Evaluation methods for social housing projects supporting participatory and evidence-based decision-making

Abstract Inadequate infrastructure and low-quality public spaces in Social Housing Projects (SHP) negatively affect residents’ well-being, compounded by a lack of participation that prioritizes cost reduction over user needs. Evidence-based design, common in healthcare, can improve SHP quality by integrating evidence into design processes, but its use is limited. This paper presents a study on evaluation methods, highlighting the recommended types of methods for participatory design processes and decision-making involving multidisciplinary stakeholders. A workshop with practitioners and academics examined the design and approval processes of SHPs, revealing issues such as market-driven priorities, unclear regulations, and insufficient collaboration, thus highlighting the need for more transparent and evidence-based approaches. A literature review also identified tools to align design decisions with user needs, but issues such as complexity, lack of knowledge, costs, and cultural barriers hinder their implementation. The research emphasizes the need to adapt these tools to the SHP context, fostering evidence integration and collaboration in housing projects.