has quite a few generalisations and/or inaccuracies. It is rewarding to see how the maps become more precise and detailed with each iteration—our continued research into the issue leads to a deeper understanding of its stakeholders. With each iteration we become more specific by naming particular individuals and organisations as well as introducing non-human actors. Creating networks of stakeholders, both human and non-human, allows us to consider meaningful change on a broad scale. It urges us to consider how our design may have a flow-on effect that impacts an immediate but also a peripheral audience.
Working with peers allows for critical and insightful exploration. Despite researching the same topic, each person brings to the table a different focus and opinion on the issue. Additionally, through sharing our findings, we encourage each other to explore new avenues and/or consolidate existing research. Given that everyone is dedicated and invested in the issue, group discussions and mapping exercises are thoroughly energetic and productive.
Collaborative Issue and Stakeholders Map #1Collaborative Issue and Stakeholders Map #2Collaborative Issue and Stakeholders Map #3
Polemic Issues Mapping
I also wanted to comment on the polemic issues map because that was a collaborative exercise pivotal to informing my approach to this project.
Polemic issues map
Working collaboratively sets up an open and comfortable platform for people to discuss, challenge, agree, disagree, contemplate and speculate. In week 5, I worked with a partner to map out polemic topics and their associated emotions and stakeholders. This was an exhilarating exercise, as discussing the emotional aspects of controversial issues for various stakeholders, established powerful human connections to the matters at hand. Being able to freely exchange thoughts and opinions with my partner was very constructive as it helped uncover the multiple facets of each issue. I found it very insightful to consider emotions as non-human actors active within the issue. Peoples’ reactions, feelings and experiences about polemic issues were valid points of discussion and debate. Identifying problem areas where particular stakeholders are particularly struggling or affected by a polemic topic, highlighted potential areas for a design proposition to be situated and/or intervene.
This map shows shows the actors affected by the issue of housing affordability. I have indicated relationships and links between stakeholders (both human and non-human) with dotted lines forming an expansive web. I was surprised by how large the web grew to be as the exercise revealed a lot of peripheral actors.
Flatmates.com.au is a Sydney based company that co-ordinates a safe and secure platform for people to list and find share accommodation. The ‘Sydney Rent Map’ by Flatmates.com.au (2015) uses the structure of the Sydney Trains rail map, to compare the average room prices of suburbs serviced by a train station. Given that cars are expensive to purchase and maintain, access to public transport is heavily linked to affordable housing. Sydney’s train network is a highly relevant structure to use given that it is the most efficient form of public transport for those commuting from Sydney’s fringes. This map is not a comprehensive representation of the average price of rooms in suburbs across all of Sydney. Although some are marked, most suburbs without a station are not represented. This leaves out regions such as the Northern Beaches, which are serviced by buses.
This image relates heavily to the ‘Drive till you qualify: an alternate view of housing affordability’ (Karuppannan, Kellett & Morrissey 2016) conference paper that I analysed as a scholarly resource. The paper challenges the common perception it is cheaper and more affordable for households on low incomes, to live further away from city centres in the outer suburbs. This paper used Adelaide as a case study to propose that this tactic was no longer valid in 2015. However, the data presented for share accommodation in the ‘Sydney Rental Map’, opposes the sentiments of the paper. The map shows that in 2015, suburbs further away from Sydney’s city centre are considerably cheaper than Sydney’s inner suburbs or suburbs in Sydney’s desirable coastal regions. For example, Minto in the far west has an average room price of $164, whereas Milson’s Point which overlooks the city harbour, has an average of $381 per room.
Karuppannan, S., Kellett, J. & Morrissey, J. 2016, ‘Drive till you qualify: an alternative view of housing affordability’, State of Australian Cities National Conference (SOAC 7) (09 Dec 2015 – 11 Dec 2015 : Gold Coast, QLD), Gold Coast, viewed 8 August 2016, <https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/handle/2440/98652>.
2: Up Again
‘Up Again’ by Steve Greenberg (2013).
Steve Greenberg is an award-winning editorial cartoonist based in Southern California. His work has been printed in some of America’s most prolific news publications such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and the Washington Post (Greenberg n.d.). The cartoon ‘Housing Prices Up’ by Greenberg (2013), was created in response to the American housing market which reached significant lows in 2012. It shows however that by 2013 the housing prices in America were on the rise once again.
The image deals with the issue of rising housing prices, which is not unique to America – it is evident in Australia as affirmed by the articles I have previously analysed. For example, the article ‘What’s the key to home ownership for Gen Y?’ (James, Ong & Riley 2016) discusses the impacts of increasing property prices and the resulting lack of affordable housing in Australia. The aforementioned is preventing many members of Generation Y from bursting the housing bubble and buying their first home.
I was drawn to this image because of it’s creative exploration of the idea of the ‘housing bubble’. Whilst many other cliché images depict a house literally inside a bubble, this image utilises a contemporary reference to the 2009 blockbuster film ‘Up’ to evoke a sense of the unattainable and the notion of something being out of reach. The wording ‘UP AGAIN’ suggests that despite any setbacks, increasing property prices is a repetitive reality. The use of a contemporary reference makes this image more relevant and memorable for a younger audience, in particular members of Generation Y who face the struggles of entering the property market.
