Social Housing and Sustainable Futures Free Public Programme

The Social Housing and Sustainable Futures Programme is part of the Mansions of the Future’s Urban Form, social architecture and the commons programme, a season of international public realm commissions, talks, workshops, communal lunches and family activities. The programme intends to engage artists, architects, academics, students and local citizens in conversation and debate around the past, present and future of Lincoln’s social and civic life, within the context of the local built environment.

It will open by looking at Lincoln’s Ermine Estate to contextualise how large-scale housing projects that were intended to strengthen social fabrics have become neglected by the local authorities that built them (often due to funding cuts or reduced resources) and are now often considered to be relics of the incentives of British post and inter-war housing. In the case of the Ermine Estate, the economic profile of residents has changed following the decline of community cohesion and closing of local services.

The reduction seen in support structures for the local community has prompted volunteering initiates to re-engage residents, often trying but typically failing to engage young people. Is this a sustainable model of community care?This is a supporting programme of Mansions of the Futures current season, Urban Form: Social Architecture & The Commons. This is a season of international public realm commissions, talks, workshops, communal lunches and family activities that intends to engage artists, architects, academics, students and local citizens in conversation and debate around the past, present and future of Lincoln’s social and civic life, within the context of the local built environment.

Events are free to attend and do not need to be booked in advance.