Avi Friedman (Montreal) is a Professor at McGill School of Architecture and the founder and director of its Affordable Homes Program. He is known for his housing innovation and in particular for the Grow Home, a rowhouse designed to allow the interior to be altered to fit the space needs and budget of the owner. He is the author of seven books on housing, a practicing architect and the recipient of numerous awards. In 2000 he was selected by Wallpaper magazine as 1 of 10 people around the world “most likely to change the way we live.”
Dr. Friedman’s lecture looked at how socio-demographic and economic changes turn housing affordability into a challenge for many first-time homebuyers. Out-of-the-box thinking needs to be pursued in order to lower housing costs significantly. Buying a la carte, designing for growth, leaving space un-partitioned for the occupant to complete at a later stage, and implementing innovative cost-reduction technologies are some of the ideas that will be presented by Dr. Friedman. Principles and applications were outlined and their application in real-world projects illustrated.
Part One
Part Two
