Rethinking Social Housing Design in the Anthropocene: Assessing the Potential of Open Spaces to Support Social, Ecological and Spatial Justice

The Anthropocene has challenged traditional approaches to the built environment, exposing the ecological impacts of human activity and the need for ecology-based design. In social housing, open spaces can contribute to environmental performance, social inclusion and spatial equity. This chapter examines their role in spatial, ecological and social justice through a comparative analysis of Aspern Seestadt in Vienna, Kampung Admiralty in Singapore and Via Verde in New York. The cases were selected based on their identifiable open-space strategies and available project documentation. The framework comprises nine criteria: accessibility, social interaction, participation, environmental benefits, resilience, ecological functions, distribution, connectivity and spatial inclusivity. The findings highlight open-space connectivity in Aspern Seestadt, intergenerational interaction through shared spaces and services in Kampung Admiralty, and environmental functions through vertically distributed gardens in Via Verde. Together, these strategies illustrate how open spaces may support spatial, ecological and social justice while offering restorative potential in social housing.