Short answer

Designers and policymakers must look beyond individual project feasibility and analyze the broader systemic forces at play in the housing market to effectively promote desired housing outcomes.

Field: Innovation & Markets
Source: Land (2023)
Method: Qualitative Systems Mapping and Causal Loop Diagramming
Evidence: Moderate effect

Complex interactions within urban planning and real estate markets, driven by boundedly rational expectations, can inadvertently favor high-rise developments and stifle the production of 'Missing Middle' housing, even when demand exists. This innovation & markets research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Land. Using Qualitative systems mapping and causal loop diagramming, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers and policymakers must look beyond individual project feasibility and analyze the broader systemic forces at play in the housing market to effectively promote desired housing outcomes.

Study

Innovation & MarketsRecentModerate effect

Systemic Barriers Lock Out 'Missing Middle' Housing Despite Demand

Land · 2023

Key Findings

01High-density, small-unit high-rise development can become a 'locked-in' system, making it difficult for 'Missing Middle' housing to emerge.
02Boundedly rational real estate demand expectations, influenced by various actors, play a significant role in shaping development patterns.
03Barriers to 'Missing Middle' housing development are multi-faceted and extend beyond simple demand perception.

Application

Design takeaway

Designers and policymakers must look beyond individual project feasibility and analyze the broader systemic forces at play in the housing market to effectively promote desired housing outcomes.

How to apply

When designing housing strategies or policies, consider mapping out the key actors, their motivations, and the feedback loops within the relevant market and planning systems to identify potential unintended consequences and leverage points.

Project actions

01When researching a design problem, consider the wider system of stakeholders and market forces involved, not just the end-user.
02Use system mapping or causal loop diagrams to visualize complex interactions and identify potential bottlenecks or leverage points.

Method & Evidence

AimTo explore the systemic barriers that prevent the increased production of 'Missing Middle' housing in urban areas, despite perceived demand and profitability.

MethodQualitative Systems Mapping and Causal Loop Diagramming

ProcedureResearchers conducted semi-structured interviews with planners and real estate industry stakeholders to identify key actors and their interactions. This data was used to develop a qualitative system map and causal loop diagrams illustrating the feedback mechanisms influencing housing development.

ContextUrban planning and real estate development, specifically focusing on housing affordability and density around transit-oriented neighborhoods.

Variables

IV["Interactions between key actors (residents, brokers, planners, developers, investors)","Boundedly rational real estate demand expectations"]

DV["Production of 'Missing Middle' housing","Housing affordability"]

CV["Urban planning regulations","Real estate market conditions","Transit-oriented development context"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Utilizes a systems thinking approach to uncover complex interdependencies.
+Incorporates stakeholder perspectives through participatory methods.

Limitations

The findings are specific to the Waterloo Region and may not apply directly to other locations with different planning regulations or market conditions.

Reliability & validity

The qualitative nature of the study and its case-specific context may limit generalizability. However, the use of systems mapping provides a structured approach to analyzing complex interactions, enhancing the validity of the identified systemic relationships.

Think critically

How might a designer proactively identify and influence 'leverage points' within a complex system to advocate for a specific design solution?

Design Principles

"Systemic interventions are required to overcome entrenched market dynamics and foster diverse housing development."

Understanding these systemic barriers is crucial for urban planners and developers aiming to create more diverse and affordable housing options. Identifying leverage points within the system can inform policy decisions that encourage the development of housing types that better meet community needs.

What This Means for Your Design

Sometimes, even when people want a certain type of house (like 'Missing Middle' homes), the way cities plan and how developers make money can make it really hard to build them, leading to fewer affordable options.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the systemic challenges of implementing innovative housing solutions or when analyzing the market context for a design project.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

Research by Parker et al. (2023) highlights how systemic feedback loops within urban planning and real estate markets can inadvertently create barriers to the production of 'Missing Middle' housing, even when there is demonstrable demand. This suggests that successful design interventions must consider and actively address these broader systemic dynamics to foster desired housing outcomes.

Source

Land

Why Did the “Missing Middle” Miss the Train? An Actors-In-Systems Exploration of Barriers to Intensified Family Housing in Waterloo Region, Canada

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about systemic barriers lock out 'missing middle' housing despite demand?: Designers and policymakers must look beyond individual project feasibility and analyze the broader systemic forces at play in the housing market to effectively promote desired housing outcomes. Evidence: Land (2023).
Why does "Systemic Barriers Lock Out 'Missing Middle' Housing Despite Demand" matter for design?: Understanding these systemic barriers is crucial for urban planners and developers aiming to create more diverse and affordable housing options. Identifying leverage points within the system can inform policy decisions that encourage the development of housing types that better meet community needs.
How can designers apply this research?: Designers and policymakers must look beyond individual project feasibility and analyze the broader systemic forces at play in the housing market to effectively promote desired housing outcomes.
What were the main findings?: High-density, small-unit high-rise development can become a 'locked-in' system, making it difficult for 'Missing Middle' housing to emerge.. Boundedly rational real estate demand expectations, influenced by various actors, play a significant role in shaping development patterns.. Barriers to 'Missing Middle' housing development are multi-faceted and extend beyond simple demand perception.
What research method was used?: Qualitative Systems Mapping and Causal Loop Diagramming.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from Land.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing housing strategies or policies, consider mapping out the key actors, their motivations, and the feedback loops within the relevant market and planning systems to identify potential unintended consequences and leverage points.
What are the limitations?: The study is a case study of a specific region and may not be generalizable to all urban contexts. The focus on qualitative data means findings are interpretive.