Daryl Cagle is one of America’s most notable editorial cartoonists, having worked in the industry for over 35 years (Cagle n.d.) and contributing to over 800 newspapers globally (Cagle 2006). ‘Housing Bubble’ is a highly satirical cartoon which deals with the topic of capital gain. Capital gain refers to the profit gained when a property is sold. Long-term homeowners and property investors in particular are the typical beneficiaries of capital gain. For example, many members of the Baby Boomer generation who bought their houses in the latter part of last century, have seen their houses that they may have bought in the hundreds-of-thousands price range, soar in value into the millions price range today. Even with inflation many Baby Boomers have undoubtedly reaped in wealth through capital gain.
This image is fascinating as it mocks the concerns of those who have the upper hand in the housing market. Exaggeration is employed to portray the couple in the cartoon as cynical and small-minded. It is almost as though the newspaper headline ‘Housing Bubble’ emphasises the disparity between the wealthy and low to moderate income earners. It makes me uneasy to think that whilst some people are without a roof over their head, there are others who are trapped inside the housing bubble complaining about petty and less substantial things.
In saying the above, I understand that this cartoon is single-sided and is most likely commenting on small percentage of home owners and property investors. A modest and fair investigation into the mindsets of those seeking capital gain should therefore be sought before making a concrete judgement on their character.
A Hills Hoist advertisement in The Australian Women’s Weekly (1956).
This is an advertisement for the Hills Hoist that was featured in a 1956 issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly. The vintage aesthetic recalls a time of prosperity, a time before built-in-obsolescence – when things were built to last. For decades the Hills Hoist has been an icon associated with the ‘Great Australian Dream’ of house ownership. It has long been the aspirations of many Australians, to own a detached house with a sprawling lawn, a barbeque, a hills hoist, a spacious kitchen and garage for their family car. In the advertisement, the Hills Hoist is featured in an idyllic and quintessential Australian backyard. I grew up in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s and some of my earliest memories are swinging around the Hills Hoist in my backyard in the middle of summer (before being told off by my parents). This advertisement is a representation of Australia sixty years ago and things have changed dramatically since then. As time passes, the hills hoist along with the ‘Great Australian Dream’ may become a fragment of the past. After all, having a hills hoist implies that one has a backyard. Given the housing crisis and push for high density living, many Australians are moving into smaller housing often without a garden. Without enough space for a Hills Hoist, they will have to resort to using a dryer or clothes horse.
Interestingly, the ‘Housing Issues Paper’ released by the City of Sydney (2016) has responded to the dwindling dreams of home ownership by calling upon the government to implement policy that makes long-term renting viable for those “…locked out of buying property.” Additionally, the City of Sydney has recommended that, “…apartment schemes with fewer facilities, such as car parking, en suite bathrooms, gyms and swimming pools, in the interests of affordability.” What’s clear is that Australian’s are at risk of losing more than just the joys of having a lawn and a Hills Hoist.
This image is supplied by Ray White Nowra on their website page ‘First Home Buyers Guide to Purchasing a Property’. It expresses the joy and relief that a young couple should look forward to, when they purchase their first home. This is an idyllic representation however and it does not address all the emotions and experiences throughout the lengthy process.
As Tanya Chapman (2015) writes on behalf of Ray White, “Owning your own home is the Great Australian Dream – however, it can also be a mystifying and confusing experience, involving many professionals and a seemingly arcane legal process.”
What this image fails to represent, is the financial stress and emotional insecurity that many first home buyers experience when trying to enter the property market at its current state. The increasing property prices and consequential lack of affordable housing has made the Great Australian Dream harder to attain for first home buyers, particularly 18-35 year olds (Generation Y). As expressed in the article ‘Crisis point for affordable housing’ (Murphy 2016), young Australians are finding it increasingly difficult to follow in their parents’ footsteps. Something as simple as wanting to buy a house in the suburb you grew up in, is not an easy reality for many.
Anti-foreign buyer protests in Chatswood (Domain 2015).
This image shows a group of anti-foreign buyer protesters who turned up to an auction in Chatswood on Sydney’s north shore. They are shown waving the Australian flag and holding placards with discriminatory slogans that aggressively state their disapproval of foreign buyers, in particular Chinese buyers, residing in the area. The disgraceful signs read, ‘Stop Chinese residential ownership’, ‘Keep the Aussie dream alive’, ‘It’s a foreign invasion’ and ‘Foreign ownership is economic genocide’ (Anti-foreign buyer group disrupts auctions on Sydney’s lower north shore 2015). The group span the tree-lined suburban street, in a protective stance.
What isn’t represented in the image, but is addressed in a video recording, is the response of the local neighbours.
On their behalf Chris McNally states, “It’s racism on the streets that we don’t really want to be honest…It’s a bunch of guys with nothing to do on a Saturday but wave flags. Like go to a sport” (Domain 2015).
