What is Community Led Housing? Ft. Levent Kerimol

Community-led housing changes the usual development question from what can be delivered to who has power, who participates and who benefits.

Stephen Drew speaks with Levent Kerimol, Director of Community Led Housing London, about grassroots housing, community involvement, funding, planning and the role architects can play in more democratic housing projects.

The conversation covers:

• What community-led housing means in practice
• How advisory and mentoring support helps groups move projects forward
• Why funding, governance and patience matter
• What architects can contribute to community-led projects
• How social justice and power shape housing decisions

Read the episode on Architecture Social: What is Community Led Housing?

Watch on YouTube: Levent Kerimol on Community Led Housing

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Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to community-led housing
• 00:32 Understanding community-led housing
• 02:13 Advisory and mentoring process
• 03:50 Challenges and funding
• 05:31 RUSS project case study
• 10:14 Managing community involvement
• 14:50 Success factors for community projects
• 18:25 Levent's background and journey
• 25:38 Architects' role in community projects
• 28:25 Technology and community projects
• 29:30 Technology, planning and housing
• 30:38 Social justice and power in housing
• 31:23 Challenges of large housing organisations
• 33:39 Community involvement in housing decisions
• 35:15 Sustaining long-term community housing projects
• 37:53 Housing market and future outlook
• 45:32 Reflections on architectural careers
• 49:40 Conclusion and final thoughts

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