Thesis abstract:

«p»Apartment buildings have long been linked to weak collective identities and loneliness that undermine the social resilience of neighbourhoods and cities. Whilst strategies have been developed for the design of new buildings, finding solutions for the redesign of existing buildings is more challenging. These buildings command significant non-material resource such as community culture, collective memories and emotional bonds that shape group identity and a sense of belonging that have been largely overlooked in redesign processes. To address this gap, this thesis draws on the theoretical framework of Collective Memory to identify architectural elements and spatial scenarios in common types of apartment housing globally that shape interactions between residents and support the development of collective resident identities - things architects and planners need to preserve, upgrade, or make additions to during redesign and renewal processes. Employing a mixed method approach with a desktop-review, case study research, semi-structured interviews and design prototyping, the research aspires to offer a human-centred theoretical model and practical toolkit that can be applied to improve the quality of resident lives, social cohesion and urban resilience of the renewal outcomes and change the way architects think of redesign: it is not only an opportunity for energy retrofits and technological upgrades to meet carbon targets but also a chance to build healthier and happier communities.«/p»