40 years of BSHF, 30 years of World Habitat Awards

Two important milestones for the Building and Social Housing Foundation (BSHF) in 2016. The UK-based BHSF was established 40 years ago and is also celebrating 30 years of the World Habitat Awards. The perfect time to roll out a revamped website and launch new initiatives.

The Building and Social Housing Foundation (BSHF) is a registered charity that has been carrying out research into all aspects of residential housing for 40 years, and works with a range of organisations throughout the world. We presented the winners of the World Habitat Awards not long ago; they were established by BSHF in 1985 and foster good design practices for the habitats of disadvantaged and homeless people.


An award that is presented by the Building and Social Housing Foundation in partnership with the United Nations Humans Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat), emphasising the importance of home and haven in the lives of people. 

To find out more about innovative housing practice around the world it is possible to participate in the BSHF peer exchange programme to visit World Habitat Award winners, this year getting a close-up look at Self-help Housing in the North of England - United Kingdom the project to train homeless and vulnerable people to renovate abandoned properties and bring them back into use. The exchange will be from 19 to 23 September and the deadline for applications is 6 June. BSHF covers accommodation, food and living expenses and some bursaries are available to cover travel costs to and from the peer exchange.

The peer exchange is designed for urban practitioners, researchers and/or policymakers involved in self-help housing, empty homes/vacant buildings and/or homelessness.

Christiane Bürklein

Building and Social Housing Foundation (BSHF), www.bshf.org 
More information about the Peer exchange
Images: courtesy of BSHF