Handy home improvements: a proposal for a prototype web application for technical assistance in social housing

In the face of the pressing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of architects and urban planners in delivering evidence-based technical assistance for social housing (TASH) has become more crucial than ever. This article outlines the stages and methodologies employed in developing a prototype web application titled "Reforma na Palma da Mão" (Handy home improvements). The project was funded by CAU-MG under Public Notice 001/2021, focusing on the theme "Healthy Home – Decent Housing." The characteristics, structure, and proposed graphical interface for the application are highlighted, as designed to provide information on alterations with a focus on functionality and thermal comfort in social housing (SH) units of the Brazilian Minha Casa, Minha Vida (PMCMV) housing program. These are attributes of the built environment most directly associated with health, particularly relevant in the face of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on living conditions – such as the need to study/work from home and the provision of thermal qualities required for the successful execution of these activities in indoor environments. The paper highlights the importance of User-Centered Design (UCD) and Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) as methodologies that facilitate the development and web-based delivery of tailored alteration guidance strategies, aligned with the characteristics and needs of the target audience. The article also describes the usability testing process of the proposed application, highlighting its potential for use by wider audiences interested in the construction and alteration of SH. Thus, residents, service providers, and architects and urban planners involved in the production of healthier and more resilient SH units find suctivities through the reported pilot project.