ASPIRE – Advancing Social housing through Promoting Inclusive design Research and Education in Vietnam

Social housing in Vietnam is crucial for low- and middle-income families. Despite policies to reduce social inequality, social housing mainly addresses income disparities and overlooks equitable access to spaces for vulnerable groups like people with disabilities, older people, children, or pregnant women. Often built en masse and to low standards, social housing creates barriers for many residents in their daily lives, exacerbating isolation and inequality.

This project uses a participatory approach to investigate the role of the built environment in the lived experiences of social housing residents, focusing on vulnerable groups. The aim is to promote inclusive design to ensure that housing environments better meet diverse needs. Additionally, the project seeks to enhance the capacity of architecture students through the development of an inclusive design course. This initiative is a significant step toward reducing housing inequalities and fostering a more inclusive society.

The project is co-chaired and coordinated by Ann Heylighen and Phuong Lan Ngyuen at KU Leuven and by Huong Lan and Lanh Nguyen at the Faculty of Architecture and Planning at Hanoi University of Civil Engineering. It is supported by VLIRUOS with help from KU Leuven International Office.