Other stakeholders not represented in this image, are the foreign buyers themselves. There is much controversy surrounding the prevalence of foreign buyers in the Australian property market. Some people feel they are buying Australian’s out of their future homes whilst others embrace the thought of multiculturalism. It is interesting to discover how the tension surrounding the issue is handled by some of the locals as this was not revealed in my initial textual research.
Meriton Serviced Apartments and Iglu Student Accommodation in Chatswood (Meriton 2015).
This is a representation of high density living in the commercial business district of Chatswood on Sydney’s north shore. It is evident through this image that there are a lot of high-rise buildings used for business and residential purposes. The more suburban, house-lined streets of Chatswood and its surrounding suburbs are not represented in this image. I selected this image because I have personal experience staying in Iglu Chatswood Student Accommodation (highlighted in the orange circle) and Meriton Serviced Apartments Chatswood (highlighted by the white circle). It is predicted that by 2030, Australia will have a lot more communal living arrangements and long-term single-person living options similar to current student housing (Devine 2016). Given this, I thought I would reflect on my high density living experiences.
In Iglu I had a dorm with a private bathroom but I shared a kitchen with three other people. The laundry facilities were shared with the entire building. It felt cramped at times however having less space to tidy was handy. At first I had a south-facing room where the lack of sunlight was a mood dampener. I definitely noticed the benefits of having morning sun flood through my window when I later swapped to a north-facing room. I experienced the difficulties of quarrelling room mates but also the joys of being part of a community. The most frustrating factor of communal dorm living was the sound pollution from the rooms on either side.
The Meriton apartment I stayed in, featured stunning views of Chatswood’s skyline. It had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, an internal laundry and a living space. The ability to cook and wash in privacy was much more convenient. Residents had private access to a gym, pool, spa and sauna. These luxuries made this option more expensive however as the latter mentioned were communal it was still affordable.
Devine, A. 2016, ‘Inside the house of 2030’, North Shore Times, 4 August, p. 53.
The future of Sydney’s Sirius building is causing much controversy, particularly amongst architects, the Government, public housing tenants and the wider public. The Sirius building has been described as an eye-sore and a “…tower made out of mismatched Lego blocks” (Chapter 1: The Sirius Building 2016). The point of contention is whether or not the building should be left as it is, renovated or demolished to make way for new developments.
The Brutalist building is in a prime location in The Rocks by Sydney Harbour and is sitting on land worth $100 million. Built in 1980 to provide public housing for those affected by gentrification, activists are pushing for the building to be preserved for its architectural and cultural worth.
As Shaun Carter, NSW Chapter President of the Australian Institute of Architects explains, “You need to leave these little dots, these little markers in your city so that you can look back and tell you story. And we think Sirius is one of those particular examples. We’re not asking for thousands of buildings to be saved, but one that’s so significantly sewn into our storyline and our architectural history” (Chapter 1: The Sirius Building 2016).
However, in 2014 the Government started evicting tenants to clear the land for sale to property developers. I selected this photo for its emotional impact. At night, the SOS sign which stands for ‘Save Our Sirius’ is visible. It’s one of the many cries of protest from its few remaining tenants. The community has dwindled. This image is thus a representation of desperation, resistance but most importantly community – the people in this building have a connection to the Sirius as their home.
Myra Demetriou (2016) inside her apartment in the Sirius building.
Whilst the previous photo of the Sirius building shows it’s exterior, I felt it was just as important to show an interior view. This photograph shows Myra Demetriou inside her apartment, as a representative of the few remaining tenants of the Sirius. Bringing the viewer inside the walls of the Sirius and introducing them to Mrs Demetriou establishes a sympathetic human connection. It shows the viewer the realities of the frugal lifestyle of those who live in public housing. I felt that whilst there are many images of public housing exteriors, there are few publicised that are as touching and intimate as this. Mrs Demetriou wants to stay at the Sirius not for its multi-million dollar views as she is in fact legally blind, but because she has built her life around it. The Government is moving public housing further and further into the outer suburbs and for Demetriou access to her familiar health care services is at stake.
This is an image of the Lilyfield social housing redevelopment that was completed in 2011. The project oversaw the demolition of 40 dwellings and the construction of 88 new ones. “In the former development the high proportion of 3 bedroom units did not match the demand profile of the area, in which 1-2 person households predominate” (NSW Government n.d.). The redevelopment has thus proved to be a much more efficient use of space. The project has been awarded a 5-star Green star rating because of its high sustainability. Some of the sustainable highlights that also add to the development’s affordability are the use of solar energy and rainwater to reduce the costs of energy and water consumption. The indoor and outdoor bike storage racks promote residents to save money by limiting the use of cars and exercising more – there are in fact no car spaces onsite. They are also encouraged to use public transport which is readily accessible with a bus stop right across the road. There is even a community garden where tenants can grow their own fresh produce. This is a positive representation of a sustainable social housing development. Although tenants and their interaction with the site are absent, it appears to be a positive environment that fosters a sense of community and strong social interaction.
I started to attempt to navigate the issue of homelessness by mapping out the actors in this issue, with a focus on what causes people to transition into homelessness, what helps them to transition out of homelessness, and what prevents them from moving back to permanent housing.
Emergent Practices 
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