Actionable Knowledge: A Research Synthesis Project for Affordable Housing Design Practice

To set a direction for moving towards actionable knowledge, this paper advocates for a professional approach towards the production and preservation of affordable housing that incorporates evidence-informed design practice in fostering healthy, livable environments that reflect long-term economic and social value for residents and the communities in which they live. The first section of this paper addresses the question, to what extent could evidence-informed practices be situated within the affordable housing design profession? The second section further addresses this question by considering one strategy – Research Synthesis – and describes a particular project being developed.