Abstract
The rehabilitation of blocks of flats can be planned and executed in very different
ways. This article describes two case studies of rehabilitation processes, focusing on what
can be learned from the organizational processes and the meaning of the rehabilitation for
the residents. Residents, initiators, architects and contractors have all been interviewed. One
of the case studies involved two blocks of flats with municipal apartments for substance
abusers ,where the residents participated in the planning of the housing rehabilitation. The
other case study reviewed a housing cooperative where the residents, through an elected
board and chairman, took on an initiative to undertake a complete rehabilitation. In both
case studies most residents were very pleased with the results, and had a feeling of ownership
towards the project and their houses. The rehabilitation process and architectural
changes positively affected their social status and personal pride. The common criteria for
success seems not necessarily to be the degree of involvement in the decision-making process,
but rather the leaders’ respect for their needs, the level of information provided and
the follow-up. The leaders of both projects were enthusiastic, and were in close contact with
the residents while guiding the rehabilitation process.
ways. This article describes two case studies of rehabilitation processes, focusing on what
can be learned from the organizational processes and the meaning of the rehabilitation for
the residents. Residents, initiators, architects and contractors have all been interviewed. One
of the case studies involved two blocks of flats with municipal apartments for substance
abusers ,where the residents participated in the planning of the housing rehabilitation. The
other case study reviewed a housing cooperative where the residents, through an elected
board and chairman, took on an initiative to undertake a complete rehabilitation. In both
case studies most residents were very pleased with the results, and had a feeling of ownership
towards the project and their houses. The rehabilitation process and architectural
changes positively affected their social status and personal pride. The common criteria for
success seems not necessarily to be the degree of involvement in the decision-making process,
but rather the leaders’ respect for their needs, the level of information provided and
the follow-up. The leaders of both projects were enthusiastic, and were in close contact with
the residents while guiding the rehabilitation process.