Preface

The right to housing is a vital human right. It represents a fundamental component of a peaceful, dignified, and safe life. Sustainable housing provides residents with a comfortable and healthy living environment and can effectively solve issues of housing quality in the modern era. This book analyzes the concept of sustainable housing, focusing on the realization of competent sustainable housing based on practical cases.

The OECD Horizontal Project on Housing 2021 study documents trends in cost and affordability growth, international experience, and guidance needed for housing policy development. It focuses on three broad dimensions: inclusiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. Housing is becoming a more pressing economic, social, and environmental issue in OECD countries. Rising house prices and rents have eroded affordability and led to social exclusion. The COVID-19 crisis, which has resulted in significant job and income losses in the most vulnerable groups, exacerbates the difficulties in ensuring access to quality and affordable housing. Housing is clearly among the most important factors of quality of life and human welfare. Several documents promoted by various international bodies (UN, UNECE, UNHCR, UN-HABITAT, Council of Europe, etc.) emphasize that the right to housing is a fundamental tool in promotion and transposition in the practice of access to housing (as a complex phenomenon), but it is not limited (only) to simple possession of a home (adequate or not). It includes many other rights, such as the right not to be discriminated against (homeless people suffer severe discrimination and marginalization) and, consequently, the right to equal treatment and the right to self-determination and self-realization. Those excluded from adequate housing have, in fact, the same basic housing needs as any other individual, not only in terms of shelter but also in terms of access to basic utilities and services such as water, hygienic conditions, sanitation, and safety to ensure at least a minimum of security and dignity as foundations and premises of normal social integration and participation. Opting for a narrow view of perceiving these needs only in terms of physical needs would lead to an underestimation of the symbolic importance of housing in the daily life of individuals, the community, and society and would undermine the fundamental notion of human dignity on which the whole philosophy of human rights is based.

This book focuses on housing as the most important human living space in modern society. It starts from legislation and ends with unit living conformation. Therefore, sustainable housing must ensure that the habitation area is functional, comfortable, and environmental to meet both today's needs and future visions. Housing must be sustainable with natural systems. Therefore, it is characterized by environmentally friendly and certified materials. The book provides a comprehensive analysis of the modern housing design trend of creating sustainable cities, which poses complex problems for architects and urban planning.

We would like to thank all the contributing authors for the quality, range, diversity, and richness of the chapters. We offer a special thanks to Author Service Manager Ms. Iva Ribic at IntechOpen for her assistance and efficiency in managing the publication of this book.
