Mass Housing for New Moscow
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Date
2019-05-23
Authors
Markin, Peter
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Volume Title
Publisher
University of Waterloo
Abstract
This thesis explores the highrise housing development industry within Moscow's recently expanded borders, where a large volume of what is commonly understood to be an outdated Soviet-era product continues to be built. The work investigates the reasons why this mass housing typology continues to represent well over half of new housing construction in the country, and seeks to offer viable recommendations for improving the status quo in this particular context and marketplace. It is found that a high prevalence of prefabrication and strict solar penetration requirements greatly hinder, however do not entirely preclude, the diversification of the housing stock. Despite strong evidence that the population prefers more western models of low-rise housing, long-standing traditions continue to normalize the highrise typology. With high demand for housing and limitations of the housing market, most homebuyers have no choice but to settle for this form of housing. Furthermore, the oligopolistic tendencies of the development industry result in a market with limited competition and low price elasticity of supply. In other words, demand for better housing, as well as ample capital from rising incomes and housing subsidies, result in limited improvement in the new housing stock. Without incentives and only obstacles to change, the development industry continues to build a substandard product. It is concluded that a profit motive is a prerequisite for any improvement and diversification of the new housing stock. Therefore, this thesis seeks to propose an alternate mass housing typology that better reflects housing aspirations of the population, while being viable due to improved profitability and marketability.
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Keywords
moscow, new moscow, russia, soviet, housing, mass housing, khrushchvevka, slab tower